HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2017-04-17 Special 04/17/17 457
STATE OF TEXAS )(
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )(
COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )(
APRIL 17, 2017 )(
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON
MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017 AT 4:30 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 910
S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT
CONSTITUTING A QUORUM:
MAYOR PRO-TEM JIM HILL
COUNCILMEMBER STEVE ROCKEY
COUNCILMEMBER BILLY ENOCHS
COUNCILMEMBER MIKE FOREMAN
COUNCILMEMBER JOHN SCOTT
COUNCILMEMBER CARLGUSTAFSON
CITY ATTORNEY ARNOLD POLANCO
CITY MANAGER ROGER ROECKER
CITY SECRETARY MELINDA WELSH
Mayor Holland was absent from the meeting.
REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Pro-Tem Hill called the meeting to order.
The invocation was given by Pastor Danny Mercer with Friendswood Church of Christ.
' Mayor Pro-Tem Hill led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and to the State of Texas.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Roxane Gill, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated she lives on Leisure Lane, her
backyard has Office Park District(OPD), wanted to reiterate the OPD does exactly what it is supposed to
do, it serves as a buffer. Since all the office parks have been developed on Winding Way, the noise has
significantly been reduced. The lighting from the fast food establishments and all the commercial
development along FM 528 is not blaring into her yard anymore. If Council approves_the proposed
rezoning on Leisure Lane right next to houses and allow a commercial shopping center the buffer will be
taken away and will bring back the problem of noise and light pollution. Ms. Gill asked Council to
reconsider the zone change request for Howard Subdivision because Council would not want a fast food
or grocery store immediately next to their House.
Santos Venegas, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated that he would like to reiterate the
fact that he is opposed to the rezone of Office Park District(OPD) to Commercial in Howard Subdivision.
He stated he is definitely opposed to the change due to safety, traffic, property value of their homes, and
any type of development especially commercial will generate a lot more traffic at the intersection. There
are currently insufficient roadways, especially on FM 518, and there is a bottleneck on a daily basis in the
morning and afternoon. There currently are not enough infrastructures at the proposed location, and
allowing a restaurant on that site is not going to help.
Dwane Ruiz, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated he is not completely aligned with his
neighbors, lives in Eagles Point, is not in opposed to the rezoning, believes there is a current problem
' with traffic, commercial development is going to happen but would like Council give some thought on a
strategy to manage the traffic associated with whatever is developed at that location. It would be naive to
think the solution would be perfect because there is not a perfect solution, and regardless of what is done
the traffic issue must be addressed. Mr. Ruiz thanked Council for volunteering to serve the community, is
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a very thankless job. He opposes the rezoning until a solution or an idea of a strategy regarding the
traffic issue is found.
Jennifer Rollins, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated she is a resident of Eagle Point
Subdivision, appreciates the opportunity to voice her opinion, is opposed to a zone change from Office
Park District for all the reasons other people have mentioned. She has taken time to look at
Friendswood's Vision 2020 document, vision summary mentions zoning adjustments and that the zoning
for nonresidential categories must be adjusted to respond to a more realistic market split, and rezoning
this particular piece of property does not align with that vision. Ms. Rollins further stated she believes that
the particular intersection in regards to retail is already built out, and other corridors of the City should be
looked at to develop as retail corridors since the population is primarily growing west and south. As an
example, the Community Shopping Center for West Ranch is already zoned and could draw business
from League City and other areas to bring taxes from people that do not live in the City of Friendswood.
CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor Pro-Tem Hill asked if anyone would like to speak. No one spoke.
Council convened into Executive Session in accordance with the Texas Government Code, pursuant to
Section 551.074 — Personnel Matters; to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation,
reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee. (Evaluation of City Attorney
applicants)
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
Council reconvened into Open Session with no action taken later in the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 PM. '
Mayor I e Holland
Attest:
Melinda Welsh, TRMC
City Secretary U: O
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