HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2002-10-17 Regularf
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Minutes of a Regular Meeting
ofthe
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
October 17, 2002
A regular meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held Thursday,
October 17, 2002 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
Michele Brekke
Jim Gibson
Tom Samson
Diana Steelquist -CD Coordinator
Dan Johnson -Deputy Director of CD
Loren Smith -City Attorney
Carl Horecky -GCCDD Liaison
With a quorum present, Chairman Bertrand called the meeting to order to consider the following:
Call to order:
1.Communications from the public.
None.
2.Consent Agenda:
A.Approval of the final plat of Hope Lutheran Church of Friendswood located off
FM 518.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
3.Staff Reports
Tom Samson -to recommend approval
Jim Gibson
Unanimous
A.Revisions to the Design Criteria Manual.
Motion Carried
Chairman Bertrand prefaced the repo1t by stating the history and purpose of the Design
Criteria Manual and emphasizing its nature as a "living" document. Deputy Director
Johnson stated that the Manual's review schedule had been accelerated due to some
inconsistencies in a specific section regarding drive way spacing. The revised manual has
been scheduled for adoption on November 4, 2002. The Deputy Director encouraged the
Commissioners to provide comments on the revisions being made and advised them that
should additional changes be needed, they could be adopted at a later date. He also
reported that the majority of the current changes were in formatting the document to
make it easier to read. One significant addition was a variance procedure, Section VII.
He added that some provisions for variances are needed, as the City gets closer to build
out. Chairman Bertrand had assumed there was a varial)Ce procedure in place through the
Construction Board of Adjustment. As the current revision did not identify who would
grant a variance; the Chairman recommended that the Construction Board of Adjustment
be that body.
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Commissioner Samson expressed concern that having a variance procedure in place now
could open the door for developments that were not allowed to develop in the past. The
Deputy Director felt the guidelines presented in the variance process would place the
burden of proof back on the developer to prove their development would not be
circumventing the Design Criteria.
The Chaiiman would also like to see some guidelines for site plans in the Manual with
regards to shopping cart corrals in parking lots. He suggested that they have permanent
anchors.
B.Adult arcades and eight liner slot machines
Staff provided a copy of a Pearland Journal article on eight liners and the references to
this type of use in the North American Industry Classification System codes. Our current
Permitted Use Table would allow this use under Use# 71, Arts and Entertainment in the
CSC , OBD and BP zones. The Development Coordinator reported on several recent
inquiries on opening an adult arcade. Staff was unfamiliar with this type of use and had
done some research and determined that it is a type of slot machine which pays out in
tokens or gift certificates for merchandise. However, Staff is also aware of recent
Attorney General rulings, which might prohibit this type of device. Until more
information can be collected and analyzed .the staff would like a moratorium for this type
of land use. Pearland and Alvin have already enacted similar resolutions. A moratorium
will be presented to City Council November 4th•
C.Tree Preservation Committee
The Development Coordinator reported that a meeting had been scheduled for October 29
at 6:45 P.M. to discuss the proposed tree ordinance with the sub-committee. Chairman
Bertrand added the need to get the Community Appearance Board's input as well as the
views of the Economic Development Committee.
D.Report by the Chair regarding Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District
regular meeting held on 10-8-02
Chairman Bertrand repo1ted that Commissioner Samson could no longer act as liaison to
the Drainage District due to other duties. The Chairman suggested that all the
Commissioners rotate their attendance at the Drainage District's meeting. He
volunteered to attend meetings in November. He asked staff to prepare a schedule of the
District's meeting to be reviewed by the Commission. He also reported on the meeting
he attended on October 8. There were two items of interest resulting from the meeting.
First, the District discussed the relocation of trees from the flood buyout prope1ties onto
other drainage areas. Carl-Horecky, the GCCDD representative, added his endorsement
of the tree replacements. The District would like to replant the trees into pond basins, not
on the berms, and near the pilot channels in order to absorb excess water and prevent
erosion. The District has a contractor who will move the trees for about fifty dollars a
tree. The second item regarded the licensing agreement between the City and the
District. Mr. Horecky stated that the licensing agreement issue had been resolved as of
today. Mr. Horecky also repo1ted that the constrnction of new barge was nearing
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completion. The barge is fitted with brush and limb cutters, which will help with the
maintenance of Clear Creek.
Discussion and possible action regarding revising and updating the Rules of Procedure
for the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Tom Samson -to recommend City Council adoption of the revised rules
Michele Brekke
Unanimous Motion Carried
The recommended changes were highlighted in red ink and reflect the latest changes
adopted by the City Council in its rules and procedures. The one exception was to the
meeting order of business wherein the consent agenda will be at the start of the meeting
and City Council places the consent agenda at the end of the meeting. Commissioner
Gibson asked why the rules were being revised. The Coordinator stated that the
Commission's rules had last been revised in 1999 and recommended the revision in order
to stay consistent with the rules and procedures used by the Council. Commissioner
Samson asked for the word 'the' to clarify a reference to the Commission on page 9 of
the revised rules.
5.Adjournment.
With no further comment the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 P.M.
7J.i:;� Development Coordinator
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