HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2008-02-18 Specialf
l J
PLANNING & ZONING COMM ISSION
MINUTES OF A
SPECIAL SESSION & JOINT PUBLIC
HEARING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2008
6:00PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY HALL
910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
1.The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. The following people were in attendance:
Commissioner Michael Brown
Vice Chairwoman Sherry Weesner
Commissioner David O'Farrell
Development Coordinator Aubrey Harbin
Commissioner Hassan Moghaddam
Commissioner Mark McLean
City Planner Mona Miller
City Attorney Bobby Gervais
Mayor David Smith changed the order of the agenda with permission from City Council and
Pla1ming and Zoning Commissioners.
2.Discussion with City Council and CEDC chair and vice chair regarding updates/status
report on the City's Comprehensive Land Use Plan
The mayor explained what has been done so far in the process of updating the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan. He explained that the document is almost ready for the
Planning and Zoning Commission to make a recommendation to City Council; the items
pending are a list of subdivisions and Single Family Estate lots from the mayor.
He continued by explaining that the next steps are to place the item on P&Z agenda and
CEDC agenda; then, set up a meeting with City Council, CEDC and Planning and Zoning
for final approval. Next, facilitate public input by hosting a town hall meeting or
something similar, possibly in April. Then hold required public hearings.
This portion of the meeting was closed at 6:55pm.
The public hearing was called to order at 7:05pm.
1.Receive conm1ents from the public, both oral and written, regarding:
a)Amending Appendix C (Downtown District) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding
sidewalks/ al temati ves.
No one spoke for or against the item.
b)Amending Appendix B of the Subdivision Ordinance, Section V, Required
Improvements, regarding a sidewalk fund.
No one spoke for or against the item.
The public hearing was left open until a later date.
2.Discussion with City Council regarding amendments to the Sign Ordinance for
Non conforming/obsolete signs
McLean explained that the final draft of the proposed changes to the ordinance was a
collaborative effort of P&Z, staff and legal counsel. He explained that the intent of the
ordinance is to bring all signs into compliance and that the revised obsolete sign
ordinance references the Local Government Code Chapter 216. Owners would be
encouraged to keep signs in good repair and can repair legal non-conforming signs, as
long as the repairs do not decrease compliance.
There were some concerns with requiring property owners to bring signs up to code when
the use changes, but it was determined that this portion of the ordinance is giving them a
year to replace the sign if it is an owner; 2 years for leased properties. Requiring signs to
be brought into compliance with the ordinance would help with revitalization. There was
a question about what would be required of strip centers with multiple tenants, and it was
decided that the ordinance should clarify this instance.
There are signs within the city limits of which the city has no permit records. It was
suggested that notices should be sent to property owners explaining that the revised
ordinance was adopted and instruct them to obtain a permit or lawful non-conforming
certificate from the building department. No fee would be required and the
documentation would be required within 90 days.
There was some discussion about requiring signs to be brought into compliance if they
were damaged more than 60 percent. It was decided that the ordinance needs to clarify
that 60 percent is the percentage of the cost of erecting the sign.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:46pm.
These minutes respectfully submitted by:2