Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-17-97 PC MinutesMINUT�E'S . REGULAR MEETING AND JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL March 17, 1997 City Council Chambers A Regular Meeting and Joint Public Hearings of the Planning Commission and City Council were held on March 17, 1997 with the following members present: Chairman Laurie Leister Vice -Chairman Marva Provo Commissioner Bessie Chisum Commissioner Sally Bundy Commissioner Greg Dykeman Commissioner Dale Hallmark Commissioner Dohn LaBiche Commissioner Bill Lucas Commissioner Cleveland Nisby Councilmembers present: Mayor David W. Moore Mayor Pro -Tern Andrew Cokinos Councilmember Lulu Smith Councilmember Guy Goodson Councilmember John Davis Councilmembers absent: Councilmember-at-Large Becky Ames Councilmember Bobbie Patterson Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Director; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Lane Nichols, City Attorney; Maria Trapp, Planning Technician; and Jill Cole, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 3, 1997 Regular Meeting. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bundy. Motion to approve carved 9:0. Planning Commission March 17, 1997 REGULAR MEETING 1) File 563-OB: Request to abandon Milam Street between Avenues E and F. This is a school district bond issue project for Fletcher Elementary School and will join a proposed playground and the school. Abutting land is owned by the district. Applicant: Fittz and Shipman, Inc. for Beaumont Independent School District As part of the proposed redevelopment of Fletcher Elementary School, BISD is developing that property across Milam as a playground. BISD wishes to close the street between the existing school building and the proposed playground. The entire school property will be fenced for security purposes. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request subject to the retention of a 60' x 300' general utility and drainage easement to protect and maintain the existing utilities and services in the street right-of-way. Chairman Leister asked for the applicant's comments. John Holm with Fittz and Shipman, Inc. addressed the Commission. Commissioner LaBiche made a motion to approve the request to abandon Milam Street between Avenues E and F as stated in File 563-OB. Commissioner Bundy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 8:0. (Vice -Chairman Provo arrived.) JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Pro-Tem Cokinos called the Joint Public Hearings of March 17, 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. l) File 1351-Z: Request for a zone change from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) to GC -MD (General Commercial -Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Location: 3550 Blackmon Lane at Eastex Freeway (northwest corner) Applicant: Dwayne Stewart Commissioner LaBiche abstained from discussion of File I351-Z. 2 Planning Commission March 17, 1997 Mr. Richardson told the Commission that a vacant house is currently on the subject property. The proposed use of the property is an auto dealership. The property has 345 feet of frontage along the Eastex Freeway service road. To the north of the subject property is a wooded tract and a new church that is under construction at this time. To the immediate west are four houses and to the west of those houses is a dental office. To the immediate south of the subject property is 19th Street and single family houses. To the southwest is an office complex that extends from Blackmon to Delaware. This property is located within what the Comprehensive Plan designates as the Highway 69 Activity Corridor. This rezoning and the proposed use are in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the zone change request to GC -MD. Thirteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. The Planning Division received one response in favor and none in opposition. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Dwayne Stewart, the applicant, addressed the Commission and Council. He wishes to open an "upscale" used car lot. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. Speaking in Opposition Martin Smith, 3095 19th Street, spoke in opposition to the request. He is concerned about property values in his neighborhood. He feels that there are already enough car lots along the Eastex service road and is concerned about the use of the property if the business fails. He also expressed concerns about the traffic resulting from the car businesses and the danger it presents to neighborhood children. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Nisby made a motion to approve the zone change to GC -MD as requested in File 1351-Z. Commissioner Hallmark seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 7:1:1 {abstention}. Planning Commission March 17, 1997 2) File 1352-P: Request for a specific use permit to allow a retail produce market on property zoned RCR (Residential Conservation and Revitalization) District. Location: 2810 Concord Road (abutting Fair Park) Applicant: James C. Young Mr. Richardson told the Commission that the request is to allow the construction and operation of a produce market at 2810 Concord. The property is currently vacant and is zoned RCR. Initially, the applicant wishes to build a 30' x 35' enclosed masonry building and a 25' x 30' outdoor sales area. Future plans may include an additional 40' x 40' storage building. Mr. Young, the applicant, is also requesting modification to the landscaping and screening requirements. He proposes to install a 6' high chainlink fence abutting the north side of his tract where it abuts a vacant, isolated and wooded tract. This tract is maintained by the City. He proposes to construct a 6' high chainlink fence along all other property lines with landscaping and trees as required by Section 30-31. The Comprehensive Plan designates this area as conservation and revitalization. This business will be in conformance with the plan and would be an asset to the neighborhood. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the specific use permit request with a modification of the landscaping and screening requirements as proposed. Twenty one notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. There were no responses returned in favor or in opposition. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. James C. Young, the applicant, addressed the Commission. Chairman Leister asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Bundy made a motion to approve the specific use permit for a retail produce market at 2810 Concord Road as requested in File 1352-P. Convnissioner Lucas seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 9:0. 4 Planning Commission March 17, 1997 3) File 1353-Z: Request for a zone change from C-M (Commercial -Manufacturing) to CBD (Central Business District) or a more restrictive district. Location; 1310 Pennsylvania at Blanchette and Park Applicant: Bannum, Inc., David A. Lowry, President and Executive Director, Largo, Florida The subject property is developed. The Delta Career Institute Building is located on the property. It is the desire of the sub -lessee to operate a work release program - residential correctional rehabilitation services center within the now vacant building. The operation of this facility will be under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons. This type of use is classified under the zoning ordinance as a residential care facility and is not permitted in a C-M District. Such facilities are permitted in the CBD District. The subject property falls within the Central Business District Activity Center. This rezoning request is in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Richardson recommended approval of the request. Twenty-two notices were sent to property owners within 200' of the subject property. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned. Chairman Leister opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Milt Prewitt of the J. M. Prewitt Real Estate Company addressed the Commission on behalf of Bannum, Inc. Mr. Prewitt told the Commission that Bannum contracts with governmental agencies to provide residential community correction center programs and has submitted a proposal to the Federal Bureau of Prisons for consideration of a program to be located on the subject property. Bannum has been in this business since 1984 and currently operates seven of these facilities across the country. This program is designed to phase federal offenders back into the community to which they have come; residents of the proposed center will be from the Beaumont area. Once these offenders have been released to this residential community correction center, they must have a valid job within two weeks or they are sent back to the institution. Residents in this program are generally white collar, property -type offenders and must work 40 hours a week for the term specified and agreed to with the institution that they have come from. They must be on good behavior and are subject to drug and alcohol tests. If they fail those tests, they are sent back to the institution. Planning Commission March 17, 1997 Councilman Davis asked Mr. Prewitt to visit with Ronald Goodman of the Charlton - Pollard Neighborhood Association to explain the program. In response to Commissioner Lucas, Mr. Prewitt said the participants will be spending nights in the subject location and if they stay on good terms, they may be released on the weekends to spend with their families. In response to Councilman Cokinos, Mr. Prewitt said that there were no sex offenders in the program --the participants were primarily white collar, property type offenders. Discussion among the Commission regarding the operations of the project followed. Commissioner Dykeman made a comment that the Commission was only considering a zone change to CBD at this time, Chairman Leister asked for any more comments in favor or in opposition. None were made. Chairman Leister closed the public hearing. Commissioner Lucas made a motion to approve the zone change to Central Business District at 1310 Pennsylvania as requested in File 1353-Z. Commissioner Bundy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 9:0 OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. 3