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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_P&Z_07.24.2002 CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS SPECIAL PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2002, 6:30 P.M. 101 EAST 7TH STREET, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS 78626 Members Present: Marjorie Herbert, Chair; Audrey McDonald; Robert Seamans; John Kirby; Linda Turner; Johnny Anderson, Alternate; Harry Gibbs, Alternate. Staff Present: Amelia Sondgeroth, Director; Patricia Carls, City Attorney; Bobby Ray, Chief Current Planner; David Munk, Development Engineer; John Aldridge, System Engineer Manager; Karen Frost, Administrative Manager/ Recording Secretary Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. 1. Action from Executive Session – No Executive Session was called. Consent Agenda 2. Consideration of the Minutes of the June 27, 2002, Special Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion by Commissioner Anderson to approve the minutes of June 27, 2002. Second by Commissioner Turner. Approved 5 – 0. 1 abstention by Seamans as he was not present at that meeting. 3. Consideration of the Minutes of the July 2, 2002, Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion by Commissioner Seamans to approve the minutes. Second by Commissioner Kirby. Approved 6 – 0. Regular Agenda 4. Consideration and possible action on a Public Hearing regarding the following policy issues associated with the Unified Development Code (UDC), Draft #1. Commissioner McDonald was seated on the dais. M. Cul-de-sac Length (UDC Section 12.3) Bobby Ray presented the staff report. Todd Janssen – 112 Ridgewood Drive/ Sun City Georgetown – Stated that he sees a conflict in language with other sections that state there should not be any single- family access to connector streets. He feels this section discourages cul-de-sacs and that the research that has been done says that people want to live on a cul-de- sac. He would choose not to restrict the use of cul-de-sacs. Lee Einswieler addressed the concerns of Mr. Janssen. In regards to the collector street, a neighborhood collector street has been developed. The language on page 183, subsection 5 will be deleted with only the section regarding alternatives to remain. Commissioner comments were given. Thomas Watts - 306 Dunlin, Buda – Stated people want to live on cul-de-sacs and that it’s not the street that brings people together but the community events. He stated street design affects people’s lifestyles. Commissioner comments were continued. Motion by Commissioner Kirby to recommend to City Council the elimination of the section that regulates the length of cul-de-sacs, the elimination of the section that discourages the use of cul-de-sacs, while leaving in the language encouraging other alternatives and providing for those alternatives. Second by Commissioner Turner. Approved 7 – 0. N. Connectivity Ratio (UDC Section 12.3) Lee Einswieler presented the staff report. Mark Baker – 14205 Burnet Rd/ SEC Planning – Stated he is not opposed to connectivity. Thinks Georgetown has a good parks system and trails and perhaps they should be used to tie into. Stated this section would make a subdivision look like a grid system and the market is not buying the grid system. He likes to design roads based on the topography of the land, not on a calculated grid system, and not cutting trees to get a connecting road. Wants plans approved on a case-by-case basis. Thomas Watts – 306 Dunlin, Buda – Stated he wants the City to use judgement not formulas to approve or disapprove a project. Questions and comments by Commissioners. Motion by Commissioner Turner to recommend to City Council that the provision be reviewed by staff who would look into the possibility of scaling the required connectivity ratio in conjunction with the size of the proposed subdivision. The subdivision size could be based upon acreage or upon the number of lots. Second by Commissioner Kirby. Approved 4 – 3. (Opposed by Gibbs, Seaman, and McDonald.) O. Traffic Impact Analysis – Threshold (UDC Section 12.5) Bobby Ray presented the staff report and gave a new staff recommendation. Questions and comments by Commissioners. Motion by Commissioner Seamans to accept the staff recommendation maintaining the current 2,000 ADT threshold, apply this requirements to both residential and non- residential development, and to direct staff to draft a code section which address the imposition of an impact fee for future roadway improvements. Second by Commissioner McDonald. Approved 6-1. (Opposed by Commissioner Gibbs.) P. Oversize Utility Requirements (UDC Section 13.9) John Aldridge presented the staff report. Questions and comments by Commissioners. Lee Einsweiler held a dialog with Commissioners regarding possible actions. Motion by Commissioner Kirby to recommend to Council that the cost of oversized development may be charged to either the developer or the City which shall be at the discretion of the City. The party bearing the cost of such oversize development shall nevertheless have the benefit of a reimbursement mechanism under a subsequent use provision. Second by Commissioner Turner. Approved 7 – 0. Q. Gateways (General) Amelia Sondgeroth presented the staff report. Questions and comments by Commissioners. Renee Hanson – 1252 Austin Avenue. Suggested a landscape buffer requirement, such as Leander’s which was developed by their staff. Wants to get away from having Georgetown look like any other town. Motion by Commissioner Turner to approve the provision as presented with additional study towards setting minimum standards for gateways and corridors, direct staff to proceed with both the Williams Drive Corridor Study and the Special Area Planned Overlay provisions of the UDC. Once these studies are complete, reassess the need for additional corridor studies. Commissioner Seamans suggested an amendment to put in place landscape buffers along gateways, with gateways defined as all State and Federal Highways. Turner agreed to amend her motion. Second by Commissioner Kirby. Approved 7 – 0. R. Other UDC Items for Discussion. Glenda Overfelt – 951 CR 317/ Downtown Georgetown Association. Distributed handout (attached). Read concerns of entire DGA. Renee Hanson – 1252 Austin Avenue. Asked that private schools not be allowed by right in RS District, but be restricted by special permit. Patty Eason – 1302 Ash Street/ Main Street Advisory Board. Stated that the Main Street Advisory Board voted to support all items listed by the Downtown Georgetown Association, given earlier. Renee Hanson – 1252 Austin Avenue. Asked that a timeline be considered in forming a study for protecting the courthouse views. Thomas Watts – 306 Dunlin, Buda. Questioned any other available time to discuss design standards. The Chair explained that there would be other public hearings with the City Council. Renee Hanson – 1252 Austin Avenue. Discussed conflicting language of non- conforming uses. Marie Kelley - 103 San Gabriel Boulevard. Offered concerns about day care facilities and the restrictions placed upon them. Suggested more stringent restrictions for the safety of the children. Motion by Commissioner Anderson to direct staff to review the letter offered by the Downtown Georgetown Association and to provide a written response to those concerns. Second by Commissioner Turner. Approved 7 – 0. Motion by Commissioner Kirby to request the City Council the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would require developers of residential, commercial and industrial property to develop property owners associations. After discussion, Attorney Carls agrees to work on this and bring to the next Council meeting. No second. No action. Motion by Seamans to redraft the definition of “discontinuation”, delete the provision allowing continuation of a nonconforming use pursuant to Board of Adjustment Approval and present to City Council for consideration. Second by Commissioner Turner. Approved 7 – 0. 5. Staff comments and reports. a. Council Action update b. Director’s report Sondgeroth reported that the next public hearing on the UDC will be with the City Council on Wednesday, August 7, 2002. 6. Commissioners comments and reports Motion by Commissioner Seamans to adjourn. Second by Commissioner Turner. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.