HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2005-01-20 Regularf I
l
Minutes of a Regular Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
January 20, 2005
A regular meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held Thursday,
January 20, 2005 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 David Smith-Council Liaison
Loren Smith-City Attorney David Brakebill-7:07 p.m.
Jim Gibson
Kevin Holland
Dan Johnson-Deputy Director CD
Diana Steelquist-Staff Planner
Roy Klusendorf Cheri Skelton-Development Coordinator
Mark Van Riper
Sherry Weesner
With a quorum present, Chairman Holland called the meeting to order to discuss the following:
7:00 PM-REGULAR MEETING
1.Call to order
2.Communications from the public.
No one spoke from the public at this time.
3.Consent Agenda:
a.Approval of the 12-16-04 regular meeting minutes.
b.Approval of the 1-6-05 regular meeting minutes.
c.Approval of the Final Plat of Oak Creek Forest Subdivision located at the end
of Crawford Street.
Motion:
Second:
Bertrand-to approve consent agenda
Gibson
Item "C" remained on the consent agenda for approval.
Voted For: Unanimous Motion Carried
Commissioner Weesner asked Item "A" be removed from the consent agenda for
discussion. Commission Klusendorf asked Item "B" be removed from the consent
agenda for discussion.
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Commissioner Weesner stated on the 12-16-05 regular meeting minutes, on page 3, item
6, the list ofreasons she stated, number 4 of that list should read:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Voted For:
4.Neighborhood Commercial limits the amount of office use to only 60
percent of the structures.
Weesner-to approve with changes
Klusendorf
Unanimous Motion Carried
Commissioner Klusendorf stated on the 1-6-05 regular meeting minutes, on page 2, item
5 the last sentence should read:
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Voted For:
"He feels that the city is not g1vmg the owner's request enough
consideration based on the increase of commercial business that could
result, and Staff should do what they can to help the owner with his
request."
Bertrand-to approve with changes
Gibson
Unanimous Motion Carried
4.Consideration and possible action regarding Zone Change request for property located at
Friendswood Lakes Subdivision.
A.Zone Classification change for 9.842 acres, :frontage on FM 528 and Friendswood
Lakes Subdivision, Section One, Galveston County, Texas; From: Single Family
Residential (SFR) to: Community Shopping Center (CSC).
Motion:
Second:
Gibson-approve zone change request
Bertrand
Commissioner Weesner read a statement into the record. This state ment would be for
all three tracts requested for rezoning. Her statement included the following:
That the exis ting zoning provides a framework for decision-making for
citizens, developers, city staff, and the Commission and City Council
members. This information is used to make property purchases and
development decisions. As representatives of citizens, it is the duty of the
Commission to only make zoning changes when there are compelling or
overwhelming benefits to the citizens and there is no or minimal harm to
citizens who own adjacent property. Two, that there are no guarantees for
rezoning and no one who represents the City or its citizens should imply
property will be rezoned. without first consulting the citizens. The
property was zoned SFR when purchased. Development to date had been
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residential. The developer's comments implied that City government
assured him rezoning would take place. Thirdly, Friendswood Lakes
Blvd. is not cunently a major thoroughfare, even though it may be in the
future. · Home buyers should have been made aware should have been
made aware of the road •·s end status by naming it Brittany Bay Blvd. and
notice placed on the dead end of the future connection. This street is also
not part of the Entryway Overlay so the minimal architectural protections
are not available to the residents. Fourth, the Comprehensive Plan does
not support additional land being rezoned from residential to commercial.
Even by revising the Plan to support Vision 2020, the necessary
commercial acreage is already available. Finally, commercially zoned
property is not always a benefit to the citizens. A significant portion of
the 1900 acres cunently zoned for commercial use is under utilized or
vacant. There is already plenty of commercial property available for
development. Therefore she would be voting against the rezoning.
Commissioner Klusendorf commented the developer had not brought forth the site
plan for the two-story building adjacent to the property. He would like to see the
plans for the project going forth. Staff stated the Site Plan is cunently being reviewed
by the city. Staff is compiling a list of comments for the developer to address so the
development is in line with the Zoning Ordinance and Design Criteria Manual. Once
the developer has addressed all Staff comments the Site Plan will then be formally
presented to the Commission. Chai rman Holland stated that the property fronts FM
528 and he considers that a major thoroughfare. He feels when a property fronts a
major thoroughfare it is best utilized as commercial.
Voted For: Bertrand, Brakebill, Gibson, Holland, Klusendorf, Van Riper
Voted Against: Weesner Motion Carried
B.Zone Classification change for 3.549 acres, frontage on FM 528 and on Friendswood
Lakes Boulevard, being Friendswood Lakes Subdivision, Section One, Reserve "A",
Galveston County, Texas; From: Single Family Residential (SFR) to: Community
Shopping Center (CSC).
Motion:
Second:
Gibson-approve zone change request
Bertrand
Voted For: Bertrand, Brakebill, Gibson, Holland, Klusendorf, Van Riper
Voted Against: Weesner Motion Carried
C.Zone Classification change for 2. 784 acres, frontage on FM 528 and on Friendswood
Lakes Boulevard, Friendswood Lakes Subdivision, Section One, being a portion of
Reserve "B", Galveston County, Texas; From: Single Family Residential (SFR) to
Community Shopping Center (CSC).
Motion:
Second:
Gibson-approve zone change request
Bertrand
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Voted For: Be1irand, Brakebill, Gibson, Holland, K.lusendorf, Van Riper
Voted Against: Weesner Motion Carried
5.Consideration and possible action regarding amendment to the Sign Ordinance-Appendix
A.
