HomeMy WebLinkAbout02102011 ZPC Minutes City of West University Place
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ZONING & PLANNING COMMISSION
Bill Watson Conference Room
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD
MEETING MINUTES
Februaryl0, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Bruce Frankel, Bob
Higley, Lauren Griffith and DeDe DeStefano
MEMBERS ABSENT: Sam Parikh
COUNCIL: None
STAFF PRESENT: Debbie Scarcella, City Planner; Jolie S. Lenz, City
Legal Counsel and Sallye A. Clark, Planning
Assistant
Call to Order — With quorum present at 6:15 p.m., Steve Brown, ZPC Chair, called the
meeting to order.
Notices, Rules, Etc. ZPC and staff introduced themselves and recognized members
of the public in attendance.
1. Minutes.
January 13, 2011. Bob Higley made a motion to approve the minutes as
amended. Bruce Frankel seconded. Ayes: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Bob Higley,
Bruce Frankel, Lauren Griffith and De De DeStefano. Motion passed.
2. Town Center. Chairman Brown stated that public comments will be heard first and
then any questions from ZPC members will be answered by Bruce Frankel. The ZPC
will then discuss the nine major recommendations contained in the Town Center Ad
Hoc Committee report.
Greg Thompson, 3700 Plumb and owner of the old JMH site, thanked the Town
Center Ad Hoc Committee and stated he was hopeful that an ordinance amendment
based on the findings in the report will be proposed to City Council. He believes
having a two story parking structure at the rear of the building sites will be a great
situation for the residents,businesses and the school.
Albert Kelso, 3500 block of Amherst, believes the most important issue of the report
is buffering and hopes the ZPC will seriously consider what the report suggests.
3800 University Boulevard • West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 • 713.668.4441 • www.westu.org
Page 2
Bruce Frankel gave a brief overview of the report and offered to answer any questions
that ZPC members had regarding the report. Mr. Frankel then went over each of the
nine recommendations one by one.
Dick Yehle stated that in 2002 a letter he wrote advocated the same points the Ad
Hoc Committee concluded in the report. Mr. Yehle noted that residential use was not
recommended in the report, and asked if consideration had been given to an
arrangement that might provide housing available only to seniors. The supporting
rationale is that West U seniors who can no longer live in their houses must move out
of West U because there are no suitable apartments in the City. Mr. Frankel stated
that it was a topic discussed and that residential uses were determined to be more
intrusive to neighboring homes than the commercial.
De De DeStefano asked if it was recommended to propose a parking structure now.
Mr. Frankel stated that the only way a parking structure will happen is if one or more
owners of the properties joined forces. The Ad Hoc Committee worked to ensure the
recommendations were viable without a parking structure.
Bob Higley said he had no questions at this time.
Lauren Griffith stated she thinks residential use and senior living should be
considered. Ms. Griffith asked about pervious area, permeable pavement and why a
landscaping buffer was recommended only in the rear. Mr. Frankel said the concern
is the limitation on the buildable area. Sixty to seventy feet is a desirable store front
and the maximum buildable area in Town Center is fifty-five feet. Ms. Griffith also
asked about the Edloe Café site and not being able to rebuild under this plan. Mr.
Frankel stated that in Exhibits D & E it shows doing away with the side setbacks on
the interior. Edloe Café's buildable width would go from 10 to 20 feet. Edloe Cafe is
currently being serviced on the side and is encroaching on the Hassenflu/Luther
property and that Hassenflu/Luther is allowing this with no agreement. The Ad Hoc
committee recommends getting rid of those setbacks but it does not mean that it will
happen.
Chairman Brown read from the mission statement of the Comprehensive Plan and
stated his overall concerns with residential compatibility. Chairman Brown is also
concerned that successful development will bring in more people which will cause
more traffic. Mr. Frankel stated the properties were bought for a profit and were not
intended for parks, etc., unless homeowners donate to the City or get rezoned to
residential to build a home on.
Mr. Frankel went over the chart on page 24 of the Town Center Ad Hoc Committee
report which summarizes what can be built with current rules and what could be
constructed with the proposed rules.
Page 3
Staff was instructed to propose an ordinance amendment for next month's meeting in
draft form. There was also discussion on changing the meeting date to March 3, 2011
due to Spring Break.
3. Executive Session (if necessary). Not used
Adjournment. Bob Higley made a motion to adjourn. De De DeStefano seconded.
Ayes: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Bob Higley, Bruce Frankel, Lauren Griffith and De
De DeStefano. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
PASSED THIS q DAY OF LiAL. 2011.
Steve Brown, Presiding Officer
ATTES ►l.
/ I / eiNAL.
Sal ye A. Clark, P ing Assistant