HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-17-14 PC Minutes
* M I N U T E S *
REGULAR MEETING
PLANNING COMMISSION
JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS
PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
February 17, 2014
A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearing of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on
February 17, 2014 and called to order at 3:00 p.m. with the following members present:
Chairman Sina Nejad
Vice-Chairman Marty Craig
Commissioner Ransom “Duce” Jones
Commissioner Walter Kyles
Commissioner Lauren Williams Mason
Commissioner Frank Messina
Commissioner Bill Little
Commission Members absent: Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin
Commissioner Eddie Senigaur
Commissioner Clint Walters
Commissioner Shani Daigle
Councilmembers present: Mayor Becky Ames
Mayor Pro-Tem Gethrel Williams Wright
Councilman-at-Large W. L. Pate
Councilman Mike Getz
Councilman Audwin Samuel
Councilmembers absent: Councilman Alan Coleman
Councilman Jamie Smith
Also present: Chris Boone, Director of Planning and Community Development, Adina
Ward, Planner II; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Tyrone Cooper, City
Attorney
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint
Public Hearings held December 16, 2013. Commissioner Senigaur seconded the motion. Motion
to approve carried 7:0.
REGULAR MEETING
1) Preliminary Plat of Ridgecrest, Unit 4: Consider the preliminary plat of Ridgecrest Subdivision,
Unit 4; Block 5, Lots 1-7; Block 6, Lots 1-3; Block 7, Lot 1, 11; Block 8, Lot 1; 33.17 acres out
of W. Carr Survey, Ab. 102.
Applicant: Fittz & Shipman, Inc.
Mr. Boone presented the staff report. The entrance to the existing Ridgecrest development is
located ±4 miles from the city limits. Although just inside our ETJ, plans for prior units of this
subdivision were never submitted to the city for review. Procedures are now in place at the
County to ensure future developments will be submitted to all necessary parties. Under these new
procedures, Unit 4 is for consideration by the Commission.
Fittz & Shipman, Inc. requested preliminary plat approval of Ridgecrest, Unit 4. The property is
located near the intersection of FM 365 and LaBelle Road. The development is a 33.25 acre,
single family residential subdivision, and the proposed layout shows 13 single family lots for Unit
4. However, it appears that the plan for the entire subdivision is for approximately 100 lots with a
single point of access to FM 365. Given the number of lots and the fact that this subdivision is
bordered with drainage ditches, an additional means of access should be provided.
The applicant is requesting variances to the block length requirement, maximum 24 residences on
a single outlet requirement, and the maximum street length requirement. The regulations state that
a block shall not exceed 1,200' in length, and a rural street shall not exceed 800' in length. The
plat shows a block length of approximately 2,876 ft. in length with the master plan showing a
street length of approximately 8,000 ft and a proposed total of 100 lots. In addition, the applicant
is requesting a waiver of the street light and sidewalk requirements, due to the rural character of
this subdivision.
The plat was sent to all interested parties.
Planning staff recommended approval subject to the following conditions:
Provide a note on the plat: “All lots shall be graded to drain onto streets and shall not drain
into adjacent properties before and after structures are built.” (City Engineering)
Provide an additional access point to Labelle Road.
and with variances to:
Street length.
Maximum residences on single outlet.
Street light requirement.
Sidewalk requirement.
Block lengths.
Chairman Nejad asked for the applicant’s comments.
Don King with Fittz & Shipman, Inc. addressed the Commission
Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve the Preliminary Plat of Ridgecrest, Unit 4; Block
5, Lots 1-7; Block 6, Lots 1-3; Block 7, Lot 1, 11; Block 8, Lot 1; 33.17 acres out of W. Carr
Survey, Ab. 102 as requested subject to the following conditions:
Provide a note on the plat: “All lots shall be graded to drain onto streets and shall not drain
into adjacent properties before and after structures are built.” (City Engineering)
and with variances to:
Street length.
Maximum residences on single outlet.
Street light requirement.
Sidewalk requirement.
Block lengths.
Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0.
2) File 844-OB: Request for the abandonment of the alley in Block 4, Glover Anderson Addition.
Location: Between Avenue B and SP Road, just north of W. Lavaca Street
Applicant: Sherry S. Mack
Mr. Boone presented the staff report. S herry S. Mack, Dependent Administrator of the Estate of
William McKinley Mack, Sr., has applied for the abandonment of the alley in Block 4, Glover
Addition. The Estate is scheduled to sell the property, pending the abandonment of the alley. The
alley divides the property as it consists of most of the adjoining lots, preventing it from being
fenced, etc.
The Planning staff recommended approval.
Chairman Nejad asked for the applicant’s comments.
Sherry Mack, the applicant, addressed the Commission.
Commissioner Mason made a motion to approve the abandonment of the alley in Block 4, Glover
Anderson Addition between Avenue B and SP Road, just north of W. Lavaca Street, as requested
in File 844-OB. Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0.
JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mayor Ames called the Joint Public Hearing of February 17, 2014 to order and explained the
purpose of the joint hearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Nejad.
Chairman Nejad explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process.
1) File 2195-P: Request to consider a request for a specific use permit to allow a day care center
and boarding kennel for dogs in a GC-MD (General Commercial Multiple Family Dwelling)
District.
Location: 6875 Eastex Freeway
Applicant: Irene Torbett
Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Irene Torbett applied for a specific use permit to allow a
boarding kennel in a GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District. The
property is located at 6875 Eastex Freeway.
The applicant states that her business, Planet Canine, will provide dog daycare, overnight stays,
grooming and obedience training. Adequate measures will be taken to ensure that odors and noise
are held to a minimum.
The proposed business will be located in an existing ±2310 sq. ft. building.
It should be noted that the business owner unknowingly opened without permits. Approval of
this specific use permit would allow for the business to continue operation at this site, subject to
all other codes and ordinances.
Eight notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. None in
favor or in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Staff recommended approval of the request.
Chairman Nejad opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant’s comments.
Jerry Nathan addressed the Commission on behalf of Ms. Torbett.
Chairman Nejad asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The
public hearing was closed.
Vice-Chairman Craig made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a day care center
and boarding kennel for dogs in a GC-MD District at 6875 Eastex Freeway as requested in File
2195-P. Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0.
OTHER BUSINESS
THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:32
P.M.