HomeMy WebLinkAbout03242011 ZPC Minutes City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
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ZONING& PLANNING COMMISSION
PUBLIC WORKS LUNCHROOM
3825 MILTON
MEETING MINUTES
March 24, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Sam Parikh, Bob Higley,
and Lauren Griffith
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce Frankel and DeDe DeStefano
COUNCIL: None
STAFF PRESENT: Debbie Scarcella, City Planner; Jolie S. Lenz, City
Legal Counsel
Call to Order — With quorum present at 6:15 p.m., Steve Brown called the meeting to
order.
Notices, Rules, Etc. Steve Brown, ZPC Chair, informed the members that at the last
City Council meeting, the Building Official, John Brown presented for first reading a
proposed amendment regarding basements. The proposed amendment allows for
basements of a limited size and for a limited purpose. City Council approved the first
reading of the proposed ordinance amendment and informed the members that the
final reading will be scheduled for the March 28 City Council meeting.
Chairman Brown asked the ZPC members to think about the possibility of changing
the start of the regular meeting times and it will be discussed at the next regular
meeting on April 14.
1. Minutes.
February 10, 2011. Minutes were not available for consideration.
March 3, 2011. Minutes were presented for consideration. Bob Higley asked to
verify whether or not the chair quoted council's reason for not approving the
basement proposal at the March 14 council meeting. Mr. Higley also requested
several corrections as follows:
- Correct all informal references to Chairman, Steve Brown
- Change "our" to "Zoning and Planning Commission"
- Change the word "push" to "advance"
-Delete references to members arriving late or leaving early
Chairman Brown requested correction of the height reference from 45 feet to 42 feet.
3800 University Boulevard • West University Place, Texas 77005-2899 • 713.668.4441 • www.westu.org
Page 2
Dick Yehle moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Bob Higley seconded the
motion. Ayes: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Sam Parikh, Bob Higley, and Lauren
Griffith. Motion carried.
2. Town Center. Chairman Brown stated he believed that the objective of the meeting
was to review the draft proposal with requested corrections prepared by staff, making
changes or elaborations as necessary, with the end goal to have the draft proposal
ready for staff to prepare a preliminary report to present to City Council by the first
meeting in May.
The first item discussed was the definition and actual boundary of the TCRD (Town
Center Retail District). There was discussion concerning the actual acreage and
boundary of the TCRD. During the previous ZPC meeting, the consensus of the
commission was to give consideration to including the two properties immediately
north of Rice Boulevard, between Edloe and Poor Farm Ditch (old JMH site and
adjacent parking area) in the TCRD zoning district designation. A discussion
followed concerning the applicability of the proposed regulations to new and existing
construction. Mr. Higley recommended that we move the discussion to a different
topic and come back to this issue.
The discussion resumed regarding the differences between light and medium
commercial use. Chairman Brown asked for clarification of medical and or
professional offices use as it relates to the definition in the proposal. Discussion
followed concerning the types of operations that might be included/excluded within
the TCRD. Staff was instructed to draft a provision that would be sensitive to the
residential nature of the surrounding district, but would still not seriously hamper the
operation of the businesses in the TCRD.
Discussion resumed regarding setbacks and determination of the front street line. The
front street line should be designated along Edloe Street. Discussion followed
concerning the property located north of Rice Boulevard and east of Edloe Street and
its inclusion in the TCRD. Chairman Brown asked about spot zoning as it relates to
excluding the JMH property from this proposal. The consensus of the commission
was to stay within the parameters of the ad hoc committees report and not include the
JMH property within the TCRD at this time. Mr. Brown asked staff to add a sentence
to footnote 9 designating Edloe as the front street line for the new district.
Lauren Griffith led the discussion regarding the use of landscaping to provide visual
buffering along the rear of the properties. The purpose in the report for
recommending some type of planting, either trees or landscaping, was to provide
visual buffering and light trespass mitigation. Discussion followed concerning other
cities regulations provided by Ms. Griffith for ideas to accomplish this objective. Ms.
Griffith will draft a proposal addressing creation of a buffer using shrubs and/or a
combination of shrubs and trees and will provide this to staff for inclusion in the
revised draft.
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Chairman Brown pointed out several places where clean up of the chart lines needs to
take place. Discussion followed concerning what percentage of redevelopment must
occur before the maximum height allowance of 42 feet plus a 3 foot parapet/screen
wall is permitted. Staff was instructed to revise note 11 to Table 7-4b regarding
maximum height and add wording that will allow a parapet or screening wall to the
front (Edloe Street)of the principal structure.
Discussion continued regarding location of odor emitting objects such as grease traps
and interceptors. Staff was requested to make a few editorial changes to the final two
sections.
The ZPC requested the changes and revisions be made and presented at its April 14,
2011 meeting.
3. Executive Session (if necessary).Not used
Adjournment. Lauren Griffith made a motion to adjourn. Bob Higley seconded.
Ayes: Steve Brown, Dick Yehle, Sam Parikh, Bob Higley, and Lauren Griffith.
Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
PASSED THIS /411DIAY O 2011.
Steve Brown, Presiding Officer
AT 1, T:
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Sallye A. Cl. , Planning Assistant