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Home My WebLink AboutP&Z Minutes 1993-02-22 SpecialSPECIAL MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING CCMMISSION FEBRUARY 22, 1993 A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSYXX)D PLANNING AND ZONING CQ.\1MISSION WAS HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1993, AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE FOI...LCWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: KONCABA -VICE CHAIRMAN FINGER VAN DYKE DICKSON McHUGH STEWARI' -ATTORNEY THCMPSON -CITY ENGINEER HENRY -DEVELOPMENI' COORDINA'IDR BRINKMAN -SECRETARY WITH A QUORUM PRESENT, BAKER AND JORDAN ABSENT, VICE CHAIRMAN KONCABA CALLED THE MEETING 'ID ORDER 'ID CONSIDER THE FOLLCMNG: 1.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE REXXMMENDATION FOR CHANGES IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING THE "GARDEN HCME" DISTRICT 2.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE REXXMMENDATION FOR CHANGES IN THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE REGARDING THE "GARDEN HCME" DISTRICT THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTHS AND THE ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EASEMENTS. ENGINEER THCMPSON STATED THAT THE STREET WIDTH WOUID HAVE TO BE 28 ' AND THERE WOULD HAVE 'ID BE A MINIMUM OF 11' BEHIND THE CURB ON EACH SIDE, THCMPSON STATED THAT ANYTHING LESS COULD MEAN PROBLEMS LATER ON. CXM-1ISSIONER VAN DYKE EXPRESSED HIS OONCERN THAT IF A 50 ' RCW WAS ALLCWED IN A GARDEN HCME DISTRICT, THAT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS MIGHT ASK TO DO THE SAME THING. HE WAS VERY CAlJrIOUS ABOUT SETI'ING A PRECEDENCE. CCMMISSIONER FINGER AGREED WITH VAN DYKE'S OBSERVATION. AFI'ER MUCH DISCUSSION, VAN DYKE MADE A IDI'ION THAT THE REQUIRED RIGHT OF WAY R™AIN 60 1 ; WITH A 28' STREEI' AND A 16' EASEMENT ON EACH SIDE. SECOND: FINGER Vffi'E FOR: VAN DYKE, FINGER, DICKSON OPPOSED: McHUGH & KONCABA IDI'ION CARRIED COMMISSIONER FINGER STATED THAT HIS OPINION WAS THAT A PRIVATE STREET IN A GARDEN HCME DISTRICT WAS APPROPRIATE, EXCEPT WHEN THE SUBDIVISION WAS ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. VAN DYKE ASKED ATTORNEY STEWARI' OF THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND ENGINEER THCMPSON ASKED HOO THE STAFF WOULD HANDLE ROArJ.i/AY DEDICATION ON THE PLAT. STEWARI' SAID THAT PRIVATE STREETS WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE AND THAT THE CITY WOUID HAVE TO REQUIRE SEPARATE UTILITY AND RONJ.ilAY EASEMENTS. CCMMISSIONER McHUGH MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL, THE ACCEPI'ANCE OF PRIVATE STREETS IN A GARDEN HCME DISTRICT. SECOND: FINGER VAN DYKE CALLED FOR FURI'HER DISCUSSION ASKING IF THEY COULD CONSIDER PRIVATE STREETS IN A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENI'IAL CCMMUNITY. THE ISSUE WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND WIIJ, BE CONSIDERED AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING CCMMISSION. Vffi'E FOR: McHUGH, FINGER, KONCABA AND DICKSON t j P&Z 2/22/93 Page 2 OPPOSED: VAN DYKE MOTION CARRIED SITT BACKS WERE DISCUSSED AS WERE THE WIDTHS OF THE DIFFERENT STREETS ACCORDING TO THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE Sa.1E DEFINITION OF WHICH STREETS MIGHT BE PRIVA'IE. McHUGH AMENDED HER MOTION TO READ THAT COLLOCTOR STREETS AND MINOR STREETS WITHIN THE GARDEN Ha.1E DISTRICT MIGHT BE MADE PRIVATE. SECOND: FINGER VOI'E FOR: McHUGH, FINGER, KONCABA, DICKSON OPPOSED: VAN DYKE MOTION CARRIED DISCUSSION RESUMED RffiARDING THE SITT BACKS . CCMMISSIONER VAN DYKE MADE A MCYI'ION TO RECXM1END TO CITY COUNCIL THAT THE FRON.I' SE!' BACK FRCM THE 60' ROM BE SITT AT 5 'AS OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT 15' FRCNT YARD RE)'.JUIREMENT. THIS OOULD GIVE APPROXIMATELY 21 FEET OF YARD; 16 FEErr' OF WHICH OOULD BE RIGHT-OF-WAY. S.OCOND: FINGER VOI'E FOR: UNANIMOUS OPPOSED: NONE MOI'ION CARRIED THE DISCUSSION TURNED TO SIDE SITT BACKS AND ENGINEER THOOPSON STATED THAT HE HAD DRIVEN THROUGH THE GARDEN Ha.1E SUBDIVISION IN CLEAR LAKE. HE EXPLAINED THE INTENT OF THAT GARDEN Ha.1E CCM-1UNITY AND HOM IT WAS CONSTRUCTED. CCMMISSIONER FINGER MADE A MCYI'ION TO RECCM1END TO CITY COUNCIL THAT THE ORDINANCE BE CHANGED FRCM A 5' MINIMUM SIDE YARD FOR INTERIOR r..ars TO A O' MINIMUM SIDE YARD FOR INTERIOR r.ms WITH A MINIMUM OF 5' BEIWEEN BUIWINGS. SECOND: McHUGH VOTE FOR: UNANIMOUS OPPOSED: NONE MOI'ION CARRIED. CONSIDER THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. I l February 12,1993 Mayor of Friendswood Evelyn Newman 1 09 Willowick Friendswood, TX 77546 Dear Evelyn: A'0ws·1s11;� ·'\l, A '·/o � � -�, � r-rn 1Qq1 ::?