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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-21 PC Minutes * M I N U T E S * JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers November 15, 2021 A Joint Public Hearing of the Planning Commission and City Council was held on November 15, 2021 and called to order at 3:19 p.m. with the following members present: Commission Members present: Chairman Sina Nejad Commissioner Hamza Jabbar Commissioner Shawn Javed Commissioner Darius Linton Commissioner Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Tom Noyola Commissioner Sandy Pate Commissioner Taher Quraishi Commission Members absent: Commissioner Johnny Beatty Alternate Commissioner Erika Harris Alternate Commissioner Eddie Senigaur Councilmembers present: Mayor Robin Mouton Mayor Pro Tem Audwin Samuel Councilmember A.J. Turner Councilmember Taylor Neild Councilmember Mike Getz Councilmember Chris Durio Also present: Chris Boone, Director of Planning & Community Development Adina Josey, Senior Planner Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney Catherine Allen, Recording Secretary Chairman Nejad welcomed the new Commissioners Hamza Jabbar, Darius Linton and Sandy Pate to the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 Planning Commission November 15, 2021 Commissioner Quraishi moved to approve the minutes of the Joint Public Hearings held on October 18, 2021. Commissioner Noyola seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes carried 8:0. REGULAR MEETING 1) PZ2021-359: Request to rename Buford Street between Port and Brooklyn Streets. Applicant: Rev. Willie F. Williams, Jr., on behalf of Starlight Missionary Baptist Church Location: Buford Street between Port and Brooklyn Streets Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Reverend Willie F. Williams, Jr, has requested to rename a portion of Buford Street to McCarty Street. Reverend Williams states that the street should be renamed in honor of the work Reverend William Nelson McCarty, Sr. accomplished in the community, specifically the South End of Beaumont. Reverend McCarty accepted Starlight’s call for service in December of 1948 and began plans for re-organizing ministries, including the order of worship, and the church’s future expansion. Under his leadership membership increased dramatically and new ministries were introduced and flourished. In 1970, his leadership in the civil rights movement helped the minority community begin to thrive in Southeast Texas. In 1985, The Family Institute was introduced, providing after school student tutorials, a reading program, personal finance lessons and a myriad of other activities to enhance the community. Reverend McCarty led the Starlight church for 38 years and he’s fondly remembered by the community he served and the church he led. The Street Renaming Policy for the City of Beaumont states that “If City Council determines by a ¾ vote of approval that special circumstances surround a street name change request, then City Council may change the name of a street without approval of seventy-five (75%) percent of the abutting property owners.” There are two (2) properties in the subject area using Buford Street addresses and both support the name change. Mr. Boone stated that this request would next be considered by the City Council. Slides of the subject street were shown. Staff recommended approval of the request. Mr. Boone added that this will be an honorary renaming and that street signs will be changed, but that the Buford Street addresses will still show on GPS and can still be used in addressing. He gave examples of other honorary street name changes in Beaumont, such as George Jones Place and Barbara Lynn Street. Commissioner Noyola asked about the costs of making this change. Mr. Boone replied that the applicant paid an application fee of $150 and that there will be minimal costs to the City to change the signs. 2 Planning Commission November 15, 2021 The applicant was present. Rev. Willie F. Williams, Jr., 3560 Sleepy Lane, addressed the Commission. He stated that he has been the pastor of Starlight Missionary Baptist Church for seven (7) years. He added that he appreciates the City staff’s help in this process and complimented their work. Rev. Williams stated that we stand on the shoulders of the past and he wanted to honor Rev. McCarty with the street name change. Finally, he thanked the Commission for their consideration and hoped they would approve the name change. Chairman Nejad stated that this item did not require a public hearing, but that he would allow comments from any of the church congregation in the audience that wished to speak. Margaret Jones, 1670 Victoria Street, addressed the Commission. She stated that she had been a member of the church for sixty-seven (67) years. She added that the church did not have a meeting to discuss this name change and were not given an opportunity to vote on it. Ms. Jones asked the Commission to hold off on the name change until they had a church meeting. Commissioner Quraishi moved to approve the request to add “McCarty Street” as an honorary name to the section of Buford Street between Port and Brooklyn Streets, as requested in file PZ2021-359. Commissioner Linton seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 8:0. 2) PZ2021-368: Request for Minor Plat approval of Tract 17-A & Tract 26-A, J.W. Bullock Survey, Abstract No. 7, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. Applicant: Blythe Hukill of Access Surveyors, L.L.C., for Clarence & Martha Lewis and Josephine Benoit Location: 2740 Sarah Street and 4180 Goliad Street Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Blythe Hukill of Access Surveyors, L.L.C., has requested approval of the Minor Plat of Tract 17-A & Tract 26, J.W. Bullock Survey, Abstract No. 7, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. The General Land Office (GLO) has plans to demolish and replace the house located at 2740 Sarah Street. Josephine Benoit resides at this address. Her house sits at the rear of Tracts 17 and 26, but she is the owner of Tract 17. When Sarah Street was widened, a portion of Tract 17 was taken, leaving a very narrow piece of land. Ms. Benoit and Clarence & Martha Lewis, the owners of Tract 26, would like to reconfigure the Tracts to fit the existing location of their homes. Without this reconfiguration, the GLO would only be able to build on Tract 17, creating a very long narrow house. This Replat will create a Tract that is thirty-six (36) feet wide for Ms. Benoit, allowing a much more reasonable building space. The applicant is requesting a variance to the lot width of Tract 17-A. The new lot will be thirty- six (36) feet wide along Sarah Street. City ordinance states, “Sec. 26.03.007(a) Minimum width, depth and area. Lots shall have