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Home My WebLink About05082025 ZPC Agenda Item 6 City of West University p Place Public Works Department Zoning & Planning Commission MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD MEETING MINUTES February 13, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell. Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard STAFF PRESENT: Legal Counsel Philip Boedeker and Planning & Zoning Administrator Chris Guess, Administrator Coordinator Josie Hayes GUEST: Councilmember, Clay Brett and Angie Langolf 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. John Cutrer, Presiding Officer, called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. John Cutrer asked staff to confirm that appropriate notices were given. Josie Hayes stated notices were posted per state and local laws. 2. Public Comments. There were no public comments. 3. City Council Updates. Clay Brett provided recent City Council updates for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs. The city initially received one bid that was over budget by $17 million dollars. The initial bid was rejected and the project then went through a two-phase competitive bigging process. The first phase bids for the flood resilience upgrades came in between $15-$17.8 million. The Facilities Master Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. The Facilities Master Plan includes the library, Community Center, City Hall, Fire and Police department. There was a debate between Council members on how to present the plan to the voters — as a single package or as separate propositions. Proposition D, which covers the library and Community Center will be on the ballot for a vote. If it fails, the city may consider relocating the city administrative functions and renovating the existing library and Community Center buildings. The city reviewed a $500 million capital improvement plan, with $320 million allocated for the West Side Drainage Project. The West Side Drainage Project is a significant and expensive undertaking, and the city is exploring alternative, more right-sized solutions. Mr. Brett stated the city is also addressing the aging Bellaire elevated storage tank and drilling a new water well to be independent from the City of Houston. 3826 Amherst St. unvzv.zvestutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830 f OCityof West University Place Public Works Department 4. Lighting Regulations. Chris Guess stated the City of West University Place revised the outdoor lighting in December of 2020. Concerns about the application of the ordinance and its subjectiveness have persisted. Previous discussions ranged from very subjective definitions of what constitutes a nuisance with quantifiable metrics of lumens to a more subjective regulatory tool that declares a violation based on the projection of"glare" directly upon any other residential property other than the one which the outdoor lighting situated. Staff reviewed the ordinances of similar and nearby cities as they pertain to regulating light spill on to residential properties. The benchmark cities, City of Bellaire, Hedwig Village and Hunter Creek, use"footcandle" as their replicable and quantitative measure for light spill. Mr. Guess stated enforcement of the current ordinance is often challenging. Staff recommend the implementation of a light meter to definitively determine whether the amount of light is prohibited or permitted. There was general discussion about where a neighbor's outdoor lighting is causing issues for an adjacent homeowner, Angie Lang, 4135 Coleridge St. Mrs. Lang described a significant problem with the neighbor's light glaring into her home at night, requiring black out curtains. The neighbor's lights are angled down but reflect brightly off a white house at night without turning on her own lights. This issue has been reported to the city for the last two years, but neighbors have not been cited due to the subjective nature of the ordinance and internal debate. ACTION: After discussion, ZPC asked staff to conduct a site visit to the resident's home with the new light meter to take a reading of the light spill. ZPC members suggested they take a field trip to see different light levels,possibly in the parking lot of a nearby area so that it provides context for the foot candle metric and bring back to the next meeting for discussion. 5. Meeting Minutes. Bob Powell made a motion to approve November 6, 2024, and January 9, 2025, minutes. Doug Rephlo seconded. AYES: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell, Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard. NOES: None. ABSTRAIN: None. Motion approved. [Adjournment] Sam Mazzu made a motion to adjourn. Second by John Howard. AYES: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell, Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. 3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830 , City of West University Public Works Department Place PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2025. John Cutrer, Chairman ATTEST:JOj er M. 1- ye ' Administrative Coordinator 3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830 West University Place Public Works Department Zoning & Planning Commission MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD MEETING MINUTES March 20, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell. Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard STAFF PRESENT: Legal Counsel Philip Boedeker and Planning & Zoning Administrator Chris Guess GUEST: Councilmember, Clay Brett 1. Notices, Rules, Etc. John Cutrer, Presiding Officer, called the meeting to order at 6:19 p.m. John Cutrer asked staff to confirm that appropriate notices were given. Chris Guess stated notices were posted per state and local laws. 2. Public Comments. There were no public comments. 3. City Council Updates. Clay Brett provided recent City Council updates for the Wastewater Treatment Plant stating the city approved a $17.5 million contract for wastewater treatment plant improvements, including flood resiliency work and a chlorine system upgrade. The city also received a water rate study, which did not find much price elasticity to support water conservation efforts. There were concerns about how multi-lot properties are treated in the tiered pricing structure. Mr. Brett also stated the city purchased a vacant lot adjacent to the church property, which could be used for future development or green space by the city. 4. Docket No. 2025-0001, 3804 and 3810 Milton Replat. Chris Guess stated the West U Baptist Church is seeking to consolidate multiple parcels into one. The purpose of the replat is to allow for a complete redo and improvement of the parking lot, which was based on a 2022 Zoning Board of Adjustments approval. It is intended to increase the flow of the lot, potentially add a few spaces and include beautification, shielded lighting and landscaping. The property is in the vicinity of land being considered in the city's facilities master plan and related to Proposition D. However, the executive Pastor for the church clarified that this specific replate initiative relates back to the 2022 ZBA approval 3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830 City of West University p Place Public Works Department for the parking lot project and does not reflect a current future plan to put a building on the lot. While the replat is happening on land near where the city is considering facility expansion, this action itself is driven by the church's approved parking lot improvements. Chris Guess stated the replat meets the city code requirements and staff recommend approval. Sam Mazzu made a motion to close the public hearing. Second by John Howard. AYES: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell, Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion approved. ACTION: After discussion Sam Mazzu made a motion to approve the replat. Second by Bob Powell. AYES: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell, Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion approved. 5. Lighting Regulations. Chris Guess recommended that the City of West University Place should consider updating the lighting ordinance to include a numeric foot-candle standard at property lines. The goal is to provide clearer enforcement criteria, rather than relying on a "reasonable person" standard. Mr. Guess stated the city staff conducted a site visit and provided sample light readings, showing the potential impact of a 0.25 foot-candle limit. There was discussion about balancing enforcement, accommodating existing conditions and avoiding unintended consequences. ACTION: After discussion, ZPC members agreed to alternate using the light meter to evaluate the 0.25 foot-candle limit in West U as a way to assess the reasonableness of that standard, and will bring their findings back for discussion at the next meeting 6. Meeting Minutes. Meeting minutes were not available for approval. Will be on the next ZPC agenda for approval. [Adjournment] Dick Yehle made a motion to adjourn. Second by Doug Rephlo. AYES: John Cutrer, Dick Yehle, Bob Powell, Doug Rephlo, Sam Mazzu, Myrenda Takashima and John Howard. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. PASSED THIS DAY OF , 2025. 3826 Amherst St. www.zuestutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830 City of West University Public Works Department Place John Cutrer, Chairman ATTEST:JO e., 4. }fwyeik Administrative Coordinator 3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov West University Place, TX 77005 713-662-5830