HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2015-03-19 Regular PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
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REGULAR MEETING
1. The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:02pm with the following people in
attendance:
Chairman Mark McLean Vice Chairman David O’Farrell
Commissioner Arthur Triplette Commissioner Sally Branson
Commissioner Craig Lovell Arnold Polanca, City Attorney
Aubrey Harbin, City Planner Nick Haby, PIO/Planning Manager
Becky Summers, Dev. Coordinator
Absent: Nye, Borghese
2. Communication from the public/committee liaisons
(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 be placed on a later regular Commission agenda for discussion and/or possible
action.)
Chris Pemberton/resident, said he left his former City due to a job change as well as the
high number of apartments and increase in crime.
Sean Rives/resident, said the density of the complex was a main concern. He said he lives
on Townes Road and the proposed development could turn his neighborhood street into a
major thoroughfare. He said the limited sidewalks were a safety concern. He said he was
okay with the church use and commercial development but felt CCISD was not prepared
for the added population. He also stated he was against restaurants that would sell alcohol
so close to his neighborhood.
3. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of the minutes for the meeting held:
1) March 5, 2015
MINUTES OF A
REGULAR MEETING
HELD THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015
AT 7:00 PM
CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
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March 19, 2015 P & Z Meeting
Motion to approve: Triplette
Second: Branson
Vote: 5/0 Unanimous Motion carried
4. Consideration and possible action regarding a zone classification change request at 3801
FM 528 (also known as the Whitcomb Property), a tract of land containing 135.778 acres
out of the Sarah McKissick Survey, Harris County, to change from Planned Unit
Development (Ordinance No. 2004-13 and Ordinance No. 2005-34) to Planned Unit
Development (new)
Motion to take off table: Branson
Second: O’Farrell
Vote: 5/0 Unanimous Motion carried
Motion to approve: McLean
Second: Branson
Vote: 0/5 Unanimous Motion failed
Harbin stated she received additional documents including a revised written portion of the
proposed PUD addressing comments from the last Commission meeting. Phasing was
added to construct 300 apartments followed by a required amount of commercial before the
final 300 units could be started. An Open Space Plan was included, a Historical PUD
Tracker, a Retail Sampler and Communication References from the church to the
public/congregation, Biographies for Tellus and NRP plus a draft of Deed Restrictions
numbering 111 pages.
Chairman McLean asked Harbin what time the additional documents were submitted to
which she said 3:00 and 5:00pm.
McLean asked if the Deed Restrictions were voluntary and asked the applicant if he was
comfortable with the proposed plan. Greg Penner, CCCC, said yes the church was
comfortable with all the propositions and felt they had addressed all the Commission’s
comments.
Lovell asked if the Church park area was separate from the mixed use park area to which
Penner said yes, the parks are separate. McLean asked if the Master Park Plan included the
Church’s park to which Paul Johnson, Tellus, said all the parkland would be subject to
working with the City.
McLean made a motion to approve. He said the amount of information and effort by the
applicant was appreciated. He said he read the PUD ordinance guidelines and said the
proposed development was “spot on” with the first item defining a PUD. The second item
to have an innovative design was addressed since Friendswood currently does not have any
developments of the sort. The third requirement addressing public health was reviewed by
the Police Department. Requirement four was evaluated by the CEDC who remarked the
proposed plan is similar to the previously approved PUD. He said requirement five to
enhance aesthetics would be enforced by P&Z and staff during Site Plan reviews.
Requirement six regarding developmental restrictions were met because of the floodzone
occupying a large portion of the tract. McLean said the final requirement was to promote
economic development and spoke on several subsections of requirement seven. He
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March 19, 2015 P & Z Meeting
explained that a single family development was proposed last year, including some
commercial along the frontage, the Commission and Council both denied. He said a
concern was that the residential would be built and the commercial would never follow.
McLean stated the property is one of the City’s remaining jewels for commercial
development. He explained the phasing of the project drove his vote. He said he would be
voting against the project due to too many loopholes in regards to phasing. He was
concerned about a non-profit organization purchasing the entire tract and no commercial
user being on board. McLean then said he thought everything else was great and
encouraged the other Commissioners to explain their votes to the applicant so they could
possibly adjust the plan, if they desired.
Commissioner Lovell said his concern was the amount of acreage lost to the floodzone
decreased the commercial land but no adjustments were made to the percentage of
residential. He said he would like to see a more proportional plan.
Commissioner O’Farrell stated there was significant reduction in useable land but the
residential units did not decrease. He stated the approved PUD contained townhomes and
condos while the proposed PUD is strictly apartments.
Commissioner Branson thanked the applicants for their professionalism and announced
their effort did not go unnoticed. She said her concern was the loss of commercial property
when Friendswood is running out of land. She stated Vision 2020 talks about an 80/20 ratio
and could not support more residential.
Commissioner Triplette stated he was concerned about density and the reduction in
commercial land.
The Commission then took a vote.
McLean spoke to the applicant that the Commission would not be recommending the
project to City Council but that Council would make the final decision. He stated he
would make himself fully available to Council if they had any questions regarding
Planning and Zoning’s reasoning.
5. Consideration and possible action regarding future Planning and Zoning Commission
meeting dates.
Harbin said the next regular meeting will be on April 2, 2015 at 7:00pm.
6. Communications from the Commission
Lovell announced the Library would begin renovations April 6th.
Branson gave congratulations to Commissioner O’Farrell on his daughter’s recent wedding.
7. Reports
A. Council Liaison – Steve Rockey said he was proud of P&Z and knew they put lots
of effort into their decision on the Clear Creek Community Church project.
B. Staff - Haby reminded the Commission of the upcoming Land Use Conference.
Harbin stated she would be sending out travel information tomorrow.
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March 19, 2015 P & Z Meeting
8. The Regular Meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission adjourned at 7:53pm.
These minutes respectfully submitted by:
Becky Summers
Becky Summers
Development Coordinator / P&Z Secretary