a minimum width, depth and area of not less than that required by the zoning ordinance for the zoning district in which the lots are located.” The property where 885 Powell is located is zoned RM-H (Residential Multiple-Family Dwelling – Highest Density). Minimum lot width in RM-H is fifty (50) feet. 3 Planning Commission November 15, 2021 Slides of the proposed plat were shown. If the variance is approved, staff recommended approval of this Minor Plat. Commissioner Quraishi asked if this was for two (2) lots and Mr. Boone replied that it would still be two (2) lots, but they would be reconfigured. Commissioner Jabbar asked about the carport on the property that would have the property line running through it. Mr. Boone replied that the carport would remain, but if it were ever to be sold that it would need to be removed due to the property line issue. Mrs. Josey added that the plat includes a surveyor’s note that the encroaching carport must be removed if the property is ever sold. Mr. Boone stated that the new configuration would be preferable to the way it is currently situated. The applicant was present, but did not wish to add any additional information. Commissioner Quraishi moved to approve the for Minor Plat approval of Tract 17-A & Tract 26- A, J.W. Bullock Survey, Abstract No. 7, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, as requested in file PZ2021-368. Commissioner Noyola seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 8:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Mouton called the Joint Public Hearings of November 15, 2021 to order at 3:34 p.m. and explained the purpose of the Joint Public Hearing process. Mayor Mouton then turned the meeting over to Chairman Nejad to conduct the Joint Public Hearings. 3) PZ2021-367: Request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a gasoline retailer/convenience store in an NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District. Applicant: Charles Shajari for Saiyad Ali Location: 3355 Gladys Avenue Mr. Boone presented the staff report. Charles Shajari on behalf of Saiyad Ali, is requesting a Specific Use Permit to allow a gasoline retailer/convenience store at 3355 Gladys Avenue. Mr. Ali plans to demolish the existing buildings and construct a new facility. The service station would be open 24 hours per day and employ five (5) or six (6) full time employees. Engineering has noted that it would be beneficial to shift the two (2) existing driveways (located between the building and the fuel canopy) to the north about fifteen (15) feet to more properly align with the driveway crossing the property. In addition, the parking along the west side of the building does not meet City requirements and should be removed from the site plan along with the southwest driveway. Ten (10) parking spaces will, however, be required. Per the City Landscaping Ordinance, trees are required as part of the 6’ wide landscaped buffer at each property line between parking and the right-of-way. Trees will be required along with 4 Planning Commission November 15, 2021 shrubs along Longfellow Drive, but will not be allowed along Gladys Avenue or IH-10 N., due to overhead power lines. In addition, sidewalks will be required along all three (3) rights-of- way. Properties to the west and north are residential. In order to protect these properties as much as possible from the effects of a convenience store, all lighting must be shielded. Slides of the subject property, site plan and surrounding area were shown. Staff recommended approval of the request with the following conditions: 1. Remove the southwest driveway, shift the two (2) existing driveways (located between the building and the fuel canopy) to the north about fifteen (15) feet, remove parking spaces on the west side of the building and add two parking spaces that meet City standards. 2. Sidewalks shall be installed/maintained along all three (3) right-of-way frontages. 3. Landscaping must meet City requirements. 4. Shield lighting from residential neighbors to the west and north. 5. Pavement between the sidewalk and back of curb must be removed and replaced with sod. Twelve (12) notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. No responses were received in favor and one was received in opposition. Mr. Boone read the letter in opposition. Chairman Nejad asked about the parking spots needing to be removed, leaving only eight (8) spots when ten (10) are required. Mr. Boone responded that the applicant’s engineer will need to work to find two (2) additional parking spaces and that City engineering will review this during the permitting process. Mayor Mouton asked if adding the additional parking spaces could be added as a condition. Mr. Boone replied that it could be, but that it will be required through the permitting process regardless. Commissioner Makin asked for clarification on the fifth proposed condition and Mr. Boone explained it and showed the location on the slides of the property. The applicant was present. Charles Shajari, 87 Interstate 10 North, Suite 115, addressed the Commission. Saiyad Ali, 2210 Marian Lee Lane, Richmond, TX was also present. Chairman Nejad asked the applicants if they understood the conditions, including the additional parking needed. Mr. Sharjari confirmed his understanding and added that they may have to scale back the building in order to add the needed parking. Commissioner Quraishi stated that a lot of work will be needed and that the property should be nice once completed. 5 Planning Commission November 15, 2021 Commissioner Noyola asked if there would be a game room in the convenience store and Mr. Ali replied that there would not be a game room. Mr. Shajari added that this will be a state of the art facility. The public hearing on this item was opened and closed without comment. Commissioner Makin moved to approve the request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a gasoline retailer/convenience store in an NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District, as requested in file PZ2021-367 with the following conditions: 1. Remove the southwest driveway, shift the two (2) existing driveways (located between the building and the fuel canopy) to the north about fifteen (15) feet, remove parking spaces on the west side of the building and add two parking spaces that meet City standards. 2. Sidewalks shall be installed/maintained along all three (3) right-of-way frontages. 3. Landscaping must meet City requirements. 4. Shield lighting from residential neighbors to the west and north. 5. Pavement between the sidewalk and back of curb must be removed and replaced with sod. Commissioner Linton seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 8:0. OTHER BUSINESS None. THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:45 P.M. 6