HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2017-05-18 Regular PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
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Regular Meeting
1. The Regular Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm with the following people in
attendance:
Chairman Craig Lovell Commissioner Brett Banfield
Commissioner Rhonda Neel Commissioner Tony Annan
Becky Summers, Development Coordinator Arnold Polanco, City Attorney
Morad Kabiri, Director of Community Dev.
Absent: Sasson, Borghese
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. Minutes from May 4, 2017 regular meeting
Motion to approve: Neel
Second: Annan
Vote: 4 to 0 Unanimous Motion passed
4. Consideration and possible action regarding the site plan for Magnolia Plaza to be
located at 311 S. Friendswood Drive
Motion to discuss: Banfield
Second: Annan
MINUTES OF A
REGULAR MEETING
HELD THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
AT 7:00 PM
CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
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May 18, 2017 P & Z Meeting
Summers explained Magnolia Plaza would consist of three buildings but the applicant
was only seeking approval for the first two buildings at this time. She said the first
building would be the new Lary’s Florist shop and the second would be a leasable strip
center.
Annan asked if the parking issue had been remedied. Summers explained the scope of the
project had changed from an event center to the current plan of retail and office and did
meet the City’s parking requirements.
Motion to approve subject to staff comments: Annan
Second: Neel
Vote: 4 to 0 Unanimous Motion passed
5. Consideration and possible action regarding the site plan for CareNow Urgent Care to
be located at 1729 S. Friendswood Dr.
Summers explained the project was for a new urgent care near the intersection of FM 518
and FM 528. She said staff did not have any outstanding comments on the project and once
the infrastructure was complete and accepted, the developer would be able to record the
plat. She said following that, CareNow could proceed with building permits. Summers
stated the applicant was requesting to pay into the Sidewalk Fund in lieu of installing
sidewalks due to a lack of room in the right-of-way.
Richard Turcotte/applicant explained there was not enough width between the roadside
ditch and the edge of pavement along FM 518 to install a sidewalk. He said there was a
similar situation across the street when Masa Sushi built. He said he would be willing to
install the sidewalk on the private property within a public easement if the Commission
would allow the sidewalk to be within the landscape buffer.
Kabiri said the alternative would be for the entire site to be shifted to allow the sidewalk on
private property but not within the landscape buffer. Annan asked about closing in the
roadside ditch. Kabiri said the ditch was located within a TxDOT right-of-way and thought
it would be unlikely to gain TxDOT approval. Turcotte mentioned installing the sidewalk
could also lead to having a sidewalk to nowhere without the neighboring developments
making concessions, as well.
Lovell said he thought the money should be escrowed into the Sidewalk Fund so the City
could install the sidewalk at a later date, when feasible.
Motion to approve: Annan
Second: Banfield
Vote: 3 to 1 (Annan against) Motion failed
Kabiri asked the Commission to reconsider the request subject to the applicant installing
the sidewalk on private property. Turcotte explained the denial and subsequent 90-day hold
on coming back to the Commission would kill the project. He said he was more than
willing to install the sidewalk and did not realize he needed a majority vote of the
Commission as a whole, not a majority of the Commission currently present.
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May 18, 2017 P & Z Meeting
Motion to reconsider request: Lovell
Second: Banfield
Vote: 4 to 0 Unanimous Motion passed
Motion to approve subject to installing a 5’ sidewalk: Annan
Second: Banfield
Vote: 4 to 0 Unanimous Motion passed
6. Work Sessions:
a. Interview process for potential Planning and Zoning Commissioners
Lovell explained the Commission would be using a documented process for filling
vacancies to help alleviate the public’s concerns regarding appointments. He said when a
position was available they would select applicants to interview by using a random number
generator, the equivalent of “pulling a number out of a hat.” Lovell said due to the large
number of applications on file, the new system would ensure unbiased selections for
interviews.
7. Consideration and possible action regarding future Planning and Zoning Commission
meeting dates
Summers said the next regular meetings would be held June 1st and June 15th at 7:00pm.
8. Communications from
a. Commissioners – Annan said the Zoning Board of Adjustment would be
convening Tuesday, May 23rd and he planned to attend.
Lovell attended the Library Board meeting but had nothing to report.
b. Planning Subcommittee – Banfield said the subcommittee met on May 16th to
discuss updates to the Future Land Use map. He said there would be a town hall
meeting prior to any changes being made.
c. Ordinance Subcommittee – Neel said the subcommittee met and discussed the
ordinance concerning front yard fences. She said the subcommittee did not see any
compelling reason to change the ordinance other than making a few tweaks.
d. Council liaison – Councilman Hill attended in place of Councilman Rockey. Hill
advised the Commission to pay special attention to volunteer applicants’
availability. He said the missing Commissioners at tonight’s meeting almost cost an
applicant their project and it was not fair.
e. Staff – Summers announced City Attorney Polanco was retiring and this would
be his final Commission meeting. Summers thanked Polanco for his assistance over
the years.
9. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm.
These minutes respectfully submitted by:
Becky Summers
Becky Summers
Development Coordinator/P&Z Secretary