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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2005-12-15 Regularl Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission December 15, 2005 A regular meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held Thursday, December 15, 2005, at 7 :00 p.m. in the council chambers in city hall located at 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following members were present: David Brakebill Jim Gibson Kevin Holland Sherry Weesner Loren Smith-City Attorney Diana Steelquist-Staff Planner Cheri Skelton-Development Coordinator With a quorum present, Commissioner Bertrand, Commissioner Klusendorf, and Commissioner Van Riper absent, Chairman Holland called the meeting to order to discuss the following: 1.Call to order 2.Communicat ions from the public No one from the public spoke at this time. 3.Consent Agenda: a.Approval of the 11-03-05 Regular meeting minutes. b.Approval of the 11-17-05 Regular meeting minutes. c.Approval of the Final Plat of Friendswood United Methodist Church located on FM 518 and FM 23 51. Motion: Second: Voted For: Brakebill-to approve consent agenda Gibson Unanimous Motion Carried 4.Consideration and possible action regarding the Final Plat of Northfield Estates Subdivision located on Melody Lane abutting the Forest of Friendswood Subdivision. Motion: Second: Gibson-approve with Staff comments Brakebill Commissioner Weesner stated that Final Plats should not be before Planning and Zoning with comments. Final Plats should not have comments to address and should be placed on the consent agenda. Staff stated that the project missed the agenda deadline at the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District and that is why the Final Plat was placed on the agenda with comments. Page 1 of 4 12/15/05 P & Z Randy Liska stated that he felt that the outstanding comments were addressed with a re­ submitted set of plans at the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District. Voted For: Unanimous Motion Carried 5.Consideration and possible action regarding sidewalks along Bay Area Boulevard in the Friendswood Oaks Subdivision. Staff gave a brief summary of why this item was placed on the agenda. Stating that Staff had allowed a modification to the sidewalks in Friendswood Oaks and along Bay Area Boulevard, but realized the modifications could only be approved by Planning and Zoning. Commissioner Weenser, Commissioner Gibson, and Chairman Holland stated that all the sidewalks should be completed within the subdivision and along Bay Area Boulevard like normally required. Dick Duffy addressed the Commission. He stated that he has no problem with finishing out the sidewalks but he has concerns. Those concerns are: 1.Concerned about skateboarding and the safety issue that the extension of the sidewalk creates. 2.The ditch the sidewalk goes into stays full of water most of the time. It seems that to place a sidewalk into a ditch that stays full of water is a waste of money if no one can use it. 3.The distance from where the sidewalk stops currently and the distance to the property line are approximately 350 feet. He would like to know why Autumn Creek sidewalks were not completed to the property line when it was developed and how should he address this to his potential homeowners when they need to go to the shopping center on FM 528. Mr. Duffy then stated if he was required to complete the sidewalks he would like to have a 60-day extension to complete them without holding his project up. He stated he needed the 60-day extension because: 1.It was the holidays and he could not get concrete until after the holidays were over. 2.Most of the people who do the concrete work go south for Clu·istmas and do not return until after the holidays. Commissioner Weesner stated that the extension request could not be granted by Planning and Zoning because it was not in the Planning and Zoning Conunissions scope of approvals. The City Attorney agreed with Commissioner Weesner stating that the approval of the time extension request could not be made by Planning and Zoning, only by Staff. Chairman Holland then stated that it is not the city's intent to slow down the project, but to allow Mr. Duffy adequate time finish the sidewalks; however, this would Page 2 of 4 12/15/05 P & Z l only be a recommendation. Commissioner Weesner then stated that Planning and Zoning had no grounds to make this recommendation and the City Attorney also agreed. Motion: Second: Voted For: Weenser-to complete the sidewalks on Bay Area and complete the sidewalks within the subdivision. Brakebill Unanimous Motion Carried 6.Discussion and possible action regarding the site plan requirements for gas stations and auto repair facilities with the Entryway Overlay District (EOD) and Downtown Overlay District (DOD). Chairman Holland stated that there are other issues and properties to consider so that the focus was not creating spot zoning. There are other properties that are affected in much of the same way and should be considered. Commissioner Brakebill agreed with Chairman Holland, stating that the entire issue should be looked at instead of focusing just on one person. Nick Alvery, 3698 Blackhawk, addressed the Commission. Mr. Alvery owns the Plaza at the corner of Blackhawk and FM 528. He stated that there has been a hardship created with his property due to the city's requirements. Mr. Alvery stated he must have a minimum of three gas pumps on his property to sell gas with a franchise; however, he cannot meet the requirements of the city code to finish the renovation to his prope1ty, to include the gas pumps. It then creates a hardship for him to keep the gas station open, because he cannot get a permit for the remaining improvements. Mr. Alvery stated that just to get a sign permit, it took four years, and he finally got his permit thanks to Linda Taylor. Mr. Alvery stated with the city requirements are not allowing him to improve the property. He is also not able to get tenants for his plaza, therefore creating a hardship on him. He then stated that if it wasn't for the other two stores he owns that he would need to file bankruptcy. He does not understand why he is able to get permits in the other cities where he owns gas stations, but he cannot get a permit in Friendswood, being he has been here as long as he has. Mr. Alvery said that the property in Friendswood is older than any others he owns. In addition, he explained that City Staff has been great in helping him but he sees that Staff has not been given the authority to make any decisions to help people, and they are scared to tell him what he needs to do to get approval, because they have no authority to approve it. He asked the Commission for help with the city code requirements in order to complete his renovations or give City Staff authority to help him. Motion: Second: Voted For: Chairman Holland-to table until other Commissioners are present. Weesner Unanimous Motion to Table Carried 7.Discussion regarding purposes and intent of Planned Unit Developments (PUD). Page 3 of 4 12/15/05 P & Z Conm1issioner Weesner stated that this item should be placed on the next meeting agenda in order for other Commissioners to attend the meeting. 8.Communications from the Commission Commissioner Weesner stated she attended the City Council meeting and the CEDC meeting. She stated that CEDC is not as far along as Planning and Zoning may have thought to make any decisions on land use for the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Brakebill stated at the Main Street meetings there have been a number of issues that have been worked tlu·ough. He stated the Staff was working on providing a summary of the meetings to the Commissioners. Commissioner Gibson stated the sub-committee was still working on the Vision Plan. Chairman Holland stated he would like to discuss in January the bridge that is referred to as "Devils Bridge" that connects Imperial Estates to FM 23 51. He stated he has a report from TX Dot that the footing of the bridge are not bad as the city states and he feels the bridge should be opened up for use. Staff stated that the City Engineer had stated that the bridge should be closed. Chairman Holland then stated, but the city has a new City Engineer who could look at it again. Commissioner Gibson stated that Chairman Holland should speak with the Mayor or City Manager first. 9.Reports. a.Council Liaison Council Liaison was not present at the meeting. b.Staff Staff stated a Joint Public Hearing will be held January 9, 2006, for a zone change regarding property on Old Road. Staff also stated a new Zoning Manual was provided to the Conunission which includes the Tree Ordinance. Chairman Holland asked if it included Heritage Trees. Staff stated it did not and that Heritage Trees would not be part of the Tree Ordinance but would be included in the City Code. 10.Adjournment. With no further action the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m. a�w:lJll:k Cherj Skelton Development Coordinator Page 4 of 4 12/15/05 P & Z