HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2025-04-10 RegularCITY OF FRIENDSWOOD
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 - 6:00 PM
Minutes
MINUTES OF A FRIENDSWOOD REGULAR MEETING HELD AT 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD
DR, FRIENDSWOOD, TX 77546, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
STATE OF TEXAS
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD
COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS
APRIL 10, 2025
1.CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING
COMMISSION THAT WAS HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025, AT [ACTUAL_START_TIME]
910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DR, FRIENDSWOOD, TX 77546
CHAIRMAN TOM HINCKLEY
COMMISSIONER TRAVIS MANN
COMMISSIONER BRIAN BOUNDS
COMMISSIONER MARSHA CONRAD
COMMISSIONER WILLIE C ANDERSON
COMMISSIONER STACEY PHILLIPS
COUNCIL LIAISON JOE MATRANGA
CITY ATTORNEY KAREN HORNER
DIRECTOR OF CDD/PLANNER AUBREY HARBIN
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT KRISTINA CUELLAR
COMMISSIONER MARCUS RIVES, COUNCIL LIAISON TRISH HANKS, AND ASSISTANT
PLANNER BECKY BENNETT WERE ABSENT FROM THE MEETING.
2.COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
In order to comply with provisions of the Open Meetings Act, the Commission may not deliberate on
subjects discussed under this agenda item. However, the Commission may direct such subjects to be
placed on a later regular Commission agenda for discussion and/or possible action.
None.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
These items are considered routine or ministerial in nature and will be enacted with one motion. There will
be no separate discussion of items unless a commissioner so requests in which case the item would be
removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.
A. Consider approving the minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
held Thursday, March 13, 2025.
**Commissioner Travis Mann moved to approve the minutes of the Planning and Zoning
Commission Regular Meeting held Thursday, March 13, 2025. Seconded by Commissioner Marsha
Conrad. The motion was approved unanimously.
4. ACTION ITEMS
A. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO APPENDIX C, ZONING FOR COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES AND TEMPORARY USES
i Conduct a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to Appendix C "Zoning," to
amend Section 8 "Supplementary district regulations," Subsection M "Commercial
Activities and Temporary Uses" Paragraph 2 "Temporary Outdoor Sales" of the
Friendswood City Code to update the regulations pertaining to temporary outdoor sales
activities, including consolidating the provisions for Outdoor Sales and Special Events.
Planner Harbin said the proposed changes include comments made by commissioners during the
past few discussions. She said the end time of a temporary use would be no later than 10:00pm to
coincide with the city's noise ordinance. Harbin also stated that multi-business buildings, like strip
centers, would allow six permits per year per lot, otherwise each tenant or suite having six per year
could become overwhelming. She said the property owner or landlord would need to provide written
authorization for a temporary use.
Jacob Finnen/Friendswood Scoop Shop spoke in favor of the 30-day permit for uses such as a
pumpkin patch. He said he would need to research if six 4-day event permits would be sufficient.
ii Consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding proposed amendments to
Appendix C "Zoning," to amend Section 8 "Supplementary district regulations," Subsection
M "Commercial Activities and Temporary Uses" Paragraph 2 "Temporary Outdoor Sales"
of the Friendswood City Code to update the regulations pertaining to temporary outdoor
sales activities, including consolidating the provisions for Outdoor Sales and Special
Events.
Commissioner Mann had some concerns with multi-business locations being limited to the number
of yearly permits. Harbin suggested the commission review how the ordinance was working at their
annual retreat. Commissioner Conrad mentioned a previous comment about allowing eight 4-day
permits a year. Harbin responded that another business had suggested eight permits per year, but
the commission agreed to draft the ordinance allowing six. Harbin said the number of yearly permits
could be reviewed during the retreat, as well. Commissioner Bounds agreed he would prefer to
allow six permits per year for now. Hinckley questioned if a landlord holding an event would
decrease the number of tenant permits per year and provided an example of the Texas Music
Festival at Captain's Corner. Harbin said that particular property was actually four separate lots.
**Commissioner Brian Bounds moved to approve a recommendation to the City Council regarding
proposed amendments to Appendix C "Zoning," to amend Section 8 "Supplementary district
regulations," Subsection M "Commercial Activities and Temporary Uses" Paragraph 2 "Temporary
Outdoor Sales" of the Friendswood City Code to update the regulations pertaining to temporary
outdoor sales activities, including consolidating the provisions for Outdoor Sales and Special
Events. Seconded by Commissioner Willie Anderson. The motion was approved unanimously.
B. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO APPENDIX C, ZONING REGARDING PERIMETER
LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING
i Conduct a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to Appendix C "Zoning,"
Section 8.2 "Perimeter Landscaping and Screening" of the Friendswood City Code to give
the Planning and Zoning Commission more latitude in considering site conditions and
adjacent zoning when approving site plans.
Harbin said the proposed changes are primarily rearranging the existing sections to allow the
commission more latitude when considering required screening based on adjacent conditions. She
said one other change was to consider screening on a property with a Specific Use Permit.
ii Consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding proposed amendments to
Appendix C "Zoning," Section 8.2 "Perimeter Landscaping and Screening" of the
Friendswood City Code to give the Planning and Zoning Commission more latitude in
considering site conditions and adjacent zoning when approving site plans.
Commissioner Conrad said the Ordinance Subcommittee discussed various possible scenarios and
are comfortable with the proposed changes.
**Commissioner MARSHA CONRAD moved to approve a recommendation to the City Council
regarding proposed amendments to Appendix C "Zoning," Section 8.2 "Perimeter Landscaping and
Screening" of the Friendswood City Code to give the Planning and Zoning Commission more
latitude in considering site conditions and adjacent zoning when approving site plans. Seconded by
Commissioner Brian Bounds. The motion was approved unanimously.
C. Consider approval of a site plan amendment for the property located at 212 and 214 S
Friendswood Drive, also known as the One Sixty One development, which will include the
addition of benches per the Downtown District regulations, provide for the future addition
of a patio to the end of the building, 6-foot brick paved sidewalks along W Shadowbend
Ave, and new landscaping.
Harbin said this is an existing commercial development that was recently platted and has been
working on site improvements. She said the owner will be installing a six-foot brick paved sidewalk
along Shadowbend, which is greater than the required six-foot concrete sidewalk. She said this is a
non-conforming site and the owner will be adding trees, bringing the property closer to
conformance. She said part of the site plan amendment being considered is to allow Ocean Sushi
(a tenant) to build an outdoor dining patio. Harbin stated a separate building permit would be
processed through Community Development for the patio.
Brett Banfield/owner said the staff summarized the changes, and he was there for any questions.
The commissioners agreed the changes looked great.
**Commissioner Marsha Conrad moved to approve a site plan amendment for the property located
at 212 and 214 S Friendswood Drive, also known as the One Sixty One development, which will
include the addition of benches per the Downtown District regulations, provide for the future
addition of a patio to the end of the building, 6-foot brick paved sidewalks along W Shadowbend
Ave, and new landscaping. Seconded by Commissioner Travis Mann. The motion was approved
unanimously.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Announce the next Planning and Zoning Commission regular meetings for (i) Thursday,
April 24, 2025, and (ii) Thursday, May 8, 2025.
B. Receive the March 2025 DRC Report, Council Liaison updates concerning action taken by
the City Council on Planning and Zoning related items, and Commissioner comments
concerning items of community interest and/or requesting future agenda items.
Council Liaison Matranga reported that City Council approved the de-annexation of 130 acres,
staggering commissioner terms, and changes to the Sign Ordinance at April's meeting.
Commissioner Mann said he appreciates the work put in by subcommittees to help vet ordinance
changes. Chairman Hinckley reiterated that there is a lot of work behind the scenes, and he
appreciates everyone's efforts.
Harbin explained that the Sign Ordinance is Appendix A and does not require Commission
approval, but it does require two readings. She said the proposed changes are regarding temporary
use signs and its second reading should align with the first and final reading of changes to the
Zoning Ordinance discussed tonight.
Harbin announced the city had been awarded a $250,000 grant that will be used to hire a
professional planning firm to update the Comprehensive Plan, a significant project the Planning
Subcommittee had been working on. She said that it will be a three-year project that will kick off this
month.
Aubrey said Assistant Planner Becky Bennett was absent from tonight's meeting because she was
in Austin attending the annual Land Use Law Conference. She thanked Administrative Assistant
Kristina Cuellar for filling in.
6. ADJOURNMENT
This meeting was adjourned at 06:26 PM.