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Home My WebLink About5-16-11 PC MinutesMINUTES JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers May 16, 2011 Joint Public Hearings were held on May 16, 2011 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Lynda Kay Makin Vice Chairman Patrick Gibbs Commissioner Glenn Bodwin Commissioner SinaNejad Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Steven. Johnson Commissioner Clint Walters Commission members absent: Commissioner Walter Kyles Commissioner Lauren Williams Mason Commissioner Eddie Senigaur Commissioner Frank Messina Councilmembers present: Mayor Becky Ames Mayor Pro -Tern W. L. Pate Councilmember-at-Large Gethrel Williams -Wright Councilman Audwin Samuel Councilmember Alan Coleman Councilman Jamie Smith Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Ward, Planner; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings held April 18, 2011 with the correction that Commissioner Nejad should be listed as present just once. Commissioner Walters seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS . Mayor Ames called the Joint Public Hearings of May 16, 2011 to order and explained the purpose of the joint hearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Makin. Chairman Makin explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process. Planning Commission May 16, 201 l 1) Pile 2091-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a parking lot in an RCR H (Residential Conservation and Revitalization - Highest Density) District. Location; Northwest corner of Broadway and 7" Street Applicant: 2325 Calder, LLC (Vice -Chairman Gibbs and Commissioner Bodwin arrived.) Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The subject request is to allow a parking lot in an RCR-H District. The property is located at 407 7°i Street. This parking lot is in conjunction with the opening of a new pub/grill in the former Easy's Restaurant at 2325 Calder. Mike Albanese, the new owner of the restaurant property and the parking lot to the south of Easy's, would like to purchase the 7 h Street property to use for additional parking. In May, 2008, Wayne Ingwersen received a specific use permit to allow the aforementioned parking lot. The specific use permit was subject to several conditions including, but not limited to, no access onto Broadway once Calder was complete and a 25' setback along Broadway. This setback is required for surface parking lots in the Oaks Historic District. That parking lot was built without a building permit and the only condition met was the construction of the 8' fence along the west property line. Concerning the current specific use permit request, a 25' setback would be required along both Broadway and 7"' Street. An application to go before the Board of Adjustment requesting a variance to that requirement has been submitted. The applicant has stated that the additional parking is vital to the leasing of the former Easy's Restaurant building. A pub/restaurant at this location would be an important economic stimulus for the Old Town area. With the improvements on Calder now completed, this is the type of development that the City is anxious to see along this major entry into downtown. Mr. Richardson recommended approval subject to the following conditions: • A 25' setback along Broadway and 7' shall be adhered to unless the Board of Adjustment approves variances to the minimum setback for parking lots • The Broadway access, as shown on the site plan, must be deleted. • A minimum 6' wide landscape strip shall be installed along the Broadway and 7' St, frontages of the parking lot • The parking lot shall meet the interior landscaping requirements • An 8' tall wood screening fence shall be constructed along the north property line Planning Commission May 16, 2011 and with a modification to the landscaping requirement along the north property line (no 10' wide landscape strip). Twenty-two notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Makin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant' s comments.. Mike Albanese, the applicant, addressed the Commission and answered questions. Sheri Arnold, representative for the applicant, also addressed the Cornmisison. Chairman Makin asked for continents in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Makin closed the public hearing. Commissioner Nejad made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a parking lot in an RCR H District at the northwest corner of Broadway and 7' Street as requested in File 2091-P, subject to the following conditions: • A 25' setback along Broadway and 7' St. shall be adhered to unless the Board of Adjustment approves variances to the minimum setback for parking lots • A minimum 6wide landscape strip shall be installed along the Broadway and 7' St. frontages of the parking lot • The parking lot shall meet the interior landscaping requirements • An 8' tail wood screening fence shall be constructed along the north property line and with a modification to the landscaping requirement along the north property line (no 10' wide landscape strip). Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. 2) File 2092-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow office/warehouses in a GC - MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: West side of Eastex Freeway, approximately 527north of Tram Applicant: Mark W. Whiteley & Associates, [No. Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Mark W. Whiteley & Associates, representing the property owner Henry LaBric, states that Mr. LaBric would like to continue building office/warehouses that are similar to what he has previously been granted approval. This specific use permit would finish out the property that Mr. LaBric owns at this location. Planning Commission May 16, 2011 The current request includes an additional 32 buildings encompassing 96,000 sq. ft. Tract I is to be built immediately with Tract II -Tract VIR being built overtime. Mr. LaBrie is requesting a waiver of the sidewalk requirement along Eastex Freeway and Old Voth Road. Due to the nature of the site and its location and because of the inability to engineer a sidewalk along Old Voth and Eastex. Ditches go right up to the property line. fn September, 2010, the Planning Commission approved sidewalk waivers along Old Voth and Eastex for the earlier phases. Mr. Richardson recommended approval with a waiver of the sidewalk requirement along Old Voth Road and Eastex Freeway. Eighteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Makin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Tom Rowe with Mark Whiteley & Associates addressed the Commission. Chairman Makin asked for comments in favor or in opposition, No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow office/warehouscs in a GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District located on the west side of Eastex Freeway, approximately 527' north of Tram as requested in File 2092-P with a waiver of the sidewalk requirement along Old Voth Road and Eastex Freeway. Commissioner Bodwin seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:47 P. M. 4