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Home My WebLink About12-17-07 PC MinutesMINUTES REGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers December 17, 2007 A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and CityCouncil were held on December 17, 2007 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Glenn Bodwin Vice Chairman Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Sina Nejad Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Walter Kyles Commissioner Greg Dykeman Commissioner Patrick Gibbs Alternate Commissioner Randall Collins Commission members absent: Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Ted Moot Alternate Commissioner Steven Johnson Councilmembers present: Mayor Becky Ames Mayor Pro-Tem Audwin Samuel Councilmember-at-Large W. L. Pate Councilmember Nancy Beaulieu Councilmember Jamie Smith Councilmembers absent: Councilmember-at-Large Gethrel Williams -Wright Councilmember Alan Coleman Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Abshire, Planner; Chris Boone, Community Development Director APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings held November 19, 2007 and of the Special Meeting held December 3, 2007. Vice -Chairman Makin seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. Planning Commission December 17, 2007 REGULAR MEETING 1) File 722-OD: Request to abandon a portion of Trinity Street, Location: Trinity Street between Franklin and Milam Streets Applicant: Andy Hatch Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The applicant, Andy Hatch, owns the property on either side of this section of Trinity. He states that the purpose of the abandonment is to allow the use of the right-of-way for the loading and unloading of 18-wheeler trucks at the loading dock on Trinity. Currently, trucks extend into the right-of-way when at the loading dock. This item was sent to all interested parties. Water Utilities, Time Warner and Entergy responded saying that they had facilities in the right-of-way. Mr. Richardson recommended approval subject to the following conditions: Retain the right-of-way as a general utility and access easement. No structures or appurtenances shall be placed within the easement property. Water Utilities will not be responsible for any surface restoration when water main or sanitary sewer main repairs are necessary. Chairman Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Andy Hatch, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the abandonment of that portion of Trinity Street between Franklin and Milam Streets as requested in File 722-OB, subject to the following conditions: Retain the right-of-way as a general utility and access easement. No structures or appurtenances shall be - placed within the easement property. Water Utilities will not be responsible for any surface restoration when water main or sanitary sewer main repairs are necessary. Vice -Chairman Makin seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. 2) leplat-Lots IA and 1B Block 1 Romeda Commercial Park Addition: Consider the replat of Lots lA and 1B, Block 1, Romeda Commercial Addition. Location: 4835 and 4845 Romeda Applicant: Fittz & Shipman, Inc. 2 Planning Commission December 17, 2007 Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The lots exceed the minim -urn lot width, lot depth and lot area dimensions as required by the Zoning Ordinance. The replat was sent to all interested parties. No negative responses were received. Nine notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Three notices in favor and none in opposition were returned. Chairman. Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. John Holm with Fittz & Shipman, Inc., the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Bodwin asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Gibbs made a motion to approve the Replat-Lots lA and 1B, Block 1, Romeda Commercial Park Addition located at 4835 and 4845 Romeda. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried.-8:0. ROLL CALL JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Ames called the Joint Public Hearings of December 17, 2007 to order and explained the purpose of the joint hearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Bodwin. He explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process. 1) File 1921-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a bank in the CBD (Central Business District). Location: 490 Park Applicant: SLI Group, Inc. Mr. Richardson presented the staffreport. The proposed CominunityBankofTexas will be in the Stedman Building at 490 Park. The space will be renovated to include the bank lobby, new accounts area, manager's office, conference room, work room and cash room. The only exterior alteration will be the installation of a new canvas awning walkway out toward the parking area. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. 3 Planning Commissiori December 17, 2007 Twenty-five 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 Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Scott Hollingsworth with the SLI Group, Inc. addressed the Commission and answered questions. Chairman Bodwin asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Walter Umphrey, 490 Park, addressed the Commission in favor of the request. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a bank in the CBD (Central Business District) at 490 Park as requested in File 1921- P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. 2) File 1922-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a civic/social association with the sale of alcoholic beverages in a GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: 3859 Stagg Applicant: Swing Out Civic Club Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The Swing Out Civic Club is a 19 member volunteer non-profit organization that has, through the weekly teaching of swing; out dance lessons, raised monies to provide assistance to the youth, elderly and needy of Beaumont. The club meets on Tuesday and Friday nights. A typical Tuesday night attendance is 40-50 persons. On Friday nights, up to 200 individuals will attend. The club is open from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Tuesdays and 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Friday. Parking will be provided both in the strip center's parking lot and in the Gateway Shopping Center parking lot. Typically a civic/social association is permitted by right in a GC -MD District. However, because they wish to sell alcoholic beverages, the club will require a specific use permit. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Sixteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned. 4 Planning Commission December 17,2007 Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's continents. Mildred Lemell addressed the Commission on behalf.of the Swing Out Club and answered questions. Chairman Bodwin asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Councilman Samuel addressed the Commission in favor of the request. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a civic/social association with the sale of alcoholic beverages in a GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District at 3859 Stagg as requested in File 1922-P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. 3) File 1923-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a business office and warehouse in a CBD (Central Business District). Location: 585 Wall Applicant: Colburn McCleIland Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Colburn McClelland owns Pure Purpose, Inc. that does business as the YAYA Club Clothing Company. The subject property will be utilized as the corporate office of his business. Twelve employees will be housed at 585 Wall. Activities to occur will, include general office work and the receiving and distribution of apparel items for his three retail outlets. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Ten notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned. Chairman Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Colburn McClelland, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Bodwin asked for continents in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Dykeman made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a business office and warehouse in a CBD (Central Business District) at 585 Wall as requested in File 1923-P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. 5 Planning Commission December 17,2007 4) File 51-RC: Request for an HC-L (Historic -Cultural Landmark Preservation Designation). Location: 2368 McFaddin Applicant: Eric Newby Mr. Richardson presented the staff report, Eric Newby purchased the house in 2003 and has worked to restore the house to its original state. The house was designed and built by locally renowned architect, 'Henry Conrad Mauer in 1907. It is a good example of what was then called an "American Four - Square" based on the fact that there are four rooms on each floor with no hallways to minimize wasted space. The original owner was Rupert Joseph'Barry of Barry Brothers Mercantile in Beaumont. In 1929, the house was sold to Beaumont oil pioneer, F.E. Carroll. - The house is built of cement blocks to minimize problems with rot, mildew and termites. On December 10, the Historic Landmark Commission recommended approval of the request. Thirty-three notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. One response in favor and none in opposition were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Bodwin opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's continents. Eric Newby, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Bodwin asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No continents were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve an HC-L (Historic -Cultural Landmark Preservation Designation) for the house at 2368 McFaddin as requested in File 51-HC. Commissioner Makin seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Electronic Reader Board Owner Identification Signs A couple of months back, the Planning Commission asked staff to propose regulations governing owner identification electronic reader board signs. Z Planning Commission December 17, 2007 If it is the desire of the Planning Commission and City Council to allow owner identification electronic reader board signs, Mr. Richardson suggested the following: Urban Corridor, Major/Dowlen and General sign regulations: 1. In residential districts, such signs shall be permitted for multiple family developments, non-residential or institutional buildings. The message copy may change no more than four times in a one hour period. Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. Message copy shall be limited to one color. Electronic reader board signs would not be permitted in residentially zoned areas of historic districts. 2. In commercial districts electronic reader board signs are permitted with the same requirements as in the residential districts. However, as with multi - tenant signs, gasoline station signs along Dowlen, Hwy.105 and Major and in the general sign regulations where big signs are permitted, no more than sixty sq.ft. or 50% of the maximum sign area, whichever is less, can be devoted to electric changeable copy. Discussion followed between the Commission and staff. The Planning Commission asked. that this item be put on the January agenda. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. AT4:00P.M. 7