HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2001-10-04 Regular(Minutes of a Regular Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
October 4, 2001
A regular meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held
Thursday, October 4, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the city hall council chambers located at 910
S.Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following members were present:
Neils Aalund
Tom Burke
Bob Bertrand 7:03 p.m.
Mark Clark
Frank Frankovich.
Tom Samson
Zekie Mc Veigh
Mike Dominguez-City Planner
Diana Steelquist -CD Coordinator
Mel Measeles -Council Liaison
Kim Mickelson -City Attorney
With a quorum present, Chair Burke called the meeting to order to consider the following:
Call to order:
1.Continuation of the Public Hearing from August 6, 2001 to receive public input,
either oral or written, regarding the following:
A.Request for Amending Specific Use Permit -Church for Mary Queen Catholic
Church located at 606 Cedarwood Drive, a 14.188 acre tract ofland out of Lots
1 and 15, Block 3, Friendswood Subdivision, Galveston County, Texas.
Chairman Burke re-opened the public hearing and suggested that the .applicant
explain the site plan and the agreement reached with area homeowners. Father Paul
Mandziuk addressed the Commission for the Church stating the need for the
expansion due to the growing number of households attending the church, of which
there are currently about 1,940. He also presented a petition signed by over 300
church members requesting the approval of the SUP.
Ken Sykes, from the Galveston-Houston Diocese and the project's architect, Greg
Turner, displayed the site plan which totals about i4 acres. A copy of the
agreement between the Church and area residents was presented along with the
specific conditions. _ The Commissioners questioned whether the new access
easement abutting Cedar Oak would be paved. Commissioner McVeigh also
expressed concern about the new easement abutting a private street. Mr. Sykes
stated there were some issues which needed to be resolved regarding the status of
Cedar Oak and that the Church wanted to have these issues cleared up and would
provide any easements as needed.
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Speaking in favor of the SUP was Janis McConal. She stated the need for the
expansion due to growing congregation. Also the Family Life Center will provide a
place in the general community for educational and social activities.
Ernie Heap, church committee member, also spoke in favor of the SUP.
Greg Crinion, attorney for Mr. & Mrs. Cleary of 1402 Oak Hollow Drive, stated
that he had worked closely with the Church to reach an agreement on the site plan.
He wanted to clarify that the drainage ditch on along the Cleary's driveway would
be measured fifteen feet from the edge of the ditch and would extend 300 ft. along
the driveway. He also wanted the agreement to provide for any new owner of the
Cleary's prope11y to have a chance to address any future changes to the Church site.
He stated that a fence or vegetation may be needed along Cedar Oak for screening
purposes.
Greg Herring, 207 Cedar Oak , spoke against the SUP. He would like the Church to
black top the new easement which will abut Cedar Oak. He would also like the
Church to repair and extend the three rail fence that runs along Cedar Oak. The
extension would be along the new easement. He reasoned this would discourage
pmishioners from parking along Cedar Oak and walking across the area of the
Family Life Center to access the Church.
Vera Black, wife of Richard Black, also spoke against the SUP. They have been
residents of Cedar Oak since 1966. This is a private street which they have
maintained for more than 30 years. She stated that the road top is fragile and they
do not want to have additional households using the road. They are concerned
about continued maintenance of Cedar _Oak as it was very difficult to get the current
Cedar Oak residents to agree to pay for the recent black top.
Clifton Black, #2 Queen's Lane, expressed disappointment that not all the neighbors
were happy with the agreement reached between themselves and the Church. He
assured the Commission that he would be happy to pay his share of the roadway
maintenance of Cedar Oak. He would like to continue to have emergency access
via Queen's Lane. He also requested that 'no outlet' and 'no parking' signs be placed
on Cedar Oak. He did not want to make any changes to the Lunney deed
restrictions for the old Antler's lot. He complimented the Church for working with
all the neighbors to reach an agreement.
With no further comment, Chairman Burke closed the Planning and Zoning portion
of the public hearing.
2.Consideration and possible action regarding the request for Amending Specific Use
Permit -Church for Mary Queen Catholic Church located at 606 Cedarwood Drive,
a 14.188 acre tract of land out of Lots 1 and 15, Block 3, Friendswood Subdivision,
Galveston County, Texas.
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Motion:
Second:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Frankovich -to recommend approval of the SUP with the
following conditions: 1) Granting of new easement; 2)
Repair/replace and extend the existing three rail fence along Cedar
Oak; 3) Pave the new easement to match the existing pavement on
Cedar Oak; 4) Add signage along Cedar Oak to indicate no outlet
and no parking.
Clark
Frankovich -to recommend approval of the SUP by including the
conditions in the agreement reached between the Church and its
neighbors along with the four earlier listed conditions
Clark
Frankovich -to recommend approval of the SUP by including the
conditions in the agreement reached between the Church and its
neighbors which are appropriate per the City Attorney
Clark
Bertrand -table discussion until the attorney can review the
agreement and determine what could be included in the SUP
approval conditions and to allow the Church time to re-submit a
revised site plan which indicates the all conditions agreed to.
Clark
Unanimous Motion Carried
Commissioner Frankovich commended the Church and their neighbors for working
together to reach an agreement which makes the SUP site plan more beneficial to
the general public than what had initially been proposed.
Commissioner Clark responded to a question about the impact on the site plan on
emergency vehicle access. He did not believe the new access would aid emergency
access to the three large houses on Queen's Lane. He was also concerned that the
parking was inadequate. The City Planner stated that the parking met cunent
requirements. Discussion centered on the two points of access which would be
available under the new proposed site plan, one off Cedar Oak and a second from a
gated entrance off Queen's Lane. The church stated they would allow emergency
vehicle access from Queen's Lane.
Commissioner Mc Veigh expressed concern about the lack of a recorded easement
along Cedar Oak. Mr. Sykes stated the new easement abutting the cun-ent paved
portion of Cedar Oak would feather in to the same width where they will meet.
Commissioner Bertrand asked the City Attorney to clarify the City's role if the
agreement between the Church and the neighb ors was made a part of the SUP. The
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City Attorney stated that the agreement was between private parties and the City
would not be the enforcer of the agreement. She was also concerned that several of
the terms of the agreement would not be appropriate for SUP conditions from a
municipal land planning perspective. She suggested drafting an SUP ordinance
including only those items of the agreement which were appropriate.
Commissioner Bertrand was concerned that the Church would be required to
maintain the paved easement forever. The City Attorney said the easement could
be worded to give the maintenance responsibility to the residents. Chairman Burke
wanted to see a note on the site plan indicating how the gate on Queens Lane would
be kept clear for emergency vehicle access.
After discussing all of the items on the Church agreement, a motion was made to
table the discussion to allow the City Attorney an oppo1tunity to review the
agreement and determine which items would be appropriate to add as special
conditions to the SUP.
3.Communications from the public.
None.
4.Consideration and possible action regarding the following:
Consent Agenda:
A.approval 09-17-01 special meeting minutes.
B.approval 09-20-01 regular meeting minutes.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Bertrand -to approve the consent agenda
Clark
Unanimous Motion Carried
5.Consideration and possible action regarding the preliminary plat of the 518-528
Subdivision (Walgreen's) located at the intersection of FM 518 and FM 528.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Bertrand -to approve with staff conditions
Frankovich
Unanimou s Motion Carried
Chairman Burke questioned item c of the staff comments regarding access to
Reserve F. The City Planner could not explain this comment as it came from
Engineering staff. Chairman Burke commented that the Drainage district may
require access to this drainage reserve although plans are to have it privately
maintained. A note should be added to the plat if that is the case.
6.Consideration and possible action regarding the preliminary commercial site plan
for Walgreen's located at the intersection of FM 518 and FM 528.
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j Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Bertrand -to approve with staff conditions
Aalund
Unanimous Motion Carried
Bertrand -to approve with staff conditions and to recommend the
developer investigate the use of the bonus parking clause, reducing
the height of the monument sign to confirm to an expected zoning
change of seven feet, the placement of curbed medians in the
driveways to prevent left turns onto FM 518 and FM 528 and
continuation of the four foot sidewalk along FM 518.
Frankovich
Unanimous Motion Carried
Jonathan Kagan, developer, and Rick Radford, engineer addressed the commission.
Chairman Burke asked for clarification of Item f on staff comments. This was
identified as a schematic of a truck and not an actual structure. Chairman Burke
recommended that the Bonus Parking plan be investigated by the developer to allow
for more green space on the site plan. The City Planner explained _that the parking
layout will need to show how the additional green space could be incorporated into
parking in the future if needed.
Commissioner Bertrand would like to see the height of the monument sign reduced
to the proposed ordinance change of seven feet. Mr. Kagan would prefer eleven
feet as shown on the site plan but would consider dropping the height to seven if the
ordinance would affect all new commercial development in the area. Chairman
Burke noted that signs are separately permitted from the site plan.
Chairman Burke expressed concern about the driveway cuts off FM 528 and FM
518.He does not want to repeat the situation existing by the Albertson off FM
2351 with dangerous left turns out of the parking lot. He would prefer to see no left
turns onto the FM roads. Mr. Kagan suggested a 'pork chop' curbed median be
placed in the driveways to direct traffic in and out.
Commissioner Bertrand would like to see the sidewalk extended along FM 518.
Mr. Kagan was agreeable to complete the sidewalk for the Walgreen's tract but
would like to finish the sidewalks as each tract is developed.
7.Discussion and possible action regarding amending the zoning ordinance with
regards to the time limit of a Specific Use Permit for non-profit public institution al
uses and phased developments.
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Bertrand -to remove item from table and allow for discussion
Clark
Unanimous
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Motion Carried
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Vote for:
Bertrand -to recommend amending the zoning ordin ance with
regards to the time limits for Specific Use Pe1mits for all
applicants
Clark
Unanimous Motion Carried
Bertrand -to table discussion and possible action until Staff and
the City Attorney can provide more research.
Clark
Unanimous Motion Carried
Discussion focused on the eliminating the number of times an approval time limit
extension could be requested. The original motion was amended so that all
applicants could have the same options to extend the approval period of their SUP.
Conditions for approval or denial of an extension were discussed as well as the
possibility of adding a processing fee. The City Attorney will research how
additional language can be added regarding how future changes to city zoning
requirements can be enforced with an existing SUP.
8.Staff Reports:
A.2001 APA Conference being held in Houston
The City Planner informed the Commission that the Texas AP A conference would
be held October 24 -27 in downtown Houston. He invited all the Commissioners to
attend and stated that he would need to co nfirm their attendance by October 9th in
order to pay for the reservations.
9.Adjournment.
With no further comment, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 P .M.
1 iana Steelquist -
Community Development Coordinator
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