HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_P&Z_05.04.2004Minutes
Planning and Zoning Commission
City of Georgetown, TX
Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at 6:00 P.M.
Members Present: Christopher Aadnesen, Chairman; Johnny Anderson, Vice-Chairman; Audrey
McDonald; Jennifer Shield; William Moore; Brian Ortego; and Russell Phillips.
Members Absent: Harry Gibbs, Marlene McMichaels, and Sarah Milburn
Staff Present: Amelia Sondgeroth, Planning and Development Director; Ed Polasek, Chief Long-
Range Planner; Bobby Ray, Chief Development Planner; David Munk, Development Engineer;
Carla Benton, Development Planner; Melissa McCollum, Development Planner; Patricia Carls,
City Attorney; and Tammye Sharpe, Planning Specialist/ Recording Secretary.
Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman Aadnesen let the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1. Action from Executive Session - None.
Consent Agenda
2. Consideration of the Minutes of the April 6, 2004, regular meeting of the Planning and
Zoning Commission.
Anderson made the motion to accept the minutes as written. Ortego seconded the motion,
which passed with a vote of 7-0.
Regular Agenda
3. Public Hearing and possible action to consider adopting a new element of the Century
Plan: the Overall Transportation Plan.
Polasek gave staff presentation, giving history on the Plan, and explained that GTEC
(Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation) was the 4B Corporation that collects the
¼ cent Sales Tax for transportation improvements. Polasek said City staff supports adoption of
the Plan and the five amendments (or clarifications) from the GTEC Board, and was asking the
Commission to recommend adoption of the Plan to City Council. Polasek introduced Bob Hamm
with Wilbur-Smith Associates.
Bob Hamm explained that the Plan was created and developed with the help of City of
Georgetown staff, a Technical Advisory Committee (local agencies, TxDOT), and a Stakeholder
Committee (community representatives, Chamber of Commerce, GTEC, neighborhood
representatives), and the team from Wilbur-Smith & Associates. Hamm went over the five
recommended changes. In closing, Hamm said the Plan is a fluid document - it would need to be
updated over time, because of changes to the population and employment growth, the Land Use
Plan, and other elements due to City growth. Hamm suggested coordination with the other
agencies in the area, particularly from a funding standpoint (the City, County and TxDOT need to
work together).
Jean Ellis, CR 1105, was concerned about the non-connectivity between Walburg and IH 35 on
the loop around Georgetown and that Williamson County farmland and rivers are being destroyed
with development of roads. Ellis said that our food, cotton, and cattle are at a risk when there is
no care given to our farmland.
Polasek explained to Ellis that Walburg was not within the City’s planning area - it is beyond the
ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdiction). Walburg connectivity would be considered on the County
Road Plan. Ellis was told that a copy of the County Road Plan was at Development Services, to
contact Joe England at the County Engineer’s Office, and/or to look on the County’s website.
Polasek invited Ellis to come to the City to look at our copy on file.
Russell Rinn, 1526 FM 1105, was in agreement with Ellis' concerns. Rinn also had questions on
how to read the map/legend, and what Project J was. He expressed concern for the landowners
being affected by their land being taken for roadways, and their rights.
Hamm suggested that Rinn read Chapter 6 (available on the Internet), along with Chapter 4, to
give the instruction on the tables and maps. Polasek said Project J was on the Williamson
County Plan – it was a County project.
Anderson made the motion to recommend to City Council approval of the Overall
Transportation Plan as an element of the Century Plan, replacing the Thoroughfare Plan
adopted on May 28, 2002, with the GTEC recommended changes to the Final Draft OTP.
Shields seconded motion, which passed with a vote of 6-0-1. Phillips abstained from voting,
adding he had no previous involvement with the Transportation Plan.
4. Consideration and possible action on Public Hearing for a Rezoning of 307.85 acres in
the Isaac Donegan and Joseph Thompson Surveys, from AG, Agricultural District to RS,
Residential Single-family; MF, Multifamily; and C-3, General Commercial Districts located
at 2651 SH 29.
Bobby Ray gave the staff presentation. Linehan, agent for Harvard Investments, gave his
presentation, giving Commission a handout labeled “Parkland Dedication and Open Space
Calculations”. Linehan spoke about the 22 acres of Parkland dedication and the 83 acres of
Open Space on the property, the golden cheeked warblers, and the care with preserving the
wildlife on the property. Linehan stated he felt the City would not want another quarry 2 ½ miles
from the downtown area, and felt the mining opportunity was not financially viable.
Iva McLachlan, 520 Wolf Road, was concerned about having her rights to mineral extraction
stopped as a result of the rezoning. McLachlan said that she feels that Harvard Investment has
not made a good effort to resolve the interest to the mineral owners.
Linehan said that he felt there would not be a mining operation on the site due to the wildlife and
it does not make sense to mine the property. He said that they have not been trying to avoid
negotiations with mineral owners - participating parties have just not agreed on what each
thought the mining of the land was worth. Again, Linehan said he felt the City would not want to
have another mining quarry so close to town, and reminded Commission that the Future Land
Use Plan projects roads going through this property.
Anderson said that the City Council meeting that deliberated this issue concurred that the default
zoning (agricultural) did not preclude any extraction rights that the other mineral owners might
have, so there would be no damage to the interest of the mineral owners’ rights. Anderson
further stated if the property is rezoned to commercial or residential, it would not be an accepted
use anymore - their rights would basically be worthless, and because of this, the rezoning seems
to be a major impediment in moving this item forward. Linehan informed Commission that about
60 acres of the 310 acres could be mined.
Commission convened to Executive Session, at 7:03 p.m. (Section 551.071).
Executive Session adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Regular meeting reconvened at 7:20 p.m.
Anderson and Aadnesen would not recommend approval of the rezoning until there was
resolution between the applicant and the mineral rights owners, and did not want to forward to
City Council to have to make a decision on this request. Moore said he would like to see a
resolution of the difference between the parties on the sale of that land. Moore and Shield
suggested a motion to recommend approving, with the condition the applicant and landowners
resolve their issue.
Linehan asked to postpone Items 4 and 5 for one month, until the June 1st Planning and Zoning
meeting.
Anderson made the motion to allow the applicant to postpone items 4 and 5 until such time the
applicant was comfortable bringing the item back before Planning & Zoning. Aadnesen
seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
5. Consideration and possible action on a Preliminary Plat o 307.85 acres in the I.
Donegan and J. Thompson Surveys, to be known as Shadow Canyon Subdivision,
located on SH 29 West, with requested waivers to the Unified Development Code.
Item postponed by 7-0 vote (see item #4 motion).
6. Consideration and possible action on a request for approval to have driveway access
to Lovie Lane, a collector level street instead of the required local street of Laverne
Terrace for Logan Plateau, Block C, Lot 16, and Block A, Lot 15, located at 201 and 113
Laverne Terrace.
McCollum gave staff presentation, letting Commission know staff was supportive of the request
because applicant will be able to meet driveway separation access requirements, and that the
action decided by Commission would be final. Ortego confirmed that Lovie Lane would connect
to vacant land in the future. McCollum read Section 34020.F.3 of the Subdivision Regulations
which states that quarter lots adjacent to streets of unequal classification (Lovie Lane is classified
as a collector street and Laverne Terrace is a local street), shall access the lower classification
street only, and only one driveway approach shall be allowed, except as otherwise approved by
Commission. McCollum said that Commission could look at lots specifically and decide whether
applicant could take access off the higher classification street when requested. McCollum
confirmed that applicant wanted to preserve trees on the site by allowing access from the
separate garage onto the collector street, Lovie Lane.
Wally Wilson, 285 Sedro Trail, Georgetown, representing Bradley Cockrum, gave his
presentation, saying the request would save trees on the site, and a side entry garage is
aesthetically more appealing than access in front on the home with a "football field" of concrete.
Wilson could not address the question if there was any architectural guidelines to the
neighborhood that said front entry garages should face a certain direction. McCollum informed
the Commission that this was not considered a variance because this part of the Code allows the
Commission to look at the lots individually and do not have to come up with Finding of Facts.
Russell asked if staff was concerned about the number of daily trips on Lovie Lane when the
connection takes place and what it would do to the classification of the collector street; and if
there were any safety issues. McCollum said those issues would be addressed in the Preliminary
Plat with the future platting of the Reserve of Berry Creek next door to this subdivision, but Lovie
Lane would stay a collector level street.
Shield made the motion to approve the requested driveway access from Lovie Lane, a collector
level street instead of the required local street of Laverne Terrace for Logan Plateau, Block C, Lot
16, and Block A, Lot 15, located at 201 and 113 Laverne Terrace. Ortego seconded the motion,
which passed with a vote of 7-0.
7. Consideration and possible action on a Public Hearing for a Rezoning from MF,
Multifamily to OF, Office, for South San Gabriel Urban Renewal, Block C, Lot 1 (part of),
located at 1301 Scenic Drive.
Ray gave the staff presentation, adding that staff was in support of the request for rezoning.
Applicant was not present at the meeting. Moore had an issue with the requested rezoning
allowing a truck park on the property. Moore explained there was a City ordinance not allowing
trucks to park within 300 feet of a residential property, and if zoning was changed, this might
allow truck parking to be permissible. Ray said that truck parking would not be allowed per the
district regulation. Sondgeroth concurred, saying that the UDC would not allow truck parking after
rezoning.
Shield made the motion to recommend to City Council to approve of a rezoning from MF, Multi-
family to OF, Office, for South San Gabriel Urban Renewal, Block C, Lot 1 (part of), located at
1301 Scenic Drive. Moore seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
8. Consideration and possible action on a Public Hearing and a Preliminary Plat of a
Resubdivision of City of Georgetown, Block 24, Lots 1-8, to be known as Block 24
Subdivision, located between Austin Avenue and Main Street, 4th Street and 5th Street.
Carla Benton gave the staff presentation. Benton confirmed that the applicant had gone to Parks
and Recreation with the concept, but would be going back to them during the Site Plan process.
