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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-13 Regular Meeting and Workshop of the La Porte Planning and Zoning CommissionPlanning and Zoning Commission Minutes of January 17, 2013 Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Helen LaCour, Phillip Hoot, Mark Follis, Doretta Finch, Les Bird, and Hal Lawler Commissioners Absent: Danny Earp and Lou Ann Martin City Staff Present: City Planner Masood Malik, City Engineer Julian Garza, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, and Office Coordinator Peggy Lee 1. Call to order. Meeting called to order by Chairman Hal Lawler at 6:01 p.m. 2. Roll Call of Members. Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Finch, Bird, and Lawler were present for roll call. 3. Consider approval of November 15, 2012, meeting minutes. Motion by Commissioner Bird to approve the November 15, 2012, meeting minutes. Second by Commissioner Hoot. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Finch, Bird, and Lawler Nays: None 4. Open Workshop to discuss Planning and Zoning Commission Subcommittee's recommended options for amendments to Dust Free Surface regulations. Chairman Lawler opened the workshop at 6:02 p.m. City Engineer Julian Garza presented a summary of the subcommittee's recommended options for amending the ordinances pertaining to dust free surfacing. Commissioners offered suggestions for clarification, which are reflected below: • With the various land use possibilities in a Planned Unit Development (PUD), the underlying land use will be applicable, unless the actual use is greater than the underlying use, in which case the strictest use would apply. • Continue to allow storage areas to be grassed to control dust if behind the fenced area, graded to drain, and access is limited. • Redevelopment of a property, in this case the area shown on a site plan that is being redeveloped, would require meeting the proposed dust free ordinance conditions, excluding residential development. • Proposed minimum design standards for GC and Industrial zones, TXDOT Spec 300 - specify exact section from TXDOT code that applies to the chip seal application. • Eliminate references to Enviroguard and replace with TXDOT specifications for application. • Be consistent with references to lay down yards and storage areas. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of January 17, 2013 Page 2 of 3 If adopted, the proposed design standards for dust free surfacing should help with future developments, but would not address problems that currently exist within the City. Commissioners discussed how "dust free surface" violations would be enforced. Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins stated the City would need to address the matter as an environmental nuisance rather than a zoning issue. Motion by Commissioner Follis to 1) accept the subcommittee's "recommended options for dust free ordinance considerations" and include additional clarification provided by the Commission as shown below, and 2) direct staff to make the suggested changes to the ordinances and bring them back to the Commission for a public hearing and final consideration. • With the various land use possibilities in a Planned Unit Development (PUD), the underlying land use will be applicable, unless the actual use is greater than the underlying use, in which case the strictest use would apply. • Continue to allow storage areas to be grassed to control dust if behind the fenced area, graded to drain, and access is limited. • Redevelopment of a property, in this case the area shown on a site plan that is being redeveloped, would require meeting the proposed dust free ordinance conditions, excluding residential development. • Proposed minimum design standards for GC and Industrial zones, TXDOT Spec 300 - specify exact section from TXDOT code that applies to the chip seal application. • Eliminate references to Enviroguard and replace with TXDOT specifications for application. • Be consistent with references to lay down yards and storage areas. Second by Commissioner Finch. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Finch, Bird, and Lawler Nays: None 5. Consider review of 1) Chapter 106 "Zoning" of the City's Code of Ordinances and 2) La Porte Development Ordinance 1444. City Planner Masood Malik presented the staff report on the review of the Zoning and Development Ordinances. Mr. Malik reported these two documents are 25-30 years old and in need of overall review by the Commission. Commissioners agreed it would be beneficial to start by reviewing the Zoning Ordinance and forming subcommittees consisting of Commissioners, staff, and possibly citizens, if any are interested. Motion by Commissioner Warren to form a subcommittee to work with staff on review of the Zoning Ordinance with the subcommittee initially consisting of Commissioners Follis serving as Chairman, Bird, and Hoot. Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Finch, Bird, and Lawler Nays: None Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of January 17, 2013 Page 3 of 3 6. Administrative Reports Mr. Malik expressed appreciation for the work performed by the subcommittee and staff on the dust free surfacing criteria. Mr. Malik polled the Commission for interest in attending Planning and Zoning sessions at the BPI Seminar in Houston, February 4t". Commissioners Lawler and Bird confirmed their attendance for all day February 4t". Commissioner Follis confirmed for the p.m. session on February 4t"and will look into possibly attending one of the technical sessions. Commission Comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Commissioner Finch thanked the subcommittee and staff for their work reviewing the dust free surface criteria. Commissioner Warren thanked the subcommittee and wished everyone a happy new year. Commissioner LaCour also thanked the subcommittee and wished everyone a happy new year. Commissioner Hoot commented he recently learned that staff represents the City Manager and not the Planning and Zoning Commission; this confusion previously caused problems for him because he was acting under the wrong assumption. Following up on Commissioner Hoot's comment, Commissioner Follis commented on the various forms of city government structure. Commissioner Bird appreciated the opportunity to serve on the dust free surface criteria subcommittee and looks forward to working on the subcommittee to review the Zoning Ordinance. Chairman Lawler thanked the subcommittee and staff for their work. 8. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Bird. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Hoot, Follis, Finch, Bird, and Lawler Nays: None Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m. Jectfully submitted, Pegg Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission Passed and Approved on '4" �G% �Q� y 2013. Hal Lawler Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission