1993-08-24 P&Z Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1993,
AT 7:00 P.M., IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY
DRIVE, PEARLAND, 'TEXAS
The following members were present:
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
commissioner
Division Director- Planning
Public Works & Parks
City Engineer
Chief Building Official
Asst. to City Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Richard Tetens
Emil Beltz
Jack Womack
Helen Beckman
Patsy Eilers
Rob Larsen
Pat Lopez
Richard Burdine
John Hargrove
Don Guynes
Sharon Parks
Commissioner Rob Larsen made the motion, seconded by Vice Chairman
Emil Beltz, to approve the minutes of August 10, 1993.
Motion passed 7 to 0.
CITIZENS
Division Director Richard Burdine asked that this portion of the
agenda be delayed until the Thoroughfare Plan is discussed because
the citizens thought the meeting was to begin at 7:30 p.m. instead
of 7:00 p.m. This would give all of the citizens who signed up to
speak a chance to be present.
There were no objections from either the Commission or the
citizens.
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NEW BUSINESS
SPECIFIC USE NO. 27, Request of Ann Shiver, agent for Autry L. and
Charlotte F. McMillan, owners, for an amendment to the Land Use and
Urban Development Ordinance for a Specific Use Permit in an MF,
Multi- Family Dwelling District, to allow security quarters and day
care nursery and /or kindergarten school on the following described
property, to -wit:
Lots 1 -5, Block 40, Pearland Townsite (2501 S. Austin)
A brief discussion followed regarding the checking the legality of
the petition submitted, maintaining the integrity of the
neighborhood as to family dwellings, the types of businesses that
can be issued a Specific Use Permit in a Multi- Family Dwelling
District, and the number of parking spaces allowed.
Commissioner Pat Lopez made the motion to recommend to City Council
that Specific Use No. 27 be approved. Motion died for lack of a
second.
Commissioner Jack Womack made the motion, seconded by Vice Chairman
Emil Beltz , to recommend to City Council Specific Use No. 27 be
denied.
Motion passed 6 to 1 with Commissioner Pat Lopez voting no.
PRELIMINARY PLAT OF JACKSON ADDITION
City Engineer John Hargrove stated the staff recommends approval as
presented.
Commissioner Helen Beckman made the motion, seconded by Pat Lopez,
to approve the Preliminary Plat of Jackson Addition.
Motion passed 7 to 0.
PRELIMINARY PLAT OF COLONY PARK
City Engineer John Hargrove handed out corrected plats, since the
plats didn't arrive in time to get them into the packets, along
with a letter requesting a variance asking for a 20' front yard
building line in lieu of a 25' building line required in the Land
Use & Urban Development Ordinance. He recommended approval of the
corrected plat with the 20' front yard building line.
Chairman Richard Tetens stated, as he has in the past, that he is
not in favor of blanket variances. He further stated if we want
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20' building lines in subdivisions that are classified R -1 or R -2,
then we should change the zoning ordinance.
Commissioner Jack Womack asked the reason for the variance.
City Engineer John Hargrove stated the 100' lot is a little short
for the deeper homes that are being built. He also stated if you
go to the 105' lot in order to make a 25' front yard reasonable,
there is a gross underusage of the land and you can't get the tiers
that are there. The 20' front yard building line is not a new
request. It has been requested before and it has been accepted
before for 100' lots.
Chairman Tetens stated the variance has been accepted in our ETJ,
but he is not aware of it in the City limits.
Commissioner Helen Beckman stated if bigger houses are going to be
built, then the lots should be bigger.
Division Director Richard Burdine recommended that the preliminary
plat be approved subject to the developer /owner coming back,
without the variance, with a 50' right -of -way and a 25' building
line.
Commissioner Jack Womack made the motion, seconded by Vice Chairman
Emil Beltz, to approve preliminary plat with the recommendation
that the right -of -way be changed from a 60' to a 50' right -of -way,
so the 25' building line can be maintained to meet the zoning
ordinance without the variance.
Commissioner Helen Beckman inquired about sidewalks.
Motion passed 7 to 0.
Chairman Richard Tetens stated that before the Citizens' portion of
the agenda was heard, Division Director Richard Burdine requested
to read the following memo:
MEMORANDUM
To: The Planning and Zoning Commission
From: Richard Burdine, Division Director, Planning, Public
Works and Parks
Subject: Thoroughfare Plan Update - Connection of Springfield
Avenue Westward to Cottonwood Drive
Date: August 24, 1993
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We have heard a variety of concerns from Springfield Subdivision
residents about connection of Springfield Avenue westward to
Cottonwood Drive. Staff has asserted that Springfield Avenue was
built to a collector width and should remain on the Thoroughfare
Plan as such.
However, for Springfield- Cottonwood to effectively serve as a
collector it must connect to one or more thoroughfares. Currently,
Springfield crosses McLean Road ( a collector) and Veterans Drive ( a
thoroughfare), both of which are still two lane rural design roads.
Cottonwood connects to Harkey Road, which is also a two land rural
road.
Another requirement for Springfield- Cottonwood to serve as a
collector is that at least one of the two east -west thoroughfares
(Magnolia and Bailey Road (C.R. 101)) be upgraded to four lanes
between Harkey Road and Veterans Drive. Otherwise, the
Springfield- Cottonwood collector would attract through traffic
typical of a thoroughfare.
A third requirement for Springfield- Cottonwood to serve as a
collector is improvement of Cottonwood to collector street pavement
standards.
Taking the above into consideration, opening of Springfield to
Cottonwood would be recommended only after all of the following
conditions are met:
1) Annexation of the area west of the Springfield
Subdivision to Harkey Road into the City of Pearland;
2) Construction of Harkey Road or Veterans Drive to
thoroughfare standards;
3) Construction of Magnolia or Bailey Road to thoroughfare
standards; and
4) Construction of Cottonwood to collector street standards.
Some may say that it will be so long before all of these conditions
are met that the Springfield- Cottonwood connection should be taken
off the Thoroughfare Plan. The problem with this approach is that
the opportunity to make the connection does not go away. A future
City Council could easily link the two streets at minimal cost and
without changing the Thoroughfare Plan.
I recommend that the Commission include the Springfield- Cottonwood
connection, with the above conditions, in the text of the
Thoroughfare Plan. Upon City Council adoption of the Thoroughfare
Plan, the conditions will become a part of the Plan and require
formal Council action to change (per Section 27 -9 of the
Subdivision Ordinance).
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Mr. Burdine also presented a memo from Fire Marshall Larry Steed
regarding the opening of Springfield to Cottonwood for fire
protection and rescue services.
Chairman Tetens announced that the Citizens' portion of the agenda
would be heard.
CITIZENS
The following citizens opposed the connection of Springfield Avenue
westward to Cottonwood Drive due to the possibility of increased
crime and traffic:
1. Charles McMurrey, 5209 Spring Branch.
2. Ron Belline, 3911 Spring Meadow Dr.
3. Dominic Echavarria, 5201 Spring Circle Drive (not
present).
4. Bobby Blythe, 3906 Spring Circle Drive West.
5. Kevin McBride, 4001 Spring River Dr.
6. Howard M. Reiner, 3909 Spring Garden Dr. (not present).
7. Chris Harrison, 5205 Spring Circle.
8. Darrell Grubbs, 4007 Spring Garden.
9. Lucy Grubbs, 4007 Spring Garden.
10. Mike Baccus, 4006 Spring Meadow.
11. Laura Baccus, 4006 Spring Meadow.
12. Mario Camargo, 4007 Spring Branch Dr. West. (not
present).
13. Susan McCormack, 4009 Spring Garden Dr.
14. Lee McKibbin, 4003 Spring Meadow Dr. (not present).
15. Lisa McKibbin, 4003 Spring Meadow Dr.
16. Ray Green, 4012 Spring River Dr. (not present).
17. Nancy Green, 4012 Spring River Dr. (not present).
18. David Dees, 5210 Spring Branch Dr. (not present).
19. Sheilah Dees, 5210 Spring Branch Dr.
THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE
CITY OF PEARLAND
Discussion followed regarding emergency exits, stubbed out streets,
alternative routes, changes from the last version of the
Thoroughfare Plan, comparison of crime statistics with other
subdivisions, public safety, e.g., fire protection and rescue
services.
Commissioner Helen Beckman made the motion, seconded by
Commissioner Rob Larsen, to accept the Thoroughfare Plan without
the opening of Springfield to Cottonwood.
Motion failed 2 to 4 with Vice Chairman Emil Beltz abstaining.
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Commissioner Jack Womack made the motion, seconded by Commissioner
Pat Lopez, to pass the Thoroughfare Plan to City Council for its
approval with the recommendation of the opening of Springfield to
Cottonwood only after all of the following conditions are met:
1. Annexation of the area west of the Springfield
Subdivision to Harkey Road into the City of Pearland
2. Construction of Harkey Road or Veterans Drive to
thoroughfare standards
3. Construction of Magnolia or Bailey Road to thoroughfare
standards
4. Construction of Cottonwood to collector street standards
Motion passed 5 to 2 with Commissioners Beckman and Larsen voting
no. Commission also requested that the City Council be made aware
of Fire Marshall Larry Steed's memo dated August 24, 1993,
regarding fire protection and rescue services to Springfield and
Cottonwood.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Division Director Richard Burdine thanked the Commission for its
help and guidance with the Thoroughfare Plan.
110111 ', ZK-I N Ilv
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes of the meeting approved and /or corrected this
A.D. , 1993.
7v—t o
Richard Tetens, Chairman
aday of
ATTEST:
Pat Jon City Secretary
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