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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-16-03 PC MinutesMINUTES I REGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL June 16, 2003 City Council Chambers A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on June 16, 2003 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Vice -Chairman Greg Dykeman Commissioner Carlos Hernandez Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Glenn Bodwin Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Walter Kyles Alternate Paul Jones Alternate Virginia Hurley Commission members absent: Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Alternate Ted Moore Councilmembers present: Mayor Evelyn Lord Mayor Pro-Tem Lulu Smith Councilman -at -Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember-at-Large Becky Ames Councilmernbers absent: Councilmember Nancy Beaulieu Councilman Audwin Samuel Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Abshire, Planner; Tom Warner, Public Works Director; Cheryl Robinson, Senior Planner Chairman Leister welcomed new alternate members Virginia Hurley and Paul Jones. Planning Commission June 16,2003 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings held May 12, 2003. Commissioner Kyles seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) Replat-North V2of Lot 13, Unit C. Ty rrell Park Addition: Request for a replat of the north V2of Lot 13, Unit C, Tyrrell Park Addition into Lots 13A, 13B and 13C. Location: 5430 Seale Road Applicant: Wortech Land Surveyors, Inc. (A public hearing is required for this case.) Mr. Richardson presented the staff report.. Mr, Courville, the property owner, would like to subdivide his 200'wide lot into 3 lots. Lot 13C, the lot that his house sits on, would be 99.98'wide. The other two lots would be 50'wide each. This replat was sent to all interested parties. No objections have been received. 18 notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Two responses in opposition and none in favor were received by staff. Mr. Richardson read the responses in opposition. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. (Commissioner Kyles arrived.) Slides of the property were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Richard Worthey of Wortech Surveyors, the applicant, addressed the Commission, Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Almetta House, 5450 Seale Road, addressed the Commission and asked why notification was necessary. Mr. Richardson replied that notification was required per the Subdivision Regulations of the City. Wilbert Pierre, 5415 Seale Road, addressed the Commission in opposition. Planning Commission June 16, 2003 K. C. Jones, 5455 Seale Road, addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Rebuttal by Mr. Courville. Discussion followed on dimensions of surrounding lots. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve the Rcplat of the north Y2 of Lot 13, Unit C, Tyrrell Park Addition into Lots 13A, 13B and 13C located at 5430 Seale Road as requested. Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 2) Preliminary Plat -Washington West, Section Two, Phase Two: Consider the Preliminary Plat of Washington West, Section Two, Lots 16-19, Block 2, Lots 3-6, Block 6, Lots 6-11, Block 7 and Lots 1-7, Block 8. Applicant: Fittz and Shipman, Inc. (Commissioner Craig arrived.) Mr. Richardson stated that Phase Two is a 6.14 acre tract of land zoned RS. It will be subdivided into 21 single family lots. The subject property will be accessed by extensions of New York Boulevard and East Nevada Avenue, A new street, Idaho Avenue, will be constructed to connect the two streets. The plat was sent to all interested parties. There are six items that need to be addressed on the plat. Mr. Richardson recommended approval subject to the plat being corrected reflecting the following 6 conditions: 1) Flood data must be updated to reflect the maps adopted in August, 2002. 2) The title should include lot and block information. 3) Adjoining properties must be identified. 4) The property owners signature should appear on the plat. 5) There are several places on the plat where data overlays other data and is illegible. 6) The plat will need to be modified to reflect the DD#6 ditch out of Lots 4 and 5, Block 6. Planning Commission June 16,2003 Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the Preliminary Plat of Washington West, Section Two, Phase Two, Lots 16-19, Block 2, Lots 3-6, Block 6, Lots 6-11, Block 7 and Lots 1-7, Block 8 subject to the plat being corrected reflecting the following 6 conditions: 1) Flood data must be updated to reflect the maps adopted in August, 2002. 2) The title should include lot and block information. 3) Adjoining properties must be identified. 4) The property owners signature should appear on the plat. 5) There are several places on the plat where data overlays other data and is illegible. 6) The plat will need to be modified to reflect the DD#6 ditch out of Lots 4 and 5, Block 6. Commissioner Kyles seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 3) File 651-OB: Request for the abandonment of a portion of Grove Street, Holly Street, Doucette Avenue, Madison Avenue, Van Buren Avenue, Fulton Avenue and numerous alleys. Location: Sycamore to tracks, Grant to tracks Applicant: Fittz and Shipman, Inc. Mr. Richardson stated that the purpose of these closures is to facilitate ExxonMobil's development of an electrical substation and a cogeneration plant to more efficiently operate the refinery. This item was sent to all interested parties. Entergy states that it has 34.5 KV primary distribution facilities along Doucette and Holly. Entergy is requiring an easement or relocation of the facilities at ExxonMobil's expense. Mr. Richardson recommended approval subject to requiring the easement or moving the facilities at ExxonMobil's expense. