HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2004-03-11 Special[ I
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Minutes of a Special Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
March 11, 2004
A special meeting of the Friendswood City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the
Community and Economic Development Committee and the Main· Street Steering Committee,
was held on Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 4:00 pm at the Friendswood City Hall Council
Chambers, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following Planning & Zoning
Commissioners were present:
Bob Be1trand
Tom Burke
Jim Gibson
Kevin Holland
Loren Smith-City Attorney
Diana Steelquist-City Planner
Dan Johnson -Deputy Director CDD
4:00 PM-WORK SESSION
1.Call to order.
2.
3.
Mayor Brizendine called all committees present to order. The Mayor gave a brief overview of
the development projects. The City Manager also asked the presenters to identify specific
issues with the current city development processes that may need to be addressed to aid in the
implementation of the projects. Although only two projects were being discussed, both the
West prope1ty and the Mainstreet project could be affected. He also encouraged everyone to
think outside the box and look at the projects with fresh eyes.
Discussion and presentation proposed development plans in the Industrial -Zoned area of FM
2351 in the panhandle area.
Mr. Dan Rucker presented a project overview with maps of the area. The proposal was to
create a commercial street which would extend up from Blackhawk,·parallel FM 2351 and exit
off Beamer, This ,will create additional com!llercial frontage in the are�, which could be used
for office parks, retail, hotel/conference area and multi-family development. In order to
proceed, Mr. Rucker will need clear specific wording as to what is allowed, a clear
understanding what is acceptable use of this property, and then a development program that is
defined and adhered too. He asked if mixed-use zoning was possible for the development.
His company has purchased most of property in this area, and he believes this development
project could be an outstanding front door for the city.
Discussion and presentation regarding proposed development plans for a 138-acre parcel of
land located near the intersection of FM 528 and Bay Area Boulevard.
Mr. David Goswick, President of Goswick Marketing introduced Mr. Richard Brown,
internationally known planner. Mr. Brown planned the Woodlands' first 25 years, and has
created 14 master planned communities around the world. The proposed development will
have 4,000 ft. of road frontage, a mile of frontage on Clear Cree k. Market studies have shown
that there are enough rooftops in Friendswood to suppo1t this development. Mr. Brown
prepared a series of land use patterns and has created a land use plan. He will be bringing this
plan to the city for approval. The plan will require an overlay district with multi-use zoning.
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Mr. Brown has also been working with the Galloway School regarding the location of their
facilities in conjunction with the extension of Blackhawk. Mr. Brown has also contacted Clear
Creek Independent School District regarding the relocation of their school sites. The
Whitcombs have also offered to purchase property back from CCISD in order to facilitate the
extension of Blackhawk. Mr. Brown envisions an informal joint venture with the city and the
developer. If the project moves forward, the city would be looking at $3 mil in tax revenue.
The cun-ent development plan includes: ente1tainment areas, office block, retail, open air mall
with mixed use, apartments and townhouses, open air restaurants, with everything within
walking distance. This will be a one-stop place. Mr. Brown stated it cannot be built overnight,
and the development will be breaking new ground here in Friendswood. He believes if the
project can move fo1ward, people will come.
The development will need Public Works and Engineering to ensure that the Blackhawk major
roadway goes tlu·ough immediately. It will need planning and zoning to develop an overlay
district for mixed-use and Mr. Brown will work with them to help develop an ordinance. He
would also like to pa1tner with the City for infrastructure needs. Any assistance that is offered
by the city would be helpful, including changing the name of FM 528 to Nasa Rd. 1 Parkway.
The project needs to be public/private vision. Demographics support this project and he sees
this as a complement to the main street plans which raises the bar for future development for
the whole area.
Future developments will benefit from the synergy created. This project has everyone super
excited as it what city is looking for: tax diversity, maintaining green space. The Mayor
pledged to work together on the project. The City Manager also stated his support and pledged
staffs' supp01t and challenged each committee to help make these developments happen.
4.Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5 :52 p.m.
/bz:}!µ1qu� Planner
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Minutes of a Regular Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
March 11, 2004
A regular meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Com mission was held Thursday,
March 11, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the city hall council chambers located at 910 S. Friendswood
Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following members were present:
Bob Bertrand
Tom Burke
Michele Brekke
Jim Gibson
Kevin Holland
Loren Smith-City Attorney
Diana Steelquist-City Planner
Dan Johnson -Deputy Director CDD
With a quorum present, Commissioner Y eretsky resigned and Commissioner Brakebill absent,
Chairman Be1trand called the meeting to order to discuss the following:
Regular Meeting:
1.Communications from the Commission.
Chairman Bertrand commented on the previous meeting's two presentations and his
excitement with both of the proposed developments. In particular, the second
development offered oppo1tunities to think outside of the box. He also rep01ted on the
Tree Preservation Super Sub-committee. Due to a critical item that needs to be
addressed, the next tree meeting has been moved to April.
The Chair also reported that Commissioner Steve Y eretsky has resigned due to his
moving from Friendswood. Other Commissioners, including himself, Burke and
Holland, were also nearing the end of their terms in July and they should contact.the City
Secretary if they were interested in re-appointment.
t I O '
Commissioner Holland and Commissioner Gibson turned in his goal assignment on
sidewalks and he was discussing the goal of interaction with other groups with
Commissioner Brekke.
Commissioner Burke asked staff to report on the status of the EOD/DOD recommended
changes. Staff reported that City Council had tabled this item. Staff also thought the
item had been tabled not because of the recommended changes but because of issues ·
related to non-conforming lots in the EOD/DOD.
2.Communications from the public.
None.
3.Consent Agenda:
A.Approval of the 2-2-04 special meeting minutes.
B.Approval of the 2-5-04 regular meeting minutes.
C.Approval of the 2-16-04 special meeting minutes.
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D.Approval of the 2-19-04 regular meeting minutes.
E.Approval of the final plat of The Forest, Section 13.
Motion:
Second:
Holland -To approve the Consent Agenda
Gibson
Amended
Motion: Holland -To approve the Consent Agenda with changes as discussed to
items B and D meeting minutes.
Second: Gibson
Vote for: Unanimous Motion Carried
Regarding the 2-5-04 minutes on page 3, Burke corrected his statement to read
"Commissioner Burke stated that our sign ordinance prohibits off-premises signage and
since currently one has been allowed by the building official, that that portion of the sign
ordinance be re-examined during the upcoming general discussion of our sign
ordinance."
Commissioner Burke noted that on the 2-19-04 minutes page 2, he had stated that the
turning radius should be larger, not smaller. On page 3 of the 2-19-04 minutes he asked
that the sentence regarding· the detention be changed to read: "Mr. Burke stated that the
drainage distri ct approved the current detention with the future expansion included in the
calculations at that time. "
Tabled Items:
4. Consideration and possible action regarding Industrialized Housing.
No action taken. Remained on the table.
Regular Items:
5.Consideration and possible action regarding request to Amend Appendix C of the
Friendswood City Code, Same being Friendswood, Texas Zoning Ordinance No. 84-15,
by amending Section 7., P., Permitted Uses Table to add use # 713990 All Other
Amusement and Recreation Industries with a Specific Use Permit in the Industrial and
Light Industrial zoning districts and amend use# 44112 Used Car Sales to allow, with a
Specific Use Pe1mit, the used car sales in the Community Shopping Center, Original
Business District and Planned Unit Development zoning districts.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Holland-To recommend approval.
Brekke
Unanimous Motion Carried
The Chairman explained that this item had been returned to the Cornnussion from City
Council. Followi ng the Commission's February meeting recommending approval of the
changes, Commissioner Burke had contacted the Chair to express some concerns with
allowing the use of used car sales with a Specific Use Permit. The impetus for the
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recommended change to the PUT had come from a gas/convenience storeowner who also
wanted to sell used cars at his location. To the Commission, this seemed a synergistic use
of the gas/convenience station. However, Commissioner Burke stated his concern to the
·Chair that other properties with the proper zoning could be granted a Specific Use Permit if
the PUT was changed. Chairman Bertrand agreed with Burke and when asked, stated it
would be appropriate for Burke to send an info rmational memo to the City Council. The
Mayor and Mayor Pro-tern interpreted the memo from Commissioner Burke as a minority
dissenting repmt and has asked that all issues be resolved by the Commission as a whole
before making a recommendation to City Council. Since that time, the Chairman has
spoken with the Mayor to assure him that no minority repo1t had been made as the
Commission had made a unanimous recommendation.
Commissioner Burke clarified that the point he was t�ying to make in his memo ,vas about
the Specific Use Permit process. He asked the City Attorney if a Specific Use Pe1mit
could be denied and if that denial would stand up in court. The City Attorney said yes.
The City Attorney added that additional requirements for the approval of a Specific Use
Permit beyond what was specified in the ordinance could be requested as part of the
approval process.
Commissioner Burke stated his co·ncern that a used car sales lot would be allowed with a
Specific Use Permit if it was in the right zone and the site was without a building, proper
lighting, or infrastructure. He asked what kind of conditions could be placed on this type
of used car lot that would discourage their development, as he did not think that this type
of used car lot was a desirable use of land in Friendswood.
The Staff Planner responded that all commercial businesses in Friendswood must operate
out of a pe1manent structure that meets all the requirements of a commercial site plan.
Commissioner Burke asked if there were any exceptions to these requirements such as for
the paintball facility. The Planner again responded that the paintball facility was required
to meet the zoning ordinance requirements and that although they had not yet complied;
the Community Development Division was pursuing the issue.
I I t I 1
Commissioner Burke stated his memo to Council was not intended as a minority repmt and
that his questions and concerns had been answered. The Chair agreed with Commissioner
Burke's statements but added it would be up to the Commission and Council involved in a
Specific Use Permit approval to regulate if the use and site plan were app ropriate.
Commissioner Burke wanted to make it clear, that per the comments of the City Attorney,
the Commission could impose additional requirements, never fewer requirements, for a
Specific Use Pennit. He commented that in the earlier joint workshop, the developers
stated they wanted hard and fast rules and did not want the Commission to ask for
additional requirements.
The Chair invited Commissioner Burke to amend the motion and take Used Cars off the
table for recommendation if he felt uncomfo1table with it. Commissioner Burke stated he
was okay v,1ith taking it off the table and it was voted on.
6.Consideration and possible action regarding recommended changes to Cluster Home
Development Ordinance -Density Issues.
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Motion:
Second:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Holland -to recommend approval
Gibson
Burke -to table item
Brekke
Unanimous Motion Tabled
The Staff Planner reported on her conversation with Friendswood Development regarding
Cluster Homes. Friendswood Development felt the increase in density was a non-issue,
rather it was more imp011ant to get a reduction in building set backs which were closer to
that of Garden Home Developments. Also, Staff has not been able to create a cost
analysis/feasibility study for various densities beyond what they have already provided.
Commissioner Burke reminded the Commission that the City Council was uncomfol1able
with the increase in density recommended. Burke added that he had been unable to find
any density formulas that would work with small, medium or large developments. He
would like to look at two cluster home developments in the area and repo11 back to the
Commission. He also noted that the Council has scheduled a joint workshop on this issue
for April 5 th. As there were two regular meetings scheduled before the workshop,
Commissioner Burke asked that the item be tabled to allow additional info1mation to be
gathered.
7.Consideration and possible action regarding a recommendation to adopt an updated
official zoning map.
Motion:
Second:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Holland -to recommend approval
Burke
Holland -to tab'le the item.
Burke
Unanimous Motion Tabled
The Planner repo11ed that the Zoning Ordinance requires the adoption of an official zoning
map each time a change is made. However, since this may prove to be impractical, she
recqmmended the adoption on an annual basis. This task has not been done since 1994.
The exhibit prepared has places for the Mayor and City Secretary to attest to the official
recognition of the map. ·The official map will indicate zones by using a color-coding
system. In addition, a list of all the zone changes that have taken place will be attached to
the map. An electronic version will be created and kept on-line.
Commissioner Gibsqn recommended the official map be adopted on a biannual basis or
after a specified number of zoning changes had taken place.
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The Chairman was aware of some additional rezoning that was being requested by the
Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC) and would like to see those
changes on the zoning map before making a recommendation to adopt a new official map.
As both the zone change and the map will require a public hearing, both could be done at
one meeting. He suggested the item be tabled to allow the rezoning to move forward.
There was some discussion regarding the timeline for the process of the zone change and
the adoption of the official map. The Chair will contact CEDC to get a status report on the
zone change.
8.Status report from Commissioners regarding 2004 goals.
Each of the listed goals was discussed and the status rep01ted. The goal matrix will be
updated. Most items appeared to be on schedule. The goal to anange a joint retreat
assigned to Commissioner Y eretsky was given to Commissioner Holland.
9.Staff Repo1t
As discussed during the goal status report, the Planner restated her desire to prepare a
monthly DRC report to be presented to the Commission during the Staff Repo1t po1tion of
the regular agenda. The Planner then repo1ted that, recently, a couple of projects had been
reviewed in the DRC that had non-conforming issues. The Staff will now be preparing
letters to these developers outlining-the non-conforming issues associated with · the
individual projects so that clarity would exist between the City and the developer about
what the non-confonning issues were. Staffs goal is to try to assist developers in finding
resolutions to these issues.
Staff also rep01ted on last month's ZBOA meeting which denied a variance request for the
construction of a canopy into the EOD 30 ft. front set back.
10.Adjournment
\\Tith no fi.uther comment the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
�°' J;_HJJcp;gDiana Steelquist
Planner
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