HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-14 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of December 18, 2014
Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Mark Follis,Wyatt Smith, Lou Ann Martin,Trey
Kendrick, Nick Barrera, and Hal Lawler
Commissioners Absent: Helen LaCour and Les Bird
Councilmembers Present: Councilmen Mike Clausen and John Zemanek
City Staff Present: City Planner Eric Ensey,Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins,and Office
Coordinator Peggy Lee
1. Call to order.
Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call of Members.
Commissioners Warren, Follis,Smith, Martin, Kendrick, Barrera, and Lawler were present for roll
call.
3. Consider approval of meeting minutes: December 4,2014.
Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to approve the December 4,2014,meeting minutes.
Second by Commissioner Martin. Motion carried.
Ayes: Commissioners Warren, Follis,Smith, Martin, Kendrick, Barrera,and Lawler
Nays: None
4. Open public hearing to receive input on an application for Special Conditional Use Permit#14-
91000004 by Kobelco Compressors America,Inc.,owner of a 1.176 acre tract of land,described as
Reserve 7,Spencer Highway Subdivision,Addition No.3 Reserve 7,City of La Porte,Harris
County,Texas,to allow construction of a compressor repair and service facility.
Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:04 p.m.
a. Staff Presentation
City Planner Eric Ensey presented the staff report on Special Conditional Use Permit request
#14-91000004 to allow construction of a compressor repair and service facility at the
southeast corner of Spencer Highway and Fleetwood Drive, requested by Kobelco
Compressors America, Inc.
b. Applicant Presentation
General Manager of Operations for Kobelco Compressors,America, Inc.,Stan Kawahara,
thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity to explain their case. Mr. Kawahara
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of December 18,2014
Page 2 of 5
provided background information and an overview of the company. He introduced the
following representatives of the project:
Reid Wilson, local counsel with Wilson, Cribbs,and Goren provided Commissioners with a
hand-out and gave a brief presentation. Mr.Wilson spoke about the SIC codes in question
and addressed the City's requirements for approving a special conditional use permit.
Glenn Guise, Kobelco Repair Facility Supervisor, described his role as supervisor and the
process that will be used to service the compressors.
Mark Benoit, Re/Max 1st Source Realtor, believes the location that was selected is a good fit
for the neighborhood. Mr. Benoit does not feel the development would adversely affect
property values.
Sam Thomas, Duplantis Design Group, provided the geotechnical and due diligence study
and recommended the site.
Aaron Wolfe,Architect and Engineer, described the plans for the building and the site.
Access from Fleetwood Dr.will be removed from the plans.
Todd Warnecke, Construction Project Manager with Drive Construction,spoke about how
the impacts associated with construction would be kept at a minimum.
c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions)
Kevin D.Johnson, 10836 Sycamore Dr. N.,formerly a process technician for Lyondell
Chemical,who is now practicing law, opposes the request because the property is zoned for
commercial not industrial. Mr.Johnson stated his concerns with allowing this development
to locate at this entrance to his subdivision.
Robert Jackson, 10900 Sycamore Dr. N., opposes the request due to the type of business.
Mr.Jackson believes it is an industrial use that should not be allowed to locate near a
residential neighborhood.
Joel Bales, 10838 Sycamore Dr. N.,opposes the request. Mr. Bales does not like the idea of
compressors that may be contaminated with chemicals coming into a residential area. Mr.
Bales spoke about information he found on the company's website.
John Kling, 11025 Pinewood Ct., opposes the request. Mr. Kling was concerned with the
development process that allowed the request to get this far,suggesting it should be looked
into.
Gary Wilkerson, 10915 Sycamore Dr.S.,was concerned because he was not informed of the
proposed development even though he lives only 250 feet from the site. Mr.Wilkerson
questioned the size and set-up of the proposed facility because it is not an operation that
belongs at that location.
i
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of December 18,2014
Page 2 of 5
Reid Wilson, local counsel with Wilson,Cribbs,and Goren provided Commissioners with a
hand-out and gave a brief presentation. Mr.Wilson spoke about the SIC codes in question
and addressed the City's requirements for approving a special conditional use permit.
Glenn Guise, Kobelco Repair Facility Supervisor,described his role as supervisor and the
process that will be used to service the compressors.
Mark Benoit, Re/Max 1st Source Realtor, believes the location that was selected is a good fit
for the neighborhood. Mr. Benoit does not feel the development would adversely affect
property values.
Sam Thomas, Duplantis Design Group, provided the geotechnical and due diligence study
and recommended the site.
Aaron Wolfe,Architect and Engineer,described the plans for the building and the site.
Access from Fleetwood Dr.will be removed from the plans.
Todd Warnecke,Construction Project Manager with Drive Construction,spoke about how
the impacts associated with construction would be kept at a minimum.
c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions)
Kevin D.Johnson, 10836 Sycamore Dr. N.,formerly a process technician for Lyondell
Chemical,who is now practicing law,opposes the request because the property is zoned for
commercial not industrial. Mr.Johnson stated his concerns with allowing this development
to locate at this entrance to his subdivision.
Robert Jackson, 10900 Sycamore Dr. N.,opposes the request due to the type of business.
Mr.Jackson believes it is an industrial use that should not be allowed to locate near a
residential neighborhood.
Joel Bales, 10838 Sycamore Dr. N., opposes the request. Mr. Bales does not like the idea of
compressors that may be contaminated with chemicals coming into a residential area. Mr.
