HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2005-01-07 Special[
.
Minutes of a Special Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
January 17, 2005
A special meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held
Monday, January 17, 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:
David Brakebill
Jim Gibson
Kevin Holland
Roy Klusendorf
Mark Van Riper
Sherry Weesner
John Olsen-City Attorney
Dan Johnson-Deputy Director of CD
Diana Steelquist-Planner
Cheri Skelton-Development Coordinator
With a quorum present, Commissioner Bertrand abs ent, Chairman Holland called the
meeting to order to consider the following.
7:00 P.M.-DOCKETED JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
1.To receive public input, either oral or written regarding the following:
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) .
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).
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).
Mitch Mitchell, developer of the prope1ty, address ed the Commission and
City Council. Mr. Mitchell gave a list of reasons why the zone change should
be granted. Some of the reasons included such things as:
1.The location of the properties to be rezoned is in line with a main
future thoroughfare as such is one of the city's future commercial
corridors.
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2.The commercial businesses that will be going in will benefit the City
of Friendswood tax base as well as school district, without adding
students.
3.Rezoning of the property will send a clear message to potential
businesses that Friendswood wants new business.
4.The property has always been designated as commercial since the
1990's when a master plan was brought forth and approved by the City
of Friendswood.
The following spoke against the zone change.
Richard Gierczic, 1621 Garden Lakes Drive. He read a letter he had written to
the Commission and City Council. Mr. Gierczic stated he did not want to have a
10-foot to 12-foot fence blocking his view. He also expressed concern that he had
been lied to by the developer.
Heath Taylor, 1915 Rolling Stone, stated that Mr. Mitchell does not answer
questions or allow the homeowners to speak at Home Owners Association (HOA)
meetings. He also stated he was going to do what he could to stop this rezoning.
Leslie Roque, 1916 Sandy Lakes Drive. Mrs. Roque stated the HOA has not had
the opportunity to be involved in the development within their subdivision. She
asked that the HOA be allowed to be involved.
Larry Buswa, 1900 Sandy Lakes Drive. Mr. Buswa stated he is not really in
opposition of the zone change; however, the comment of a 10 to 12 foot high
fence being installed around the property concerned him.
Gary Birsinger, 1606 Cascade Falls. Mr. Bursinger stated he felt the majority of
the homeowners in Friendswood Lakes were opposed to this zone change. He
also stated he felt office buildings took away from the feel of the subdivision. In
addition, he asked that in striving for the 80/20 goal of the city, that consideration
be given to the citizens of Friendswood when allowing developments.
R.Boveadur, 1918 Pampas Trail Drive. Mr. Boveadur stated that not all the
sections of Friendswood Lakes have been developed as promised. He asked that
the Commission and City Council consider holding off the rezoning request until
more information is provided about the undeveloped sections.
Edwin Fong, 1608 Cascade Falls. Mr. Fong stated he would like to know what
type of commercial prope1ty is allowed in that requested zone. He also stated that
what was promised and what has actually happened with the development of the
subdivision has not taken place.
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Greg Balson, 1922 Skip Rock. Mr. .Balson stated he is concerned that there is
already to many empty storefronts in Friendswood. He is concerned the same
thing will be true if commercial is allowed to take place on these tracts.
Tom Merkle, 1811 Sandy Lakes. He stated the original vision was that the other
sections were going to be developed first, before commercial. He would like to
know why that has not happened.
Theresa Huning, 2000 Sandy Lakes Drive. She stated how Friendswood is a
quaint town. She stated she is not particularly concerned with the rezoning
request. Her concern is more of what is allowed when a building is built, such as
what type of material is used, and the height it will be allowed to be.
Robin Welch, 1601 Stoney Lakes. Mrs. Welch feels Friendswood Lakes is a nice
neighborhood, btit since moving here feels it has been degraded with the
installation of power poles, and the development that hasn't taken place like
promised.
Thomas Easterly, 1705 Sandy Lakes Drive. Mr. Easterly expressed concern in
regards to what commercial establishments are allowed in the zone requested. He
also expressed concern over the development that has not been completed in the
subdivision. In addition, he asked what benefit was gained from changing the
zone from Single Family Residential (SFR) to Community Shopping Center
(CSC).
D.Requesting amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, Planned Unit Development
Cluster Homes.
Staff gave a brief overview of what a Planned Unit Development-Cluster
Home is. Staff explained the Cluster Home development involves reduced
requirements such as street rights-of-ways when prope1ty is given up for
"open space".
No one spoke for or against the item.
E.Requesting amendment to the Sign Ordinance-Appendix A.
Staff rep01ted the revisions to the Sign Ordinance had been made in conjunction
with the input of the Commission. The goal was to simplify the ordinance as well
as to address specific issues such as electronic changeable copy signs. Staff also
presented a revised version of Changeable Copy Signs. The revised version
addressed a question asked by City Council regarding what revisions must be
inade to the si gn ordinance to bring the City's sign in Stevenson Park up to
conformance.
The following spoke in favor of:
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Ron Hindt, with Calvary Ch apel Church on FM 528, addressed the Commission
and City Council. Mr. Hindt thanked the Staff for the time and hard work put into
updating the sign ordinance. He also asked the Commission and City Council to
move quickly on the changes proposed. He stated that it would be nice if there
were closure on these proposed revisions.
No one spoke against the item.
2.Adjournment
With no fmiher comment the meeting was adjourned at 8: 17 p.m. c�A· J}@pu h�. -· . -· · ri Skelton
Development Coordinator
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