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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07111978 ZPC MinutesLd REGULAR MEETING ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 11, 1978 The Zoning and Planning Commission of the City of West University Place .convened in regular session on Tuesday,. July. 11, 1978,. 7:30 p.m., with the following mem- bers present: Chairman Norton, presiding; Members Berg and Casey. Mr LaCook was absent. The Chairman ascertained .from the secretary that proper notice of meeting had been posted at the City Hall three days prior to the scheduled meeting. Motion by Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. Berg, that Public Hearing to consider the application of Thelma and Joseph A. Marquer, Sr. to subdivide Lots 1, 3 and 5, Block 13 Virginia Court Addition 6200 Block of Lake St.- into two. lots, each 75 ft. x 100 ft., one facing Amherst St. and one facing Lake St., be opened. Voting Aye: All Voting No: None Notice of Public Hearing was .published in The .Southwestern Argus on June 21,.1978 and all property owners within a 200 ft. radius of the property were notified of the Public Hearing by letter dated June 21, 1978. Chairman Norton explained the procedure to be following during the Public Hearing and administered the oath to those who. might .desire to speak on the application. Mr. Marquer explained that he desired to divide the existing three 50 ft. x 100. ft. lots into two lots, each 75 ft. x 100 ft.; that he plan is to sell the lots thus established with the existing house facing Amherst and build a new house on the lot facing Lake St. He pointed out the placement of the utility easements and said that he was aware that the existing garage would-have to be removed to meet setback requirements. Members of the Zoning and Planning Commission discussed with Mr. Marquer and his representative, Mr. Patrick Nitch, setback between rear of existing house and pro- posed property line, parking facility for proposed lot to be created facing Lake St. and location of existing sidewalk. No one else spoke either for or agains the application. Motion by Mr. Berg, seconded by Mr. Casey, that Public Hearing be closed Voting Aye: All Voting No: None 1 The meeting .recessed for five minutes. Motion by Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. Berg, that Public Hearing to consider the application of Mr. and Mrs. 0. 0. Mitchell to subdivide 11~ b C~ Q C~ LJ Lot 4, Block 34 West University Place 1st Addition into two lots, each 50 ft. x 150 ft., each facing Sewanee, be opened. Voting Aye: All Voting No: None Notice of Fublic Hearing was published in The Southwestern Argun on July 5, 1978 and all property owners within a 200 ft. radius of the property were notified of the Public Hearing. by letter dated July 5, 1978. Mr. Mitchell stated that the request is for a simple down the middle subdivision of the lot in order to create a building site for a single-family dwelling and that they had no immediate plans for the property and pointed out the location of utilities on the submitted drawing. Mr. Whitt Johnson, representing Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell; stated there were no encroach- ments or encumbrances on the proposed subdivision and that the existing house had a front setback of 30 ft. as is not required although it was built in the early 1930's. The Mitchells presented written communications expressing approval of the sub- division from the following: Mrs. E. R. Dost, 6540 Sewanee; Alice'Smith Ghiselin, 6512 Sewanee; Rosalie R. Burr, 6526 Sewanee; and David. G. Dean, 6527 Sewanee. Mrs. E. R. Dost, b540 Sewanee; expressed her approval of the subdivision. Motion by Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. Berg, that the Public Hearing be closed. Voting Aye: All Voting. No: None Consideration of application of Mr. Marquer followed: Mr. Casey stated that if he understood correctly, Mr. Marquer wants to combine three small lots and create two larger lots and that in his opinion this would be beneficial to the city and residents of the city as a whole.. Mr. Berg stated that he supported the idea of the two larger lots instead of three small-ones and that the only negative comment he could make was the po- tential increased use of the sewage system - two houses where there is, now one. Mr. Casey pointed out that the lots as they now exist had the potential for two more houses and that it was his understanding that the sewage ficilites would be renovated in the very near future. Mr. Norton stated that he was not concerned the sewage system could not handle one more house and that he agreed that having two large lots rather than thre e small ones would be a benefit to the city in general and certainly would not harm it. He .also stated his only concern was a previous opinion of the City Attorney concerning authority of the Commission to combine tracts of land. The members entered into a general discussion of respoinsibilities and authority of the Zoning and Planning Commission... Motion by Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. Berg, that application of Thelma and Joseph A. Marques, Sr., for the subdivision of Lots 1, 3 and 5, Block 13 Virginia Court Addition into two lots, each 75 ft. x l00 ft., one facing Amherst, one facing Lake, be approved subject to compliance with all building setback requirements, building code, or other governing ordinances, whether or not herein specified, for .any subsequent construction and subject to presentation of surveyor's plat plan showing the subdivision. Voting Aye: Berg Casey Norton Voting No: None Consideration of application of Mr. and Mrs. 0. 0. Mitchell;- Mr. Casey. stated that this would not be the only lot with a 50 ft. frontage in this area; that, in fact, it is in the minority with a 100 ft. frontage on that block; that if someone builds a house on the proposed lot, it would not harm the city and the addition of one more house, or several would not effect the sewage system if the .townhouse potential would not effect it and that he understood that the sewage facilities would soon be updated. Mr. Berg stated that because of the nature of the double (-100 ft.) 1otn this area, this one.. seems to be the most naturally to lend to subdivision as far as aesthetic appearance of the lot; the vacant portion is open with trees and a house could probably be built on the vacant portion without disturbing the trees; and that aesthetically, it would not detract from the neighborhood: Mr. Norton stated that he had mixed feelings; that he agreed there is a rather natural subidivision and that environmentally it would. be a good thing; that some time age he made a survey of this area and determined that only 15% to 20% of the lots now have a greater than 50 ft. frontage; that he is concerned that ultimately the Commission would be receiving applications whereby, if they were .approved, all lots in the city would be minimum size; that the Commission has the responsibility tomantain some spaciousness and general environment and .that al- though it is not his opinion that this application would turn the key in the door if the subdivision is granted, it results in many more smaller lots. Mr. Casey stated that this would not be a minimum size lots, which is 5,000 sq. ft., since the lots proposed would be 50 ft. x 150 ft. each. Motion by Mr. Casey,. seconded by Mr. Berg, that application of Mr. and Mrs. 0. 0. Mitchell, to subdivide Lot 4, Block 34 West. University Place 1st Addition into two lots, each 50 ft. x 150 ft., each facing Sewanee, be'approved, sub- ject to .compliance with .all building setback requirements, building code, or other governing ordinances, whether or not herein specified, for any susequent construction and subject to presentation of surveyor's plat plan showing the subdivision. Voting Aye: Berge Voting No: 'Norton Casey An application from Mr. J. P. Semmelrogge to rezone Lot 1, Block 17 Colonial Terrace Addition 4210 Coleridge ~ for townhouses; was presented to the Commission for consideration. Lf'~ d Mr. Semmelrogge-said the lot in question is a triangular shaped lot with. the `~ existing house at the wider or eat ened and that the small end is absolutely Q unusabke; that he dislikes the house located on the property in which he lives, but loves the location and desires to build two or three townhouses on the pro- perty, live. in one and sell the others. Mr. Casey stated that in his opinion every citizen filing an application is en- titled to a Public Hearing. Mr. Norton stated he agreed with the philisopy of Mr. Casey, but that the Commis- sion has an obligation to the entire city and a look at .the total situation; that this property was not included in a comprehensive study and recommendation for townhou es by another Commission and he would like to know the reasons for this; that he is concerned about a "spot" zoning situation; that he would not want to instigate a system whereby the Commission would consider zoning of individual areas; and that possibly some more study and information concerning why it was not included previously should be made before calling a public hearing.. Mr. Berg state that he would find it difficult to rationalize turning down an application which has been properly filed.. - Mr. LaCook-came to the. meeting at this time. ~, Chairman Norton reviewed action taken by the Commission at the meeting and dis- cussion on the application for rezoning for Mr. LaCook. Mr. LaCook stated that although a public hearing on rezoning may be premature, in his opinion, this entire area, including College Court Addition, should be studied for possible rezoning, and that he does not object to calling a public hearing on this application at this time. Motion by Mr. Casey,. seconded by Mr. LaCook, that Public Hearing to consider application of Mr. J. P. Semmelrogge, to rezone Lot 1, Block l7 Colonial Terrace Addition for townhouses, be called for 7:30 p.m., August l5, 197 8 Voting Aye: Berg Casey LaCook Voting No: Norton The following letter of resignation from member Bob Johnson was presented to the Commission: "May 24, 1979 City of West University Place 3800 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005 Attention: Opal McKelvey Gentlemen: Due to a significatn shift in my professional responsibilities, I am finding it necessary to tender my resignation to the Zoning and Planning Commission. Sincerely, /s/ Bob R. Johnson" Minutes of the regular meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission on June 13, 1978 were presented for consideration and approved as submitted. With no further business to come before the Commission, upon motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned ai ATTEST: -_r._~.. mac.-- - Secretary