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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05031977 ZPC Minutes REGULAR MEETING ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION MAY. 3, 1977 The Zoning and Planning Commission of the City of West University Place convened in regular session at the City Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 1977, with the following members present: Chairman Bartholomew, presiding; Members LaCook, Norton and Weatherby. Mr. Dahlin was absent. Proper notice o.f the meeting had been posted on the bulletin board at the City Hall three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting. ~~" ~ Motion by Mr. Weatherby, seconded by Per. LaCook, that Public Hearing to consider O application of Mr. Arnold Shields, owner, to subdivide ~"~ ~ East 114 ft. of Lot 6, Block l3 Q West University Place 1st,Addition 6402 Belmont into two lots, each 50 ft. x..114 ft., each fronting on Belmont, be opened.. Chairman Bartholomew introduced himself and other members of the Commission. Chairman Bartholomew administered the Oath to those- present who desired to speak during the Public Hearing. In-the absence of the .applicant, the Chairman reviewed the application for subdivision and asked for anyone wishing to speak in favor of the application to do so at this time: Mr. Bryan Lewis stated that he was an interested party due to the fact that he and Mr. Hoffman have earnest money contracts to purchase the property contingent on the subdivision. He stated he .and his wife are interested in living in West University Place beca-use it has a very unique character with integrity, security and high property value, that they plan to build a traditional type residence which will blend with other houses on the street and will be brick, one and one-half stories, with. dormer windows containing four bedrooms, 22 baths, living room, dining room and kitchen. He also. stated that it was his understanding that Mr. Hoffman's plans were basically Georgian traditional with approximately. 2,200 sq. ft, and he hoped the application would be approved. Mr. Shields came to the meeting at this time and was given the Oath by the Chairman. Mrs. Charles Moore, 6424 Belmont, asked what is the present zoning of this property. She was advised that it is single-family dwelling and that the zoning is not effected whatsoever, that it will still remain zoned for single-family dwelling and that the application asked to divide a large lot into two smaller lots... She was also given the information that the minimum size lot requirement in the city is 5,000 sq. ft. with a 50 ft. frontage and that if the subdivision is granted both lots created would be over. the minimum .requirements. Mr. Darrell C. Donaldson, Jr., 6417 Belmont, asked if he could be assured he would be allowed to subdivide his 50 ft. x 200 ft. lot. The Chairman advised him that he could make an application but that he could not be assured that it would be approved, neither could he assure him that the application now being considered would be approved, that each application is considered on its own merits. Mr. Carl Warner, 6345 Belmont, speaking to Mr. Donaldson, asked if he is con- sidering dividing his lot and building behind his residence. Mr. Donaldson said he might consider it. Mrs. Charles Moore, 6424 Belmont, said in her opinion if you are going to limit. the space in order to allow speculation, then why couldn't the rest of the people speculate, that West University Place was unique because of the .green spaces and open area, that the townhouses now being built at Belmont and Bellaire Boulevard .are encroacing,on the area and the people wi11 be coming into their neighborhood to look at trees, and that she thought it is valuable to keep more space per individual family or we would be building and building everywhere just like Nouston. Mr. Darrell C. Donaldson, Jr., 6417 Belmont, stated although he liked Mr. Shields and was himself in the real estate business, he would like to keep the neghbor- hood nice and that he would like to see neighbors build there but would prefer one residence instead of two. Mrs. Patricia Warner, 6421 Belmont, read the following statement: "I am Patricia Warner of 6421 Belmont Street, across Belmont from the Shields property under discussion-this evening. My husband and Fare alarmed at the prospect. of the requested application to divide the property into two lots. We are alarmed because we believe that sucha request goes against the basic philosophy of our community. My husband and I moved to the Belmont region of West University Place to live in an environment with larger lots, open space: and older homes. Many residents are updating and. remodeling 'these older homes in keeping with the basic purposes of the community. If the commission grants the Shields' request, two tiny lots will. result. Such action would be an undesirable precedent: Such action could result in the degredation of the open environment and the removal of many stately trees. Such action may start a deluge of similar requests that, if granted, would result in the destruction of the West University community in regards to property values and esthetic values. My husband and I urge this Commission to reject the Shields' proposal. Thank you. /s/ Patricia Warner and Jeffrey Warner, 6421 Belmont, West University Place." Mr. Bryan Lewis said it was impossible for him to .see what good the existing home does for the property values,. that it cannot be salvaged, that in his opinion the removal of the house would be beneficial to the neighborhood as it is an eyesore, and that the only tree which would be removed from the lot would be one small already dead .tree. e~. Mrs. Warner said she did not object to the removal of the house but making two lots and that there is a market for large lots. Mr. Bruce Barnes, 6420 Belmont, stated he agreed with the viewpoints expressed by others and that he thought it should be left as a large. lot. There was a discussion concerning number of 100 ft. frontage lots on that block and it was determined that five lots-were of this size, but that almost all of the lots. are- 200 ft. in depth. Mr. Weatherby stated that although it might appear he .had made his decision already, this was not the case, that he was among those who originally opposed '~ and fought against townhouses on Bissonnet and now he has-found they serve as a bulwark for the community, that the age of .persons in the community is ,O changing dramatically from older to younger people, that West University Place ,a is close to Greenway Plaza, surrounded by the City of Houston., that we are p facing a transportation shortage and a fuel shortage, that citizens may have to face a different environment other than what we have been used to or desired, that things are going to change, conditions are going to change, maintenance workers will be more difficult to obtain., density is going to get greater, and that he would like to take a calculated. risk on the type person Mr. Lewis appeared to be as a citizen. Mr. Donaldson stated that he would fight to keep the interior of West University Place from becoming a high density area, but if this request is approved he would have an application before the Commission to subdivide his property. The Chairman advised him that was his right and privilege but did not neces- sarily guarantee an approval as each application was considered separately and individually on its own merits. Motion. by Mr. Weatherby, seconded by Mr. LaCook, that Public Hearing be closed. Voting Aye: .All Voting No: None_ The following letter was presented to the Commission and the secretary-instructed to make it a part of the minutes: "Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Moore 6424 Belmont Street Houston, Texas 77005 Zoning and Planning Commission City of West University .Place Houston, Texas 77005 Gentlemen: In Re: 'You r. letter of Aprill3, 1977 Request for re-zoning into two lots 50x114 ft. property located 6402 Belmont in the 111-A Zoning District. We, as interested property owners, are against the above re-zoning, This action, in our opinion, will seta precedent which will. lead to over develop- ment of this area. The townhouse construction on Belmont and Bellaire under construction will put an additional strain on the open spaces left in our area. If open spaces are what our community is all about, why lose this unique and desirable feature? Yours truly, /s/ Charles E. Moore Rebecca Perry Moore May 3, 1977" Motion by Mr. Weatherby .that the application from Arnold L. Shields to subdivide East 114 ft. of Lot 6, Block 13 West University Place lst Addition into two lots, each 50 ft. x 114 ft., each facing Belmont, be approved. Motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Norton stated that looking at the general area there is a large proportion of deep lots although with 50 ft. frontage, that the lot under consideration would be over the minimum requirements (5,700 sq. ft.) although still smaller than most in the area, that the Commission was bound to consider each specific application which made it difficult to come to an opinion in considering indi- viduals and situations involved. Motion by Mr. Norton, seconded by Mr. LaCook, that application from Arnold L. Shields to subdivide, East 114 ft. of Lot 6, Block 13 West University Place 1st Addition into two lots, each 50 ft. x 114 ft., each facing Belmont, be denied. Motion was tabled for further discussion at the next regular meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission on June 14, 1977. Preliminary and final plans for the construction of townhouses by Gieuseppe Pino Farinola, owner, on Lot 10, B-lock 2 Belle Court Addition 2700 Block of Bellaire Blvd. were presented to the Commission for their consideration. Mr. farinola was not present. .' After a review of the plans, a decision was deferred until such time as Mr. Farinola may appear before the Commission to answer questions concerning sub- mitted plans. Preliminary plans for the construction of .townhouse by Ms. Myra Powell, owner, on Lots 10 & 11, Block 18 Colonial .Terrace Addition 4100 Block of Bissonnet were presented to the Commission for their consideration. ~ In view of the fact that the next Agenda item was a discussion of plans for the ~ construction of townhouses on '~ Q Lot 9, Block 18 Colonial Terrace Addition 4100 Block of Bissonnet being presented by Mr. Robert Crane, representing the owner, Mrs. Z. 'B. Zeller, and the properties being adjacent, it was decided to discuss both presentations togher as they related to each other. Discussion concerned requirements of Ordinance No. 1025 in regards to fences, frontage, front and side setbacks under certain conditions, parking, square .footage of each unit, i.e., on ground or common property, and setback between. developments with facing living areas. In a review of the presentation on Lots 10 & 11, Ms. Powell was advised the plans did not. meet requirements as to front. and east side setbacks which should be 10 ft. and that a projection on the front could not be in the 10 ft. setback. The following is the interpretation of the Zoning and Planning Commission of Section 24-E, Sub-Section K, Distance Between .Dwelling-Units, of Ordinance No. 1025: 1. .Ten (10') ft. setback on each property (twenty (20') ft. separation) prevails where separate properties are developed with fence control. 2. Fifty (50') ft. separation prevails within one property development. Preliminary and final plans for the construction of townhouses by Mr. John Pipkin, owner, on Lot 3, Block 43 West University Place 1st Addition Northeast corner of Sewanee & Bellaire Boulevard were presented to the Commission for consideration. ___ After a review of the plans, Mr. Pipkin was advised that the plans did not meet the rear and side setback requirements of Ordinance No. 1025. The secretary was requested to draft a letter to Mr. Steve Mercadel concern- ing the interpretation of .Section 24-E, Sub-Section K, Distance Between Dwelling Units, of Ordinance No. 1025. Mr. Mercadel had. appeared at the regular meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission on April 5,.1977 requesting this interpretation. A request from the City Manager fora recommendation concerning the 1978 Budget for the Zoning .and Planning Commission was presented for consideration. Motion by Mr. Weatherby, seconded by Mr. LaCook, that the Zoning and Planning Commission recommend that the 1978 Budget for that body be the same as for 1977. Voting Ayer .All Voting No: None Minutes of the regular meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission'on April 5, 1977 were approved as corrected. With no further business to-come before the Commission, upon motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Chairman ATTEST: 1