HomeMy WebLinkAbout02132025 ZPC Minutes City of
West University 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. Additionally, he provided an
update on 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
3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov
West University Place, TX 77005
713-662-5830
City of
West University Public c Works Department
aging Bellaire elevated storage tank and drilling a new water well to be independent from
the City of Houston.
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 concerning an adjacent homeowner's outdoor lighting that is causing issues
for Angie Lang, residing at 4135 Coleridge St. Mrs. Lang described a significant problem
with the adjacent homeowner's light glaring into her home at night, requiring black out
curtains. The adjacent homeowner'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 the adjacent homeowner has not been cited due to the
subjective nature of the ordinance and internal debate by city staff.
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 THI DAY OF )/Wctl z 2025.
John Cutrer, Chairman
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Administrative Coordinator
3826 Amherst St. www.westutx.gov
West University Place, TX 77005
713-662-5830