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Home My WebLink About10-04-24 PC Minutes * M I N U T E S * SPECIAL MEETING JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL City Council Chambers October 4, 2024 A Special Joint Public Hearing of the Planning Commission and City Council was held on October 4, 2024 and called to order at 3:02 p.m. with the following members present: Commission Members present: Acting Chair Lynda Kay Makin Commissioner Hamza Jabbar Commissioner Spencer Jabbia Commissioner Shawn Javed Commissioner Eddie Senigaur Commission Members absent: Chairman Sina Nejad Commissioner Johnny Beatty Commissioner Darius Linton Commissioner Tom Noyola Alternate Commissioner Erika Harris Alternate Commissioner Rogers Sorrell Councilmembers present: Mayor Roy West Councilmember Chris Durio Councilmember Mike Getz Councilmember Audwin Samuel Also present: Chase Engman, Assistant City Attorney III Demi Engman, Director of Planning & Community Development Elayna Luckey, Planner I Kenneth Williams, City Manager Chris Boone, Assistant City Manager, Community Services Catherine Allen, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Jabbar moved to approve the minutes of the Joint Public Hearings held on September 16, 2024. Commissioner Jabbia seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes carried 5:0. JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor West called the Joint Public Hearings of October 4, 2024 to order at 3:02 p.m. and explained the purpose of the Joint Public Hearing process. Mayor West then turned the meeting over to Acting Chair Makin to conduct the Joint Public Hearings. 1) PZ2024-226: Request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a warehousing and storage facility within the GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District. Applicant: Michael LeDuc Location: 2710 Gulf Street Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Michael LeDuc is requesting approval of a Specific Use Permit to allow a warehousing and storage facility at 2710 Gulf Street. This property previously operated as a furniture and home accessories store but has been vacant for a number of years. The applicant intends to store supplies and materials to maintain rental real estate properties. A warehousing and storage facility would be compatible and consistent with existing land uses in the immediate vicinity of this property. Slides of the site plan and subject property were shown. Staff recommended approval of the request with the following conditions: 1. Any construction plans must meet all requirements by Water Utilities for water and -flow pre-treatment aO\\WbO`g!aSeS`!aS`dWQSa(!W\\QZcRW\\U!O\\g!`S_cW`S\[S\\ba!\]T!bVS!:Wbgka!POQY and/or FOG program. 2. Any construction plans shall comply with all applicable Fire and Building Codes. 3. Any installed lighting shall be diverted from residential uses to the east and southeast. Nineteen (19) notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. Zero (0) responses were received in favor and zero (0) in opposition. The applicant was present. Michael LeDuc, 4635 Littlefield Street, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. He stated that he had nothing further to add and that he understood the proposed conditions. The public hearing on this item was opened and closed without comment. Commissioner Jabbar moved to approve the request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a warehousing and storage facility within the GC-MD (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling) District, as requested in PZ2024-226, with the following conditions: 1. Any construction plans must meet all requirements by Water Utilities for water and $ -flow pre-treatment aO\\WbO`g!aSeS`!aS`dWQSa(!W\\QZcRW\\U!O\\g!`S_cW`S\[S\\ba!\]T!bVS!:Wbgka!POQY and/or FOG program. 2. Any construction plans shall comply with all applicable Fire and Building Codes. 3. Any installed lighting shall be diverted from residential uses to the east and southeast. Commissioner Senigaur seconded the motion. The motion to approve the request carried 5:0. 2) PZ2024-250: Request for a Rezoning from an RM-H (Residential Multiple Family-High Density) District to GC-MD-2 (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling-2) District. Applicant: Gerald Farha Location: 6145-6175 Phelan Boulevard Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Gerald Farha is requesting approval of a Rezoning from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family-High Density) District to GC-MD-2 (General Commercial- Multiple Family Dwelling-2) District, to the properties located west of 6130 Calder Avenue. The purpose of the rezoning is to allow for commercial development. According to . bVS!:\]\[^`SVS\\aWdS!HZO\\!bVS!^`\]^S`bg!Wa!Z\]QObSR!eWbVW\\!O!i:\]\[\[c\\Wbg!:S\\bS`j! JcQV!O`SOa!\[Og!W\\QZcRS!iV\]a^WbOZa(!P`O\\QV!ZWP`O`WSa(!U\]dS`\\\[S\\bOZ!OUS\\QWSa(!