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Home My WebLink About09-20-12 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning CommissionPlanning and Zoning Commission Minutes of September 20, 2012 Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Helen LaCour, Phillip Hoot, Hal Lawler, Mark Follis, Danny Earp, and Les Bird Commissioners Absent: Doretta Finch and Lou Ann Martin City Staff Present: Assistant City Manager Traci Leach, Planning Director Tim Tietjens, City Planner Masood Malik, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, and Office Coordinator Peggy Lee Others Present: 1. Call to order. One citizen was present Meeting called to order by Chairman Lawler at 6:05 p.m. 2. Roll Call of Members. Commission Members verbally indicated their attendance; Commissioners Finch and Martin were not present for the meeting. 3. Consider approval of August 30, 2012, meeting minutes. Motion by Commissioner Hoot to approve the August 30, 2012, meeting minutes. Second by Commissioner Warren. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Earp, Bird, and Chairman Lawler Nays: None 4. Open Public Hearing to receive citizen input on the La Porte Comprehensive Plan Update. Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. A. Presentation Matt Bucchin, Kendig Keast Collaborative, presented a summary of the Comprehensive Plan Update and described the sequence of events leading up to the public hearing: • Project kick-off in June 2011, which included key interviews with staff, eight (8) small committees, and individual interviews with Mayor and City Council. • August 2011 through August 2012, conducted ten (10) Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings during which elements of the Plan were reviewed. • Conducted two (2) Council briefings. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of September 20, 2012 Page 2 of 4 Masood Malik, City Planner, reported on the various methods used to advertise the public hearing. Additionally, a separate mail notification was sent to 26 Planned Unit Development (PUD) property owners, with two (2) responses received in favor and one (1) response in opposition to the proposed Future Land Use Plan; one (1) of the notices was returned to the City as undeliverable. During discussions, it was noted that notices sent to two of the PUD property owners contained errors. The Commission concurred that staff should resend letters to these property owners with the correct information as shown below: Pierside Industries Existing Land Use Plan - Mid to High Density Residential Proposed Future Land Use Plan — Business Industrial PPG Existing Land Use Plan — Mid to High Density Residential and Public Uses Proposed Future Land Use Plan — Mid to High Density Residential There was discussion about changing the Future Land Use Plan for the area that includes the detention pond between S. 16th St. and SH 146 S, within the Port Crossing Business Park, from Parks and Open Space to Business Industrial on the Future Land Use Plan. At the request of Commissioner Follis, the Commission discussed leaving the first four (4) lots off Fairmont Parkway (two blocks east of City Hall) as Commercial and changing the remainder of lots in the block, up to W. "I" St. to Low Density Residential on the Future Land Use Plan. There was discussion about changing the tract east of Taylor Bayou along S. Broadway from Residential to Commercial on the Future Land Use Plan. There was discussion about retaining the existing Commercial tract at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Blvd. and SH 146 on the Future Land Use Plan. B. Public Comments There were no public comments. 5. Close Public Hearing Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. 6. Consider recommendation to City Council on the La Porte Comprehensive Plan Update. Motion by Commissioner Follis to recommend to City Council, approval of the La Porte Comprehensive Plan Update, with the following changes to the Plan which was presented: Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of September 20, 2012 Page 3 of 4 • Change the Future Land Use Plan for the area that includes the detention pond between S. 16th St. and SH 146 S, within the Port Crossing Business Park, from Parks and Open Space to Business Industrial. • Leave the first four (4) lots off Fairmont Parkway (two blocks east of City Hall) as Commercial and change the remainder of lots in the block, up to W. "I" St., to Low Density Residential on the Future Land Use Plan. • Change the tract east of Taylor Bayou along S. Broadway from Residential to Commercial on the Future Land Use Plan. • Retain the existing tract at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Blvd. and SH 146 as Commercial on the Future Land Use Plan. • Correct any typos and incorrect references throughout the document. Second by Commissioner Warren. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Follis, Earp, Bird, and Chairman Lawler Nays: Commissioner Hoot Chairman Lawler thanked Kendig Keast Collaborative for their professionalism during this endeavor. 7. Administrative Reports Tim Tietjens, Planning Director, reported City Council has directed a planning/procedural audit of the Planning Department to ensure the City is being as responsive to our citizens as possible. As part of the audit, Commission Members will more than likely be interviewed by the consultant. It is anticipated the entire process should take approximately six (6) months. 8. Commission Comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Chairman Lawler thanked City staff for their contribution in working with the Commission to review and update the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Warren spoke of his appreciation for everyone working together and the time dedicated to completing the Plan update. Commissioner LaCour thanked the group. Commissioner Follis stated he was proud of the final draft Plan and inquired about what would be next for the Commission to review. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of September 20, 2012 Page 4 of 4 Chairman Lawler requested Commission Members make a list of issues they would like to review/address in the upcoming months. Commissioner Earp thanked staff and the consultant for their hard work. Commissioner Bird expressed appreciation for all the work that went into updating the Plan. Chairman Lawler reminded Commission Members there would be a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan during the October 22"d City Council meeting. Commission Members are encouraged to attend. 9. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn. Second by Commissioner LaCour. The motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Earp, Bird, and Chairman Lawler Nays: None Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, \a� — Peggy Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission Passed and Approved on October 18, 2012. xzz—�� Hal Lawler Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission