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1995-10-09 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JOINT PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESM MINUTES OF A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TERAS, HELD ON OCTOBER 9, 1995, AT 7:00 P. M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TERAS The hearing was called to order with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Councilmember Jerry Richardson Councilmember Kevin Cole Councilmember Randy Weber Councilmember Helen Beckman Planning & Zoning Chairman Pat Lopez Vice Chairman Emil Beltz Commissioner Robert Larsen Commissioner Marshall Eggers Commissioner Jeffery O'Brien Commissioner Peggy -Mayfield Royer Commissioner Randy Patro City Manager Paul Grohman City Attorney Amy McCullough City Secretary Yolanda Benitez Others in attendance: Assistant City Managers Glen Erwin and Richard Burdine, City Engineer John Hargrove, Chief of Police Mike Hogg, Parks & Recreation Director Ed Hersh, Director of Administrative Services Mary Hickling, and Economic Development Director Jim Berry. Absent from the hearing: Councilmember Tetens. PURPOSE OF THE HEARING: Specific Use No. 37 REQUEST OF DREW O'FARRELL FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR A CONTRACTOR'S STORAGE AND EQUIPMENT YARD IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C), ON THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY, TO -WIT: LOTS 12, 13, 14, AND 15 OF THE THOMAS & GILBERT INDUSTRIAL TRACTS, SECTION 1 (3419 SWENSEN). NUMBER OF PERSONS SIGNING ATTENDANCE ROSTER: 13 STAFF REVIEW: A locator map of the area in question was shown and reviewed. PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT: 1. Drew O'Farrell -- 331 E. Parkwood, Friendswood, Texas. Mr. O'Farrell spoke on behalf of O'Farrell Realty, the real estate agent for Berkel & Company. He noted that the main office is in Kansas City, with branch offices in Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Detroit. Mr. O'Farrell explained how the property would be used. 2. Bill Berry, Jr. -- Regional Manager for Berkel & Company. Mr. Berry stated that they had been searching for a Texas Regional headquarters intensively for the past year. He noted that the yG property contains the shop facilities for repairing the equipment, the storage facilities to be used for temporary storage between projects, and permanent office facilities. Mr. Berry provided background information on the company, i.e., number of years in business, number of employees, types of projects, and size of projects. He also noted that safety and security measures would be adhered to. Mr. Berry stated that improvements to the office area would be made. 3. Nancy Holt -- Prudential Allied Realtors (representing the sellers of the property, Belinda and Jerry Nichols). Ms. Holt noted that they feel this company would be a great asset to the City of Pearland. 4. David Miller -- 2706 Shady Creek - Prudential Allied Realtors. Mr. Miller distributed copies of information and a map pertaining to the property in question. He noted that surrounding properties have previously been granted specific use permits, and requested that Council grant this one. 5. Mary Starr -- 3007 E. Broadway. Ms. Starr spoke in support of Berkel & Company being granted the specific use permit, and noted that this was the type of company that the City of Pearland needs to have. PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAR AGAINST: 1. Tom Alexander, Jr. -- 1803 Washington -Irving. Mr. Alexander noted that Berkel & Company sounds like a good company and one he personally wanted in the City of Pearland; however, he stated that he was speaking on behalf of John and Pat Woods (landowners on the south side of the property in question), and on behalf of his family whose property is on the east side of the property. Mr. Alexander stated he is in opposition to the granting of the specific use permit to Berkel & Company because of the fact that they will be bringing in heavy equipment and storing it at the site. He expressed his concern that this area is moving towards "light industrial's use rather than the "commercial" use for which it is zoned. 2. Jack Coleman -- 3413 Swensen Rd. - Research Fumigation. Mr. Coleman expressed his opposition to the granting of the specific use permit to Berkel & Company. He stated that he had purchased his property adjacent to the property in question under the assumption that it was commercial and not industrial. Mr. Coleman also noted that he preferred the area remain commercial and that heavy equipment not be allowed in that area. 3. Tom Alexander, Sr. -- 3208 Nottingham. Mr. Alexander addressed the Council with regard to other property available in the Industrial Storage area instead of the commercially zoned area in question. 4. Lonnie Isom -- Shady Crest. Mr. Isom noted that he is moving his distributing company into lots adjacent to the property in question and stated that he had spent quite a bit of money dressing up his property. While he is not objecting to the company coming into Pearland, Mr. Isom stated that he does object to the unloading of cranes in front of his nice, new building. 5. James Birdsong -- 2601 Woodcreek. Mr. Birdsong noted that while he was not in opposition to a good company moving to Pearland, he wanted to express his concern with regard to a company purchasing property when it is zoned a particular type, and then requesting that it be changed. Mr. Birdsong also expressed his concern regarding the heavy equipment being placed in this particular area. 6. Jerry Werlla -- 3410 Swensen Road - Sonoma Corporation. Mr. Werlla noted that he is in the process of building his business on the property involved and does not want it changed to an industrial area. He noted that if the specific use permit is granted, it will devalue his property. 93 QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD City Engineer John Hargrove responded to a question concerning whether the road in the proposed area has the capacity for carrying the heavy equipment. Mr. Hargrove noted that it could handle occasional use, but not continuous transport of heavy equipment. Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Pat Lopez asked Bill Berry if loading and unloading on the street would occur. Mr. Berry stated that everything would be loaded and unloaded in the yard out of public view. Councilmember Weber inquired about an on-site unloading facility which would have a boom on it. Mr. Berry stated that all of the equipment would fit on a normal flat-bed truck. He also noted that they would be using a forklift to load and unload trucks. Councilmember Weber also inquired about the company's plans after five years were up. Mr. Berry stated there is a possibility that they will outgrow the property within that period of time, and they will have to move to another area. Councilmember Weber asked Jim Berry (Economic Development Corporation Director) if they had played a part in bringing the company to Pearland. Mr. Berry stated that David Miller had been working on this project for some time, and the Economic Development office had offered their assistance. He also noted that they had not anticipated any opposition, and no incentives had been discussed. P & Z Commission Chairman Pat Lopez inquired as to whether the heavy equipment being brought in to the site would be brought in on a pick-up or on a 40 -foot float. Bill Berry noted that it would be brought in on the 40 -foot float. Mr. Lopez also asked whether the work on the equipment would be done in-house, and Mr. Berry responded that the plans are to make all repairs inside the shop. Councilmember Weber inquired about the hours of operation, and Mr. Berry noted that normal hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In response to Councilmember Weber's question, Mr. Berry stated that they would occasionally have to work throughout the night on necessary repairs to equipment. Questions were raised with regard to the weight of the equipment being brought in, and it was the consensus that it would average about 80,000 lbs. In response to another question, City Engineer John Hargrove noted that there are no weight restrictions on Old Alvin Road. Bill Berry provided some additional comments with regard to the fact that they are also required to decorate the property and keep it in good repair; the average project length is about three weeks; low volume of traffic on Swensen Road; and using the driveway currently on the property for turnarounds, etc. Mayor Reid noted that the Planning & Zoning Commission would be moving to another conference room to discuss this further, and requested that all those involved be available for any additional questions that the Commission might have. ADJOURNMENT The hearing adjourned at 7:58 P. M. Minutes appro a submitted and/or corrected this Iday of A. D., 1995. Tom Reid, Mayor ATTESTQ f I Yo�fan�la C. Benitcez, City cretary