Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-97 PC Minutes1VI X J fi E S'. REGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL October 20, 1997 City Council Chambers A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on October 20, 1997 with the following members present: Commission members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Commissioner Sally Bundy Commissioner Greg Dykeman Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Bill Lucas Commissioner Cleveland Nisby Commission members absent: Vice -Chairman Marva Provo Commissioner Bessie Chisurn Councilmembers present: Mayor David W. Moore Mayor Pro -Tern Becky Ames Councilmember-at-Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Guy Goodson Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Councilmember Lulu Smith Councilmembers absent: Councilmember John Davis Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Director; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney; Maria Trapp, Planning Technician; and Jill Cole, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner Nisby made a motion to approve the minutes of the October b, 1997 Regular Meeting, Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bundy, Motion to approve carried 7:0. Planning Commission October M, 1997 REGULAR MEETING 1) File 569-OB: Request to abandon portions of Bowie, Avenue D and Fannin. Applicant: Mark Whiteley and Associates for abutting property owners Mr. Richardson told the Commission that National Concrete Products, Inc., Entergy and Jose Pardo own the properties adjacent to the proposed abandonments and all three have joined in this request. The subject rights -of -way, for the most part, are used by National Concrete Products for the storage of culverts and other concrete products. These rights -of -way have been unimproved for many years. Abandonment of these rights -of -way will not hamper traffic circulation nor affect any utilities. There are no water lines in the subject property. The 6" Sanitary sewer in Bowie is being abandoned by the City. This item was sent to all interested parties. There were no objections received. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. Don Rao with Mark Whiteley and Associates, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the request to abandon portions of Bowie, Avenue D and Fannin as requested in File 569-OB. Commissioner Lucas seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Pro -Tern Ames called the Joint Public Hearings of October 20, 1997 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 1374-Z: Consider a request for a zone change from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) to GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District or a more restrictive commercial district for properties located at the four corners of the intersection of Franklin Street and Avenue "C" and extending to Avenue "D". Location: 1500 and 1600 block of Franklin Street Applicant: George Diamantis, Guy A. Rogers, et ux, Rosalie B. Plaia and Plaia's, Inc. Mr. Richardson informed the Commission that the property is currently the site of a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a proposed restaurant or is vacant property. The 2 Plmmiing Commission October 20, 1997 grocery store and strip center and the old gas station have been at this location since the 1930's. The three lots on the east side of Avenue C, which are now vacant, once were occupied with commercial uses. The three vacant lots north of the strip center were never used for commercial purposes. In 1983, the subject properties were rezoned from the old "R-3" to RM-H. It is now the desire of the applicants to have their properties rezoned to GC -MD in order to allow for commercial purposes. The Planning Commission and City Council may wish to consider NC, Neighborhood Commercial, for all but Lots 25-27 in Block 3. This would require a specific use permit for the proposed restaurant. Forty six notices were mailed to property owners within 200' of the subject property. Four notices in favor and one in opposition were returned to staff. In response to Commissioner Lucas, Mr. Richardson said that the response in opposition addressed concerns about commercial businesses being near the two schools within the three block area. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. .lake Plaia addressed the Commission on behalf of Rosalie B. Plaia and Plaia's, Inc. Chairman Leister asked for comments in opposition or in favor. Wilton Talkington, 1310 Avenue C, spoke in opposition. He voiced concerns about the proposed restaurant possibly selling alcoholic beverages and its effect on the surrounding schools. Alice Borchelt, 1584 Blanchette, spoke in opposition to the request. She expressed concerns such as uicreased traffic hazards for school children, health hazards from the proposed restaurant and crime resulting if liquor license is issued at a later date. Rebuttal by Mr. Plaia followed. He asked that the GC -MD district be granted, but that he would settle for an NC designation. George Diamantis, one of the applicants, addressed the Commission. In response to Commissioner Bundy, Mr. Plaia said he did not have a specific use at this time for his three vacant lots. Guy Rogers, owner of the three vacant lots across the street from the subject properties, spoke in favor of the request. 3 Planning Commission Oclober 20. 1997 Chairman Leister closed the public nearing. Discussion of the regulations pertaining to the sale of alcoholic beverages in relation to schools followed. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve a zone change to NC (Neighborhood Commercial) for all but Lots 25-27 in Block 3 of File 1374-Z. Motion failed for a lack of a second. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve a zone change to NC for all properties listed in the request of File 1374-Z. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 2) File 1375-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a horticultural specialties business in an RM-H (Residenkial Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) District. Location: 4700 and 4710 Steelton Avenue at Tyler Applicant: John LaRocca, Jr. Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the applicant grows and sells plants on property located at 4700-4710 Steelton. The subject property is currently occupied with a neighborhood grocery store, a single family residence and three greenhouses. The house and grocery store have been at this location for many years. The greenhouses have been at this location since 1990. Some plants are sold at the neighborhood grocery that is owned by the applicant's father. These greenhouses also serve the nursery that the applicant owns and operates on Gladys. The applicant has requested a modification to the screening and landscaping requirements. There is a 6' chain link fence enclosing the property on all sides. The property owner to the north has asked that no additional fencing be placed on that side. The subject property is separated from the property on the east side by a 20' alley. Twenty-four notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. Three responses in favor and none in opposition were returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. John LaRocca, Jr., the applicant, addressed the Commission. He said that he lives in the house that is on the subject property. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Lcister closed the public hearing. 4 Planning Commission October 20, 1997 Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow the horticultural specialties business at 4700-4710 Steelton as requested in File 1375-P, with a modification to the screening and landscaping requirements that no additional fencing be required on the north and east sides of the subject property. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 3) File 1377-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a wrecker service next to an existing auto repair shop in an RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) District. Location: 1455 Fannin at Avenue A Applicant: Manuel C. Ramirez Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the request was to allow a 10 car wrecker service on the site of an existing auto repair shop located at 1455 Fannin. The applicant has operated an auto repair shop at this location for many years. The property was once zoned Light Industrial. In 1987, the property was rezoned RCR. If this application is approved, it is suggested that an 8' tall wood screening fence be constructed along the east and south sides of the proposed storage area. Nineteen notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor or in opposition have been returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Manuel Ramirez, the applicant, addressed the Commission. He noted that there were very few wrecker businesses in Beaumont that cater to the Hispanic community. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Dykeman made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow a wrecker service business at 1455 Fannin at Avenue A as requested in File 1377-P with the stipulation that an 8' tall wood screening fence be constructed along the east and south sides of the proposed storage area. Commissioner Bundy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED.