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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-17-04 PC MinutesMINUTES REGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL. May 17, 2004 City Council Chambers A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on May 17, 2004 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Walter Kyles Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Commission members absent: Vice -Chairman Greg Dykeman Commissioner Glenn Bodwin Commissioner Virginia Hurley Alternate Commissioner Ted Moor Alternate Commissioner Steven Johnson Alternate Commissioner Paul Jones Councilmembers present: Mayor Evelyn Lord Mayor Pro-Tem Becky Ames Councilmember-at-Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Lulu Smith Councilmember Nancy Beaulieu Councilmember Audwin Samuel Councilmembers absent: Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attomey; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Abshire, Planner; Tom Warner, Public Works Director APPROVAL OF THE NHNUTES Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings held April 19, 2004. Commissioner Hallmark seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. Planning Commission May 17, 2004 REGULAR MEETING 1) File 664-OB: Request to abandon a 20' utility easement. Location: 7860 Jill Lane Applicant: Mark Cole Mr. Richardson stated that the general utility easement runs along the rear of the property at 7860 Jill Lane. Mark Cole, the property owner, is requesting this abandonment to allow the installation of an in -ground swimming pool. This item was sent to all interested parties. No negative responses have been received. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. Mark Cole, the applicant, was present. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the request to abandon a 20' utility easement at 7860 Jill Lane as requested in File 664-013. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Lord called the Joint Public Hearings of May 17. 2004 to order and explained the purpose of the joint hearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Leister. She explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process. 1) File 1714-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a residential care facility in an RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) District. Location: 1901 Park Street Applicant: Watts Home, Inc. Patty Lee, Executive Director of Watts Home, Inc. is requesting a specific use permit to allow a residential care facility in an existing structure at 1901 Park. This facility will be used as an extension of their current facility at 695 Irma. That property received a specific use permit in 1997. The t wo s tory h ouse on t he s ubject p roperty h as 6 b edrooms, 4 b athrooms, a kitchen, living room and dining room: No cooking will be done at this address. Meals will be prepared in the commercial kitchen at 695 Irma. Planning Commission May 17. 2004 Watts Homes would like to house 18 men that have lived at the Irma facility and have practiced the Watts Home's "family living style program" but still cannot go home or live by themselves. Ms. Lee states that they will continue to have their tenants practice life skills such as good hygiene, work search, continuing education and self help outreach. Mr. Richardson stated that initially he had recommended approval of the request subject to omitting parking space #1 and with a modification to the landscaping requirements along the north, east and south sides of the property. However, he received continents from one person who falls within the 200' around the subject property plus written comments from two other individuals who own property in that neighborhood that caused him to have serious concerns about -the effect the expansion would have on the neighborhood. Seventeen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor and one response in opposition were returned from those mailed out. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Patty Lee, Executive Director of Watts Home, Inc., addressed the Commission. She stated that there is a 10 p.m. curfew and 24 hour supervision. There are 23 men in the 1 arger house and 12 women in the women's house. S he has 3 full t ime employees, 3 part time employees and 4 volunteers. The doors are locked at 10 p.m., but she cannot imprison her clients. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Kintezy Lee, Assistant Director of Watts Home, addressed the Commission. Darlene Dorset, 1250 Condon, spoke in favor of the request. Jesse Gomez, 1725 Park, addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. Lin M arie G arsee, 1725 P ark, addressed t he C ommission i n o pposition to the request. Bryan Hendrix, 1814 Park, spoke in opposition to the request. Officer Tony Barker ofthe Beaumont Police Department addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. He said that he deals with some of the Watts Home residents on a regular basis and feels that Ms. Lee does not need another home because of the numerous problems with the existing home. Tommie Rene Batiste, 3465 Avenue E, spoke in favor of the request. 3 Planning Commission May 17, 2004 Rebuttal by Patty Lee and Kintezy Lee. The public hearing was closed. Comments from the Commission followed. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to deny the specific use permit to allow a residential care facility in an RCR District at 1901 Park Street as requested in File 1714-P. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to deny carried 5:1 (Kyles). 2) File 1715-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a cellular tower in an NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District. Location: 2390 Briarcliff Applicant: Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless wants to c onstruct an 180' t all monopole tower and w ill b e equipped to allow for the co -location of additional wireless carriers. The facility will consist of the tower and a 12' x 28' equipment shelter within a fenced compound. The facility will be paved with crushed limestone. Access to the site will be off of Delaware via a 14' wide driveway. There is an existing 6'tall wood screening fence along the east property line and the rear portion of the south property line. An 8' tall chain link fence with wood slats is proposed to encircle the 79' x 79' facility. Shrubs will be planted along the north and west sides of the fenced area to provide additional screening. The Planning Manager recommends approval of this request subject to extending the B tall wood screening fence along the south property line to the west property line of the subject property and with a modification to the landscaping/screening requirements along the east and south sides of the property. Seventeen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or in opposition were received. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Mark Hodges of Verizon Wireless addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for continents in favor or in opposition. Sam Parigi, 445 N. 14', addressed the Commission in favor of the request. 4 Planning Commission May 17, 2004 Bill Munro, 6820 Windsor Parkway, spoke in favor of the request. The public hearing was closed. Chairman Leister recommended a solid wood privacy fence instead of the chain link with wood slats and also that the landscaping be the same as what would be required adjacent to a parking lot. Mr. Richardson stated that when landscaping the street side of a parking lot, a 6' landscape strip with shrubs and trees every 25' is required. Chairman Leister recommended the east and south sides keep the 6' wood privacy fence and in the case that it needs to replaced, it be replaced with a 8' wrood privacy fence and to change the 8' chain link fence across the west and north side to a wood privacy fence and landscaping that would meet the requirements of landscaping that would be adjacent to a parking lot. Mr. Parigi said that a chain link fence would be inside the wood fence. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a cellular tower in an NC District at 2380 Briarcliff as requested in File 1715-P. subject to the installation of an 8' tall wood screening fence along the east and south sides of the subject property at such time the existing fence needs replacing, installation of an 8' tall wood screening fence around the compound, including the gate; and installation along the north and west sides of the compound the same type of 6' wide landscape strip that is required of parking lots. Commissioner Kyles seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 3) File 1716-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a wrecker service in a GC- MD-2 (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dv.elling-2) District. Location: 1575 S. Major Drive Applicant: Landry Rountree The applicant, Landry Rountree, requested a specific use permit to allow the operation of his wrecker service. The business will include office space, carport and storage facility for no more than 10 vehicles. The facility will be fenced with a 6' cyclone fence on the north, south and west sides of the property. The east end of the property will have an 8' tall wood privacy fence. Mr. Rountree is asking for a modification to the landscaping requirements along.the east property line. Mr. Neff, the adjacent property owner, is requesting that no trees be planted along their mutual boundary. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request subject to moving the proposed sign 10' from any property line and with a modification to the landscaping requirement along the east property line. Planning Commission May i 7, 2004 Fourteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Seven responses in favor and one in opposition were received. Nine responses in favor from neighbors outside the 200' were also received. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Landry Rountree, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Chuck Turner, 1307 Liberty, spoke in favor of the request. Stanley Nobles of Triangle Air Care, 1555 S. Major, addressed the Commission in favor of the request. Triangle Air Care is located just north of the subject property. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a wrecker service in a GC-MD-2 District at 1575 S. Major Drive as requested in File 1716-P subject to limiting the height of the sign to 12' and the sign area to 5' x 10'. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 4) File 1717-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a drinking place in a GC - MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: 4120 College Street Applicant: Molina Ventures, L. L. C. The applicant, Molina Ventures, requested a specific use permit so that they may open Wild Bill's nightclub. The property was last used as Swampee's Bayou Bar and Grill. Hours of operation will be from 1 l :00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m_ Alcoholic beverages will be served along with a light food menu. There N&ill be no adult entertainment occurring at the club. Mr. Richard recommended approval of the request. Nine 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. 6 Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Kerwin Stone, 390 Park Street, addressed the Commission on behalf of the applicant. Danny Molina, 8240 Willow Bend Drive, addressed the Commission. Mr. Molina said that any overflow parking from the nightclub will go to the Mojo's parking lot which can be accessed from the back of the property and the dental office parking lot next door has been approved for use. The proposed country and western nightclub will be open Tuesday through Saturday. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a drinking place in a GC -MD District at 4120 College Street as requested in File 1717-P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. S) File 46-HC: Request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation) Designation. Location: 2494 Avenue F Applicant: City of Beaumont Planning Division Mitchell Normand, a descendant of the original owner of the subject property, has been working with the Planning Division on designating this property because of its architectural and historical significance. The house was built in 1896 and is of the Victorian style. It is one of the oldest structures in that part of the City. In 1901, Alice Boykin Pattillo purchased the house. Ms. Pattillo was married to Jackson Pattillo until they divorced in 1907. On her own, she ensured that all six of her adult children were college educated. The four daughters all became school teachers. The eldest son became one of the first African -American mail carriers in Beaumont. The other son attended Tuskegee Institute and studied with George Washington Carver. The house is listed in the 1977 SPARE Beaumont survey. SPARE considered the house wbrth}+ of a local historic designation. The request went before the Historic Landmark Commission on May 10 and was approved unanimously. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. ail Twenty notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. One response in favor and none in opposition were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's continents. Mitchell Normand, 1980 Corley, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve a request for an HC-L Designation for the propem• at 2494 Avenue F as requested in File 46-HC. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE N[EETL\G WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:50 P.M. 8