Bales spoke about information he found on the company's website.
John Kling, 11025 Pinewood Ct.,opposes the request. Mr. Kling was concerned with the
development process that allowed the request to get this far,suggesting it should be looked
into.
Gary Wilkerson, 10915 Sycamore Dr.S.,was concerned because he was not informed of the
proposed development even though he lives only 250 feet from the site. Mr.Wilkerson
questioned the size and set-up of the proposed facility because it is not an operation that
belongs at that location.
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Minutes of December 18,2014
Page 3 of 5
Michael Prasek, 10925 Dogwood Dr.,Secretary of the Fairmont Park East Homeowners
Association,stated the Association neither endorses nor opposes the request. As a
homeowner, Mr. Prasek asked the Commission to do the right thing.
Sara Ragen, 10841 Sycamore Dr. N.,opposes the request because it is not a good location
for the development and it will reduce property values.
Robbie McClaren,Sycamore Dr. N.,opposes the request because the location is not
appropriate.
Mark Lindsey, 10991 Spruce Dr.S.,opposes the request. Mr. Lindsey is concerned about
how the wastewater from the facility is going to be treated.
d. Question and Answer
Commissioner Follis asked the following questions of Mr. Kawahara:
What will be the hook height and crane capacity?
Will there be machines in the facility?
Will there be 18-wheeler traffic?
Is the facility in Carona,California in a zoned area?
What is the closest residential subdivision to the facility in Carona, California?
What will be the building's eave height?
Was a zoning permit obtained from the City of La Porte?
Does the Carona plant have a classification number of 3563?
Mr. Kawahara responded to Mr. Follis's questions:
The hook height will be 28'from the hook to the floor.
There will be a mill and lathe.
In some cases, 18-wheeler traffic will be necessary.
The Carona,California location is a manufacturing plant.
The closest houses to the Carona,California facility are approximately 600'.
The building's eave height will be 42'.
A zoning permit from the City of La Porte was not requested.
The Carona plant does not have a classification number of 3563, but it is in the 3500 series.
Commissioners inquired as to whether the City was contacted and the development plan
discussed prior to the land being purchased. Mr. Kawahara stated that there were meetings
with the City. City Planner Eric Ensey responded that at the time the early meetings
occurred,the SIC classification code that was being discussed was 7699. It wasn't until after
staff received additional information from the applicant as to what they were proposing to
do at the site that staff determined SIC#7699 was not the correct classification code.
Commissioner Barrera expressed concern that an apparent industrial use would try to
develop in a commercial area. Mr. Barrera was also concerned about the risk of chemical
exposure with the compressors and how that would be handled. He inquired about the
weight capacity of the cranes because of the roadway damage that could occur with
transporting the compressors.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of December 18,2014
Page 4 of 5
In response to Mr. Barrera's concerns,Glenn Guise explained the process that would be
used to handle the compressors with regard to chemical exposure. Mr. Kawahara stated the
largest compressor that would be in the facility would be approximately 32,000 lbs. and the
maximum number of compressors that would be in the building at any time would be three.
Commissioners Smith and Martin agreed they would be in favor of having the business
locate to La Porte,but not at the requested location.
Mr. Kawahara stated the land was purchased as a result of the due diligence study.
Chairman Lawler spoke about how the City tries to accommodate incoming developments
as much as possible and then concluded discussion on the matter.
S. Close public hearing.
Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 8:14 p.m.
6. Consider recommendation to City Council on Special Conditional Use Permit#14-91000004.
Motion by Commissioner Warren to recommend denial to City Council of Special Conditional Use
Permit#14-91000004.
Second by Commissioner Barrera. Motion carried.
Ayes: Commissioners Warren,Follis,Smith,Martin, Kendrick, Barrera,and Lawler
Nays: None
Chairman Lawler called for a break at 8:18 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:26 p.m.
7. Consider approval of a Major Development Site Plan#14-83000001;a request by La Porte
Independent School District to allow construction of a new school building at the site of the
existing Baker 6th Grade Campus located at 9800 Spencer Highway.
Eric Ensey presented the staff report on a Major Development Site Plan for LPISD's new Baker 6th
Grade campus located at the southeast corner of Spencer Highway and Underwood Road.
Commissioner Follis stated he would be in favor of approving the plan when the plan is considered
administratively complete,which would include the following changes to the plan:
• Signature block should read"Planning and Development Director" instead of"Community
Development Director."
• Show existing,proposed,and required parking spaces.
• Show adjacent property owners.
• Show NAICS Number.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Minutes of December 18,2014
Page 5 of 5
Commissioner Kendrick recommended the following additional change:
• Correct school name and acreage.
Motion by Commissioner Follis to approve Major Development Site Plan#14-83000001 to allow
construction of a new school building at the site of the existing LPISD Baker 6th Grade campus
located at 9800 Spencer Highway.
Second by Commissioner Kendrick. Motion carried.
Ayes: Commissioners Warren,Follis,Smith, Martin,Kendrick,Barrera,and Lawler
Nays: None
8. Administrative reports.
There were no administrative reports.
9. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific
factual information or existing policy.
Commissioner Martin reported the northeast corner of Sens and Spencer is under contract and in
the 60-day feasibility period.
10. Adjourn
Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn.
Second by Commissioner Martin.
Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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Peggy L
Secretal, Zrning and Zoning Commission
Passed and Approved on r7— J 2015.
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Hal Lawler
Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission