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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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