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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-21-16 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21, 2016 Commissioners Present: Trey Kendrick, Richard Warren, Nick Barrera, Mark Follis, Wyatt Smith, Larry Stockham, Hal Lawler Commissioners Absent: Lou Ann Martin, Helen LaCour 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 6:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call of Members. Commissioners Kendrick, Smith, Warren, Barrera, Follis, Stockham, and Chairman Lawler were present for roll call. 3. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for Zone Change Request#16-92000001, a request by Sulzer Turbo Services Houston Inc.to rezone a 5.0185 acre tract of land located south of the existing Sulzer Campus at 11518 Old La Porte Road and legally described as Reserve A,Sulzer South Expansion Subdivision,from Large Lot Residential(LL)to Light Industrial(LI). Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:01 PM. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Eric Ensey introduced agenda items 3-6 together as they were related. The applicant Sulzer Turbo Services Houston Inc. (Sulzer), requested a zone change from Large Lot to Light Industrial as well as a change to the City's Future Land Use Plan. The applicant asserted while they only need to maintain a 50 foot setback,they left a tract zoned Large Lot with their detention pond in it to create a 250 foot buffer between their buildings and the nearby residential neighborhood. The lot is also surrounded by drainage channels and pipelines, making it more difficult to develop. Staff recommended should the Commission desire to recommend approval of the request, to add a condition requiring a 30 foot landscaping buffer along the F101 drainage channel. City Planner Ensey also noted that the City's Comprehensive Plan has a goal to maintain the Large Lot residential district and that a similar zone change request was denied recently. b. Applicant Presentation Darayus Pardivala, President of North and South American (533 S. Port Lane, Kemah, TX) business for Sulzer was the company's representative. He gave a background on Sulzer's Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21,2016 Page 2 of 6 history, their operations in the plant and what they have done for their neighbors and the community. Commissioner Barrera asked whether or not Sulzer had purchased the property to be rezoned after the creation of the large lot district and they had been aware. Commissioner Smith asked if the building would be used for only storage and the applicant confirmed that it would be. Sulzer's legal counsel made a statement where he reiterated that the plot of land is locked in and that the comprehensive plan should not be the end all. c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions) Sulzer representatives asked who in the audience was in favor of the rezone and people rose their hands. The Commission then asked who with their hands raised were residents of La Porte. No official count was taken. Julia and Darrell Hutchins(11311 N. P Street),a Lomax resident,argued that large lot should be left as large lot and brought pictures from a neighbor's backyard to show the factory at night.Mrs.Hutchins also brought in a letter from a neighbor that could not make the meeting to voice objection. Mrs. Hutchins asked for those against the request to raise their hand and people rose their hands. No official count was taken. Mr. Hutchins identified other locations where Sulzer might expand their facility, but Sulzer representatives explained why those locations were not feasible. Chris Murdock, another Lomax resident,talked about how he could hear the Sulzer factory on his 4 AM runs and spoke against the request. Mark Pool(1401 Lemon Lane)stated that he would be the most impacted by either scenario proposed. He indicated that he was neither in favor or opposed to the zone change request. d. Question and Answer There were questions asked and answered about Sulzer and the general trend of light industrial uses encroaching on the Large Lot District. 4. Close public hearing. Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 7:02 PM. 5. Consider a recommendation to the La Porte City Council on Zone Change Request#16-92000001. Motion by Commissioner Warren to recommend to City Council, denial of Zone Change Request#16-92000001. Second by Commissioner Barrera. Motion carried. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21,2016 Page 3 of 6 Ayes:Barrera,Warren,Kendrick,Lawler,and Smith Nays:Stockham Abstain:Follis 6. Consider a recommendation to the La Porte City Council on a proposed amendment to the Future Land Use Plan component of the La Porte Comprehensive Plan by amending the land use designation for a 5.0185 acre tract of land located south of the existing Sulzer Campus at 11518 Old La Porte Road and legally described as Reserve A,Sulzer South Expansion Subdivision,from"Large Lot Residential"use to"Light Industrial"use. Motion by Commissioner Warren to recommend denial to City Council of a proposed amendment to the Future Land Use Plan component of the La Porte Comprehensive Plan by amending the land use designation for a 5.0185 acre tract of land located south of the existing Sulzer Campus at 11518 Old La Porte Road and legally described as Reserve A,Sulzer South Expansion Subdivision,from"Large Lot Residential" use to"Light Industrial" use. Second by Commissioner Barrera.Motion carried. Ayes:Barrera,Warren,Kendrick,Lawler and Smith Nays:Stockham Abstain:Follis *Note:Chairman Lawler called for a break at 7:10.The meeting reconvened at 7:20 PM. 7. Consider a request by Liberty Property Trust for approval of a major development site plan for a proposed warehouse distribution facility at 1801 S. 16th Street(southeast corner of S. 16th Street and Export Drive). City Planner Eric Ensey pointed out the correct address of 1702 Highway 146 S.City Planner Ensey went on to say that all landscaping and parking had met code requirements.Staff recommended that the Commission add a condition that the fire marshal approve the site plan. Commissioner Smith asked if it was an allowed use in the zoning district. City Planner Ensey assured him that according to the Special Conditional Use Permit for Port Crossing their proposed use was allowed. Ken Chang, the applicant, from Liberty Property Trust said that he supported staffs recommendation of approval. Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to approve a Major Development Site Plan (#15-83000002) to allow for construction of a new Flex Office/Warehouse Facility for the property located at the northwest corner of State Highway 146 Feeder Road and Export Drive(1702 Highway 146 South)in the Port Crossing Business Park. Second by Commissioner Smith. Motion carried. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21,2016 Page 4 of 6 Ayes:Barrera,Smith,Kendrick,Warren,Follis,Stockham,and Lawler Nays: 8. Open a public hearing to receive input on proposed modifications to Chapter 106(Zoning)of the City of La Porte's Code of Ordinances in connection with an annual review as required by Section 106-65 of the city's Code of Ordinances. Chairman Lawler opened at 7:32 PM. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Eric Ensey mentioned that when approved in 2014, it was added that Chapter 106 should be reviewed yearly,due to the development ordinance review,staff and the Commission missed last year's update.City Planner Ensey went through the changes section by section with the Commission. Commissioner Follis asked for clarification on the staffs ability to revoke a zoning permit and when they would use that power.City Planner Ensey responded that it would only be in extreme circumstances where the applicant said a property would have one use but in practice is something different. The Commission debated whether or not to separate car and truck repair in the code and put truck or trailer repair in industrial districts. b. Applicant Presentation There was no applicant presentation. c. Public Comments Ken Chang of Liberty Property Trust came forward to present some revisions they made to the code concerning facade design requirements for consideration. The Commission thanked Mr. Chang for his contribution and noted their appreciation to have industry voices when designing the code. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 9. Close Public Hearing Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 8:41 PM. 10. Consider recommendation to City Council on proposed modifications to Chapter 106(Zoning)of the City of La Porte's Code of Ordinances in connection with the comprehensive review of Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21,2016 Page 5 of 6 Chapter 106(Zoning)by the Chapter 106(Zoning)Subcommittee of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion by Commissioner Follis to recommend to City Council approval of proposed modifications to Chapter 106 (Zoning) of the City of La Porte's Code of Ordinances in connection with the comprehensive review of Chapter 106(Zoning) by the Chapter 106(Zoning)Subcommittee of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission. Second by Commissioner Stockham. Motion carried. Ayes:Barrera,Smith,Kendrick,Warren,Follis,Stockham,and Lawler Nays: 11. Administrative Reports At this time Commissioners Follis, Warren, and Stockham volunteered to be on a subcommittee to review Chapter 106"Zoning"for the coming year. City Planner Ensey said that they hope to have the bylaws ready for the next Commission meeting. 12. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Commissioner Kendrick thanked the subcommittee for all their hard work. Commissioner Warren thanked the public for how much he has learned over the course of his work on his Commission. 13. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Warren to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Smith. Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ry Cramer Secretary, Planning and Zoning Commission Passed and Approved on MO5 19 , 2016. Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of April 21,2016 Page 6 of 6 . ._...&) .. .__ Hal Lawler Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission