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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-22-01 PC MinutesMINUTES JOINT PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL October 22, 2001 City Council Chambers A Joint Public Hearing of the Planning Commission and City Council was held on October 22, 2001 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Vice -Chairman Greg Dykeman Commissioner Bill Lucas Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Glenn Bodwin Commissioner Carlos Hernandez Commission members absent: Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Albert Robinson Councilmembers present-, Mayor David W. Moore Mayor Pro-Tem Guy Goodson Councilman -at -Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Lulu Smith Councilmembers absent: Councilman Aodwin Samuel Councilmember-at-Large Becky Ames Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney; Bart Baker, Senior Planner; Bill Dupree, Senior Planner; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Adina Abshire, Planning Technician and Kyle Hayes, Economic Development Director [�! ; I In 11 AMOM Mayor Moore called the Joint Public Hearing of October 22, 2001 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. Planning Commission October 22, 2001 File 617-OB: Consider the request for annexation of three areas south, southeast and east of the City of Beaumont totaling 4,239.68 acres, more or less. Applicant: City of Beaumont Mr. Richardson stated that Area I is located south of the southeast corporate limits, south of Cardinal Drive, Sulphur Drive and Spindletop Avenue, extending cast and west of Port Arthur Road and extending west to Eric. Area 2 is located along the west bank of the Neches River, extending in a northerly direction from the corporate limits at the K.C.S. Railroad right-of-way to a point east of Washington Boulevard if it was extended east to the Neches. Area 3 is located is between the Neches River and Highway 347 being primarily the Beaumont Works of DuPont and a number of other tracts within that complex. The City of Beaumont is annexing these areas for the following reasons: 1) Doing so will add to the economic stability of the City by ensuring that it has an adequate tax base to provide the necessary services to its residents. 2) It is the City's desire to regulate the extent and quality of development within the areas proposed for annexation. This will enable the City of Beaumont to plan and control the areas' development so that it will enhance and not detract from the City. 3) To protect environmentally sensitive areas and to betterregulate the quality of development in the area. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the annexation of the three areas. Commissioner Lucas asked what was going to be done for these companies if and when they are annexed. Mr. Richardson said as part of the annexation process, a service plan has been submitted which requires the City to provide all the services that are now provided to other residents and that will be taken care of within 2-1/2 years. Those services include standard services such water, sewer, fire protection, police protection and garbage pickup. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for comments. Harry Wright, 1221 Dallas, Port Neches addressed the Commission. Mr, Wright represents Sabine Gas Transmission Co. which consists of 210 acres located in Area 1. Planning Commission October 22, 2001 Chairman Leister asked Mr. Richardson what type of city services this area is receiving in case of an accident. Mr. Richardson replied that are some scattered water and sewer lines, but as far as fire, the City is first response. A number of these facilities have their own fire departments, but when in need, the City is first response. Discussion followed between Chairman Leister and Kyle Hayes, Economic Development Director regarding fire protection. R. C. Kinnear, 5020 Irving, addressed the Commission in opposition to the proposed annexation. Mr. Kinnear feels that the property proposed for annexation is not suitable for homesite development. Don Radley, P. O. Box 404, Sour Lake, addressed the Commission. Mr. Radley and his brothers are oil operators of the majority of the old Spindletop Field. They are opposed to the annexation because of the City restrictions required for oil operation on drilling within the city. Mr. Radley said that they don't feel that would gain enough from city services and it would more than double the cost of drilling wells. In addition, they would be required to fence their well sites and they are not presently required to do so. They will also required to take out a $25,000 bond on each well that they drill in the city. Les Moore of Rockport, Texas, addressed the Commission, Mr. Moore is Executive Vice President of Gladys City Company. The company owns approximately 1500 acres in Area I in almost 200 tracts. Gladys City Company owns the surface and minerals and leases those to Mr. Radley and Tri Union and to Centennial. Tom Jeffcoat, 2255 N. Major Drive, addressed the Commission in opposition to the annexation. Mr. Jeffcoat farms approximately 12 acres of rice on the Gladys City Co. property. He said that the property is basically farm land with lots of pipeline corridors running through it and doesn't think it will ever be suitable for anything but that. He expressed concern on the 500'aviation limit that would be imposed on him by city ordinance. He uses crop airplanes to plant and fertilize. Commissioner Lucas asked Mr. Richardson if the City did in fact have a 500' aviation limit. Mr. Richardson said he would have to research that. Hoke Peacock, 110 E. Caldwood, addressed the Commission in opposition to the annexation. He spoke on behalf of Neches Industrial Park which is in the north end of Area 2. He said they wouldn't gain enough from city services to offset the increased cost to conduct business in the City. M Planning Commission October 22, 200 1 Suzy Foitenberry, 6155 Erie Street, addressed the Commission in opposition to the annexation. Ms. Fortenberry said that she has asked the City in the past to provide them with utilities and was turned down. Over the years, she has gone to great expense to provide water and sewer. The only benefit to her if her property is annexed is garbage pickup. She also asked why the gun club was not part of the proposed annexation. Carter Williams, 1075 Georgia, spoke in favor of the proposed annexation. Tracy Sahualla, 6150 Erie Street, addressed the Commission in opposition to the annexation. Mr. Sahualla asked why the gun club was excluded from the proposed annexation. With no further comments, Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. OTHER BUSINESS Chairman Leister reminded the Commission and Council that the second annexation public hearing will be held on Monday, October 29, 2001, at 3 p.m. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:50 P.M. 4