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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-19-15 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 19, 2015 Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Nick Barrera, Lou Ann Martin, Mark Follis, Les Bird,and Hal Lawler Commissioners Absent: Trey Kendrick, Helen La Cour,and Wyatt Smith City Staff Present: Planning and Development Director Tim Tietjens,City Planner Eric Ensey,and City Attorney Knox Askins 1. Call to order. Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order. 2. Roll Call of Members. Commissioners Warren, Barrera, Martin, Follis, Bird,and Lawler were present for roll call. 3. Open public hearing to receive input on an application for Zone Change#15-92000003,a city-initiated rezoning of Lots 1-28,Block 29;Lots 1-28,Block 30;Lots 1-28,Block 31;Lots 1-28,Block 32;Lots 7-10, Block 49;of the Beach Park Subdivision from Neighborhood Commercial District(NC)to Mixed Use District(MU). Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Eric Ensey presented the staff report for a city initiated zone change of the circle areas located adjacent to Sylvan Beach Park from Neighborhood Commercial District to Mixed Use District. The Mixed Use District was established in response to requests from property owners in that area to construct single-family residential houses,which are not allowed in the Neighborhood Commercial District. Public hearing notices were mailed to all property owners located within 200'of the subject site. The city received five responses from the mail-out,all in favor of the rezone request. b. Applicant Presentation The applicant and staff presentations were one in the same. c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions) Chuck Rosa addressed the Commission. Mr. Rosa stated he was originally opposed to the request because it was city-initiated, but has since changed his mind after learning that residents in the area had approached the city about the rezone. Mr. Rosa encouraged any Commissioners with a possible financial interest in the zone change to abstain from voting. J Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 19,2015 Page 2 of 4 Scott McCormick addressed the Commission. Mr. McCormick is in favor of allowing residential development in the subject area. Selena Hope,727 Bayshore Dr.,addressed the Commission. Ms. Hope spoke about the trash that ends up in her yard after events at Sylvan Beach. She wanted to warn anyone thinking of building a residence in the subject area about this problem. Commissioner Martin addressed Chuck Rosa requesting that he direct his comments to her by name rather than by implication. Mr. Rosa responded that meeting rules do not allow him to address his comments directly at any one person. d. Question and Answer Staff responded to questions from the Commission. There was some concern about possible problems with parking. Staff suggested there may be a need for public improvements in the area if parking does become an issue in the future. 4. Close public hearing. Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing. 5. Consider recommendation to City Council on Zone Change Request#15-92000003. Motion by Commissioner Warren to recommend to City Council,approval of Zone Change Request#15- 92000003. Second by Commissioner Follis. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren,Barrera,Martin,Follis,Bird,and Lawler Nays: None 6. Consider a request by La Porte Lodging Hospitality LLC for consideration of a waiver to the city's Design Guidelines(Exterior Fa&ade Materials)for the proposed Fairfield Inn&Suites at 711 Highway 146 South. City Planner Eric Ensey presented the staff report. La Porte Lodging Hospitality LLC has requested a waiver to the city's Design Guidelines for a Tier 1 building for the proposed Fairfield Inn&Suites at 711 Highway 146 South. The applicant is proposing to utilize 25%masonry material for the building fagade instead of 80%coverage required by code. The applicant,Kevin Helche,6170 FM 2011,Longview,TX,President of Lodging Host Hotel Corp.,and a Partner in La Porte Lodging Hospitality LLC,addressed the Commission. His company also operates the Comfort Suites in La Porte. Mr. Helche stated the architect has concerns that the structural engineer has determined that being in the gulf coast area,the amount of brick or stone being required increases weights or stresses on the framing. Hand-outs were distributed showing a similar hotel that was recently constructed in Oklahoma,designed by the same architect. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 19,2015 Page 3 of 4 Commissioners who served on the subcommittee that developed the design guidelines offered their perspective on the requirements. Motion by Commissioner Warren to table a request by La Porte Lodging Hospitality LLC for a waiver to the city's Design Guidelines(Exterior Fagade Materials)for the proposed Fairfield Inn&Suites at 711 Highway 146 South. Second by Commissioner Martin. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren,Barrera,Martin, Follis,Bird,and Lawler Nays: 7. Discussion on Chapter 106(Zoning)follow-up items for review. City Planner Eric Ensey presented the staff report on the follow-up items from the Chapter 106(Zoning) review. At the February 19th meeting,the Commission directed staff to draft language to the various sections of the chapter that was discussed: 1.) Tree Preservation(Section 106-801,802,803) No change was made to the cost of tree replacement, which is$50 per inch, with a cap of $100,000. An exclusion was added for individual single-family residential lots(Section 106-801). No modification was made to the requirement for a tree survey or tree disposition plan(Section 106-802). 2.) Outdoor Storage in Main Street District(Section 106-511(c)) Staff added a definition of"outdoor storage"to the Section 106-1 (Definitions).As drafted,this definition only relates to non-residential properties. The language in Section 106-773(Exterior storage)addresses residential properties. No modifications are proposed for the prohibition of outdoor storage in the Main Street Overlay between Highway 146 and Virginia Street(Section 106-511). This will remain and is clarified with the new definition of"outdoor storage." Temporary Signage(105-877) An exclusion was added for governmental signs. Language was added to allow for sandwich board signs in the Main Street District Overlay only, provided such signs be located in a safe manner and removed at the close of each business day. a Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 19,2015 Page 4 of 4 The Commission approved the draft language. A public hearing on the zoning amendments will be scheduled for an upcoming Commission meeting. 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. Commissioners commented on how well the group worked together. 10. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Barrera. Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting. Respectfully submitted, 46 Peggy Secretary,Planning and Zoning Commission Passed and Approved on f '2015. Hal Lawler Chairman,Planning and Zoning Commission