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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2016-10-20 Regular PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION . Regular Meeting 1. The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm with the following people in attendance: Chairman David O’Farrell Commissioner Craig Lovell Commissioner Rhonda Neel Commissioner Sally Branson Commissioner Rich Borghese Commissioner Richard Sasson Commissioner Tony Annan Arnold Polanco, City Attorney Aubrey Harbin, City Planner Becky Summers, Dev. Coordinator 2. Communication from the public/committee liaisons (To comply with the 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 A. Approval of the minutes for the meeting held: 1) October 3, 2016 Motion to Table: Borghese Second: Annan Vote: 7 to 0 (unanimous) Motion Carried 4. Consideration and possible action regarding a site plan for JSC Federal Credit Union to be located at 307 N. Friendswood Dr. Motion to remove from table: Branson Second: Neel Vote: 7 to 0 (Unanimous) Motion Carried MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING HELD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 AT 7:00 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS 2 October 20, 2016 P & Z Meeting Motion to approve subject to staff comments: Branson Second: Sasson Vote: 7 to 0 (unanimous) Motion Carried Harbin stated the applicant changed the building façade to brick which is an approved material in the Community Overlay District. She said the wooden fence would still need Commission approval, though. Amy Harris/architect showed the Commission samples of the brick and stone to be used on the building. Sasson commented he was pleased the designers saved as many trees as they could. He asked if the multiple power poles along the front could be consolidated or removed. Harris stated their new utility lines would be underground and the ones in the right-of- way she was not sure if they could be removed but would check into it. 5. Consideration and possible action regarding the Preliminary Plat of Sterling Creek Section 3 (a gated, private subdivision) being 32.9346 acres of land out of a called 194.21 acre tract of land known as Tract A and being recorded in Clerk’s File No. 2010059686, comprised of a subdivision recorded in Volume 118, Page 417 and being situated in the Mary Fareau Survey, A-69, and a Partial Replat of Sterling Creek Section 2 Reserve D, recorded in Clerk’s File No. 2016021773, City of Friendswood, Galveston County, Texas Motion to discuss: Lovell Second: Annan Adam Hill/developer explained he was continuing with the 1990s master plan of Friendswood Lakes. He proposed the second access point be a gravel road connected to Sandy Lakes Drive for emergency use, equipped with a Knox box. Harbin said staff met earlier in the week and discussed the proposed gravel road as temporary solution until Friendswood Lakes Blvd. is built through. Morad Kabiri, Assistant City Manager, explained this was a phased subdivision and multiple points of access would be achieved. Lovell asked if the City had granted an exemption like this for any other subdivision. Kabiri said several other subdivisions had been developed with alternate access points. Lovell asked how long the temporary road would be in place. He suggested platting only 75 lots to meet the access point requirement while holding the remainder in reserve for future build out. Annan asked Mr. Hill why he would not build the road to access the proposed subdivision. Hill answered he has approached the County about having a bond election to fund the road. Hill said he already spent $1 million on the road extension and creek crossing to access the last subdivision he built, Sterling Creek Section 2. He also said if they plat and build the second access, rollback agriculture taxes would become due. 3 October 20, 2016 P & Z Meeting O’Farrell asked Kabiri for an estimated time frame of the County having the road on a bond election. Kabiri said hopefully in 2017 and mentioned the roadway was a high priority. He estimated 24-36 months for completion of the boulevard. Lovell asked Hill how long Sterling Creek Section 3 would take to build out. Hill answered about four years. Lovell asked what happens if the bond does not happen. He said almost 100 homes would be using one permanent access point. Lovell asked why Hill did not build the road. Hill stated developers do not build boulevards, only roads. Annan stated he could not support the project while it had a gate, temporary second access for that many rooftops. Branson asked if Hill could build a road instead of a boulevard. Hill said he could but it costs money. O’Farrell said Friendswood has always relied on developers to extend roadways. O’Farrell pointed out that if Hill sold the Section 4 property, the new owner would then be saddled with building twice the road to be able to access his property. O’Farrell was struggling with the issue of fairness. Borghese asked who built the League City Parkway. Kabiri answered the developer and the City and the County all paid into that expansion. Hill said that area has MUD taxes and he does not have the amount of money the “big guys” do. After the Chairman visually gauged the Commissioners’ stances, Hill withdrew his application as opposed to having the plat denied. 6. Update from the Subcommittee regarding Large Retail Uses Lovell presented findings in relation to noise and light pollution produced by large retail businesses. He said the noise issue seemed to be larger than the façade issue and stated the subcommittee would do additional benchmarking then update their report. 7. Consideration and possible action regarding proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Section 8.B. Fences, Walls, and Hedges and Section 20. Definitions O’Farrell stated the ordinance in question had been in place for 24-years and ZBOA had heard 9 cases. He said the proposed change was too big without serious thought and proposed a subcommittee be formed. Annan, Borghese and Sasson all opined that subcommittees needed to be prioritized. O’Farrell told the Commission that City Council was urging a change to the fence ordinance. Kabiri explained an application for a non-conforming fence was denied by the Zoning Board of Adjustment and then by the Planning & Zoning Commission so a Council member was approached by the applicant for a resolution. Council discussed decreasing the minimum 2-acre requirement to 120’ lot frontage instead. O’Farrell stated he felt the best way to sway Council would be to form a subcommittee and provide them with plenty of information. 4 October 20, 2016 P & Z Meeting Councilman Rockey said a lot of people in town are out of compliance by having fences past the front build lines even though they do not meet the lot size requirement. Motion to create subcommittee: O’Farrell Second: Branson Vote: 5 to 2 (Annan, Borghese against) Motion Carried 8. Consideration and possible action regarding the Liaison Schedule Richard Sasson was appointed to be liaison to the Community and Economic Development Committee. Tony Annan became the Zoning Board of Adjustment liaison. 9. Consideration and possible action regarding P&Z Commissioner responsibilities; attendance; promptness; liaison participation; and meeting formats The Commissioners each stated their understanding of what it means to be a P&Z Commissioner. O’Farrell asked Harbin to provide information on the Commission’s role with the Capital Improvement Project plan review. O’Farrell asked the Commissioners to be prompt and attempt to be at the meeting 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The Commission discussed the pros and cons of having Joint Public Meetings on the same night as City Council meetings. Neel commented a set schedule would be more effective and Branson said less confusing for applicants. Borghese stated the Commission prefers meeting in Council Chambers but was concerned about the additional time it would add for applicants. Harbin said she would look into having the Mayor explain during the meeting about P&Z moving upstairs to meet. She said staff would discuss moving the meeting to a different weekday and come up with proposed schedules. 10. Consideration and possible action regarding future Planning and Zoning Commission meeting dates Harbin said the next regular meeting was scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd but Early Voting was being held at City Hall and Planning Staff would be at a conference. She said a Joint Public Hearing was scheduled for November 7th at 7:00pm and stated the meetings would need to be combined due to a pending final plat application. 11. Communications from the Commission Branson said the Friendswood School Museum had their Grand Opening. 11. Reports A. Council Liaison – Councilman Rockey left during Item 8. B. Staff – Harbin said the APA Conference was being held Nov 2-4 and Commissioners O’Farrell, Lovell, Branson and Sasson were attending along with Staff Members Harbin and Summers. 5 October 20, 2016 P & Z Meeting 12. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 pm. These minutes respectfully submitted by: Becky Summers Becky Summers Development Coordinator/P&Z Secretary