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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-15 PC Minutes * M I N U T E S * REGULAR MEETING JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers October 19, 2015 A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council was held on October 19, 2015 and called to order at 3:11 p.m. with the following members present: Commission Members present: Chairman Sina Nejad Vice-Chairman Marty Craig Commissioner J.P. Colbert Commissioner Ava Graves Commissioner Lauren Williams-Mason Commissioner Eddie Senigaur Commissioner Bill Little Commission Members absent: Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Clint Walters Commissioner Frank Messina Commissioner Shani Daigle Councilmembers present: Councilman Claude F. Guidroz Councilwoman Gethrel Williams-Wright Councilman Mike Getz Councilwoman Robin Mouton Councilmembers absent: Mayor Becky Ames Councilman W.L. Pate Councilman Audwin Samuel Also present: Chris Boone, Director of Planning and Community Development; Raymond Rowzee, Planner I; Fran Malvo, Recording Secretary; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes were approved. REGULAR MEETING 1) Replat of Lot 2, Blue Star Subdivision and a 1.48 acre tract into Lot 1 and Lot 2, M.A. Toups Addition: Consider a request for a Replat of Lot 2, Blue Star Subdivision and a 1.48 acre tract into Lot 1 and Lot 2, M.A. Toups Addition, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas Applicant: Faust Engineering and Surveying, Inc. Location: 750 Thomas Road and 811 West Lucas Drive Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Slides were shown. Richard Faust, representing Faust Engineering and Surveying Inc., has a request for a Replat of Lot 2, Blue Star Subdivision and a 1.48 acre tract into Lot 1 and Lot 2 M.A. Toups Addition. The property is located at 750 Thomas Road and 811 West Lucas Drive. The purpose of the plat is to relocate a lot line. The lot exceeds the minimum lot area, width and depth requirements for residential property. Twenty-two notices were mailed to property owners within 200’ of the subject. No responses were received in favor or in opposition. The Planning staff recommended approval of the request. Richard Faust representing Faust Engineer and Surveying, Inc. at 2525 Calder was present and addressed the Commission. Chairman Nejad asked for any comments for or against the case. The public hearing was closed. Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve a request for a Replat of Lot 2, Blue Star Subdivision and a 1.48 acre tract into Lot 1 and Lot 2, M.A. Toups Addition as requested. Commissioner Senigaur seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 2) 862-OB: Consider a request to abandon a 293.42 square foot section of Isla Avenue, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. Applicant: Soutex Surveyors & Engineers Location: 1480 Interstate 10 East Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Soutex Surveyors & Engineers is requesting an abandonment of a portion of the Isla Avenue right-of-way. Chaudhry Bashir (Arain, LLC) intends to build a retail gasoline/convenience store on this property located at 1480 Interstate 10 East. At the creation of this portion of Isla Avenue, awkward angles were left along the south right- of-way line. To allow sufficient room for vehicles to maneuver in front of the store, the applicant would like to push the structure as far north as possible. Abandoning this portion of the right-of-way will better accommodate the needed layout. The item was sent to all interested parties. The Planning staff recommended approval of the request. Chairman Nejad asked if there were any questions for Mr. Boone. The applicant, Jeremy Mitchell representing Soutex Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. at 3737 Doctors Drive addressed the Commissioners. Chairman Nejad asked if anyone had questions or comments. Chairman Nejad stated that the case did not require a public hearing. Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to consider a request to abandon a 293.42 square foot section of Isla Avenue as requested in File 862-OB. Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 3) 863-OB: Consider a request to abandon a five foot street light easement located between lots 2 & 3, Block 2, Washington Park, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. Applicant: Soutex Surveyors & Engineers Location: 4740 Bolivar Street Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Soutex Surveyors & Engineers is requesting an abandonment of the street light easement located at 4740 Bolivar Street on behalf of the owners, Joseph and Rita Crook. The 5’ easement runs along the boundary of lots 2 & 3, Block 2, Washington Park Addition. Mr. & Mrs. Crook plan to construct a home on the property divided by this easement. A letter from Entergy showing no objection to the request was submitted along with the application. The item was sent to all interested parties. The Planning staff recommended approval of the request. The applicant, Jeremy Mitchell representing Soutex Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. at 3737 Doctors Drive was present. Chairman Nejad asked were there any questions for Mr. Boone. Mr. Mitchell addressed the Commission. Commissioner Senigaur made a motion to approve a request to abandon a five foot street light easement located between lots 2 & 3, Block 2, Washington Park as requested in File 863-OB. Commissioner Williams-Mason seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS 1) File 2242-P: A request for a Specific Use Permit for a retail T-shirt and merchandise print shop in an RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District. Applicant: Toni J. Prados/Area Impressions Location: 4705 Highland Avenue Toni J. Prados, owner of Area Impressions, is asking to open a retail T-shirt business at 4705 Highland Avenue. The property is zoned RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization). Ms. Prados has operated a beauty salon at this location for at least two years, and currently owns a T-shirt shop at another location. The beauty shop at this location is currently being expanded for storage. She would like to convert this storage space, and move the retail T-shirt shop into the expanded space. The shop will not involve screen-printing, but rather new technology which allows designs to be printed directly to clothing items and accessories, much as a picture may be printed from an office printer. Designs would be created and printed in the shop. Staff recommended approval with the following conditions: 1. Parking must be redesigned to meet city standards. 