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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03061973 ZPC Minutes~r~V:J: 1 G~? t~ '"'a t.7 V REGULAR MEETING ZONTNG AND PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH ~, l9?3 Th® Zoning and Pla~a~tg Commission of the City of West University Place convened in regular session at the City Hall, Tuesday, March 6, 1973, 7x30 p.m., with the following members present: Chairman E. Gene Hines, presiding; Members Bartholo~rew, Dahlias, Lipscomb, and Weatherby. Messrs. Cletus Work, ~. A. May+ar, Charles A. Gillan, Vincent From, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cole were visitors. The fallowing letter from Mayor Don Harris to the Houston Nai}ural Gas Company coneernin~ relocation of a district regulator station was presented to the Commission for their information: February 1lt, 19°?3 r Nr. H. G. Howze, Manager Realty and. Buildings Houston Natural Gas Company Post Office Box 1188 Houston, Texan ??001 Dear Mr. Hie. In regular session on Monday, February 12, 1973, the City Commission was presented your request of January 30, 19?3, for the city to grant Houston Natural Gas Corporation, a permanent easement or sell l~+-l0a of the western most dead end of Corando Court where it adjoins the eastern most line of Harris County F1AOd Control District+s Poor Farm Ditch. Following consideration a~f this request, it was the belief of the City. Commission that location of a district regulator station at the dead end of Corond® Court, which is only 28+ wide, could constitute a hazard to motorists and adjacent property owners and would not be in the best interest of the residents. It is, therefore, with regret that I advise that your re- quest was denied by the City Commission. Yours very truly, /a/ Don E. Harris Don E. Harris Mayor l ~JI ec; E. Gene Hines, .Chairman Zoning and Planning Commission The Commission briefly discussed the proper procealurs-for reputing of inquiries between the City Commission and the Zoning and F'lann:i. ~i+mmission and instructed the Chairman t4 obtain.. information from City officials on this subject. ~1' lotion was duly made, seconded and carried to recess the regular meeting until the c®nclusion ~ the Public Hearing called for ?x115 p.m• ~~~~*aa~~t~~~~~~~ I!+h+tion was duly made, seconded and carried to open the Public Hearing for consideration of subdivision of I,et S, 81eck. ?~ West University Place let Addition, 6611 Belmont into two lets, each 50 ft. x 20fl ft,, each facing Belmont, The 0rigisal application for this subdivision was made in the name of Randmlph B. Lee. Ia the interim,:Mr, John ld. biller acquired the property and desires t® subdivide. the 7.qt in the same manner as indicated ®n the application of Mr, Lee, Mr. Miller signed:.::an application sad the Netice ®f Public Hearing and Notice to Property Owners appeared in the name of Mr. John M, biller as applicant. Mr, Mille` presented architect drawings mf the houses he proposes to construct ®n the lots, if subdivided, and stated he planned tm demolish the existing house and garage located on the lot at this time. Motimn by Mr. Weatherby, seconded by Mr. Lipscomb,, that application for sub- division of Lot 8, Ble~ck 7, West University Place let Addition 6611 Be].mFrnt into two iota, each 5fl ft. x 2flfl ft., each facing Belmont, be approved, sub~ent to removal of all existing structures, and compliance with-all building setback requirements, building code, or ®ther governing ordinances whether ar not herein specified, for any subsequent construction. flu motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Public Hearing was closed, ~~~~~~~~~~~t~~~~t The regular meeting .was re-opened. The Chairman submitted a newsletter and Map showing existing and proposed freeways, expressways, and parkways in the Houston/Galveston area, from the KoustonjGalves- ton Area Council Transportation Committee, for the information of the members and filing. A decision to meet for a work session on February i3, 1973, primarily to orient the new members of the flommission on study done by the previous Commission con- cerning proposed recommendations for rezoning certain. areas of the city was reached after a discussion to determine in what manner the Commission desires to implement its continued study and hearings on peripheral properties.. It was felt this decision crould possibly be made at the next regular meeting on April 3, 1973.* -, 1 1° 1 It was agreed by all members that the regular ~eeting.oY the Zoning and Planning Commission would continue to be held on the first Tuesday of each month. Letters received after the February 20th Public Hearings on proposed rezoning @f peripheral properties on Bellaire Boulevard .from J. J. Williams, John J. Hollis,.. Joe O. Luby, Jr., James Richards, Jr. and Laban W. Wingert were presented to the Commission for their information and made apart of these minutes. There was a general discussion of the Public Hearings concerning proposed recom- mendations for rezoning peripheral properties on Bellaire Boulevard held in Feb- ruary with emphasis on the format used and methods of improving seine. ~ Minutes of the Recessed Meeting of thc~ Zoning and Planning Commission, February 13, Get 1973, were presented and approved as submitted. LO ~ Minutes of the Recessed Meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission, Febbruary 20, ~"~ 1973, were presented and approved as submitted. U On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned. a'February 27, 1973 West University glace Zoning Board 3800 University Houstetn, Texas 77©©~ Gentlemen:. ~ I have lived in West University Place for over 30 years. It is a good place to live and raise a family. Our elected and appointed officials have always indicated an interest in what was best for our community. The decision now before you concerning the use of the peripheral area of our city is of vital interest to all citizens and Ism sure you share this concern. I know that some of the area .involved in the study is not satisfactory for individual houses but also I do not believe it should be used for high rise apartments, office buildings or other. business purposes. It appears that the townhouses on Bissonnet are attractive and serve to maintain the community character. It also appears that this type of structure would be the answer for other fringe areas. The rezoning of the peripheral area for business or high rise apartments would raise the question of the adequacy of our community services, such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewage disposal. I ask you to give this issue your most thoughtful consideration. fours very truly, /s/ J. J. Williams J. J. Williams 3701 Nottinghama ~~~~ e37(~ Sunset Blvd. Houston, Texas 77005 February 28, 1973 West University Place 38E~ University Houston, Texas ??445 Gentlemen; honing Board My wife and I have been residents of West University Place for over 12 years and have enjoyed living here very much. We think that. the two factors that do the most to maintain the quality of life in our city are: {1) The unselfish dedication of our elected and appointed officials to the overall good of our community, and {2) the one-family residence zoning. I understand that you are now facing a decision as to zoning variances for the peripheral areas of our city. This land, particularly the vacant lands is bound to attract speculators who are interested only in personal profit, without any regard for the d.ama~e done to West University Place and its citizens. As Houston grows around us, our peripheral area will undoubtedly become so valuable that some day these people will be able to control or corrupt our city agencies to their advantage. .Consequently, I do not think attempting to main- tain the status quo is realistic or wise. T do think that this land can be put to a profitable use that is in keeping with the one-family residence character of our city. The townhouses on $issonnet have attracted good neighbors who .are civic minded and make a very positive contribution to the community. While the townhouse solution is undoubtedly too simple and sensible to be reached through a sophisticated study, I hope you will give serious consideration to limiting the variances on our periphery to townhouse development. Variances permitting high-rise structures,, whether offices or apartments, will simply move the speculator pres- sure one block nearer the center of the city. If the speculators succeed in their design, the character of West University Place is bound change to the detriment of those who want to live there. I hope you feel with me that we have something worth saving. Yours very truly, /s/ John Hollis John J. Hollis JJ~i: bmd cc: Mr. Whitt Johnson 3$00 University Houston, Texas" L ', LJ1~t) "March 2, 19?3 West University Place Zoning Board 3800 University Blvd. Houston, Texas 77005 Gentlemen: M,y wife and I have resided in West University Place for dust under one .year. Having been raised in Dallas, a city which utilizes zoning ordi- nances to preserve the character of certain of its sections, we were quite dismayed when we learned that Houston had no zoning laws. Upon Cr learning that West University Place was zoned for single-family dwel- ~ lings, we purchased our present home at 2716 Albans delighted to know ~ that the character of the neighborhood would not change to commercial ~ as has so often been the case in ;~ouston. V ~ I understand that you are now facing a decision as to zoning variances for the peripheral areas of our cit~r. It is obvious, considering the central location of West University Place,. that the vacant peripheral land will attract speculators who will be interested only in investment profits without regard to the overall character of our community. Undoubtedly, so long as such land remains vacant its value will continue to grow and so will the number of interested speculators. Given the above premise, I do not feel the best interests of the com- munity will be served by allowing the periphery land to remain vacant. However, such land can realize profit for its present owners and still remain consonant with the one-family residence character of our community. Thin would be made possible by ~: zoning variance which permitted town- houses of the type located do Bissonnet. The skyrocketing home values in West University Place would assure the land owners a substantial profit and the townhouses would retain the single-family concept. We feel very strongly that zoning variances which permit commercial development of any type (including banks, medical offices, etc.) should be avoided at all costs. We plan to reside in West University for many. years to come and we sincerely hope that you will not allow the "Houston type" atmosphere, which we sought to avoid by moving into West Univer- sity Place, in our community. Having attended one of the Tuesday-night hearings and having seen your unselfish dedication to the overall good of our community, we are confident that we have nothing to worry about. Yours very truly, /s/ Joe 0. Luby, Jr. Joe 0. Luby, Jr. JOI,: bmci c~c: Mr. Whitt Johnson 3800 University Blvd. Houston, Texas 77005" February 22, 1973 Mr. E. Gene Hines Chairman Zoning & Planning Commission 372!8 Rice Blvdr Houston, T6xa8 77005 Rear Mr. Hines Z attended the City Zoning meeting last Tuesday, February 20, 1973. Through all the discussion, insinuations, and accusations, one. undisputable fact stood out--the overwhelming majority of West University residents are opposed to changing the present zoning regulations. Z, also, wholeheart~il.y agree that our City, West uni- varsity, should remain single-family residences without compromising our`stand to include Townhouses. However, the most disturbing fact is that the citizens must repeat- edly defend the ideals of their Gity against covetous demands from outside pressure groups. How often will it be necessary for the citenry to unite and unanimously say, "We love Our Gity; please do not change it?p I believe that these profiteers should be told. that our zoning regulations are very rigid and that any attempt to change them is impossible. Zt is not only your duty but your obligation to the people to preserve our lovely City. Sincerely, James Richards, Jr. 2728 Barbara Lane cc Don Harris" ~F~bruary 2f}, 1973 West University Community Center West University Place, Texas 61011 Auden Houston, Texas 77005 Certain blocks in West university facing Kirby Drive are not assets to the city with the present zoning these blocks present an ugly face daily to thousands of residents of West university Place and of Houston. They could however provide a transition from commercial to residential through appropriate rezoning and could greatly enhance West university Place's image and environment through creative re- development. Laban W. Wingert BoulderC®lorado Former resident and present land- owner of West University Place. Attests -""-"Z4hairman J 1 ~~ .e ~'~ ~ecre~ ary