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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-17 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes of January 19,2017 Commissioners Present: Lou Ann Martin, Richard Warren, Trey Kendrick, Larry Stockham, Wyatt Smith, Mark Follis, Helen LaCour and Chairman Hal Lawler Commissioners Absent: Nick Barrera City Staff Present: Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, City Planner Ian Clowes, and Planning Technician Ryan Cramer 1. Call to Order. Chairman Hal Lawler called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2. Roll call of members. Nick Barrera and Wyatt Smith were not present for roll call. Wyatt Smith arrived at 6:45. 3. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for Zone Change#16-92000004,a request by Justin Bennett of DCT La Porte LLC to rezone the property known as an 8.3 acre parcel legally described as Tracts 30A and 31A, Strang Subdivision,City of La Porte, Harris County,Texas from Business Industrial (BI)to Light Industrial (LI). Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:03 p.m. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Clowes gave staff's presentation. City Planner Clowes noted the site already has a building on it and this zone change will bring the use of said building into compliance as well as align the property's zoning with the Future Land Use Plan.Staff recommended approval of the zone change request. b. Applicant Presentation Justin Bennett from DCT stated his support of staff's presentation. Commissioner Follis asked why there were three separate zone changes. City Planner Clowes said this was at the request of the applicant. c. Public Comments There were no public comments. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 4. Close public hearing The public hearing was closed at 6:07 5. Consider a recommendation to the City Council or other action on Zone Change#16-92000004. Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to recommend approval. Second by Commissioner Martin. Motion carried. Ayes: Commissioners Stockham, LaCour, Follis, Kendrick,Warren, Martin and Chairman Lawler. Nays: 6. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for Zone Change#16-92000005,a request by Justin Bennett of DCT La Porte LLC to rezone the property known as a 12 acre parcel legally described as Tracts 17-1A and 18A,Strang Subdivision,City of La Porte, Harris County,Texas from Business Industrial (BI)to Light Industrial (LI). Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:08 PM. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Clowes gave staff's presentation. City Planner Clowes noted this zone change will bring the use of said building into compliance as well as align the property's zoning with the Future Land Use Plan.Staff recommended approval of the zone change request. b. Applicant Presentation Justin Bennett from DCT stated his support of staff's presentation. c. Public Comments There were no public comments. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 7. Close public hearing Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 6:11 PM. 8. Consider a recommendation to the La Porte City Council on Zone Change Request#16- 92000005. Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to recommend approval of Zone Change Request#16- 92000005,a request by Justin Bennett of DCT La Porte LLC to rezone the property known as a 12 acre parcel legally described as Tracts 17-1A and 18A,Strang Subdivision,City of La Porte, Harris County,Texas from Business Industrial (BI)to Light Industrial (LI). Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion Carried. Ayes: Commissioners Follis,Warren, Kendrick,Stockham, Martin, LaCour and Chairman Lawler Nays: None 9. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for Zone Change#16-92000006,a request by Steve Hess of Exel Logistics Dist.Corp.to rezone the property known as a 13.2 acre parcel legally described as Tracts 30 and 31 and Tracts 17A and 18, Perry Strang Subdivision, City of La Porte, Harris County,Texas from Business Industrial (BI)to Light Industrial (LI). Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:12 PM. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Clowes gave staff's presentation.City Planner Clowes noted this zone change will bring the use of said building into compliance as well as align the property's zoning with the Future Land Use Plan. Staff recommended approval of the zone change request. Commissioner Warren asked if drainage would be an issue. City Planner Clowes said it would be addressed at time of permitting. b. Applicant Presentation Justin Bennett from DCT representing Exel stated his support of staff's presentation. Commissioner Lawler stated he would like to see some more landscaping. Commissioner Stockham asked if future development would create a traffic issue on the 225 frontage road. c. Public Comments(for,against,or questions) There were no public comments. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 10. Close public hearing Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 6:18 PM. 11. Consider approval or other action on Zone Change request#16-92000006. Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to recommend to City Council, approval of Zone Change#16- 92000006, a request by Steve Hess of Exel Logistics Dist. Corp.to rezone the property known as a 13.2 acre parcel legally described as Tracts 30 and 31 and Tracts 17A and 18, Perry Strang Subdivision, City of La Porte, Harris County,Texas from Business Industrial (BI)to Light Industrial (LI). Second by Commissioner Stockham. Motion Carried. Ayes: Commissioners Martin,Warren, Kendrick,Stockham, LaCour, Follis and Chairman Lawler Nays: None 12. Consider approval or other action regarding a request by David Miles,Western Spherical Developers, LLC for approval of the proposed La Porte Town Center General Plan for the 40 acre tract of land known as Tracts 1 and 11,Johnson Hunter Survey,Abstract 35 generally located on the east side of State Highway 146 north of Wharton Weems Boulevard. City Planner Clowes presented staff's report on the General Plan After some questions about process of general plan approval versus the Special Conditional Use Permit approval, Commissioner Martin asked if the applicant was planning to do anything about the east property line as you can see the highway from the golf course.The applicant, David Miles, indicated they are ready to start building after some setbacks so that open space should be filled in soon. Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to recommend approval of the proposed La Porte Town Center General Plan for the 40 acre tract of land known as Tracts 1 and 1L,Johnson Hunter Survey,Abstract 35 generally located on the east side of State Highway 146 north of Wharton Weems Boulevard. Second by Warren. Motion Carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, Kendrick,Stockham, LaCour and Chairman Hal Lawler Nays: None Abstain: Commissioners Follis and Martin 13. Open a public hearing to receive input on an application for Special Conditional Use Permit #16-91000004,a request by David Miles,Western Spherical Developers, LLC to allow for construction of an entertainment,commercial and residential mixed use development, known as La Porte Town Center,on a 40-acre tract of land known as Tracts 1 and 11,Johnson Hunter Survey,Abstract 35 generally located on the east side of State Highway 146 north of Wharton Weems Boulevard. Chairman Lawler opened the public hearing at 6:34 PM. a. Staff Presentation City Planner Clowes gave staff's presentation of SCUP request#16-91000004, including a rundown of notable conditions placed on the development. Commissioner Follis asked for more time to read over the packet provided by Staff to look at differences between the original and the new proposal. He brought up how the general plan shows parking on both sides of the street but is prohibited in the SCUP conditions, he feared the City would be forced to allow parking on both sides of the street. Planning Technician Ryan Cramer showed how that was not the case. b. Applicant Presentation David Miles of Western Spherical Design and his team gave their applicant presentation where they discussed the sort of businesses the group is bringing in. Commissioner Smith asked how many of these uses have committed to contracts, Mr. Miles indicated they have letters of intent from various restaurants and other uses he mentioned earlier. Commissioner Follis asked if the drainage would become an issue,the applicant, and his engineer,said they would have to prove their improvements were zero impact before they would be allowed to build. c. Public Comments Mike Wilson of Baytown spoke in support of the Portrait of a Warrior gallery. Commissioner Smith asked if they had the funding in hand to build the museum, Mr.Wilson stated they do not but they have no worries about being able to meet a fundraising goal Ken Pridgeon of Baytown spoke about his work painting the pictures in the Portrait of a Warrior gallery. Bob Lee of La Porte voiced his support for the project as it could help La Porte's image and hopefully it means there will be less trucks. Fran Kelly of La Porte said by clearing the site,the applicant has gotten rid of a natural drainage area. Cliff Wilson of La Porte voiced his support for the project and the Portrait of a Warrior museum. Maggie Anderson of La Porte voiced her support for the project saying the trucks are not going to go anywhere but this is a step in the right direction. Commissioner Follis argued he needed more time to read over the documents and they should table the discussion until the next meeting. d. Question and Answer There were no questions. 14. Close public hearing Chairman Lawler closed the public hearing at 7:29 PM. 15. Consider approval or other action on Special Conditional Use Permit request#16-91000004. Motion by Commissioner Follis to table discussion of Special Conditional Use Permit#16- 91000004,a request by David Miles,Western Spherical Developers, LLC to allow for construction of an entertainment,commercial and residential mixed use development, known as La Porte Town Center, on a 40-acre tract of land known as Tracts 1 and 1L,Johnson Hunter Survey,Abstract 35 generally located on the east side of State Highway 146 north of Wharton Weems Boulevard to date certain. Second by Smith. Motion Carried. Ayes: Commissioners Smith,Stockham, Martin and Follis Nays: Commissioners Warren, Kendrick and Chairman Lawler Abstain: Commissioner LaCour 16. Administrative reports. Ian Clowes introduced himself as the new City Planner. 17. Commission comments on matters appearing on the agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy. Commissioner Smith asked if there was still a committee to make recommendations to City Council on Chapter 106 changes, Commissioner Warren told him the committee's work had been completed. 18. Adjourn Motion by Commissioner Kendrick to adjourn. Second by Commissioner LaCour. Motion Carried. Ayes: Commissioners Warren, Kendrick, Stockham,Smith, LaCour, Follis, Martin and Chairman Hal Lawler Nays: None Chairman Lawler adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, CC44111/1- Ryan ramer Secretary,Zoning Board of Adjustment rte, Passed and Approved on - 610,111 , 2017. Hal Lawler Chairman,Planning and Zoning Commission