\[OX\]`!\]TTWQS! Q\]\[^ZSfSa(!`SUW\]\\OZ!aV\]^^W\\U!QS\\bS`a!O\\R!VWUV!RS\\aWbg!`SaWRS\\bWOZ!RSdSZ\]^\[S\\b*j! The proposed Rezoning appears to be in accordance with the Comprehensive plan as it would T\]abS`!bVS!Q\]\\bW\\cSR!U`\]ebV!\]T!bVS!i:\]\[\[c\\Wbg!:S\\bS`j*!8RRWbW\]\\OZZg!bVS!^`\]^S`bg!T`\]\\ba!O\\! arterial road, which typically encourages high density commercial uses. Slides of the site plan and subject property were shown. Staff recommended approval of the request. Nineteen (19) notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. One (1) response was received in favor and zero (0) were received in opposition. nd The applicant was present. Gerald Farha, 990 22 Street, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. He stated that the property was purchased between 1998 and 2002 and has been vacant. He added that part of the property is already zoned for the proposed purchase and this request is for the rest of the property. He stated that this will be for a Chick-fil-A and other retail spaces. Finally, he respectfully requested approval of the request. The public hearing was opened. th Sam Parigi, 445 N 14 St, addressed the Commission. He stated that he owns the property to the west of the subject property and that he is in favor of the request because of the quality of the Chick-fil-A company and also to add to the tax base and economy of Beaumont. Councilman Getz spoke in favor of the request due to the Chick-fil-A company. Stephan Oubre, 6280 Phelan Blvd, addressed the Commission. He stated that he is in favor of the request, but requests a traffic plan to account for increased traffic. Teresa Gore, 535 Parson Dr, addressed the Commission. She stated that she supports Chick-fil- A, but has concerns about ensuring that lighting will be directional, that there be an adequate drainage plan and traffic plan, especially with the nearby school. The applicant was asked to speak again to address the concerns. He stated that as the property is situated between Phelan and Calder, that will help alleviate traffic issues. He added that this is just the zoning change request and that the project will return with a specific use permit request at a later time when more of the details will be addressed. He added that Chick-fil-A excels at traffic management. The public hearing was closed without further comment. Commissioner Senigaur moved to approve the request for a Rezoning from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family-High Density) District to GC-MD-2 (General Commercial-Multiple Family Dwelling-2) District, as requested in PZ2024-250. Commissioner Jabbar seconded the motion. The motion to approve the request carried 5:0. 3) PZ2024-251: Request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a halfway house within the RM-H (Residential Multiple Family-High Density) District. Applicant: Jerica Landry Location: 2225 Wilson Street Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Jerica Landry is requesting approval of a Specific Use Permit to allow a halfway house located at 2225 Wilson Street. She intends to provide housing independent adults offering services and activities to their clients. The State has required Ms. Landry to receive approval from the City to allow a halfway house at 2225 Wilson Street. Our ordinances require a halfway house to obtain a Specific Use Permit. It should be noted that halfway homes require careful consideration of their location and surrounding land uses. Some of these considerations include compatibility with other land uses, noise, and traffic as well as safety considerations. As such, proximity to parks, schools and residential uses should be carefully considered in review of halfway homes. This property is located within six (6) blocks, approximately 2,500 feet, of the Jones-Clark Elementary School, it is within an existing residential neighborhood and in close proximity to several existing churches. Slides of the site plan and subject property were shown. $ Staff recommended denial of the request. Nineteen (19) notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. Zero (0) responses were received in favor and one (1) in opposition. Mrs. Engman read the letter received in opposition. The applicant was present. Jerica Landry, 4675 Roberts Avenue, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that this will be a transitional living home and that it is especially important due to the recently enacted camping ban. She stated that instead of selling this home, she wanted to use it to help the community. Ms. Landry added that this will be for ages 55 and up, unless there are special circumstances. She stated that she hopes especially to help elderly veterans released from prison. Acting Chair Makin asked if the applicant had done this type of work before and Ms. Landry replied that she has worked in a nursing facility and she currently works in a prison as a mental health therapist. Commission Jabbar inquired about the number of people and the number of rooms. Ms. Landry stated that there will be 6-8 people and 6 bedrooms. The public hearing was opened and closed without comment. Commissioner Jabbar moved to deny the request for a Specific Use Permit to allow a halfway house within the RM-H (Residential Multiple Family-High Density) District, as requested in PZ2024-251. Commissioner Jabbia seconded the motion. The motion to deny the request carried 5:0. 