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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04062023 ZPC Agenda Item 6 Zoning & Planning Commission City of West University Place, Texas 3800 University Boulevard West University Place, Texas, 77005 April 13, 2023 Honorable Mayor & Members of the City Council City of West University Place 3800 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005 Subject: Final report on the current Zoning Ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") relating to requirements for the installation of Book Sharing Exchanges. To the Honorable Mayor & Members of City Council: The Zoning and Planning Commission (the "Commission") of the City submits this, its final report, having proposed modifications to the Zoning Ordinance to facilitate the installation of book sharing exchanges. Existing Ordinance provisions for front yard accessory structures. The Zoning Ordinance defines a front yard as the part of a building site included in the required yard (or setback area) measured from the street line or defined by a front building line. The Zoning Ordinance defines "accessory" as a building, structure, or use that is subordinate and incidental to a lawful principal building and use on the same building site, and which is necessary or convenient for a lawful principal use of such a building. Projection permitted into the required front yard setback for a building site is stipulated by Table 7-6 (the "Projections Schedule") . The Projections Schedule does not currently ponder freestanding accessory structures in the front yard (except for porches, decks, and low retaining walls) . As the Projections Schedule does not currently have an equivalent entry that could be interpreted to apply to book sharing exchanges, such items are not currently permitted without amending the Zoning Ordinance. Analysis. The Projections Schedule does not currently permit any front yard accessory structure that could be considered equivalent to book sharing exchanges to project into a required front yard setback. In pursuit of clarifying the City's position on the installation front yard accessory structures such as book sharing exchanges, an update to the current Zoning Ordinance is required at this time. Recommendation. Based on the review given by the Zoning and Planning Commission regarding the installation of book sharing exchanges, it has been recommended that changes be made to the Zoning Ordinance at this time. This review has concluded that a new entry should be added to the Projections Schedule to permit book sharing exchanges to project into front yard setback areas. The new table entry and accompanying note shall clarify that book sharing exchanges may project into a front yard setback, provided that such structures are not located in the Right-of-Way and are installed in accordance with the minimum guidelines set by the Administrative Official. The Vote. The vote on approval of this report was as follows: Cutrer, Mazzu, Fisher, Howard, Takashima, Powell, and Wilson voted "aye". No members were absent and there were no abstentions. Respectfully Submitted: ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS Chair, Zoning and Planning Commission Existing Provisions within the Zoning Ordinance for Front-yard Projection of Accessory Structures: Sec. 7-101. - Regulations, tables, etc. - Table 7-6. Projections Schedule (Excerpt) Special Rules For Type of Structure Maximum Allowed Projection(In Inches),Measured From The Inside Edge Of The Yard Calculating Open& Pervious Areas Front Yard Rear Yard Side Yard SF Bufferyard Sidewalks,patios, The area counts as open porches/platforms/decks, area but not as pervious retaining walls,driveways, area unless the material is parking areas and similar No limit,except that decks completely pervious to Ground level and structures not higher than six may not project more than No limit No limit No limit water.The area beneath a underground items inches;all underground 120" deck may count as pervious structures.See also Table area if rain is allowed to 7-3 regarding pervious pass through the deck.See pavement. Table 7-3. New Provisions within the Zoning Ordinance for Front-yard Projection of Accessory Structures (Book Sharing Exchanges) : Sec. 7-101. - Regulations, tables, etc. - Table 7-6. Projections Schedule (Excerpt) Special Rules For Type of Structure Maximum Allowed Projection(In Inches),Measured From The Inside Edge Of The Yard Calculating Open& Pervious Areas Front Yard Rear Yard Side Yard SF Bufferyard Book sharing The area does not count as Certain Accessory No limit generally, exchanges 0 0 0 Structures " but see Note 14 either open or pervious area. 11 per building site) Note 14. Book sharing exchange (s) . No part of the structure may project into the Right-of-Way. Installation subject to guidance and final approval by the Administrative Official. Sec. 2-102. - Certain terms (excerpt) Book sharing exchange (s) . Book sharing exchange means a detached accessory structure usually consisting of an enclosed box sitting on top of a small stand which contains a door and is designed to hold a small number of books that are intended for use by members of the public. Such structures are generally known and referred to as "Little Free Libraries®".