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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-19-01 PC MinutesMINUTES JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL March 19, 2001 City Council Chambers Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on March 19, 2001 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Vice -Chairman Greg Dykeman Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Albert Robinson Commissioner Marty Craig Commissioner Carlos Hernandez Commission members absent: Commissioner Bill Lucas Commissioner Glenn Bodwin Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro -Tern Guy Goodson Councilman -at -Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember-at-Large Becky Ames Councilmember Lulu Smith Councilman Audwin Samuel Councilmembers absent: Mayor David W. Moore Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Manager; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney; Cheryl Robinson, Senior Planner; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Stephen J. Bonczek, City Manager and Kyle Hayes, Assistant City Manager APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings held February 19, 2001. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. Planning Commission March 19, 2001 JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Pro-Tem Goodson called the Joint Public Hearings of March 19, 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. 1) File 41-14C: Request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation) designation. Location: 325 7th Street Applicant: City of Beaumont Historic Landmark Commission Mr. Richardson stated that in February, 2001, the Historic Landmark Commission asked staff to initiate the process for historic designation of this property. In months previous to that, the Historic Landmark Commission visited with the property owner and expressed a concern over the condition of the house and with the designation put on the property, the Zoning Ordinance does provide for a process whereby the Historic Landmark Commission could work with the property owner in guaranteeing that the house is brought up to a certain standard in order to preserve the structure. The house was evaluated using the City's criteria for an historical -cultural designation and was found to meet six of the ten criteria. The item was considered and approved by the Historic Landmark Commission on March 12, 2001. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Nineteen 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. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the property owner's comments. The property owner was not present. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve the request for an HC-L (Historic Cultural -Landmark Preservation) designation for the house located at 325 7th Street as requested in File 41-HC. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 2 Planning Commission March 19, 2001 2) File 1548-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a physician's office in an RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) District, Location: 2670 McFaddin Avenue Applicant: R. P. Sotolongo, M. D. Mr. Richardson stated that the applicant wants to enlarge his cardiology practice which occupies a commercial building at 2693-95 North Street. The subject property abuts his property on North Street. The plan is to provide two exam rooms with space for nursing, technicaland clerical personnel. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Twenty-two 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. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments, Charles Coombs, Executive Director for Southeast Texas Cardiology Associates, the applicant, addressed the Commission and answered questions concerning the parking lot, entrances and exits. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Mr. Dykeman asked Mr. Richardson why construction work was already in progress. This was discussed. Commissioner Craig made a motion to approve a specific use permit to allow a physician's office in an RCR District at 2670 McFaddin Avenue as requested in File 1548-P. Commissioner Hallmark seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 3) File 1549-P: Request for a specific use permit in a GC -MD (General Commercial - Multiple Family Dwelling) District for light fabrication of wire rope slings and industrial supply distribution of slings and chain wire for the trade. Location: 2050 Sabine Pass at Frederick Applicant: Manchester Sling Company, represented by Jim Steele Mr. Richardson stated that Manchester Sling Company wants to relocate to the site of a former scaffolding company. There is an existing warehouse located on the property. The property has been vacant for more than two years. Planning Commission Match 19, 2001 The company buys steel wire and chain in large quantities and designs and fabricates the product into slings to order. Assembly of the slings is done insi& the warehouse. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Fifteen 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. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Jim Steele of the Manchester Sling Company, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Vice -Chairman Dykeman made a motion to approve a specific use permit in a GC - MD District for light fabrication of wire rope and chain slings and industrial supply distribution of slings for the trade at 2050 Sabine Pass as requested in File 1549-P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. 4) File 1550-Z: Request for a zone change from A-R (Agricultural -Residential) to GC - MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) Distfict or a more restrictive zoning district. Location: East side of FM 364, approximately 1,592 feet north of Folsom Drive Applicant: Charles Leyendecker Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the applicant wants to construct 150 apartment units on seven acres and develop a retail commercial strip on the remaining four acres. The Comprehensive Plan designates this area as a neighborhood growth unit. As such, commercial centers should be located at the intersection of major streets. In addition, this request could be considered "spot zoning". All surrounding zoning is A-R or RM-H. The GC -MD district would allow strip commercial development opposite residential development. Mr. Richardson recommended denial of the request. Fourteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. One response in favor and none in opposition were returned. Planning Commission March 19,2001 Slides of the subject area were shown. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Michelle Falgout of Fittz and Shipman, Inc. addressed the Commission. Charles Leyendecker, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Mr. Leyendecker said that they plan to build 150 apartment units on the back seven acres of the subject tract. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Milt Prewitt of J. M. Prewitt Real Estate Company addressed the Commission and Council in favor of the request. T*&. Prewitt represents the property owner, LA Tex Investors. Marty Vershel, Pastor of Wesley Methodist Church, addressed the Commission and Council in opposition to the request. The church has purchased theirproperty from the First Baptist Church. Bill Kenny, Building Committee Chairman ofWesley Methodist Church, addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. They are southof and next door to the request. The church was told that this area would be developed residentially and not commercial. Jo Ann Simpson, owner of Westhaven Apartments located across the street from the subject property, addressed the Commission in opposition to the request. The public hearing was closed. Rebuttal by Charles Leyendecker followed. Mrs. Falgout reminded the Commission that they arerequesting GC-NM-2 zoning, so if the Commission doesn't want a convenience store or a liquor store, they don't have to approve those uses. Vice -Chairman Dykeman asked if the applicant could build an apartment complex there as it is now zoned. Mr. Richardson answered that they could not build a complex in an A-R district. In response to Chairman Leister, Mr. Richardson said that some other permitted uses in an RM-H zone other than apartments are single family homes, duplexes, professional offices, real estate offices and doctor's offices. Non-residential uses would need specific use permits in an RM-H district. N Planning Commission March 19, 2001 Comments from commissioners followed. Vice -Chairman Dykeman made a motion to approve a zone change from A-R (Agricultural -Residential) to GC-MD-2 for the front 4 acres and RM-H for the back 7 acres as the amended request of File 1550-Z. Commissioner Leister seconded the motion. The motion to approve failed 2:4. (Commissioner Robinson left.) Discussion between the Commission, City Council, staff and the applicant followed The applicant amended the request for the entire property to be rezoned to RM-H. Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve a zone change from A-R (Agricultural -Residential) to RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling-Hkhcst Density) District for a vacant 11 acre tract of land on Major Drive approximately 1,592 feet north of Folsom Drive as requested in File 1550-Z. CommissionerCraig seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 5:0. 5) File 1551-Z/P: Request for a zone change from RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling) and RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) to GC-MD-2 (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling-2) District and an application for a specific use permit to allow a personal storage warehouse. Location: 1655 S. Major Drive (FM 364) Applicant: Eugene R. Allen Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the applicant wants to build a climate controlled, 40,000 square foot self -storage warehouse facility. All units will be located within the building. Landscaping, trees and screening and wrought iron fences will be installed on the front and sides. This property is immediately adjacent to commercial strip that is located south of College along S. Major Drive. W. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Fifty-six notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Eleven notices in favor and none in opposition were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Councilmember Goodson commented that a change to GC-MD-2 for the subject property would leave the next lot to the north RM-H. He suggested that staff contact the owner and ask him if he would object to the City rezoning his lot to GG MD-2. 0 Planning Commission March 19,2001 Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Eugene Allen, the applicant, addressed the Commission, Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Landry Roundtree, 9855 Washington Boulevard, spoke in favor of the request. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve a zone change from RS and RM- H to GC-MD-2 District and a specific use permit to allow a personal storage warehouse at 1655 S. Major Drive as requested in File 1551-Z/P. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0. (Commissioner Carlos Hernandez arrived. Chairman Leister recused herself from File 1552-Z.) 6) File 1552-Z: Request for a zone change from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) District. Location: 3300 block of North Dowlen Road Applicant: Brentwood Investments Development Company, L. P. Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the subject zone change request is for a 12.01 acre tract of land in the 3300 block of Dowlen Road. In October, 1999, this property was rezoned to RM-H with a specific use permit for office uses. Some building construction is currently underway. Three building permits have been issued. The applicant is now requesting PUD zoning to allow for more flexibility to compliment the office setting. PUD zoning allows mixed residential, retail and office land uses. Everything, except for single family residential, requires a specific use permit. The land use plan lists the following proposed general land use: holding and investment offices, real estate offices, insurance agency offices, professional business offices, doctor or dental offices, legal services, mortgage company offices, book store, jewelry store, apparel boutique and gourmet coffee shop. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. h Planning Commission March 19,2001 Eleven notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. None in oppositbn or in favor were returned. Slides of the subject property were shown. Vice -Chairman Dykeman opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Brent Coon, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Vice -Chairman Dykeman 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 zone change from RM-H to PUD District for the property in the 3300 block of North Dowlen Road as requested in File 1552-Z. Commissioner Craig seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0: 1. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 5:35 P.M. N