2017-07-17 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JOINT SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES' MINUTES OF A JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017, AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR TRAINING ROOM, 2555 CULLEN
PARKWAY, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor Tom Reid
Mayor Pro -Tem Derrick Reed
Councilmember Tony Carbone
Councilmember Gary Moore
Councilmember Keith Ordeneaux
Councilmember J. David Little
Councilmember Trent Perez
Councilmember Woody Owens
City Manager Clay Pearson
City Attorney Damn Coker
City Secretary Young Long
P&Z Commissioner Mary Starr
P&Z Commissioner Thomas Duncan
P&Z Commissioner David Selsky
P&Z Commissioner Troy Pradia
P&Z Commissioner Derrell Isenberg
P&Z Commissioner Daniel Tunstall
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Deputy City Manager; Matt Buchanan President of
Pearland Economic Development; John McDonald Director of Community Development;
Jimontanae McBride City Planner; Robert Upton City Engineer; Lawrence Provins Deputy
City Attorney.
Purpose of the Workshop:
1. Joint Workshop for the proposed Planned Development "2409 and 2421 Max Road"
for a Boat and RV Storage development located on the east side of Max Road at
2409 and 2421 Max Road.
Martin Griggs Senior Planner gave an overview of the proposed Planned Development
"2409 and 2421 Max Road" for a Boat and RV Storage development.
George Gartner Owner/Applicant stated the reasoning for the zone change and the
proposed Planned Development for a Boat and RV Storage facility.
Councilmember Owens stated he does not have a problem with this development.
Councilmember Perez stated he does not think this development is appropriate for a
Planned Development (PD). A PD should be reserved only for uses and developments that
are unique where zoning is not allowed, for example the Pearland Town Center. The PD
tool is being misused. He is not supportive of this as a PD, he would rather see this as a
zone change.
' Councilmember Little stated no comment.
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Councilmember Ordeneaux stated he does not understand the Planned Development (PD) '
for this development. This is a straight zone change.
Mayor Pro -Tem Reed stated no comment.
Councilmember Moore stated this would be a great addition to the area and wished the
Owner/Applicant well with the Boat and RV Storage facility.
Councilmember Carbone stated he agrees, when he saw this as a Planned Development
(PD) it left him scratching his head.
P&Z Commissioner David Selsky stated he also agrees that a Planned Development (PD)
is not ideal, but it sounds like the applicant went that direction based on a recommendation
from City staff. He further stated that he would switch to a zone change.
P&Z Commissioner Darrell Isenberg stated he agrees that the area would be good for a
Boat and RV Storage facility.
P&Z Chairman Daniel Tunstall stated he thinks this could be a straight zone change.
P&Z Commissioner David Selsky stated the applicant is probably wondering what his next
step would be and what does he need to do.
Councilmember Perez stated the purpose of this workshop is to give the applicant clear '
direction. His concern is the Planned Development (PD) is not ready for approval. A zone
change is going to be quicker, without a lot of conditions. He would recommend if all could
come to a consensus that a zone change is the way to go. If the Owner/Applicant wants to
do the PD he will be supportive, but that will be a long, expensive path.
George Gartner Owner/Applicant stated if he goes down the path of a Planned
Development (PD) and it does not work and tries to sell the property there would be a PD
issue. If he does the zone change that would make it easier to sell the property if he decides
to do so at a later date.
Discussion ensued between Councilmember Carbone and Senior Planner Martin Griggs
regarding a zone change for this proposed use.
Councilmember Carbone stated from the discussion the consensus of giving a clear
direction would be a zone change with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
2. Council and Planning and Zoning Commission Input and Discussion —
Regarding revisions to the Conditional Use Permits (CUP) approval process.
Matt Buchanan President of Pearland Economic Development gave a summary of creating '
a City Council -appointed ad hoc committee to review and revise the current Conditional Use
Permit (CUP) approval process in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the
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process. The committee consisted of the following: Councilmember Carbone,
' Councilmember Perez, Mayor Pro -Tem Reed, Planning and Zoning member Thomas
Duncan, and other committee members included Russ Wilkins, Drew Palter, Alan Mueller,
Heather Zayas and Brandon Dansby to provide various perspectives from development,
finance and community views.
