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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2001-11-05 SpecialMinutes of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission November 5, 2001 A special meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held Monday November 5, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the City J:Iall Council Ch ambers located at 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. Tom Burke Bob Bertrand Frank Frankovich Tom Samson Zekie McVeigh Mark Clark Diana Steelquist -Development Coordinator Mike Dominguez -City Planner Mike Hodge -Community Development Director With a quorum present, the meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Mark Clark to consider the following: Docketed joint public hearing: Call to order 1.To receive public input, either oral or written, regarding the following: A.Request for Zone Classification Change for property located Southwest of FM 528 and Country Club D1ive being a 2.12 acre tract of land out of the Mary Sloan Survey, Abstract 184, Friendswood, Galveston County, Texas, .from: Multi-family Residential -Medium density (MFR-M) to: Community Shopping Center (CSC). B.Request for Zone Classification Change for property located Southwest of FM 528 and Country Club Drive, being a 4.9587 acre tract and a 17.4992 acre tract of land out of the Mary Sloan Survey, Abstract 184, Friendswood, Galveston County, Texas, from: Single Family Residential (SFR) to: Multi­ family Residential -Medium density (MFR-M). Vice-Chairman Clark asked that comments on both agenda items be heard at the same time. Janice Lowe, agent for the owners, addressed the Council and Commission. She stated that the golf course in Sun Meadow Subdivision would be closing in the future, however, she added that the two cmTent rezoning requests are for another area and not the golf course. The current request is for a multi-family development which would contain town homes for sale not rentals. She also stated that the area in around and the golf course had a greater market value as a residential use rather than as a recreational use. Ms. Lowe stated that the golf course owners will work to solve drainage problems in the area. No one else spoke in favor of the requests to rezone. -l - 11/05/01 P&Z Faye Roberson, 422 W. Castile Harbor spoke against the requests. She stated concerns regarding flooding, additional burden to the school district, traffic and pedestrian safety, an inadequate street infrash·ucture in Sun Meadows, a decrease in property values do to proximity of multi-family housing, empty store fronts if commercial development fails, and the history of poor management from the golf course owners. She also presented a Home Owners Document that she said restricted any development on the golf course for 40 years. Mary Price, 248 Palm Aire Drive, spoke against the 1:equest_s. A resident since 1972, she stated that the home builder/developer had told her when she purchased her home that the golf course would always be apart of the subdivision. Cindy Hoclskins, 418 W. Castile Harbour. She stated concerns for upkeep of the golf course green spaces once development began. Also she did not think streets could handle additional traffic. Grace Edwards quoted Mayor Lowe's remarks about decreasing population density and keeping the School population low in order to maintain high standards. Bonnie Oliver was opposed to requests. Mark Considine, 4310 Old Course was against the re-zoning requests. He expressed concerns with flooding and provided photos to Council and Commission of areas that already experience heavy flooding during moderate rains. He did not see a connection to the City's Vision 20/20 land plan. He was concerned about any new development taxing the current infrastrncture. He also stated the developer had a poor record of management and presented photos of the golf course clubhouse in poor repair. Laura Higgins, of 245 St. Cloud, stated that she did not approve of the requests because it would change the characteristics of the area and affect her family's qua lity of life. She also said that she would not shop nor support any CSC in the area requested to be rezoned. Ms. Higgins also reported that Millennium, the developer, was cun-ently not a good neighbor and that the Sun Meadow residents often had to mow and clean the edge of golf course because the gol f course management did not. Jim Higgins, 245 St. Cloud requested that the Commission and Council table any action on the requests in order for area residents to consult with other experts on the issues. Melinda Parkinson, 621 W. Castile Harbour stated that flooding in Sun Meadows was a problem and that new Multi-family developments would decrease cmTent area home values. Dan Parkinson, 621 W. Castile Harbor, was opposed to the requests. He did not see how the golf course could continue operating without a clubhouse. Billy Wynn, 2020 Lundy Lane suggested the City purchase the golf course. He was against any re-zoning. -2 - 11/05/01 P&Z I Larry Smith noted that over 325 citizens were present to protest the zone change requests. Regina Kincaid was opposed. In response to a comment, Chairman Burke stated his connection to the properties via his mother-in-law's trust. Although he has. no direct interest, he stated he would not participate in any action regarding the requests. Ronald Kaswell, 3204 Old Course was against the ·requests. James R. Smith, 1119 Dorado stated he had been a Sun Meadows resident since 1978 and was against the rezoning. The following residents asked to:be named as against the requests: Jene Hinkley, Nell Smith, Stanley Maddox, Barbara Grant, Melanie Gregg, Patricia Sternat, Lou Sternat, Mary Jane Plott. Scott Fisher, 424 Old Course stated he had bought his home in June of this year and has been experiencing flooding problems. He also noted the poor water pressure in the area and was concerned that the area fire hydrants would not have enough water pressure to put out a fire. He was also concerned that home insurance rates would increase. Danny Brewster, 2052 Everett noted the poor water pressure in the area and expressed concern over a loss of the quality of life should Multi-family housing be allowed as a result of the rezoning. He wanted to keep the open spaces that exist now. Dave Hansen, 252 W. Castle Harbor was against the rezoning. Winnie Steams, 415 Old Course expressed concerns about flooding. She would like to see the golf course preserved or maintained by the owners. Bob Alder, 209 Palmer Drive stated that the roads already flood and adding MFR would increase the number of cars in the area. He was concerned that emergency evacuations would be a problem. he also wanted to know what would be developed in the CSC area. Jack Warner, 141 St. Andrews expressed concern about the quality oflife. He also stated the developers, Millennium Corp, had been unresponsive to his request to co1Tect drainage problems on the golf course causing flooding in his yard. Joyce Healy, 210 W. Castle Harbour expressed concern about Millennium's poor management record, flooding and retentions problems and the possibility that the proposed town homes would not sell. She would like the City to buy the golf course. She also stated concerns about the narrow streets and public safety hazards of additional tr affic. Paul Healy, 210 W. Castle Harbour, restated flooding issues and said that the rezoning was not in the best interest of the city or area residents as it was based on greed. - 3 - 11/05/01 P&Z Loretta Herbeck, a 22 year resident of Sun Meadow, stated her concerns regarding flooding, increased school costs and school overcrowding. According to Ms. Herbek, the existing infrastrncture in Sun Meadow is not being maintained by the City. She recommended more office park development since people do not shop in Friendswood. Emmett Shepherd, 440 Castle Harbour, noted the additional burden to the Fire department and city services associated with multi :-farQPY development. John Ray, 415 Glen Eagles, stated concern for quality of life and lack of water pressure in area. Jerry Clifton, 401 Broadmoor, stated he did not want Sun Meadow to become "Slum Meadow" and his concerns for quality of life in the area. Marshal Hayes, 229 Palm Air, noted the flooding issues in the area and the decreasing home values. Vicki Hayes, 229 Palm Air, stated that the Chigger Creek water shed could not handle additional development. John Dea n, 419 Old Course was opposed to the rezoning requests. He also wanted to know if the owner needed a permit to remove trees from the golf course. Al Kelly, 322 Glen Eagle, stated his concern for quality of life and increasing light pollution. Trish Corner, 222 W. Castle Harbour noted her concern for the quality of life in the area. Loretta Pyke, 224 Palm Aire, was concerned about empty store fronts in the -area. She would like to see rural areas maintained in the city. Joyce Richards, 205 Palm Aire, stated she did not want the area to become another FM 1960. She wants to keep Friendswood a bedroom community. Carol McDonald, 2913 Palm Aire stated that MFR development causes overcrowding in the schools and she was opposed to having MFR units overlooking her back yard. Ruth Pfeiffer, 504 Old Course, noted that property values would fall if the ivlFR zone change request is allowed. Anita Denjar, 2863 Wimblton Lane, stressed quality oflife issues, school and school buse overcrowding due to increased MFR density. Mark Enninger, 420 Glen Eagle, asked the council to condemn the golf course property and make it a city park. - 4 - 11/05/01 P&Z I I Sig Silva, 389 Dawn Hill asked the council to base their decision on the citizens' request. Michael Zolwisky, 101 Palm Air, expressed his concern about safety , lack of water pressure and the need for rural community areas. Steve Lemon, 428 Broadmoor expressed the high degree of community spi1it in the area which would decrease with a higher density MFR development. Tom Ember, 523 Old Course, stated his concerns over floqding. He also offered to buy half the golf course if the city would buy the other half. William Slayter Byer, 516 Belmont stated his concern that the rezoning would have a domino effect in· the area in and around the golf course. The rezoning would result in a loss of property values and decreased tax revenues. Kevin McConaly, 444 E. Castle Harbour expressed concerns about decreased property values, absentee landlords associated with townhouses, increased traffic and strain on the existing infrastructure Mary McConaly, 444 E. Castle Harbour stated her concerns about the lack of area parks, traffic and pedestrian safety. She also felt the proposed rvIFR areas could be put to better uses. Richard Kelly, 305 E. Castle Harbour stated that the golf course management had let the course run down in order to rezone it. He believed more MFR would nm the tax base down. Leonard Krame, who lives next to hole 13 stated the requests were all about the money. He does not want to lose the open space associated with the golf course. David Jones, 528 E. Castle Harbour, expressed his concerns about the loss of the quality of life, flooding issues, safety, decrease in property values and tax revenues and the overcrowding of schools. Vivian Wigham, 508 Glen Eagle expressed her concern regarding a change in the quality of life in the area. Mark Mann, 215 W. Castle Harbour expressed his concerns with flooding and increased traffic in his subdivision. He stated that curr ent infrastrncture problems should be fixed before any new development was allowed to take place. Scott Dayton, 2832 Love Lane stated that no compelling reasons had been stated to change the cmTent zoning. Brian Jarvis, 624 E. Castle Harbour, stated he was against the rezoning requests. - 5 - 11/05/01 P &Z Ralph Blough stated that he had posted a discussion of the rezoning issues at his web site located at www.77546.com. Walter Clyde stated his oppos1t1on to the rezoning requests. He stated his concerns regarding sanitary sewer capacities, drainage and flooding problems and his desire to see the city less commercialized. Ms. Lowe stated if contacted, she would be happy to ?.!,lSWer questions from the public at a later date. Vice-chai1man Clark informed the public that consideration regarding the rezoning requests would be made at the next Planning and Zoning meeting on November 15 and encouraged the public to attend. 2.Adjournment With no further conunents the joint public hearing was closed at 9:45 PM. <. /, / ·� if.;:--"\ (' --( /-l :;;,/ '7/ :,.;,/ -1,/ I -6 - 11/05/01 P&Z