Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 1864 Joint Public Hearing for Driveways and Parking City of West University Place Harris County, Texas Ordinance No. 1864 AN ORDINANCE CALLING A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS REGARDING DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING; PRESCRIBING PROCEDURES AND NOTICES; CONTAINING FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. WHEREAS, the Zoning and Planning Commission ("Z&PC") of the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") has submitted a preliminary report on a proposal to amend the comprehensive zoning ordinance of the City, as last reformatted and re- adopted by Ordinance No. 1672, adopted March 12, 2001, and as amended thereafter ("Zoning Ordinance"); and WHEREAS, the Z&PC's preliminary report is attached to this ordinance as Exhibit A and made a part of this ordinance by reference; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to call a joint public hearing on such proposal; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE: Section 1. The City Council hereby calls a joint public hearing before the City Council and Z&PC on the proposal described in Exhibit A. Unless rescheduled, the hearing shall be held in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas 77005 during the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on -Fe-5. d Sk/()()'i! . The hearing may be recessed and continued to the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on filM-C/I 10. ;JmJ( at the same place, unless rescheduled. The City Manger may reschedule either date and time, or both, to accommodate other pending matters, but the rescheduled date(s) and time(s) may not be later than 30 days past the later of the two dates set by this ordinance. Section 2. The purpose for the hearing is to provide an opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to the proposal described in Exhibit A. Section 3. The procedures for adoption of the proposal shall be as follows: (1) notice as required by this ordinance, (2) hearing as called by this ordinance, (3) report by the Z&PC, and (4) vote by the City Council on the question of adoption. The procedures for enforcing the proposal shall be as set out in the existing Zoning Ordinance. The proposal described in Exhibit A is hereby submitted and re-submitted to the Z&PC for its consideration. Section 4. The City Secretary shall give notice of such hearing as prescribed by this section. The notice shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit B, which is attached and made a part of this ordinance by reference. The notice shall be published in the City's official newspaper (or another newspaper of general circulation in the City) at least once on or before the 16th day preceding the date of the hearing. In addition, the notice shall be mailed to the persons on the mailing list for the City Currents newsletter. The notices shall be deposited in the United States mail on or before ninth day preceding the date of the hearing, properly addressed with postage prepaid. The notices may be included within the newsletter, or with utility bills or may be separate. The City Council specifically approves giving combined notice of two or more hearings in a single notice document, as this would save money and also provide better information about the full scope of possible amendments to all interested persons. Section 5. The City staff is authorized to make all necessary arrangements for the hearing and to assist the Zoning and Planning Commission and the City Council. Section 6. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall ever be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this ordinance and the application of such word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or other part of this ordinance to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. Section 7. The City Council officially finds, determines and declares that sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of each meeting at which this ordinance was discussed, considered or acted upon was given in the manner required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended, and that such meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during such discussion, consideration and action. The City Council ratifies, approves and confirms such notices and the contents and posting thereof. Section 8. Because the proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance is vitally important and should be considered at the earliest possible date, a state of emergency is declared requiring that this ordinance be read and adopted finally at this meeting. Accordingly, this ordinance shall be adopted finally on first reading and shall become effective immediately upon adoption and signature. PASSED, APPROVED, ADOPTED AND SIGNED on 1-;2 t Attest/Seal: Recommended: ~kjJ~ City ManageIJ Approved as to legal form: V~ /? /L City Attorney forms/DRD 54 0 calling zoning hearing 7-06 Signed: Iif/~ Mayo P':ac~ Jamesr.'Dougherty, Jr. , 20 CJ8 . Exhibit A Zoning & Planning Commission City of West University Place, Texas 3800 University Boulevard West University Place, Texas 77005 September 13, 2007 Honorable Mayor & Members of the City Council City of West University Place 3808 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005 Subject: Preliminary report on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") relating to DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING To the Honorable Mayor & Members of City Council: The Zoning & Planning Commission of the City submits this, its preliminary report, on the subject proposal, for the assistance of the Council as well as other interested persons. Scope of Proposal. The proposal would: (i) speci fy a 10- foot minimum driveway width (unobstructed vehicular path); (ii) allow pervious pavement beneath required parking spaces, as an alternative to hard-surfaced pavement; (iii) require, in addition to garage parking spaces, an extra parking space between the garage and the public roadway (and not atop a sidewalk). The proposal mainly applies to single-family detached houses (SFD use). It includes details for measurement and locations, some cross-referencing and a special rule for some prior non-conforming driveways. The principal purposes are to make driveways easier to use and require extra parking spaces that would not block sidewalks. Such an extra space could also be used as a loading or unloading area. Preliminary Recommendation. Based on the limited review given this matter so far, and subject to further review following public hearing, the Commission: (i) finds that the proposal, if adopted, would be in the public interest, (ii) makes a preliminary recommendation favorable to the proposal, (ii) recommends that the City Council call a joint public hearing to consider this matter. The Commission invites all interested persons to participate in the joint public hearing. The Vote. The vote on approval of this report follows: Commissioners Brown :rn~a0t).~lbif1 J MC-fv1tu)i..lb "aye;" no "noes;" 5jlverIHoro"-,,h)'~ absent. was as voted Respectfully submitted: ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS ~ For the Commission By: -c..~ Amendment relating to driveways and parking 9-13-07 Amend table 7-5a as follows: General Rule: Every building site, vehicular area and related structure must Table 7-5a: conform to the applicable regulations shown, by District, in this table. (uN/A" Parking, driveways, etc. means the rule does not apply.) Exceptions/Special Rules: (1) See special rules noted in table. (3) See Article 9 regarding Planned Development Districts. (3) See Note 7 regarding special exceptions. (4) See Article 10. Item Regulation i~l:~[ifj!lllflm ~Ilfll I Off-street parking Number, Depends on land use, layout, etc. See this Table, Table 7-48, and Article 10 spaces and location, size, (including maneuvering areas, design reqUli-ements, l'same site" rule, yards, parking areas design street areas, loading spaces, etc,). Other regulations Grouping or Not allowed, except in a QMDS platted parking reserve serving two 01' more apply; see, e.g. sharing. DUs. But see Note 2. ATticle 10 Use of parking Parking spaces for non -SFD uses may only be used for motor vehicle parking. areas See Note 3. I ManeUV81'iul! See AJ'ticle 10. areas Emergency Minimum 20 ft, via public 01' private street, to each principal building and each DU (01' accessway width. to an adjacent open area accessible to firefighters and equipment). Other See Note 1. regulations also apply, e.g, fire code. I Driveways and Minimum For SFD use: 10 ft. private streets width. For non-SFD residential use: 10 feet, 01' 17 feet iftwo'way and serving three See Note 1. 01' more DU's. Othel'l'egulations Maximum For SFD use: (i) Driveway serving any siugle'bay garage: 12 feet. (ii) apply; see, e.g. Article 10. width (in D:ont Driveway in a front yard serving real' garage 01' side-facing garage: 12 vard 01' street feet, (iii) Driveway in side street area of a cornel' site serving a side- area) facing garage with three 01' more bays: 30 feet. (iv) Any other driveway: See Note 1. 20 feet. I For other residential uses: 24 ft. (or 35 feet if connecting to a major thoroughfare) . For ~all other use2: 30 feet (or 35 feet if connecting to a major thoroughfare). Maximum For non-SFD uses: 160 feet, driving distance to the nearest street area, length measured along centerline from farthest end point. A longer driveway is allowed if there is an approved turnaround or second means of egress, or if the driveway is platted as part of the common area in a QMDS. Route, location See Note 6. IN/A Spacing For non-SFD uses: There must be at least 40 feet between the "inside" apron edges (at their narrowest points) of driveways serving the same building site. I Pavement Required type For SFD use: Hard"surfaced 01' nervious pavement requu:ed for each required See Note 4. parking space, Twin "ribbons" ofpavemellt are permitted. " , For all other uses: Reinforced concrete, with curbs and drains required for all vehicular areas. Exceptions: G) See Table 7'3 (pervious pavement) andl Note 4. below. (U) See Article 10 regarding "overhang,", Markings; wheel Requll:ed type For non-SFD uses: Parking spaces must be clearly marked on the pavement, stops. and wheel stops are required. See Note 12. Curb cuts Number For SFD use: Maximum one pel' subdivided lot abutting the street. For non-SFD use~: Maximum one per 50-ft. segment of street line. I Other regulations See Note 5. apply; see, e.g. Article 10. Max. width per Four feet (for aprons) plus the maximum driveway width allowed. Each curb 50-ft. segment cut must be confined to the part of the street area that directly abuts the of street line building site(s) served. See Note 1. Visibility triangles Forbidden The following are forbidden on parts of a building site within a visibility See definitions structures, triangle: structures, plants or other things taller than 2.0 ft. 01' shorter than in Ai.tiele 2 plants and 8.0 ft. This does not require removal of trees in existence on July 1, 1992, if other things kept pruned. Note 1. Width meaSlll'ement methods. Minimum dxiveway width refers to OOth-unobstructed vehicular access I path and. for non-SFD use. -pavement. Maximum driveway width refers to maximum width of pavement in a front yard or street area, excluding complying curb cut aprons. Maximum curb cut width refers to the width of the driveway plus aprons, measured at the edge of the roadway. [Remaining notes not amended] Amend the second page of Table 7-5a in the same manner as shown above, so that each change also applies to each POD. Amend the top two lines of the table in Section 10-100 (Off Street Parking) as follows; Use or type of space Minimum flurnber of parking spaces SPD use OR a 6BilEliRg site eORtaiRing 5,000 The number of e.arae.e Darkine. soaces re~uired by s~. ft. 81' mBre. Article 7 plus one additional space located between the required garage sDace(s) and the Dublic roadway. The additional space mav be on the building site or in the adiacent street area (or Dartly in each). but may not encroach UDon any part of a Dublic sidewalk ( existing or proposed) or the roadway.~er llHilding site. See. ds::;, .A.:':iclc 7. Amend subsection (g) of Section 12-103 as follows: (g) Driveways. If the PNC item is non-compliance with driveway regulations in an SF District, PNC status is lost if: (i) a new driveway is constructed, (ii) an existing driveway is either replaced or expanded, or (iii) space is added to the principal building so that its gross floor area is increased to 200 percent or more of its gross floor area on the 1987 effective date. This subsection does not applv to non- compliance with minimum dimensions for a drivewav (or maneuvering area) on a site with SFD use onlv. ExhwffB NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS The zoning & Planning Commission and the City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas ("City") will hold joint public hearings in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005 during the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 PM on . Each hearing may be recessed and continued to the City Council meeting set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on , at the same place. The purpose for the hearings is to provide an opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to proposal(s) to amend the City's zoning Ordinance, as follows: Driveways and parking. The proposal would: (i) specify a lO-foot minimum driveway width (unobstructed vehicular path); (ii) allow pervious pavement beneath required parking spaces, as an alternative to hard-surfaced pavement; (iii) require, in addition to garage parking spaces, an extra parking space between the garage and the public roadway (and not atop a sidewalk). The proposal mainly applies to single-family detached houses (SFD use) . It includes details for measurement and locations, some cross-referencing and a special rule for some prior non- conforming driveways. Additional details on the proposal(s) as well as the Zoning Ordinance are all available for public inspection in the Municipal Building, 3800 university Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005. The proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance would apply generally within the City, and any person interested in such matters should attend the hearings. The proposal(s) may be adopted only after notice and hearing and would control over anything inconsistent in the current Zoning Ordinance. Date: /s/ Gayle Schultz, Assistant City Secretary