Councilmember Carbone gave an overview of the proposed Unified Development Code
(UDC) -Conditional Use Permit (CUP) revisions. He further stated his appreciation to
everyone serving on the ad hoc committee for their time and input.
Councilmember Moore thanked everyone that served on the ad hoc committee. He stated
the overview Councilmember Carbone gave sounds like a good plan.
Beau Evans, 15010 Lake Fare Drive, addressed Council stating the concerns of the process
he went through in the past purchasing property in Pearland. He is pleased with what he
has heard with this new process.
Mayor Pro -Tem Reed stated he is 100% for this process and making it go quicker. He stated
his concerns of not including the input of the Planning and Zoning Commission in this
process.
Councilmember Ordeneaux stated he likes some of the changes. Having conversation in
an open quorum is an important part in a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process. He does
' not like a site plan in the CUP process, it is not a tool to plan the development itself.
Councilmember Carbone stated the committee felt it was best to keep the site plan included
in the check list, but not necessarily include it as a condition tied to the permanent structure.
City Attorney Darrin Coker stated to clarify the application check list requires a site plan,
although it can be very simple, it would need the discussion of Council if the site plan would
become part of the Conditional Use Permit. A site plan is still required at the time of
application.
Councilmember Little stated he is in favor of anything that can be done to streamline the
process. He further stated he does not think it would take that much extra time to leave the
recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission in the process.
Planning & Zoning Vice Chairman Thomas Duncan stated he was for removing the Planning
& Zoning (P&Z) vote in the process. He stated it would be a very awkward for P&Z to take
a vote and immediately take it to Council for a vote.
Councilmember Perez stated the ADH (ad hoc) Committee is trying to give the people
direction on what is allowed before they put an investment in the site. The Conditional Use
Permit (CUP) has become a huge investment for the site before the person even knows the
' use. The CUP has become too difficult for the developer. The committee is encouraging
that the site plan be more of a site exhibit than a site plan.
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Councilmember Owens stated regarding the Planning & Zoning Commission the
information and their thoughts is in Council's best interest to hear. '
P&Z Commissioner Derrell Isenberg stated he agrees that something needs to be done to
streamline the process. He does not want the process to change in a way that the Planning
& Zoning (P&Z) Commission feels it is a waste of their time. Everyone that has served and
is currently serving on the P&Z Commission has the City of Peadand's best interest at heart.
P&Z Chairman Daniel Tunstall stated removing the vote from Planning and Zoning does
reduce the wart and purpose of the process, he does not necessarily disagree with that.
The Councilmembers are the responsible voters for the people. He would like to add that
there be a review of the current Unified Development Code (UDC) indexes to see if Council
as a body is behind each one, if not remove them while this process is being modified.
P&Z Vice Chairman Thomas Duncan stated the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process is
easier now than it used to be, especially for the layman. Any changes that will streamline
the process is always good. He does like seeing the site plans, what something is going to
look like. The applicant should have the flexibility to follow the Unified Development Code
(UDC) that is what it is there for.
P&Z Commissioner David Selsky stated when he joined the Planning and Zoning
Commission over a year ago it was not about site plans and things like that. He believed
the Planning and Zoning Commission is to help maintain the integrity of the City. By
streamlining and making the process go faster is deteriorating the integrity. He believes the ,
City needs a separate body that is not elected, but appointed that defends the Unified
Development Code.
P&Z Commissioner Troy Pradia stated we are here for the citizens and applicants. We need
to find a way to put a timeline on what the applicants present and Planning and Zoning's
discussion. By doing that in the joint meeting would be better for everyone.
P&Z Commissioner Mary Starr stated the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission is a very
important body and the P&Z Commission and Councilmembers hearing the applicant at the
same time is also important. She further stated what is costing and takes a lot of time is the
site plan, that needs to change. The changes the committee has come up with are best for
the City at this time. People need to have decisions made, there is too much time drawn
out and money spent on things that is uncertain.
Councilmember Carbone stated the proposed changes address a majority of the comments
he has heard tonight. This will not happen overnight, but some changes need to be made.
He is looking forward to move ahead with this process.
President of Pearland Economic Development Corporation Matt Buchanan stated we can
put this on the next Joint Public Hearing for a Unified Development Code amendment and
talk about it again. I
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Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 31� day of August, A.D.,
2017
Tom Reid
Mayor
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