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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-15-97 PC MinutesREGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL September 15, 1997 City Council Chambers A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on September 15, 1997 with the following members present: Commission members present: Commission members absent: Chairman Laurie Leister Vice -Chairman Marva Provo Commissioner Sally Bundy Commissioner Bessie Chisum Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Greg Dykeman Commissioner Bill Lucas Commissioner Cleveland Nisby Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro-Tem Becky Ames Councilmember-at-Large Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Guy Goodson Councilmember John Davis Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Councilmembers absent: Mayor David W. Moore Councilmember Lulu Smith 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 Bundy made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 3, 1997 Regular Meeting. Motion was seconded by Commissioner LaBiche. Motion to approve carried 6:0. Plamfing Commission September 15, 1997 REGULAR MEETING 1) File 567-OB: Request to abandon 14th Street from Calder Avenue to McFaddin Avenue. Applicant: St. Elizabeth Hospital - James Pearson, Director of Plant Services Mr. Richardson told the Commission that St. Elizabeth wants to construct a parking garage across 14th Street. The garage will span the street. While staff recognizes the hospital's need for additional parking and feels that the proposed location of the garage is a logical one, keeping 14th Street open is also necessary. Fourteenth Street is the link between Liberty/Laurel and Harrison. In addition, there is no other reasonable location for a traffic signal on this section of Calder. It is suggested that the abandonment of air rights or some other means to allow encroachment over the street be granted by the City. What form this takes is yet to be determined and needs to worked out between the hospital and the City. ? It is suggested that the Planning Commission receive public input. If it is the desire of the Commission to recommend leaving 14th Street open and still grant the hospital the ability to build across the street, it might wish to recommend that to the City Council. How that encroachment would be handled would then be determined at a later date. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. James Pearson, Director of Plant Services for St. Elizabeth Hospital, the applicant, addressed the Commission and Council. Chairman Lcister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Speaking in Opposition Lindsey Walker, 2537 Calder, attorney for Catherine Beck Lefler, who is opposed to the closing of 14th Street. Mrs. Lefler owns property on 14th Street. (Commissioner Chisum arrived) Floyd Landry of Moore and Landry Law Firm spoke on behalf of St. Michael's Orthodox Church. The church is opposed to the closing of 14th Street. PA Planning Commission September 15, 1997 Father Daniel Daly, Pastor of St. Michael's Orthodox Church spoke in opposition to the request. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to deny the request to abandon 14th Street between McFaddin and Calder as requested in File 567-OB, Commissioner Dykeman seconded the motion. Motion to deny carried 7:0. 2) File 1283-P: Consider a request to extend the time limit of a specific use permit by 12 months for a specific use permit granted by Ordinance #95-62 on September 26, 1995. Location: 2985 and 3025 French Road Applicant: Beaumont Heritage Society Mr. Richardson informed the Commission that the Beaumont Heritage Society is requesting a 12 month extension of time to complete the proposed improvements at the John Jay French and David French houses. The amended specific use permit was granted by City Council on September 26, 1996. The purpose of this amended sup was to remodel and add on to the existing David French House and to construct an open air pavilion and parking lot. The Beaumont Heritage Society needs the additional time to complete its fund raising efforts. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. The applicant was not present. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the request to extend the specific use permit by 12 months as requested by Beaumont Heritage Society to complete the proposed improvements at the John Jay French and David French houses. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Pro-Tem Ames called the Joint Public Hearings of September 15, 1997 to order and explained the purpose of theloint hearing process and then turned the meeting over to Chairman Leister. She explained the policies and procedures for the hearing process. 1) File 1369-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow an Internet cafe/coffeehouse, computer sales, service and training in an NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District. Location: 3805 Calder Applicant: Gyedco Technologies, Inc. 3 Plaluling Commission September 15, 1997 Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the proposed business would provide their services in a coffeehouse style atmosphere. Soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries and a variety of coffees and teas would be available to individuals while surfing the net or there for computer training. The Logon Cafe would occupy a vacant storefront in an existing shopping center at 3805 Calder. Twenty-one notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. Three responses in favor and two in opposition were returned. In response to Commissioner Dykeman, Mr. Richardson said that no alcoholic beverages would be sold at the cafe. Discussion on sale of alcoholic beverages in the future and how it would affect the specific use permit followed. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Ed Grissom, the applicant, addressed the Commission and Council. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Charlie Weinbaum, 675 Wade, owner of the subject property, addressed the Commission in favor of the request. No further comments were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Hallmark made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow an Internet cafe/coffeehouse, computer sales, service and training at 3805 Calder as requested in File 1369-P. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 2) File 1370-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a soft drink company sales and distribution facility in a GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: Between Hwy. 124 and Frint Road - 600' east of Hwy. 124 and Frint Road intersection Applicant: Seven Up Bottling Company of Beaumont - Ricky Matte Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that Seven Up Bottling Company of Beaumont wishes to construct a 30,000 square foot warehouse and an adjoining office building on eight acres of property between Fannett and Frint Road. 4 Planning Commission Seplember 15, 1997 The applicant is requesting a modification to the Iandscaping requirements along the west property line. At this time, an 8 foot screening fence will be built along the entire west property line. However, the site plan shows landscaping along the southeast 406 feet of that line. At such time that the remaining property is developed, the landscaping would be extended. Eight notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. Three responses in favor and none in opposition have been returned. In response to Commissioner Hallmark, Mr. Richardson said that the Traffic Engineer had Iooked at Frint Road and said that it would accommodate the traffic. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Joe Pattie of Carroll and Blackman Engineering spoke on behalf of Seven Up Bottling Company. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow the soft drink company sales and distribution facility on Frint Drive with a modification to the landscaping requirements along the west property line as requested in File 1370-P. Commissioner LaBiche seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 3) File 1371-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a 180' tall wireless telephone cellular communications tower on property zoned NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District. Location: Stadium Shopping Center, 3300 block of Avenue A Applicant: Meretel Communications, L.L.P. Mr. Richardson told the Commission and Council that the proposed location will be a 60' x 60' leased portion at the rear of the shopping center, in the existing paved area. The site would be enclosed by an 8' tall security fence. Fifty-five notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. One response in opposition and none in favor have been returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Bruce Pearson with Meretel Communications, the applicant, addressed the 5 Planning Commission September 15, 1997 Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow a 180' tall wireless telephone cellular communications tower in the Stadium Shopping Center in the 3300 Block of Avenue A as requested in File 1371-P. Commissioner Bundy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. 4) File 1372-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a caretaker or guest house behind the existing residence located in an RS (Residential Single Family Dwelling) District. Location: 1865 Thomas Road Applicant: Mr. and Mrs. Carl I Monk Mr. Richardson informed the Commission that the applicants wish to construct a two- story, 900 square foot structure to be used as a caretaker/guest house. The structure will be located at the end of the existing driveway and will be set back 15' from the north property line and 50' from the west property line. (Councilmember Patterson arrived.) Nineteen notices were sent to property owners within 200' of the subject property. One response in opposition and none in favor were returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Lindy Dennis of Merrill Construction addressed the Commission and Council on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Monk. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the specific use permit to allow a caretaker or guest house behind the existing residence at 1865 Thomas Road as requested in File 1372-P with the condition that the guest house not be used as rental property currently or in the future. Conunissioner Hallmark seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. Cl Planning Commission September 15, 1997 5) File t373-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a wrecker service on property zoned NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District. Location: 130 E. Elgie Street Applicant: Roll -Rite Wrecker Service Mr. Richardson told the Commission that the specific use permit request was to allow a wrecker service in an existing building. The applicant wishes to operate his business at the location. All storage of vehicles will be within the existing building. Employee and customer parking will be located at the front and rear of the building. If the application is approved, it was suggested that an 8' tall wood screening fence be built along the south most 23' of the east property line and along the south property line. Twenty-two notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Four responses in favor and none in opposition were returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Kevin Stroud with Roll -Rite Wrecker Service addressed the Commission and Council. In response to Commissioner Chisum, Mr. Stroud said that even though he is open 24 hours, most of his business is in the daytime. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Walter Ray Thomas, 150 E. Elgic, addressed the Commission. He voiced concerns over the 24-hour business and possible noise problems from that. He also is concerned that this proposed business will hinder the sale of his house, which is currently on the market. Roy Davis, 165 E. Elgie, spoke in opposition to the request. Rebuttal by Kevin Stroud followed. Mr. Stroud answered questions from the Commission regarding storage of vehicles, etc. He said he had made improvements to the property by cleaning up the yard and installed a new metal door on the building. James Gallier, owner of the subject property, addressed the Commission. He said that his son-in-law had occupied the building with a cabinet business, but it has been several h Planaiing Commission September 15, 1997 years since the building was occupied. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the specific use permit subject to no outside storage of towed vehicles and the installation of an 8' tall wood screening fence, Commissioner Hallmark seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:0. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. i 8