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City of West'University Place
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Zoning & Planning Commission,
City of West University Place, Texas
NOTICE OF MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Zoning & Planning Commission of the City of West University Place,
Texas ("City") will hold a meeting in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building, 3800 University
Boulevard, West University Place, Texas 77005 beginning at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, March 23, 2009. The
meeting will begin in Council Chamber of the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West
University Place, Texas 77005 (in joint session with the City Council). It may be recessed and continued
in the Bill Watson Conference Room, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas 77005,
and it may be further recessed and continued in the Council Chamber, 3800 University Boulevard, West
University Place, Texas 77005 (returning to joint session with the City Council.) The subjects of the
meeting are as follows:
1. Call to order
2. Joint public hearings with the City Council. The purpose for the hearings is to provide an
opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to proposed amendments
to the City's Zoning Ordinance and Code of Ordinances. See the notice of hearing, attached.
3. Amendments to City's Zoning Ordinance and Code of Ordinances, including possible revisions
and report(s) to the City Council. See notice of hearing, attached.
4. Adjournment.
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, if you plan to attend this public meeting and you have a
disability that requires special arrangements at the meeting, please contact the person that signs this below
at least 24 hours prior to the meeting so that reasonable accommodations will be made to assist your
participation in the meeting. The Municipal Building is wheel chair accessible from the west entrance and
specially marked parking spaces are available in the southwest parking area. Special seating will be
provided.
Notice Issued by: &&,- a 01 Date: q 0211
Sallye A. C _ k, Planning Assistant, sclark west .or , 713-662-5843
I certify that this notice of meeting was given in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, in the
form sho above. to 9
Signed: Date/time: ~3
*Date notice is issued.
**Date and time the meeting is convened.
Attachment: notice of zoning hearing.
3800 University Boulevard 0 West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 • 713966804441 0 www.westu.org
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Zoning & Planning Commission and the City Council of the
City of West University Place, Texas ("City") will hold a joint
public hearing in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building,
3800 University Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005 during the City
Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 PM on March 23, 2009. The
hearing may be recessed and continued to the City Council
meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on April 13, 2009, at the same
place. The purpose for the hearing is to provide an opportunity
for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to
proposals to amend the City's Zoning Ordinance (and Code of
Ordinances), as follows:
1. Driveway Stubs. This proposal would amend the existing
"maneuvering area" exception in section 10-103(b) to allow some
driveway stubs that are not located behind a principal building or
fence. The amended exception would:
(1) apply only to sites that are "accessible only from a roadway marked
for four lanes or more" (this would include the major thoroughfares
plus Buffalo Speedway);
(2) limit the design, size and location of stubs (location must be on
the building site and not closer than two feet to a property line or
public sidewalk);
(3) require use of pervious pavement "with a minimum pervious area of
50% planted to resemble a lawn;" and
(4) allow stubs in front yards "only to the extent that existing
structures or obstructions make another location impractical."
2. Fences, Visibility and Emergency Access. This proposal amends
Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances to require "emergency portals" in
fences, walls and other obstructions. The main purpose is to allow
access to all sides of each building within the City, so that
firefighters and emergency personnel can enter the building, place
ladders, fight fires, etc. Emergency portals could be: (i) gates or
doors with key boxes allowed by the International Fire Code, or (ii)
breachable gates or fence segments (usually wood or wrought iron).
This proposal maintains some access to utility easements where they
intersect streets by requiring one such portal in the easement area
(this would most often apply at the rear of corner lot).
Existing ordinances restrict fences, trees and other obstructions
in so-called "visibility triangles." There are two types. The larger
type (with 20-foot sides) is located where two streets intersect. The
smaller type (with five-foot sides) is located where a driveway and a
sidewalk intersect. The restrictions for each type are different, and
they are found in different ordinances. This proposal consolidates the
rules for both types into Chapter 82 of the Code of Ordinances, and it
harmonizes them. The proposal defines a new "front yard visibility
area" and restricts "fence-like hedges" in that area.
There are conforming amendments for the Zoning Ordinance,
including amendments of definitions and cross-references to the new
provisions in Chapters 18 and 82 of the Code of Ordinances.
Additional details on the proposals as well as thel Zoning
Ordinance and Code of Ordinances are all available for public
inspection in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard,
Houston, Texas 77005. The proposed changes to thelZoning
Ordinance and Code of Ordinances would apply generally within
the City, and any person interested in such matters should
attend the hearings. The proposals may be adopted only after
notice and hearing and would control over anything inconsistent
in the current Zoning Ordinance or Code of Ordinances.
/s/City Secretary
Thelma A. Lenz