2. Driveways must be reconfigured to meet city standards. 3. An 8 foot privacy fence and 10 foot landscape buffer must be installed and maintained along the east and south property lines. 4. A 6 foot wide landscape strip must be installed and maintained along the entire length of parking areas at the right-of-way. 5. An automatic irrigation system must be installed, sufficient to provide complete coverage of all required landscaping. Twelve (12) notices were mailed to property owners within 200’ of the subject property. Slides were shown. Chairman Nejad addressed Ms. Prados and stated to her that her parking does not meet the City’s requirements. He also suggested that Ms. Prados obtains help from the City’s Engineering and Traffic departments to assist her with the parking map. The parking map that she provided was not approved by the City. Discussion followed. Ms. Prados at 4570 Highland addressed the Commission and she agreed to hold the item to the next meeting in order to make the necessary adjustments regarding the parking. 2) File 2244-Z: Consider a request for a rezoning from an A-R (Agricultural-Residential) to GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) or a more restrictive district. Location: 4575, 4579 and 4585 North Major Drive Applicant: Mark Merrill Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Mark Merrill and Dorothy Bowen would like to rezone the property the own at 4575, 4579 & 4585 North Major Drive to GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) to accommodate a mixed use project of apartments and commercial businesses. Several newer apartment complexes have been, or will soon be built on adjacent property and across Major Drive. Slides were shown. Eight (8) notices were mailed to property owners within 200’ of the subject property. No responses were received in favor of or in opposition. The Planning staff recommended approval. The applicant, Mark Merrilll, was not present but his son, Lindy Merrill at 5855 Lexington Circle, Lumberton, TX and he stated he would be happy to answer any questions. Chairman Nejad asked if there was any one that would like to speak for or against the case. The public hearing was closed. Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve a request for a rezoning from an A-R (Agricultural-Residential) to GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District as requested in File 2244-Z. Commissioner Williams-Mason seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 3) File 2245-P: A request for a Specific Use Permit for a cocktail bar in a GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: 6632 Phelan Boulevard Applicant: Chris Ali on behalf of Dr. Arfeen Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Chris Ali, on behalf of Dr. Arfeen, is asking to open a cocktail bar at 6632 Phelan Boulevard. The property is zoned GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling). The cocktail bar is to be called “Portus” and will be serving patrons 25 years old and up. Hours of operation will be 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., therefore; interference with parking for surrounding businesses will be minimal. Seventeen (17) notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses were returned in favor or in opposition. Slides were shown. The Planning staff recommended approval. Chris Ali at 6680 Calder addressed the Commissioners. She stated that there will be no live music and there will be not be any disturbances to the surrounding apartment complexes. Discussion followed. Chairman Nejad asked if there was anyone that would like to speak for or against the case. Chairman Nejad closed the public hearing. Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve a request for a Specific Use Permit for a cocktail bar in a GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District as requested in File 2245-P. Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 4) File 2246-P: Consider a request for a Specific Use Permit to allow parking for a restaurant in an RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District. Location: 958 and 978 Orange Avenue and 1350 Gilbert Street Applicant: Akram Khalil Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Akram Khalil would like to use the property located at 958 and 978 Orange Avenue and 1350 Gilbert Street to expand the parking for a proposed restaurant to be located at 1325 College Street. The restaurant will be located in GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) zoning and, since a Specific Use Permit is not required, plans are under review. During preliminary review it was noted that parking would not be sufficient. This additional parking would bring the applicant into compliance with current requirements. Slides were shown. Twenty-five (25) notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses were received in favor or in opposition. The Planning staff recommended approval subject to the following conditions: 1. Landscaping and screening be installed and maintained as per ordinance requirements, including provision of island, medians and/or peninsulas and perimeter buffer. 2. Irrigation system shall be installed and maintained for all required landscaping. Discussion followed. Commissioner Mason asked when the irrigation system become a requirement. Commissioner Little asked were the islands a requirement as well. Mr. Boone stated that both were requirements in the ordinance. Akram Khalil also known as A.K. representing Mack Construction that will do the construction for the owners of the restaurant. Chairman Nejad asked if anyone would like to speak in favor or against the case. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Senigaur made a motion to approve a request for a Specific Use Permit allow parking for a restaurant in an RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization). Vice- chairman Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approved carried 7:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:40 P.M.