HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_P&Z_02.03.2004Minutes
Planning and Zoning Commission
City of Georgetown, TX
Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at 6:00 P.M.
Members Present: Chairman, Christopher Aadnesen, Harry Gibbs, Secretary, Audrey
McDonald, Marlene McMichael, Brian Ortego and Sarah Milburn.
Members Absent: Johnny Anderson, Will Moore, and Linda Turner
Staff Present: Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of Planning & Development Services, David Munk,
Development Engineer, Melissa McCollum, Development Planner, Patricia Carls, City Attorney,
and Tammye Sharpe, Planning Specialist/ Recording Secretary.
Chairman, Christopher Aadnesen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1. Action from Executive Session
Consent Agenda
2. Consideration of the Minutes of the January 6, 2004, regular meeting of the Planning and
Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Milburn asked that the minutes reflect that she was at the meeting of January 6th,
and that Jennifer Shield was not.
Commissioner Ortego made the motion to accept the Minutes on the Consent Agenda after the
changes were made. Commissioner McDonald seconded the motion, which passed with a vote
of 7-0.
At this time, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Regular Agenda
3. Presentation and possible action on proposed Old Town Overlay District.
Quana Childs, Architect for City of Georgetown, gave the staff presentation, stating she had
information on the five items that were requested at the November P&Z: 1) to revise the district
boundaries to reflect the highest concentration of High Priority structures; 2) to edit the Old
Town Overlay High Priority property list by removing the structures that no longer exist; 3) to
address the Design Oversight process for vacant to commercial use and commercial use to
commercial use changes; 4) provide tax incentive information from other cities of similar size;
and 5) to provide historic information from other cities of similar size. Discussion of Exhibit A –
new proposed Old Town Overlay District boundaries - with Childs showing the Commission the
differences from the old boundary map to the new proposed boundary. Discussion of Exhibit B
– (original list / 1984) Old Town Overlay High Priority Property List – Renee Hanson verified if
each property existed or not (priority shown by pink highlighted map). Discussion about the
notification process for property owners within this District, and the importance and expense of
the process. Sondgeroth said that there would definitely be a newspaper notice for an
Ordinance amendment, but was not sure that each property owner would be notified individually
again, as each was in November. Aadnesen asked if the notification in the paper would have
each property address listed in it, prior to the Public Hearing. Sondgeroth said that was not the
normal procedure. Patricia Carls, City Attorney, advised the Commission that she would review
the November notice to be sure City is doing everything legally correct. Carls said it was hard to
talk about this Ordinance, as it does not exist yet, so it was unclear to her if City is adopting an
Overlay, or if you are doing something particular to the homes, but depending on how the
Ordinance takes shape and turns out, the word will get out by individual mailing or, at the least,
published notice in paper. It was verified that there were 139 properties on the Old Town
Overlay Priority List, and Sondgeroth agreed that the cost would be much less than the original
notification mailing first done. The November notification content and various notification
procedures of the priority properties were discussed. Childs and Hansen explained the
industrial site on the list was an old cotton/oil processing facility that could become a tourism
structure (suggested by Hanson). Discussion on what and if notification could be given for
properties under the Old Town Overlay restrictions that are on the market for sale. Childs said
that the purpose of the Old Town Overlay District was to monitor any changes from Residential
to Commercial use and to provide oversight of any demolition requests of High Priority
structures. Childs began discussion on the request to address the Design Oversight process for
vacant to commercial use, and commercial use to commercial use changes, and said that what
was specifically addressed was the residential to commercial uses - all exterior changes come
to the Historical Architectural Review Commission (HARC). Childs said that they propose that
the changes to vacant to commercial use and commercial to commercial use requests would
also come before HARC. Childs referenced Chapter 12 of the Design Guidelines for the
Downtown Overlay District to those interested in the specific changes requested of a
commercial nature.
Renee Hanson, 1252 Austin Avenue, Georgetown, said the whole purpose of the original
proposal of the Downtown Overlay District was to keep the residential look along Austin and
University Avenues – so even when it turned commercial, it would still have the look of the
historical properties. Hanson said that there was an issue with notification because there was
no mention of vacant to commercial and commercial to commercial in the notice of November
that has already been mailed out.
Childs gave a brief summary about historic preservation laws and tax incentives of other Texas
cities of similar size to Georgetown: New Braunfels, San Marcos, Nacogdoches, Corsicana,
Marshall and Denison. Childs touched on historic landmarks, historic districts, demolition, and
tax incentives (New Braunfels, Nacogdoches and Corsicana provide tax incentives/abatements
for designated historic structures). Commissioner Gibbs asked if there were any loans or grants
to help with restoration and improvements to the City, and suggested that Quana look into that
on her own. Commissioner Aadnesen asked that the City Council be given this information, and
ask if the Commissioners needed to make a motion to notify all the property owners.
Commissioner Milburn said that she would not vote on anything until she knew how much it
would cost to accomplish. Sondgeroth informed the Commissioners that the November mail-out
cost $4,500 to $5,000, and said that staff and legal needed to look at what the last notification
said and who needs to be notified with what information. Discussion about the importance,
expense and the destination of notification.
Commissioner Aadnesen made the motion that Planning and Zoning Commission strongly
recommends to the Mayor, City Council, the City Manager, and Amelia Sondgeroth and her staff
that the notification of the owners of the 139 properties on the Old Town Overlay District
High Priority list be notified of the impending ordinance and notified of the dates that the
ordinance will be considered in March, and to analyze the legal ramification to make sure
that the Commission is not outside the providence of the law by sending special
notification to the affected property owners. Seconded by Commissioner McMichael.
Motion passed with a vote of 7-0.
4. Consideration and possible action on a Public Review Final Plat for 9.01 acres in the John
Powell Survey, to be known as Kelley Trust, Phase Four-A, located on the East Side of
Kelley Drive.
Melissa McCollum made the staff presentation. Commissioner Ortego said that there was 125
cars parked on both sides of Kelley Drive. McCollum said that City Code Enforcement was
working with the owner of this site on parking. Jim Cummins, Steger & Bizzell Engineering,
gave his presentation. Cummins discussed the parking problem.
Commissioner Shield made the motion to recommend to City Council approval of a Public
Review Final Plat of for 9.01 acres in the John Powell Survey, to be known as Kelley Trust,
Phase Four-A. Seconded by Milburn. Motion passed with a vote of 7-0.
5. Consideration and possible action on Public Hearing for a Special Use Permit for
McDaniel Park, Lot 2, 10.67 acres, to establish and collocate an additional antenna on an
existing tower at the Cox Communications Facility, located at 111 North College Street.
McColllum made the staff presentation, informing Commission that applicant was proposing to
add an additional antenna on an existing tower, and staff supports the request. The existing
248’ tower has AT&T and T-Mobile antennas - Cox wants to put an additional Verizon antenna
on the same tower.
Vincent Huebinger, 1715 Capital of Texas Hwy, representing Cox Communications and Verizon
Wireless, was present for presentation and questions. Huebinger passed out some exhibits to
the Commission. Huebinger showed an arial photo of the site area, and then a layout of the
property.
K. Brock Bailey, attorney for Cox Communications, relinquished his time to speak.
Commissioner Ortego verified that the proposed antenna would set on tower at 240 feet – the
antenna being 6’ tall and 6” wide.
Commissioner Gibbs made the motion to recommend to City Council approval of the requested
Special Use Permit for McDaniel Park, Lot 2, 10.67 acres, to establish and collocate an
additional antenna on an existing tower at the Cox Communications Facility, located at 111
North College Street, subject to the completion of a Site Plan. Motion was seconded by
Commissioner Shield, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
Commissioners Aadensen and McMichael excused themselves from this item. Commissioner
Gibbs took over as Chair.
6. Consideration and possible action on a request for approval of access to allow an
additional driveway to be located on Cooperative Way, for Inner Loop Commercial Park,
Section Four, Block A, Lot 3 of a Resubdivision of Block A, Lot 1, to be known as
Georgetown Rail Equipment Company, located at 111 Cooperative Way at the
intersection of Cooperative Way and County Road 115.
McCollum gave the staff presentation, stating that staff is supportive of the two driveway
separations. Commissioner Ortego confirmed that the property to the South had two driveways
– one on the East and one on the North, showing that the codes had been in existence since
1988 (having the same issue as this site).
Jim Cummins, 609 Del Prado Lane, with Steger & Bizzell, was present for questions.
Commissioner Shield made the motion to approve the requested access to allow an additional
driveway to be located on Cooperative Way, for Inner Loop Commercial Park, Section Four,
Block A, Lot 3 of a Resubdivision of Block A, Lot 1, to be known as Georgetown Rail Equipment
Company, located at 111 Cooperative Way, at the intersection of Cooperative Way and County
Road 115. Commissioner Ortego seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 5-0.
At this time, Commissioner Aadnesen resumed his position as Chair.
7. Comments from Director.
Amelia Sondgeroth talked to the Commissioners regarding the Overall Transportation Plan (OTP).
There will be a GTEC meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., to be held
at Georgetown Municipal Complex (GMC).
Council Workshop on Monday, February 23, 2004, at 4:00 p.m., located to be held at the
City Council Chambers.
Tuesday, March 2, 2004, the OTP will be coming before the Planning & Zoning
Commission. Questions should be emailed to Ed Polasek– epolasek@georgetowntx.org.
Also the Old Town Overlay District ordinance will come before P&Z at the March 2nd
meeting – qchilds@georgetowntx.org.
Sondgeroth said that she would ask the City Manager to include the Commissioners for attendance
to the Community Breakfast.
8. Commissioners comments and reports.
Commissioner Ortego asked about the Invision Central Texas dinner meeting. Commissioner
McDonald read from her invitation that the meeting would be Wednesday, February 11, 2004,
with complimentary dinner at 5:30, with Workshop from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Commissioner Ortego
also asked about the conference to be held on February 28 in Austin.
Commissioner Aadnesen thanked Linda Turner for being on the Commission, and for doing such
a good job. He asked that the other Commissioners let her know how much they appreciated
working with her.
Commissioner Shield made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner McMichael seconded the
motion, which passed with an unanimous vote. Meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.