HomeMy WebLinkAbout02131973 ZPC Minutes~~
P~CES~P.li 2~~. ~i I~G
Z0~1IPdu .~i;iD PIu^~1~?I''3u CO^`~''ISJTGi1
I'~nUA'~Y 13, 1973
The Zoning and PIa.:Lninb Commission cf the City of T°Jest University Place cor.-
veined in recessed session at the Community Building, Tuesday, Pebr~aary 13, 1973,
7:30 .m., with the following members present: Chairman lines, presiding, "iem-
bers G. C. Bartholomew, Roland ahlin, :.'. ~'eter Lipscomb, and II. Allen ~°+eatrerby.
~,otion by 1r. .~'eat.erby, seconded by r. Li-~scomb, that letter from ss. °eter
Byrnea 291.9 Cason, be made an addenda to the minutes of the Public ~:earing of
Pebrua.ry 6, 1973, as it pertains to tie discussion. of that date.
Voting Aye: All Joti.rg ~Yo: None
The minutes of the Zenin~; acid la_nn3_ng Ccmmi ssien, :~ obrizary 6, 1973, were presente
^r~d a-o~roved as submitted with the add,_tion of the above mentioned let ter.
4otian waG duly made, seconded and carried.., to recess the recessed meeting until
the co~zolusicn of the Pub~i c fearing called for 7:It5 p.m.
Motion was duly made, seconded and carried to oven the Public 'r:naring.for con-
sideration of_ rezori.n~ ~:rea ;3n, hereinafter described:
Lots 1, 2, 3, [ , ~, b, 7, 8, ~', 10 ft . of 10,
15, 16, 17, 1R, 19, 21,.22, 2j, 24, 2~, 26, Block 1
~~ent .Place i?ddition, as ori.~;inally pZztted,
City cf ~dest LTnversity Place, Texas
Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, ~, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, lj, l.t~,
15, 16, 1?, In, 19, 21., 22, 23, 2.4, 2~, 2fi, Block 2
lent Place Addition, as originally platted,
City of ~:'est University Place, Texas
Lots 1, 2, 3, ~~ , ~, ~, lock 41
Lots 1, 2, 3, !~, r, 6, Block !~2
:.,OtS '? , 2, j, ,t4, c, 6, Block 1-63
~~est University Place lst ~.ddition, as originally platted,
City of ?'levt 'university Place, Texas
The Chairman ascertained from the secretar-- that ?notice of Public Hear. ing was
published ir: t?^.e mouth=.~restern Argas, January 2lt, 1973, by &r~'adavit of Publica-
tion sibred by R. G. Preston, AZana.gin.g iiirector of tY~e Couttiwestern Argav~ which
publication has been designated by the City Com'nission as the official newspaper
for the City of ~~'est University for 1973. TYie secretary also ascertained that
~totice to Property Gwners within `L00 ft. of tree properties ,antler consideration
had been mailed January 2l~, 173.
Motion by T~.r. Laxilin, seconded by ~~.r. ~a+eatherby, that the CAUDILL P.G.~TLLTT OCGTT
::1,x'1 v,:T J~~t:~li i ~'Lr,L~ 171 L~,~~L` USE AP;~ CI°CULATIGi1 PLAT be :Wade an exribit of
this meeting and bound with to official mii.~ztes of the .meeting.
Voting Aye: All Voting No: done
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The Chairman intrcductod each me~-nber of the Zoning .and Planning Commission itiiio
i3erltified themselves and stated where they lived in the city.
The ~orocedure to be followed was outlined by the Chairman.
~~lr. dines said he iiad been asned to anno»srce that none of the members of the City
Commission ilad attended the Public Year_ng held last week, were not present at
this hearing, and would. not a.tterld the hearing next weel; because they felt that
in the event o_f recom:ncndations .from tY,e Zcning and. Pla.nring Commission, the Cit,,r
Commission in turn called ?'ublic ~_ea.rirbs, i.t woul~~ be in the hest is terests of
t~-:pe.!~ci_t;~ ''or m~:mbers of the City Co:u~.ssinn to ?~~uar file views wr~e.i n_ resented. to
;,:Le:n as a. body.
Tr.e following is an introductory statement from the Chairman of the Zoning aazd
:'la nni::g CUm~nissicnt
"In January of 19j1, the City Ccm:~:ission of y'est university Place, Texas, con-
;;isting of ~Ia.yor Jot:n :d. ,ei~;:~bor. s, and Commissioner. s Lon L. r~arris, Fred E.rughes,
Charles ii. u'nderwood, ~Tr., and ~~aul ?~7. r°;'allin, ~Tr. aprointed for a two year period
the Zorirg and Tanning Co:~nTaission consis'~ing of L. B. .Bricker, N:. C. Caldwell,
Roland Lar:lin, atad ~. Alen ,Te^.t.~erby, G.nd i. uene Yines. The Zoning and Planning
Commission was cra.rged witY~. the responsibility, in addition to its normal duties,
of closely eYam~:~ing the current land uses and zoning zn the city, with particular
emphasis to be 'placed an those areas on tl~e periphery of our city, and after such
exam.~.nation to make recommendations to the City Commission related to our findings.
In pursuit of. these matters, upon the recommendation from the Zoning and P1a_*ining
Commission, t~'ie firm of Caudill Roklett Scott ira.s engaged by the City Commission
to conduct a la.ad use survey, and, relating their findings to other informlation,
that is, the changes in areas surrc~zndi.ng 'n'est Cniversity P1.ace, traffic flow
through and around our city, general patterns of development ape cYiange within
the city, to t'r:en prepare for th:: City Commission a report of their findings and
recommendations concerning them. The primary purpose of the report was to provide
the Zcning arad Planning Commission with a tool to be used by them to help arrive
at tentative reco,-enaatiors fcr cl:a.nbe, if any, concerning- our cit~r. liuring the
period in which the report was being repe.red, tie ~'oni_zg and Planning Commission
received an increasing :ZUm'oer cf requests to rezone lots in the peripheral areas,
and it was evident that perY:aps some ,changes t~~ere perhaps desirable, but tY~at such
changes could not and should not ue done on a, piece-meal basis and that any action
shculd be deferred until a compreYiensive analysis cculd ~e made.
The above mentioned report from Caudill Ro~rlett Scotty entitled CITY GF '',TEST L'itI°vER-
SITI' "LACE 1?71 L~:YL '~i:~L AJli CIRCuI,~".TI;,i1 PLA?~I wa.s accented by the city anproxi-
mately one year a.bo and since that .time has bean available for revie~* and use at
City iiall and has been on sale fir. those who wis.~ to purchase a copy.
tirith the aid of the CRS study, the Zoning and Planning Gommission has devoted a
year to studying land use within the city wita particular emphasis on peripheral
areas. ~Je 'rlave not sought change as a goal, but wish to rna.intain the city as we
::now it, to reinforce its attributes and hopefully to re-direct trends which
could result in future problem areas in the city, and it is our tentative belief
that to meet this objective, some zoning changes may be desirable.
~~
Before sharing with you these tentative thougrts, a briefrevie~~ of the se-
quence of events follo~Ting tonight~s meeting should be of interest to you.
After. listening to each other, hopefully zrith patience, forebearing and under-
standing, the Zoning and Planning Commission can take two basic courses of
action, neitier of which wig be done tonight.
1. Notify the City Commission that after the public hearing no
action will be taken to recommend purs~~ing the matters ,:.eing discussed, or
2. Recommend to the City Commission that a portion of, or all the
items considered tonight be considered by the City Commission.
The City Commission can, in the event the la..tter situation prevails twice two
courses of action, as I understand it;
1. Review the recomnendat ion and reject it, or
2. Accept the recommendation and. as required by statute c~ncern.ing'
changes in zor_ing call a public hearing for their review of the recommendation.
This public hearing by the City Commiss%on is held jointly witri the Zoning and
~~lanning Ccmm~.ssion. At its cor~clt~sion the Zoning and Planning Gommissian Can
either vote to rescind or modify their original recommendation or vote to affirm
their previous action.
Depending on the action so taken by the Zoning and Planning Com_^~ission, the City
Commission can then, or a.t a later date, vote to reject the; recom~lenda.tion or
vote to accept it anc' call for tie drafting of an ordinance amending the exist-
ing ordinance to effect the change or changes.
Now, to the specifics of tonight.
I^re have tentative recommendations to make for your hearing. i~Te have studied
the entire city, emphasizing the periphery. Gur concept is a consideration of
wad recommendation for a total plan, but because of the anticipated wide spread
and gratifyir_g interest on the part of tree citizens, the Zoning and Planning
Commission felt that a series of ~~eetinus should be held primarily because of
the size of our meeting p7.ace a_iZd the different aspects of the areas being studied.
Tonight~s consideration is a portion of those properties generall~r described a.s
being bounded on the v,~est by Poor r a.rm Ditch, an the north by Cason atreet a.-1d
a 7_ine extending from its intersection with T~Ia?ceforest east between ~rJerlein and
Cason to Kirby Drive, on the east by Kirby Drive and on the swath by Pellaire
Boulevard. T.3e specific area to be discussed tonigi~t is bounded by Poor farm
Ditch on the west, Cason or. the rorth, Buffalo Speed~•*a.y on the east and Eellaire
on the south. This is approximately tide west 1/3 portion of tale area first
described. rearing for tine central area was held last week and a hearing for
the remaining area will be held next Tuesday evening.
As stated in the public notice and in letters to property owners, we are setting
forth for discussion the consideration c° other than single family use for
properties in this area. Properties witri r~ellaire Boulevard f_rontaga will be
considereu for usf: as Srecial Residential, consisting of single-family or town-
houses and Business and~Professional office buildings, financial institutions,
medical clinics or related uses. It is the feeling of the 1971-73 term Zoning
~~~
and Planning Commission that some minimum land area for development of other than
single family usage should be set, perhaps smaller tY:an the Lt0,000 square foot
figure mentioned i.n the hearing of February 6th for Area 3B, because of the shal-
lower depth of the Bellaire property in 3A, for projects in the business and
professional office building category, and that in the event of townhouse` develop-
ment aminimum area. of development should also be est2blished, an attempt to
control the quality of develan:nent. The Commission was strongly in favor of the
mandatory separation of these categories from a single family use, bg means of
wa'ls, rences, planting areas and/or. open spaces.
The Comr!li.ssion also felt t:~at in tale event of potential development of larger than
~ the existing property depta as platted, t?:at upon review, consideration might be
~ given to the closin,; off of a minimum o`' a only block portion of Corondo Court to
~ enable more comprehensive development to take place. This would. obviously .require
p-j the "blocking up" of smaller individually owned tracts. This aspect o.f a possible
V development points ur the fact expressed by fir. Dahlin in the public heaxing of
V i^ebruary 6, 1973, that zoning ordinances are permissive by nature, not obligatory
and that the individual property owners would hold the kej3` to such development
potential. If they did not Irish to become a. part of such development they simply
retain ownership.
Properties with Cason frontage, t.~e Zoning and Planning Commission would consider
placing in two potential use categories: Use by Right, consisting of single
family and toT,anhouses with minimum. a.meunt of land use involved in town'-~ouse
development and Use by Review - a category allowing those uses described for
Bellaire Boulevard property, but only upon review and after rneoting certain cri-
teria -being contiguous with Bellaire Bo~~levard property, adhering to screening
and set back restrictions to be establisY,ed, and allowing no vehicular traffic
from. or to Cason street for properties se developed.
These are the basics - a perhaps "too long arriving at the point" type of reading,
but a statement that I, as chairman of the Zoning and Planning Commission .nave
taken the perogative to make. As you. may or ma~T not know, two members who sit
on the board tonight were not involved in any of the discussion in formulating
these statements or in arriving at this stage in the whole matter. They a.re free
to speak if they so wish. The 1971-/3 board spent many soul sr~rching hours
arriving at this point and most of tY~~ prnpcsa?_ set forth represent a compromise
of s+,ands by all five people invcl.v~d. I personally wish to thank N:r. L. B.
Bricker and 'fir. M. C. Caldwoll, past members of ti,e Commission, for the many hours
tY~ey spent ti-.ese pact two dears i^ ?:elping fcr:m;.late these ideas and if the- are
rresent to1T::b'i,t and r~Ti s_: tc s^e~~k would urvs tr~e~: to do so. v
If ant- member of t.:e current commission w3_sies to enlarge anon these statements
I would asi~ t.em tc r_o~~ speak.
°Te will nczr ..ea.r from t't1ocr' applicantU anal citizpr:s t~riin uri s~. t.o speak in favor of
tYie 'nrpr~p;,2tic~' i ~.S ~ t t'Orti i 'vtiE: C °"~'? C~. ~~_ '^ZZb17.C ?'lotiCe.n
i°iotio by r~'Ir. Lipscomr, seconded by =r. `Tsatherby, teat the follezring motion be
extracted from the minutes of she Zoning a.nd Planning Commission of_ January 2, 1973
and made a part of these min~_tes:
"notion by Mr. Dahlia, seconded by P'ir. Ca~:cl~rell~ that the
Zoning and planning Commission hold a series of Public ::ear-
ings to consider plans for each of tre peripheral ar. ea. iden-
tified on page 33 of tYie CA~tDI?.;. '~~~:rI~ETT SCGTT ?~]E:5T UNI;I~R.-
SiTY=`PUCE 1971 ~i~D USE A~JD CIRCULA.TIO. PLriti and further
_____
~~.
defined in the letter dated Novem`aer °, 1972 to P-Mayor John h. ~Seighbors,
in preparation of formal recom~:endations tc be Presented to t'r~e City
~cmmission. Voting Aye: All Dating :Jo: A?ore."
Voting Aye: All Voti.~ .toe ~doi,e
Chairman administered aC2:th to all trose in audience desiring to speak.
Pers. iiaude Csenti.~a~zga, 2701 'rast~~oi.~ner (o~,~s Lot 2, Block 1~2, .~:'est University Place
lst ~dditi an) and ~~~rs. C. ?~7. ~ls:-, 18~~ Sibley (owns Lot ?, fslcck l3, `°.'est 'Jniver-
sity flare lst =~dditi.Gnj stated t7iey were strongl;; in favcr of ~^e~ortno tie ~rorer-
ties on Bellaire ~ioulevard fcr eit.er ..~f°ice buildings or to~,m}:ouses •.ahich would
bring incrca~ed_ tax money into the cit,~ a2ii if rlanned nrorerl~r tetiLnhauseS would
add to t~:e beauty and desirability of t:~e area in question.
The Criairm~i a.s?red the secretar~• tc read i~nplicatians fcr ".ozenirg which are current-
'.y an the docket of tk,:e Zoning and rla~.ing Commissi.or. in Area. 3A :.
r`72->; Application to Rezone filed 9-11-72 by James L. i~ussell
for construction of of"ice b~.Ii1C:irg:
death 121:}.?_ ft. of Lot 1, Block ~1
:Best Uri_versity Flare 1st Addition.
;~72-7 Application to Rezone filed 12-!~-72 by R. B. & E. A. :Mayor
fcr coTstructien of professional or other office building:
All of Lots P~ 9, & 15;
the east ten ft. of Lct
of Lot 1!a, rilock 1
ezt Place Addition
the west Z~.S ft. of Lot 7;
10; and the west 15 ft.
.ie Chairnan ash-~cd tl~.e secretar;;r to read lettsrs directed to the Zonis and Planning
Co,~mission r'ul~ t'r.e rezoning cf tae Properties being discussed:.
"~' e L ruary~ 1?, 1873
~~r. ~. uene nines, C:~airman
Zcni:,g and Flannin~; +.am~ti scion
Cite of 'lest LTriversity .lace
3E00 University Blvd.
:custon, Texas 77oQ5
Lear :~.r. I3~.xies:
I am the otimer of record of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Yent Place:
Addition and would like to join r~r. David TAI. Block and I. Siegel,
who are record owners of t're balance of. that half block, being ,
Lots 3, 4 and ~, in petitioning for approval cf the contemplated
amendments to the zoning ordinance of the City of :lest university
glace.
V ivy tr^aly yours,
/s/ Fannie Romick
Fannie F~omick (iJ;rs. Kerman)"
1
f
"February 1, 1973
Zoning and Planning Commission
City of ~°~est University mace, .Texas
3800 University Blvd.
rouston, Texas
Re: mendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the
City of ydest University Place, Texas
Bear iMr. Hines::
The purpose of this letter is to express o~zr. approval of the
~' contemplated amendment to the Zoring Ordinance of the City of.
~ '-?est University Place, Texas to Hermit 2.. use for purposes in
~
~ addition to, or other than, single-family residential use, on
V the property mentioned in your notice dated January 21t, 1973.
~
`J7e are the record owners of Lots 3, ~~ and ~, Block 1, Kent Place
i~ddition a.s originally platted, City of ':Test U:iiversit~ Place,
Texas. It is our understanaing that these lots are being con-
sidered for rezoning as Special 1esidential with use for single-
family residential, townhouses, business and professional office
buildings financial institutions, medical clinics, or related
uses. Suciz lots are extremely well-suited for. these uses, and=
these uses, and these uses are more compatible with tae general
welfare of tre community taar. the uses permitted under t he pre-
sently enacted Zoning Ordinance. :Moreover, amendment of the City's
Zoning Ordinance to permit tl~e stated uses will benefit all
citizens of the City of vTest University r :lace and will enhance
the economic development of t..e area..
Flease express to the other i,.embers of tine ucning and "lannirg
Commission our wholehearted support for these Conte?rmlated
amendments to the City's Zoning Ordinance.
iTery truly yours,
/s/ liavid A?. Flock
/s/ I. Siegel"
"L. E. 6thittington
E;~Ol ;vewcastle Tyr.
Bellaire, Texas 77!.~Ol
Zoning and Pla:^~ning Commission
City of .vest LTniversity Place
riouston, Texas 7700
Gentlemen:..
~1e o~m property described as Lot, E.2~' of 22 & '~t.30' of 23,
Block 1, Kent Place. This is to inform you that we are in
favor of rezoning the area described iii your recent letter.
Very truly yours
/s/ L. E. vlhittir_gton"
.~
";Z. E. J-iines
3406 Bellaire
Houston, Texas 77025
January 29~ 1973
Nx. E. uene li nes
Zoning and Planning Com-~ission
City of :Nest university Place, Texas
liear Sir: Subject: Lot ,~1, Block ~ !~3, k'UP lst Addition
306 Bellaire Boulevard.;T-J corner 'Westchester
Lot is 100 x 200
A ape story, 3 bedroom brick house is on the above lot and this is my
?lace of residence.
I AI Itl :AvGB U~' '?t~.ZUi3Iv'G TriE ABUti'E AREA - as Special Residential with
use for sinle family residential , toz,Tni~ouses, business and professional
office buildings, financial institutions, medical clinics, or related
uses.
SY '3.i~'ASi1idS I'GI: T'IiVC}?L~G TiIS CJ:AI~GE iFE AS FULLUo•JS:
1. The .Houston city traffic count at this point on Bellaire, is
~'~,99~ for a twenty-four hour period.
2. The noise le~ael is increased tremendously by frequent passing
of ambulances and fire equipment, with their uncontrolled
screaming sirens.
3. The high pollution level caused by the dense auto and truck traffic,
makes this frontage, less than desirable for residential property.
I;. I am strongly opposed to a. cul-de-sac, which would close ~~.est-
chester at ti:is erd and tine buildi ng of a wall in front of my
property o Lella.ire .
5. In reality, this area, is already co:n~nercial. Across the street is
the Li'certy Savings, Brazos Plor?1 C., Uan Aaartments, Lo~Tell edical
Clinic, Oran Jackson Realtors and `)?elesc~~ik Music Studio. These
businesses a.rz located. i.n ti:e City of .~ouston.
I a~+i giving you rry views above as a. result cf j'oLr letter dated
I-24-73 announcing a meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 1973, to
consider the above subject.
P~esnectfully submitted,
/s~?`T. L. mines
i~2. E. Hines"
questions from C. P. Lanmon, 6637 Euffalo Speedway,; Mr. James Norton, 3312 univer-
sity Boulevard; Per. Jotm :Ihiesenhunt, 2721 Cason; and Mr. John Grube, 6315 Buffalo
Speedway, to dlr. Russell elicited the following information: that all property
he owns in ?Vest university Place is located on the northeast and northwest
corners of Bellaire Eoulevard and Buffalo Speedway; that he resides at 2ld3 ~~Saple
fi~T
Valley;. and txat he has no definite plans at tixis time to build on the northwest
corner or Bellaire Bo~.zlevard and Buffalo Speedwa;~.
:questions from ~;r. Ralph Ludwick, 2721 Fenwood, and Y•Ir. Cletus Y^7ark, b7llt Rutgers,
to Mrs. Csenba-agh elicited tY:e following information: that she did not believe
if allowed to be rezoned for town:'xouses t?iat tre eventual persona per capita increase
would be detrimental to tY.e Cit3~ cf pest university s lace; that in fact it would
increase property values and increase tam mone~,r to the .city; that she did not
orisinate the proposal to rezone; and that she was aware that a house had recent-
ly been built on. Y~irby hive ~rr.ich is a busy street.
questions from T:r. Cletus ?~+ark, 677J.~ Rutgers; ~Sr. George C. Lawrence, 322'G Bellaire
~" Boulevard; lr. John Grube, 6315 Buffalo Cpeedvaay, and ~Sr. Tom Kelley, 2511 Corondo
~ :.curt to :~s. P~7~.yor elicited tae following information: that .Y:e and his fatYxer have
owned approximately 4 lots in tree Cit~r cf '.°est uiniversity Place for about 1C yea.rs;
~ mat tY,ey have ne:~definite plaxi:. for a building at tYxistime; that it was bougYit as
V
V along term investment; and tY~at Yee did riot YcnoT~r whather a higY~ rise building would
be to his advar~,a:,ge cr not.
questions of a general nature were answerer?. by various members of the-Zoning and
Planning Ccmmi ssior. and the following. information given: TY.e Zoning and Plannir~
Ccmmisvior. cannot make Mans based on tax issue; that anyone who is a vronerty
owner in the City of y~est L`niversity Place ~~as the right to write letters to the
Zoning ana Planning Coru^ission stating their views on the rezoning; that the members
of_' tine Zor~i.ng and Planning Commission. tr?* to ^~a~ce t<.eir decisions in are objective
manner as to what would be in ttie best interest of all citizens and the city; that
all views ire listened to carefully and fully witr. this in mind; that the ma.jori.ty
of tYAe peo-?le at this meeting did not nec~;ssari_l.y mean the majority of a.ll ''est
iniversZi;j- .'lase property owners views are t.s sa ~.e as tYose eac^ressed .here w'?ich
Was :,hewn trr~en a referendum vote was tairen to rezone the Bissonnet .area. for town-
a^aOUSe.S; that in prevl0'ls Publi.C c.'.?.r1.i':~S WTiere rer:^"'.~?if:^.d8:.~_O'AS tt: rezone for Off1C~'
buildings ~*ere considered, ti:ere were objEetions; that as ^'r. i:ines ex_ola.ined in
.pis :intr. od~.ctery sta.ts-^ent at tl~e meet ing of February 6, 1973 and also a.t tY:e
beginning cf this meeting of the Zoninb and '_~laTl.'ling does riot elan to rake a
'piece-meal" study or .,yeas ixb on erin"Loral rronerty in Nest university Place -they
pl^n to cort_nue trit: teir P•,ablic Y:earir~gs, until all nerioheral property has been
considered; tYidt certain ~roced-,Ar~:~~ ?:ave to be followed tcJ call for a vote on re-
zonir°ig; that ?•rhether the citizens Raoul d vote on each piece of property or all
pEri~herai nronert~r aL ~. t+TliQlf would da~enu..Ori aCtl.Or? Of tYi° City CC?mY~~iSSIOn,
pre :,anpcsi.ng they- rezone any arsa.s; tYiat t'ie same nroceclure of calling Public
Hearings 2:s is being followed now *•r.~s fol.lo~sred i_:: all nrevirsus rezoning cor~-
sidera.ticps, and tY:at 3isc,_ssan cf cy.angin,. tYae City Cr~arter wa.s riot the con-
. eerr_ of tY~i s C~~r-nission nor this Nearing tor3gxt.
TYxe following i s a ;statement from Vir_cent T. ~`romer~, 2633 Pemberton,. speaking for
hims`lf and a braup cf residents:
~fMr. Limes and 'embers of the Zoning and ~'1a~~~i_ng Cc°^mission:
iiy ame i_s tiinccnt. r romen, and I reside at 2633 Pemberton Drive. I a:•n a.n 11-year
resi3ent of '1°Jest university glace. I am sneaking tonight as a representative of
The Residents' Commiatee. We }~-elieve in tixe long progressive history of our c?ty
...our staunch ad-:erearaco to zoning ar~d to honest, -ra:.rticioatory, citizen govern:rent.
~:
'.~e are united by our dc~:re to preserve the residential character cf our
community...we feel that t.~is is of value not only to eac~: of us individually,
but that the enviran;~ent of +he ~~nale metronalitan area. is enri.c~ed
by tre character of -our small com°~unity.
The Residents' CLrLmittee was .referred to last week by our spokesman, dir. Barle
Britton, as a "large group: ...some 1200 at ti:at time, in ract...but ras since
grcw:i to ever ?, ^^0.
c4~T, i ti~ink, it is time to more clearl~r outline to ti:e Lcning and Plann~.rg
~om~.Wi.ssion where this grc?wing Oa~rnlittee staxds and who makes it up.
T'iie I~esiuents' committee is a group of people who LI.KP.'est ~niv~-;rsity Place
u it is x:<~w <u,d ~~rould Rr;•'BR that it :ere urLnecessary to change AtiY
zoning restrictions. Like any group of %onest, intelligent people we find
t~,ai, we have diffe:.•sncss. There AP1: those ar,iang us who can .find ~`IC necessity
for any ~hax~ge Lut I tt,~.~..: c?ai say the ~T'T '_'~",~ORiT~ believe .the
fclloww,Lnge ti:at file land fronting an Lellaire Bculevard is not a,s
deS1T'ab~2 f;:r vV'_`.a.~Vl.i~.~ri'."~T+ r6i~S8ntl.cl-1 dG7:l~.in~S ~S at}'ler t~2'o'.~erty in 'Test
uTniversity P lacE, 2.I.C1 1aI2~..cwC c0'?le dl`s?Q Sit?.C,n C]" tY1G 1-~nd ~_S '".^.de in ?31 Orderez+.,
planned way, we will all continually be at the mercy of land speculators.
I ,5 giant to oint out cne tliing right now, however we .feel tYiat our cam aittee
has room for both o:~inions because we ere r.LL JVIT~1~ yI ~ iia:.IFti% TG ISLrP
~.':,1 '~IIwI~"~?'SI`IY '_'LiU.~~T:i.4Z ZI vEz.P;I'A%`,'ER.
I'Ir. Ilines, we K;~G~rT that you and other r^,e;nbers of the ~a~in~; and T.'laxining Oom-
mi.ssion are seeking sclutions whicl_ ~ro1z i,elie.-e to be best for tle city .
and ti~^~11 t<.~e a great many things into carsidera.tion before ycu rake recomrren-
datzOnS.
A 1 ti~P;.~ 'i~ial~Iit l~ ~:~:; Ti~T G.r~, Cli ~vuR °A?+'. Cvi,SIDa.R:~TIuV,~ B:: ~dP, r.lan
TxI; "Ri.~BtiT c~;vi~i;T'1'it
Je have orbaiized tiie Tesiderts' i:a^lni ttee in order to let you. u:C':•:' hoer Tyre fees.
In organizing, we I:ave done tl;e fallo;~Tir.~ tL.i::gs:
i• %r8 have made riulldreC~.S Cf tEle~,hone Calls • • d1SC1:SSeu ;"tanj' i~.lffering
views , seeking vo het tlLer. eal feelings of tre .residents, and to Toint out
to them tiro rczlities of tze :~:eed for some change aria fcr n~_az:ning.
2. ~Je Iiav sent cards aid letters to notify people of ti:.ese meetings •
this ca'°ow~. and the one last sreok are tiie :^ssults.
3. :'s 'r;ave circulates what kiave become 3vxown as "petitions'' but are
actually statements of our opi{ ion. I' m sure you ar. e aware of t~ese petitions,
:~:zd a.t t.i s not t I vrant tc claxify their rurposr a_nd content.. Trey are meant
to express the vietirs of the Resident in a quiet, ordered :Wanner . and bar
the inclusion of the signers' a:d~'.rvsses, meant to show you acid the City- Oommission
just how widespread is the concern over this reuc;ning issue. And, I~~r. Iiines,
1st me assure you our petitioners ~.iZc, spread throughout the city they
realize ghat what arfects one portion cf the citya°rects us all.
~;~'~9
;1GW Tv 2'tiE Ci.:yTENT CF iJ$ '_'=ETITIuIJ OR TnTL~~t~;T:
It reads: "The undersigned oppose any rezoning in 4~Jest University Place .which
is now oT~d-occupied-residential or recreational ire chara.cter...a.nd strongly
request that tine zoning and planning commissior_ deny petitions now or in tl:e
future which do rot co~l~r with these ~^urposes."
1. I think it is clear t~iat we oppose ~."dY rezoning for CG?~ ~.??CIAL purposes...
we oppose the bank a:~Ld the clinic which t~..*ere r_ eferred tc last week and we
oppose of`'ice buildings which 1Lave been rererred tc tonight. rot only are these
undesirable to us, brut ~~e thiniL there is azple evidence treat small commercial
~ develanments both inside the city and close bJ are only .~aroinally successful at
~ best.
~"j 2. By the term ;:- ~R_vCCU^IED-D~;SIDU~TII_L we snow our unalterable position
V against an apartment -oroject. Incidentally, I would like to point to you .
V and to arty members of the ?residents' Committee who might have a question in their
minds here .this is not meant to rave any effect upon the present situation
cf a man renting his home, or r~thers he might okm as a single family dwelling.
ur L~ VTR~L we lmow this is and alwa~rs r:as been permissible, and would not be affected.
By this term O~.fi1ER-CCCUPILD we mean to show our resolute objection to an apartment
project,
3. The term G'.~'11:R-:CCUFIED-:~ESIDB:`1T7~,L car. include some of the residential
solutions outlined last week by ~~r. Britton. ns he pointed out, and as we have
said again toL~ig'-it, we i~TG'vJ that tl~e property or_ Bella.ire is not as desirable for
conventional residences as ether Vest University :'lace pro?~erties.
If the development of these lots IS, in Fact, desirable to the community,
the evidence seers to point to a solution Vris~cLi :fir. Britton brought up last
Tuesday as the ape most in '_~teepi.~g with tine present residential nature of the
neighboriiood...that is: individually-owned residences whicr: we know ab townhouses,
with somewhat higher-density factors than conventional housing.
y'hile small commercial tracts are available outside but convenient to
^Jest :;niversitJr, it is increasingly evident every day that desirable Rr.SID~,T~TI~L
FRuF~;2TY is at a premiu.~n. lardly a weF:k ooES by trat rL~°~y of us do not get a
"blind" letter from a realtor pointing out that re ras buyers ~L~BR for our homes.
Lt. r finally, 2~r. Hines, tl-ie Residents' Com`nittee statement alludes to "recre-
a.tional" use. o ~ ~iP.B .~UITU DISTi;Rt'sLD, fra-ikly, tl.at with out green spaces growing
more and more scarce, and our population of young childrer. increasing, you have
not included some plans for parks and tennis courts on one of the largest remaining
vacant tracts in our city.
T?:e evidence points to your desire to plan for the- ~~TriGLE cf our city...
and we applaud yo°a for tlyis effort.. .hut ~~re ask ~Tou most ur;entlur to consider
leaving us witl~...quite simply... some o~~en space:
S~...we rave told you ~.rriC we are...a really* sizeable n_ onion of the residents of
this city...residi:.~; in ~1LL parts of tl~e city.
~rJe have told you what t:ie J'esi dents' Com.,.itte~ stand AGAIi~TS'i ...~~re are Ui`?ITLD
against ccmmercia.l rezoning.
~.
Je have told you what tle Residents' Committee stand FOR...an overall resider-
tial concert whirl: takes into consideration tl7e rEalicies of our time and
situation.
1e have spent our time, energy, and r`C'LY in the last two weeks in an effort to
convey our feelings in an v.onest, constructive way...to one another.... and nota
to 3Tou.
^d kPP~L TC YCU '1G '.'r:t~x~ ;; ;R T~TI51~'E:. Try TIZi -~ ~ C~:tiSIDL^.~> i IG'_'~ IA ~'UL":~ ??,CCI`"'°'~?~1DATIONS ."
Mr. C. P. Lanmon, 6b37 Buffalo Speedway; l~r. George G. Lawrence, 3220 Bellaire
Boulevard; Mrs. Sheppard speaking for Lola Sullivan, 2b15 'r7erlein; :~~. George
Elwood, 2737 Cason; ',rs. Mary A. Andrews, 3rll; Corondo Court; °gr. ~. ~'. 1^-esser,
350 Corondo Court; s~]o~e ~ainst .rezoning, of any tyre, their reasons being that
the only way to keep ~.uP residential was to enforce strict zoning and not devi-
ate from it; to keep zoning enhanced the value of the property; that only those
who would profit (namely own property on Bellaire Boulevard) is for the rezon-
ing; a1.id that all citizens should keep their forces organized to combat rezoning.
Mr. Tom Ledbetter, speaking as representative of his mother and father, P1r. and
Mrs. Ledbetter, 2622 T^'erlein, outlined the procedure to be followed in ca lino
a referendum vote in t'r;e event th~~ Cit;~* Com-nission rezones the area, and urged
everyone in that event to work hard to secure proper number of signatures and
assure a large turnout at the polls.
bastion from Mrs. Hossein Cskouii, 2705 Cason,, to ~1r. Ledbetter: Do you think
the compromise on Bissonr~et worked against us to allow cl;ange in future?
:r. Ledbetter:. Yes each change increases the z~ossibility the court would
strike your zoning down by Sow.
Mrs. Fromen, Pemberton to '~s. Ledbetter: Do you not think an orderly disposition
of tl~e ueripheral area would be better than to have it keep coming up year after
year?
Mr. Ledbetter: The only way to be assured of this is to ma.l~e the city official
candidates state ti~cir ;position before an election.
Mr. Bill Cole, 2715 Cason, to ir. Ledbetter: If we cover it with to-~Tnhouses,
what would we have left to rezone:
Mr. Ledbetter: This wo~;.ld be fine if the inventors will build townhouses.
Mr. Scott Gregory , 3C13 Bissornet, to Mr. Ledbetter: The strength of zoning
lies in its flexibility and t.e :~inute it stops being flexible is when it cannot
be struck down. `rTe are rot breaking our zoning by operating within the zoning
ordinance. ;fiat do you have against town"souses?
.ir. Ledbetter: 'nothing, except it has already oceured once. Y+dhat is coming next?
Mr. Tom Kelly 3511 Corondo Court to Mr. Ledbetter: r°lo~~ld you prefer trashy
vacant lots, commercial property ~.;~^ .townhouses?
rr. Ledbetter: To~:*n'~ouses - if you a.re not afraid of gnat will come a few
years later.
f1
'1,
Mrs. Robert D. Abel, 3[21 Plumb to 2r. Ledbetter: Were you aware that the
referendum vote on the townhouse rezoning in 196b had the largest number of
voters casting votes than in any other election n~ the City`r
r:r. Ledbetter: 'c.
Tir. r romen: To the Zoning and Plaru~:ing Com.^aissicn: rids the City Commission
or Zoning and Planning Commission '_:.ad leg^~. cou.n;~el as tb the question of
making c~:anbes in the zoning ordinance ?~reaken~_ng tl.e or~'ir~ance:
i~~r. ~eati~erby: They ?.ave had counsel of tl~e city attorney and other attorneys
~~n all zcnittg matters; ~*~~et~~er t-i;is ^a.rticula.r gUestion has been discussed I
cannot say.
~ r:r.. ;harles i'artin, ~~19 Rutgers, stated he had been reses:rohing the question
V of rEf.crendiam vo~~e and teat 1~v .gad a~~o~~_t concluc~~d eves. if tpiis ?*as done a.nd
V t..e people voted. a~,a.inst an ordia~arce i or rezonir.~ that tY:e C~.ty Commission
could teen notition t;_e co•~rt to uphold their decision.
P:r. ~Teatherry: This is true.
N.r. dines asked that ti.e record s1:ow that lie is -r_ot related to his knowledge
to ?.r. iT. L. ~~ines whose letter wasread concerning the rezoning tonight.
Gn motion duly made, seconded and carries' the Public nearing was closed.
Gn motion duly made, seconded and carried t'tie meetir_g was recessed until
Tuesday, February 20, 1973, 7:30 n.m., at #.he Com?m~n-i.ty Building«
~~
Criairrnan
',tte~~t
~ ,
Secretary
1