· 0) . . ·---.:>' ,•""..:> -00 l�ECEIVED ;;:f 0 CITY OF rn1rnoswooo _.-;;;;·\r CITY /vlANAGER ·)j '4 . �'-> f' '> \li !.':/�<, I wish that I could have attended the meeting on the proposed 6 story building, however, I am often lax in writing meeting schedules on the calendar and conflicts with my children's activities must occasional ly take precedence. If I had attended, though, I am not sure what I could have added to the meeting. As I mentall y view the proposed office building and contemplate the impact on Friendswood, I am torn between the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages that I see are: Additional tax revenue to the city and school •More efficient use of space (fewer trees cut down)Modernization of Friendswood from the unsightly "tin" buildings to more "attractive" structures(attractive is a relative term as I admire the small, well kept, wood structure that Albritton's uses for their office and I was saddened that H.E.B. built the top, sides and rear of theirbuilding out of metal).If the developer is in agreement, use of their parking area for major park events wouldfacilitate parking.•The building appears to be constructed of mirrored glass which will reflect the sky and treesand allow it to better blend with the surroundings. The disadvantages are: Will remove some of Friendswood's uniqueness. •As additional buildings are constructed, one will see buildings instead of trees when one islooking over Friendswood.Additional burden on city to provide fire protection to a building over 38'.Additional traffic as more tall buildings are constructed. As you can see, my list of disadvantages are few but significant. It is my opinion that for this one building, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I suggest, if possible, that a one time waiver be granted and each proposed structure over 38' be reviewed on a case by case basis. Thank you for taking the time to hear me, �-:; � r:: .. //"LJ�Charles Bludworth 1221 Merriewood Dr. Friendswood, TX 77546 Home: 482-1 111 Work: 556-2176 cc Harold Raley l Friendswood Chamber of Commerce P.0. Box 11 • Friendswood. Texas 77546-0011700 S. Friendswood Drive. Suite G (713)482-3329 February 11, 1993 City of Friendswood Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Benny Baker, 109 Willowick Friendswood, Texas 77546 Re: Re-zoning for proposed "Park Tower" Development Dear P & z Commission Chairman Benny Baker, The mission of the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce is to organize for action and represent the Friendswood business community in a way that we can foster and protect our economic well-being and quality of life. One of the responsibilities of the Chamber Board of Directors is to recognize the means in which to accomplish this mission. As an effective voice of business concerns for this outstanding community, the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce has, and will continue to take a pro-business and pro-econon1ic development position on issues relevant to our membership. With this in mind, the Chamber Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed office parks, complexes, and other projects similar to the proposed "Park Tower" office building currently being considered for possible re-zoning by the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission. The Board unanimously supports the concept of an office building that will provide new professional jobs, increased tax base, additional office space, and serve as encouragement for continued economic development of our great city. Sincerely, ��t; Carolyn Wright Executive Vice President "Your Business ls Our Only Business''