4) PZ2024-253: Request for a Rezoning from an RCR-H (Residential Conservation Revitalization-Historic) District to RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District and a Specific Use Permit to allow for a retail shop, events venue, administrative office and art studio. Applicant: Meghan Cobb Location: 2398 Laurel Street Mrs. Engman presented the staff report. Meghan Cobb is seeking a Rezoning from RCR-H (Residential Conservation Revitalization Historic District) to RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District and Specific Use Permit to allow T\]`!iKOZcYO!K`ORSaj!O!`SbOWZ!aV\]^(! events venue, administrative office and art studio structure at 2398 Laurel Street. The use of the site as an art studio, retail shop, and administrative office seems appropriate for the area as there are a number of existing similar low intensity uses within the area. These types of businesses do not often attract large crowds at once, making on street parking manageable. Adaptive re-use should be encouraged within older neighborhoods to foster revitalization and stabilization by preventing vacancy. The use of the structure as an event venue causes a large concern with parking availability. The existing concrete pad and driveway shown on the site plan do not meet City parking standards; - bVS`ST\]`S!bVS`S!Wa!\\\]!i\]TTab`SSbj!^O`YW\\U!OdOWZOPZS!b\]!bVWa!aWbS*!KVWa!Q`SObSa!bVS!^\]aaWPWZWbg!\]T! blocking neighboring driveways, creating sight obstructions and the nearby intersections. Slides of the site plan and subject property were shown. $ Staff recommended denial of the request of an events venue, as the site does not appear to accommodate the use or have adequate available parking according to the :Wbgka!=\\UW\\SS`W\\U! department. Staff recommended approval of the request for Rezoning and Specific Use Permit to allow a retail shop, art studio and administrative office with the following conditions: 1. It is the responsibility of the property owner to consistently monitor customer parking and mitigate traffic issues that may arise. 2. A parking agreement shall be arranged with the parking lot owner west of 2398 Laurel and a copy be provided to the City Engineering department. 3. Any installed lighting be directional and not adversely affect neighboring properties. Twenty-seven (27) notices were mailed to property owners within two hundred (200) feet of the subject property. One (1) response was received in favor and one (1) was received in opposition. Mrs. Engman read the letters received. The applicant was present. Meghan Cobb, 2398 Laurel Street, Beaumont, Texas addressed the Commission. She stated that she does not have anything to add to the staff report other than this project will highlight and exemplify rehabilitation of 100-year-old buildings in the community. She added that she does own the building and that she is fine with not having the event center use. Finally, she stated that she expects around 5 people to be in the facility at a time and that it does have adequate parking. The public hearing was opened and closed without comment. Commissioner Jabbar moved to deny the request for an events venue and to approve the request for a Rezoning from an RCR-H (Residential Conservation Revitalization-Historic) District to RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District and a Specific Use Permit to allow for a retail shop, administrative office and art studio, as requested in PZ2024-253, with the following conditions: 1. It is the responsibility of the property owner to consistently monitor customer parking and mitigate traffic issues that may arise. 2. A parking agreement shall be arranged with the parking lot owner west of 2398 Laurel and a copy be provided to the City Engineering department. 3. Any installed lighting be directional and not adversely affect neighboring properties Commissioner Senigaur seconded the motion. The motion to deny the request for an events venue and to approve the request for a Rezoning from an RCR-H (Residential Conservation Revitalization-Historic) District to RCR (Residential Conservation Revitalization) District and a Specific Use Permit to allow for a retail shop, administrative office and art studio carried 5:0. OTHER BUSINESS None. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT_3:31_P.M. $