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. Johnny Casmore addressed the Commission on behalf of ExxonMobil. John Holm of Fittz and Shipman, Inc. addressed the Commission. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve the abandonment of portions of Grove Street, Holly Street, Doucette Avenue, Madison Avenue, Van Buren Avenue, Fulton Avenue and numerous alleys as requested in File 651-OB, subject to retaining a 26' wide utility easement or move the line at ExxonMobil's expense. Commissioner Hurley seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. Planning Commission June 16,2003 4) File 652-OB: Request for the abandonment of a 20'x 300'alley. Location: Lots 1-12, Block 3, McFaddin First Addition Applicant: Benn Bundy for W. E. Maier Mr. Richardson stated that the subject alley is between Gulf and Jirou Streets. The adjacent properties are occupied by industrial buildings built many years ago. The property is under contract to sell and the purpose of the abandonment is to clear up any encumbrances that might jeopardize the sale. The request was sent to all interested par -ties. The City has a 6" sanitary sewer line in the alley. There are several options available to the adjacent property owner concerning this sewer line. Time Warner has also said that they have an existing cable feeder in the alley serving one customer. Mr. Richardson recommended approval subject to the owner of the adjacent property working out an agreement with the City on how to address the sanitary sewer line and with Time Warner on how to address the cable feeder in the alley. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. The applicant was not present. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve the abandonment of a 20'x 300' alley between Gulf and Jirou Streets in Block 3 of the McFaddin First Addition as requested in File 652-OB, subject to the owner of the adjacent property working out an agreement with the City on how to address the sanitary sewer line and with Time Warner on how to address the cable feeder in the alley. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. FrOTIO-917FETITs-Iffill All R I M Mayor Lord called the Joint Public Hearings of June 16, 2003 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. File 1558-Z: Request for a zone change from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) to LI (Light Industrial) District, Location: Southeast comer of Lincoln and Hemlock Applicant: Joseph Durousseau, et ux (Commissioner Hernandez arrived,) Mr. Richardson stated that request is for property located at 2055 Hemlock. The item was tabled from June 18, 2001. Planning Commission June 16, 2003 Joseph Durousseau, the applicant, is asking for this zone change in order to open a welding shop. At the original public hearing, there was discussion about ExxonMobil's plans for the old Charlton -Pollard school site. In April, 2003, ExxonMobil was granted a zone change to LI for that property. Mr. Durousseau has now asked that his request be considered again. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. 18 notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or in opposition were received. Slides of the subject area were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Joseph Durousseau, the applicant, addressed the Commission and answered questions from the Commission. Discussion followed regarding buffers and screening. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Hallmark commented on possible encroachment into the neighborhood. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve a zone change from RM-H to LI District for the property at 2055 Hemlock as requested in File 1558-Z. Commissioner Hurley seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:1 (Hallmark). 2) File 1672-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow the construction of fraternity and sorority houses in an RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) District. Location: 1000 blocks of Iowa and Georgia Applicant: Lamar University Mr. Richardson stated that Lamar University is proposing to lease land to various fraternity and sorority organizations so that these organizations can build residential facilities for their members. These facilities will have accommodations for full time occupancy including bedrooms and cooking facilities. M Planning Commission June 16,2003 The proposed plans call for ten different houses and related parking. Each organization will be responsible for building its house but will be subject to review by the University. Ownership of the building will remain with the fraternity or sorority. Each-fratemity or sorority will enter into a ground lease with the University. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of this request subject to the submittal of detailed drainage plans approved by the City. Twenty-cight notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. One response in favor and none in opposition were received. Slides of the subject area were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Gerald McCaig of Lamar University, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Discussion followed between the Commission, Council and staff. Commissioner Kyles made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow the construction of fraternity and sorority houses in an RCR District in the 1000 blocks of Iowa and Georgia as requested in File 1672-P, subject to the submittal of detailed drainage plans approved by the City. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 3) File 1673-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow the expansion of mini - warehouses in a GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: 5440 Old Dowlen Road Applicant: Jim Speed Mr. Richardson stated that Jim Speed, the property owner, wants to expand his existing mini -warehouse development at 5440 Old Dowlen Road. Approximately 10 years ago, Mr. Speed was given a building permit for 5,300 sq. ft. of warehouse space in three buildings. The City granted this permit in error. The property was and still is zoned GC -MD. Mini -warehouses require a specific use permit in a GC - MD District, No specific use permit was required by city staff at that time. Mr. Speed would now like to construct two additional 4,900 sq. ft. mini -warehouse buildings on the subject property. These new buildings would include climate- Planning Commission June 16, 2003 controlled units. In one of the new buildings would also be an office for the development. An 8' tall chain link fence will surround the property. A 6' x 10' monument -type sign will be built near the front gate. Eight notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Two responses in opposition and none in favor were received. Mr, Richardson recommended approval of the request subject to an 8' fence and 10, landscape strip on the south side. Slides of the subject property were shown. Chairman Leister asked about any street widening proposals. Tom Warner stated that Old Dowlen Road will be widened and shifted to the west to line up with Caswell Street. Commissioner Hallmark expressed concern about the drainage and water runoff from the subject property onto adjacent properties and asked if there was an elevation restriction. Mr. Richardson stated that the site plan submitted shows the property draining to the ditches on Old Dowlen Road. Because comments Were received from adjacent property owners expressing concern about the fill dirt and the effect that it will have on their property, Mr. Richardson discussed this with the City Engineer and he said he would recommend approval subject to the submittal of more detailed drainage plans. Mr. Richardson read the responses received in opposition. Discussion of landscaping requirements followed. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Jim Speed, the applicant, addressed the Commission and distributed photos. Mr. Speed said that the property will drain to the ditches on Old Dowlen Road. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Bill Conley addressed the Commission in opposition. Mr. Conley is an attorney representing Harry Fuller, who owns the mechanic shop at 5983 Cole Road, located M Planning Commission June 16, 2003 directly behind the subject property. Mr. Conley stated that Mr. Fuller's property is negatively affected by the drainage runoff from the subject property. Barbara Hawkins, 5985 Cole Road, addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. Mrs. Hawkins stated that her property, which is adjacent to the subject property, is also impacted by the runoff. Harry Fuller addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. Mr. Fuller owns the mechanic shop at 5983 Cole Road and the house at 5975 Cole Road. Mr. Fuller reiterated that he has drainage problems on his property as a result of Mr. Speed's property. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Rebuttal by Mr. Speed. Discussion followed between the Commission, the applicant and staff. Commissioner Hurley made a motion to approve a specific use pen -nit to allow the expansion of mini -warehouses in a GC -MD District at 5440 Old Dowlen Road as requested in File 1673-P, subject to detailed drainage plans approved by the City Engineer. Chairman Leister suggested that a 6'landscape strip with trees every 25'be required for the property frontage. Commissioner Hurley amended the motion to include a 6'landscape strip with trees every 25' be required for the property frontage. Commissioner Jones expressed concern regarding the widening of Old Dowlen Road and its affect on properties. Commissioner Craig seconded the amended motion. Mr. Richardson stated that on the south side of the subject property an 8' tall screening fence and 10'landscape strip is required. However, because there is only 5'between the existing building and the south property line, a modification to the landscape strip would be required. Commissioner Hurley amended the motion to allow the modification ofthe required I O'wide landscape strip to 5'behind the existing building along the south side of the property. Motion to approve subject to requiring detailed drainage plans approved by the City Engineer, requiring that a 6' wide landscape strip with trees every 25'be installed Planning Commission June 16,2003 along the property frontage and allowing a modification of the required 10' wide landscape strip to Ybehind the existing building along the south side of the property carried 7:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:55 P. M. EXECUTIVE SESSION The executive session was postponed.