Benton verified there were many large trees on site to be saved along Main Street, but the
buildings were to be torn down.
Kent Collins, 823 Congress, Suite #800, Austin, one of the developers, gave his presentation,
using a Site Plan of the property with tree location. Collins said three of four large trees would be
saved; there would be 4 detached homes and 4 townhouses; along with a commercial building.
Sondgeroth talked about the Regional Downtown Water Quality Study (project lead being David
Munk, Development Engineer). Collins said that the Historical Architectural Review Committee
(HARC) seemed supportive of the project.
Sondgeroth said that Council approved a project to address water quality and detention issues in
the Downtown Overlay District to allow projects, such as this, to be able to occur, so we do not
have individual ponds on individual sites - to look at a regional approach to water quality.
Sondgeroth said this project study should be completed to go before Council at the end of May or
first part of June.
Matthew Moore, with Water Street Engineering, 1803 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, Texas, was
present to answer any questions.
Anderson made the motion to recommend to City Council to approve a Preliminary Plat of a
Resubdivision of the City of Georgetown, Block 24, Lots 1-8, to be known as Block 24
Subdivision. Moore seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
9. Consideration and possible action on a Public Hearing and a Final Plat of a
Resubdivision of Snyder Addition Revised, Block 50, 0.66 acres to be known as
Jorgenson Subdivision, located at 16th and Olive Streets.
Benton gave the staff presentation, informing Commission that staff had received 7 letters of
objections on the following: size of lots, property value, provisions of adequate utilities, access
onto Maple Street, traffic, lack of existing sidewalk, neighborhood control of construction, and a
detraction to quality homes. Moore verified that sidewalks were to be placed on Maple Street
(builder's street), E 16th Street (builder's side), and Olive Street (builder's side).
P J Stevens, with Steger & Bizzell Engineering, was present to answer questions.
Amanda West, 1505 Olive Street, had concern about having two structures on the two small lots,
and suggested maybe one structure on both lots. West said the constructions of small homes
sometime are not constructed with quality, and deteriorate quickly. West had concern with utility
sewage problems, the transformer on 16th/Olive Streets rusting off, and the value of her home
decreasing.
Brent Sumner, 1604 Olive Street, lives next door, had concern of adding structures on such small
lots, and the value of his home decreasing.
Stevens assured the Commission that the applicant did not want to degrade the neighborhood,
and wanted to work with the neighborhood with any issues. Stevens said that the applicants
would be selling the lots, not building homes on them.
Moore made the motion to recommend to City Council to approve the Final Plat of a
Resubdivision of Snyder Addition Revised, Block 50, 0.66 acres to be known as Jorgenson
Subdivision. Motion was seconded by Shield, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
10. Consideration and possible action on a Public Review Final Plat of 50.77 acres out of
the J. Sutherland, C. Joyner and GB Mayhall Surveys, to be known as Estates of
Westlake, Phase 3, located along Highland Spring Lane, with a variance to the
Subdivision Regulations.
Benton gave the staff presentation, going over the variance to the Subdivision Regulations to
allow the 50 foot right-of ways.
Tom Watts, with Ralph Harris Surveying, was present to answer questions.
Motion was made by Shield to recommend to City Council to approve the Public Review Final
Plat of 50.77 acres out of the J. Sutherland, C. Joyner and GB Mayhall Surveys, to be known as
Estates of Westlake, Phase 3, and after making the findings of fact, approval of a variance to the
Subdivision Regulations to allow 50 foot right-of-ways. Phillips seconded the motion, which
passed with a vote of 7-0.
11. Consideration and possible action on Public Hearing for a Rezoning of 3.073 acres in
the C. Stubblefield Survey, from IN, Industrial District to C-3, General Commercial District
located at 516 Leander Road.
Ray gave the staff presentation. Shane Shafer, owner, and Steve Turner, agent, were present to
answer questions.
Shield made the motion to recommend to City Council to approve a rezoning of 3.073 acres in
the C. Stubblefield Survey, from IN, Industrial District to C-3, General Commercial District located
at 516 Lender Street. Aadnesen seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 7-0.
12. Comments from Director.
Director gave the report of Council action. At the April 13th City Council meeting, Council
approved the 2nd Reading of the Crestview Addition, located at 1602 Williams Drive; and
approved the 2nd Reading of the Downtown Overlay District - both approved unanimously.
Sondgeroth said all Ordinance Amendments are in place for the UDC. At the April 27th City
Council meeting, Council approved the Preliminary Plat for Fountainwood Plaza and denied the
Century Plan Amendment for the 3.11 acre tract located on Country Club Road (consistent with
P&Z recommendations).
Sondgeroth reminded the Commission about the Special Meeting on May 18, 2004, at 6:00 p.m.,
at the Council Chambers, for the proposed Unified Development Code (UDC) amendments.
13. Comments from Commission.
Aadnesen asked Commissioners to try to attend Workshops.
Gibbs made the motion to adjourn. Shield seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
/tas