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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-16 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 17, 2016 Commissioners Present: Richard Warren, Nick Barrera, Mark Follis, Larry Stockham, Hal Lawler, Helen LaCour Commissioners Absent: Lou Ann Martin,Wyatt Smith,Trey Kendrick City Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development Tim Tietjens, City Planner Eric Ensey,Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins,and Planning Technician Ryan Cramer 1. Call to order. Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. 2. Roll call of members. Commissioners Warren, LaCour, Barrera,Stockham and Chairman Lawler were present for roll call. Commissioner Follis arrived at 6:19 PM. 3. Consider approval of meeting minutes: February 18,2016, Meeting. Motion by Commissioner Barrera to approve the meeting minutes of February 18, 2016. 4. Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion carried. Ayes: Warren, Lawler, Stockham, Barrera, and LaCour. Nays: 5. Consider a request by Liberty Property Trust for approval of a waiver to the city's Design Guidelines (Exterior Facade Materials) as outlined in Section 106-928 of the Code of Ordinance for the proposed warehouse distribution facility at 1801 S.16th Street(southeast corner of S. 16th Street and Export Drive). *Note:Chairman Lawler suspended the agenda at this time to move to agenda items 5,6,and 7. Agenda item 4 was considered after agenda item 7. Joe Powers, the applicant Ken Chang's architect spoke to the Commission about how they cannot put all of their stone on to just two sides. Commissioner Follis said that this was still not the intention of the facade ordinance. The applicant contended that not only is the 20% brick or stone a large cost for a warehouse building,the Commission said that it would not make sense to put brick or stone on the side where the dock doors will receive shipments yet to put 20%of the whole building's worth of brick or stone on the two office sides would not look good either and would go against the look that his company attempts to create with their buildings. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 17,2016 Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Follis reiterated his point that if they waver on the recently adapted facade guidelines, it will open up room for more deviations. While the applicant attempted to negotiate for a percentage lower than 20%, Commissioner Follis said that it needed to reach the required amount of brick or stone. The applicant asked when the design guidelines were put into the Code of Ordinances because it did not come up in their pre-purchase research of the property. He was then told that due to an oversight it was never put into the Code of Ordinances. Commissioner Warren commented that the Commission's denial in the last meeting was not about trying to get slightly more brick or stone, but was instead about getting all 20%. He said that the Commission works hard to make La Porte beautiful and that means getting 20% brick or stone on the building. Motion by Commissioner Warren to deny a waiver to the city's Design Guidelines (Exterior Facade Materials) as outlined in Section 106-928 of the Code of Ordinance for the proposed warehouse distribution facility at 1801 S. 16th Street (southeast corner of S. 16th Street and Export Drive). Second by Commissioner Follis. Motion carried. Ayes: Follis,Warren, Barrera, LaCour, Stockham Nays: 6. Continue a public hearing from and opened during the February 18, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to receive input on proposed modifications to Ordinance No. 1444, more commonly known as the City of La Porte Development Ordinance, regulating review process for subdivisions, site plans and other development-related requirements and codifying the regulations as part of Chapter 86 of the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances. Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:19 a. Staff Presentation City Planner said that there has not been a large scale review of the Development Ordinance since 1985. The review was done with the help of a committee containing Commissioners Warren, Follis, Barrera and Martin. In general the Development Ordinance was reorganized so it could be codified within the City's code of ordinances.Amongst other more minor changes, City Planner Ensey said that the Pre-Application Development Meeting has taken the place of the "Sketch Plan" in this new development ordinance. City Planner Ensey also argued that the City's fee schedule should be moved to Appendix A so it can be adjusted easier. Also for legal purposes City Planner Ensey suggested changing the term from variances to waivers when discussing deviation requests to this new section. Commissioner Barrera asked if they had moved forward with the idea to require a pre- building topographic survey and an as-built topographic survey,because his work schedule Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 17,2016 Page 3 of 4 made it difficult for him to make subcommittee meetings. Commissioner Follis said that the idea did not move forward because of the extra cost on the developer to do it. Commissioner Follis suggested requiring the engineer to sign a letter saying that it was built to his or her specifications.After some discussion over whether or not there needs to be an as-built survey or if the engineer signed letter works and how much of the property will need to be accounted for.The Commission decided on a letter signed by the engineer attesting to the area that was disturbed. This language would be added into the sections for major and minor site plans. b. Applicant Presentation There was no applicant presentation. c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions) There were no public comments. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 7. Close public hearing. Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 7:07 8. Consider a recommendation to the La Porte City Council on the proposed modifications to Ordinance No. 1444 and the codification of those regulations as part of Chapter 86 of the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances. Motion by Commissioner Stockham to recommend to City Council approval of the proposed modifications to Ordinance No. 1444 and the codification of those regulations as part of Chapter 86 of the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances with the conditions that the fee schedule be removed and a signed letter from the engineer attesting to the finished product be required on all major and minor site plans. Second by Commissioner Follis. Motion carried. Ayes: Warren, LaCour, Barrera, Follis, Stockham,and Lawler Nays 9. Administrative reports. Planning Director Tim Tietjens notified the Commission that their recommendation on the Warwick Homes rezone did not pass with City Council. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of March 17,2016 Page 4 of 4 Commissioner Follis said that they need to look into some of the NAICS codes that are allowed in certain zones, possibly even splitting car repair shops, veterinarians and the like by type so 18 wheeler repair shops do not end up in General Commercial zones. 10. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Commissioner Follis said that it may be time to look at the Future Land Use Map and discuss the usefulness of Neighborhood Commercial zoned properties. 11. Adjourn. Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn. Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion carried. Ayes: Barrera, Follis,Warren, Stockham, LaCour and Lawler. Nays: Chairman Lawler closed the meeting at 8:20 PM. Respectfully submitted, Cri9^41z-- Ryan Cramer Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission Passed and Approved on PAOka I di , 2016. ..:;)4621 Hal Lawler Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission