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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-18-95 PC MinutesA Regular Meeting and Joint Publiic. Hearing of the Planning Commission arid City Council was held on September 18, 1995 with the following members present: Chairman Elmer Embs Vice -Chairman Marva Provo Commissioner Sally Bundy... Commissioner Rob Clark"' Comq;},ssianer Laurie Leister Commissioner Cleveland Nisby Commissioner Bessie Chisum - ComnOpsioner Bill Kimbrough Commissioners absent: Commissioner Bill Lucas Councilmembers present: Mayor David Moore Councilmember-at-Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Guy Goodson Councilmember Lulu Smith Council -member John Davis Councilmembers absent: Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Mayor Pro-Tem Becky Ames Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Director; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney; Bonnie Semien,. Planning -. Technician and Jill Cole, Recording Secretary. Commissioner Kimbrough made a motion to approve the minutes of the September. 6, 1995 Regular Meeting. Motion was' seconded by Commissioner. Bundy. Motion to approve carried 8:0. Planning Commission September 18, 1995 REGULAR MEETING 1) Preliminary Plat- Dowlen Park North: Request to consider the Preliminary Plat of Dowlen Park North; 3.761 acres,.H. Williams League. Applicant: Fittz and Shipman for Dowlen Development Co. Mr. Richardson told the Planning Commission that the subdivision consisted of four lots. The property is being subdivided for the purpose of the development of a funeral home in a proposed Neighborhood Commercial District. The property is currently part of an overall specific use permit approved for office buildings. On this particular parcel, six office buildings are approved totalling 20,000 square feet of office space. A preliminary plat was approved dividing this parcel into six lots. The plat shows a one foot,- no access easement along the Wellington Place frontage. The applicant is requesting a waiver of the sidewalk requirement. A - sidewalk was required as part of the platting process in August, 1994. The plat was distributed to all concerned parties. No objections to the plat were received. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the Preliminary Plat of Dowlen Park North and denial of the sidewalk waiver. Chairman Embs asked for the applicant's comments. John Holm with Fittz and Shipman, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Embs asked for comments in favor or in opposition: Speaking in Favor Bill Wilson with Dowlen Development Company addressed the Commission. Speaking in Opposition Jan Scofield, One Wellington Place, asked about notification process. William Simon, 1450 Sheridan Lane, spoke on behalf of the Sheridan Park Neighborhood Association. He expressed concerns over traffic congestion impairing access of emergency vehicles and the safety of neighborhood children. 2 Planning Commission September 18, 1995 Bill Little, developer of Park West and Bellechase Subdivisions. He spoke in opposition to the waiver of -the sidewalk requirement. Tamara Rohde, 6209 Sheridan_ Oaks Drive, spoke in opposition. Debbie Bando, One Wellingtgn.Place Townhomes, addressed the Commission regarding traffic problems. Mary Ann Iles, owner of the property across Dowlen Road from the subject property, addressed the Commission. , -Rebuttal by -John Holm. H641thdrew the waiver request for the sidewalk. Commissioner Clark made a motion to approve the; Preliminary Plat of Dowlen Park North.~- Commiss ione».Leister seconded. tha.,motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0.' - JOINT PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Moore ---called the Joint Public Hearing of September 18, 1995 to order and explained the'purpose of the jointhearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Embs. He explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process. 1) File 1280-ZIP: Request'. - for a zone change from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) District to NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District, or a more restricted zoning district, and an application for a specific use permit.to allow the construction of a new funeral home. Location: Between Dowlen Road and Wellington Place, 'north of a 100' wide DD#6 ditch. Applicant: Fittz and Shipman, Inc., consulting engineers Mr. Richardson told the Planning Commission that the 3.76 acre tract is proposed to be developed with a 9,000 square foot funeral home. A portion of the property is designated.for future development. Two curb cuts along Dowlen Road are shown on the site plan. A one foot, no access strip is •shown along. Wellington Place. The City Traffic Engineer . hasapproved the site plan for the proposed parking lot and driveway. scheme. There is a proposed median cut and left turn lane on Dowlen Road: The City Traffic Engineer has looked at this median cut and has given tentative. approval. 3 g, .t , r. Planning "Commission' September 18, t995 Mr.. Richardson recommended'.approval of the zone change and specific use permit. Thirty-nine notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor and six in opposition were returned. Chairman Embs opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Roy Elledge, trustee for the applicant, addressed the Commission. He responded to some of the concerns expressed. State laws prohibit crematoriums outside cemeteries. He expects to have approximately 100 funerals the first year -of operation. Funerals will -be- held between 10 a.m, and 3 p.m. "'Funeral - processions will go north- Delaware and exiting the'site•'within 3-5-minutes. : There are• 96 proposed parking spaces. In response to questions from, Commissioner Leistel;, Mr. El ledge said lie expects up to 150 funerals annually. in the future and that the prep room as shown on the site plans will not increase iil•_size: Chairman Embs asked for comments in favor and in opposition. Speaking in Favor Bill Wilson, representing the owners of the property, addressed the Commission. Speaking in Opposition Jan Scofield, f620 Wellington Place, is President of the One Wellington Place Homeowners Association. -She. expressed concerns regarding traffic.... Kathleen Perrilloux 6440 Windsor Parkway Beaumont, Texas Becky Neil 1620 Wellington Place Beaumont, Texas Herbert Goldstein 17 Dowlen Place. Beaumont, Texas - Lionel Forbet 1435 Wellington Oaks Beaumont, Texas Planning Commission September 18, 1995 -Y Wayne Reaud 1315 Xtlduibon Place Beaumont, Texas Sheryl Plaia 1450 Wellington Oaks Drive Beaumont, Texas Donald O'Brien. 1440 Wellington Oaks Drive Beaumont, Texas Mary Ann Iles Rt. 7, Box 175 Beaumont, Texas John Wilsonlo 1465,WeIlington-Oaks Beaumont, Texas Richard -Guseman 6420 Windsor Parkway '.fir - Beaumont, Texas Tanya Guseman 6420 Windsoi Parkway Beaumont, Texas Murphy Johnston 1415 Wellington Oaks Beaumont, Texas Starla Faust 1620 Wellington Place Beaumont, Texas Discussion of the notification process and the 20% Rule followed. Rebuttal was given by Mr. Elledge, Jim Giesling, Area General Manager for SCI, addressed the Commission. He said that SCI will not be embalming on the subject property. Bill Munroe, 6690 Windwood, spoke on behalf of SCI. Chairman Embs closed the'public hearing. In response to a question from Commissioner Kimbrough, Mr. Richardson said that the developer of the property would be responsible for putting in the median cut and the left turn lane. . 5 2) a Planning Commission September 18, 1995 Commissioner Nisby asked_. if the adjoining acreage would be available for overflow parking. Mr. Elledge said it would be left in a natural wooded state. Discussion of traffic concern$ and the notification process followed between Council, Planning Commission and staff. Commissioner Leister made.a-motion to apprdve the zone change and specific use permit as requested iri File 1780-ZIP, subject to the deletion of the south 1.2 acres (Lot 4 of the proposed Dowlen Park North Subdivision) of the subject property and requiring an 8' tall screening fence beginning 100' west of the most northeast corner of the subject property then extending 127.57' along the eastern property line commorr with•the'right-of-way of Wellington Place and then extending in a southwesterfy-direction 81.63 feet. Commissioner Provo seconded the motion.' Motion to apprgye failed 3:5. File 1282-Z: Zone change request from RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling) District to GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: Part of Lots 18 and 23, Block 6, Lucky Five Addition. Applicant: Alsaiah Lemons Mr. Richardson told the Commission that the applicants own Lots 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Their business, L and L Car Wash, is located on Lots 18-20. Lots 21-23 are,used for storage of construction company equipment. Lots 18 and 23 have split zoh1fig. The east 43.6 feet of property has been fenced and basically been a part of the commercial uses for a number of years. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Twenty-one notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Six responses in favor and none in opposition were returned. Chairman Embs opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Alsaiah Lemons, the applicant, addressed the. Commission. Chairman Embs asked for comments in favor and in opposition. _ b Speaking in Favor , Herman Quinton 9345 Mapes Beaumont, Texas Chairman Embs closed the public hearing. Commissioner Nisby made a rpotion to approve the zone change to GC -MD as requested in File 1282-Z. Commissioner Kimbrough seconded the 'motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. 3) File 1283-P: Request for an amended specific use permit to allow renovations and additions to the Beaumont, Heritage Center; ' Location: 2985 and 3025 French -Road Applicant: Beaumont Heritage'Sbciety Mr. Richardson told the Commission that the applicant, Beaumont Heritage Society, wishes to make a number of improvements to the -John J. ]French Museum. Improvements include the demolition of the existing administrative offices, a carport, an out building and a number of drives and sidewalks. In addition, one small building is to be moved across the street from its current location, a new parking lot is to be built, a 425 square foot addition is to be built on the rear of the David French House, an open air pavilion is to be built and an 8' tall screening fence is to be installed on the north, west, south and southeast sides. .These changes will enhance the operation of the museum and make it more of an asset to the entire community. This item, as well as a certificate of demolition and a certificate of appropriateness was approved by the Historic Landmark Commission on September 11, 1995. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the amended specific use permit subject to the two identification signs being set back twenty-five feet from the property line. Forty notices were sent to property owners within 200' of the subject property. One response in favor and one in opposition was received by staff. Chairman Embs opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. 7 Planning Commission September 18, 1995 David Grove, representing the Beaumont Heritage Society, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Embs asked for comments in favor and in opposition. Fred Montes, 3045 French Road, asked for clarification of the plans for the subject property. Chairman Embs closed the public hearing. Commissioner Leister made a motion to approve the amended specific use permit as requested in File 1283-P, subject to the two identification signs being setback 25' from the property line. Commissioner Chisum seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED.