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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12111973 ZPC Minutes,:~~_ REGULAR MEETING ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 11, 1973` The Zoning and Planning Commission of the City of WEst University Place convened in regular session at the City Hall, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 11, 1973 with the following members. present: Chairman E. Gene Hines, presiding; Members Bartholomew, Dahlias, Lipscomb and Weatherby. The following letter addressed to the Mayor and City Com-nission from Charles Cockrell, City Attorney, with a letter attached from W. LeRay Fowler, Moderator, and James Hammond, Chairman of Deacons, of the West University Baptist Church was forwarded to the Commission with a verbal request from the City ,Manager for a written opinion concerning the request of the church: December 7, 1973 Honorable Mayor and City Commission City of West University Place Dear Mayor and Commissioners: This letter is addressed to you in regard to letter dated December 6, 1973 from the Chairman of Deacons of the West University Baptist Church:, a copy of which was forwarded. to me. It has been my opinion in the past that the use of property in a Single-Family Dwelling District for legitimate parking purposes in the operation of a church cannot be denied under normal circtunstances. This asswnes, of course, that the property will otherwise be used ias compliance with all applicable traffic ordinances and other laws of the city and will not constitute a nuisance, nor be used for commercial purposes. These matters in the past have been called to the attention of the Zoning and Planning Commission but such Commission has taken the position that no action was required by such Commission. I do not know of any reason why the same pro- cedure should not be followed in the present situation.. Yours very truly, /s/ Charles F. Cockrell City Attorney Letter attached: December 6, 1973 Mr. Don Harris, Mayor City of West University Place 3800 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005 Dear Mr. Harris: ~~ ~ . The West University Baptist Church has acquired-and cleared the property at 3819 Amherst for use as a parking space. It will be used during the church's normal functions and programs. The church plans to fill, level and compact this area for pouring with asphalt, The drainage will be into Amherst Street and will be constructed to support automobiles. We respectfully request permission to pave the city's adjoining twenty-five foot space on the east side of this lot t.,. The church has no objections to the city's using this or any of ~ its parking area whenever the churches normal services are dismissed. Cp Over a period of many years this. arrangement has been practiced satis- ''~ factorily in other shared parking areas between your city and the WEst V University Baptist Church. It is the church's understanding that with your coirnnission~s approval, it is not necessary to have a zoning board action or a public hearing. If we are in error on any of these requests and actions, please advise us. Thank you for your city's past friendly considerations in all matters of mutual concern. J Respectfully yours, /s/ W. LeRay Fowler, Moderator /s/ James Hammond, Chairman of Deacons CC Charles Cockrell Whitt Johnson W. C. Williamson Dr. W. LeRay Fowler The following letter was drafted (subsequently mailed December 13, 1973) in answer to the above comm~mications; December 13, 1973 Mayor Don E. Harris City of West University Place, Texas Dear Mayor Harris: 1 By copy of a letter dated December 7, 1973 from Charles F. Cockrell, City Attorney, to you and the .City Commission, with a letter attached from W. LeRay Fowler, Moderator and James Hammond, Chairman of Deacons,. the Zoning and Planning Commission was made aware of plans by the West .University Baptist Church to build a parking lot at 3819 Amherst and of the church's request for approval to pave for church use, as outlined in said letter, city property described as: West 1/2 of Lot 7, Block 18, Collegview First Addition Being 25 ft. in width (9.12 lot) facing Amherst. At its regular meeting on December 11th, the members of the Zoning and Planning Commission visited the sire. Tt was evident that surface grading. and clearing of city property have begun. This Co2rnnission is not aware that the city has given the church approval to use city land. We recommend that if the. church is permitted to develop-and use city. property for parking purposes, the development and use be conditioned upon meeting appropriate screening, drainage, landscaping and setback requirements to protect the city center and residential property owners. We hope that the church will abide by the same requirements in the development and use of its own property. It is our opinion that permission to permit use of city property by the church should only be given in exchange for the churches committment to follow the requirements listed above. Yours very truly ZONING AND PLANNING CCfl~'~IISSIgN /s/ E. Gene Hines Chairman CC Whitt Johnson,. City Manager Mr. Hines advised that according to the agenda of the City Commission meeting on December 10, 1973 the only other item which would relate to any phase of the responsibilities of the Zoning and Planning Commission was a discussion of proposals received from Traffic Engineers, Inc. and Wilbur Smith and Associates evaluating. the effect of traffic circulation in West University as a direct result of the Edloe overpass at the Southwest Freeway, and it was his under standing that no action was taken by the City .Commission other than placing this item on the agenda for their January 14, 1974 meeting for discussion with regard to arrangements for a meeting with the engineers submitted proposals. Minutes of the regular meeting of the Zoning and Planning Commission on November 13, 1973 were approved as corrected. With no further business to come before the Commission at this time, on motion duly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. .~~ Chairman ATTEST: Secretary