Motion:
Second:
Voted For:
Bertrand-to approve
Gibson
Unanimou s Motion Carried
Staff explained to the Commission the second document provided at the public hearing
was given for information purposes only. The document was a response to a question by
City Council on what it would take to bring the city's changeable copy sign into
compliance with the proposed changes to the sign ordinance.
Commissioner Weesner feels the sign ordinance recommended on December 16, 2004,
should be approved and recommended to City Council. She stated that Staffs
recommended changes to bring the city park sign into compliance are not nec essary and
even with the proposed ordinance, the city park sign would not meet requirements. She
explained her concern about safety had not changed and allowing scrolling or flashing
signs does not improve the city in any way. She believes signs that do that are a
distraction and danger to drivers. Commissioner K.lusendorf expressed concern about
some language in the sign ordinance. He is concern with the language under the
changeable copy section of the Sign Ordinance. Staff stated that language was in the
original si gn ordinance. Commissioner Bertrand expressed he felt the sign ordinance the
way the recommendation is currently with regards to electron ic signage is too restrictive.
The other con cern he stated was allowing electronic signage to be placed every 50 feet;
however he understands that limiting the signage would leave people out that would want
electronic si gnage and would not be fair.
Amended
Motion:
Second:
Weesner-to use the December 16, 2004, recommendation not allowing a
changeable copy si gn to change more than at 45-second intervals.
K.lusendorf
Voted For: Brakebill, Holland, K.lusendorf, Weesner
Voted Against:Be1irand, Gibson, Van Riper Motion Carried
6.Consideration and possibl e action regarding amendment to the Zoning Ordinance,
Planned Unit Development-Cluster Homes.
Motion:
Second:
Brakebill-to approve amendments
Bertrand
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Discussion amongst the Commission regarding the Planned Unit Development-Cluster
Home ordinance centered on detention facilities. Commissioner Weesner stated since
detention ponds were a requirement when developing, she did not feel it should allowed
to be counted in the total percentage of open space. Chairman Holland stated that some
detention facilities were used for recreational purposes such as soccer fields. The
Commission asked Mr. Hodge for a rough estimate as a percent of the acreage used for
detention in a typical neighborhood. Mr. Hodge responded that it sometimes could run as
high as 15-20 percent. The Commission decided that more discussion regarding the
definitions of Open Space and Green Space, particularly with the inclusion of detention
ponds in these definitions, needed to be held. However, these definitions can be
discussed at a later date, because they are not part of the proposed ordinance.
Voted For: Unanimous Motion Carried
7.Consideration and possible action regarding the Preliminary Plat of Friendswood Oaks
Section Two.
Motion:
Second:
Voted For:
Bertand-to approve Preliminary Plat with conditions
Gibson
Unanimous Motion Carried
8.Consideration and possible action regarding the Commercial Site Plan of Pecan Plaza
located at the comer of FM 2351 and Pecan.
Motion:
Second:
Gibson-to approve Commercial Site Plan
Bertrand.
Commissioner Brakebill expressed concern that the same building had been built around
town so many times that next time the developer comes forth with a plan he would like to
see a different architectural design. Commissioner Van Riper agreed. He also expressed
concern regarding the mature trees and how the city allowed them to be removed from
the site.
Voted For: Unanimous
9.Communications from the Commission
Motion Carried
Commissioner Bertrand state he was pleased to report the Tree Preservation Ordinance
meeting was held and a draft of the ordinance was reviewed at the meeting. It was
determined another meeting will be held to implement the changes. At that time he hopes
the committee will be handing out the draft of the ordinance. Commissioner Bertrand
also commended the people on the Tree Preservation Ordinance committee because it had
been a long process. He also repo1ted due to illness he did not attend the city council
meetings in January. Commissioner Gibson stated he attended the Main Street meeting
and there are particular zoning issues that need to be addressed. He stated that topic is
something that could be added as a retreat item. Commissioner K.lusendorf repo1ted he
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attended the Galveston County Drainage District (GCCDD) meeting. At that meeting the
Walgreen's at the comer of FM 2351 and FM 518 and Friendswood Lakes Office
Building was discussed. The GCCDD also discussed the reduction of detention ponds
and looking for possible ways to use more surface runoff. Commissioner Klusendorf also
reported that he attended the City Council meetings where 15 goals for the city were
adopted. Commissioner Brakebill stated he also attended a GCCDD meeting. At that
meeting the discussion took place with regards excavating 250,000 cubic yards of soil
from Imperial Estates. Best case this project would have lowered the 100-year flood.
Commissioner Brakebill believes this project will not happen, but he found it interesting.
There were also adoptions of several ordinances. Chairman Holland requested that the
Commission start thinking about goals for the upcoming retreat.
10.Reports
a.Council Liaison
No report was given at this time.
b.Staff
Staff reported City Council adopted 15 goals set fo1th from Vision 2020. Staff also
!'{!ported a revised Design Criteria Manual has been adopted. Staff also reminded the
Commission about the upcoming retreat planned for February 15, 2005. Commissioner
Brakebill stated he would not be able to attend the retreat due to prior commitments.
Staff announced a workshop with City Council will be held on February 7, 2005, and
there will possibly be a Joint Public Hearing on February 21, 2005. In addition, Staff
commended all the efforts made on the Tree Preservation Ordinance. Staff feels that the
draft of the Tree Preservation Ordinance is a good draft and is proud to be moving
forward with it.
11.Adjournment
With no further comment the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.
u
Development Coordinator
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