[00:00:03]
PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M[CALL TO ORDER]
CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 2:32 PM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH, 2025.THIS IS AN IN-PERSON MEETING TAKING PLACE AT THE CITY HALL ANNEX 900 BAGBY.
YOU MAY ALSO MONITOR OUR MEETINGS ON BY VIEWING HTV SPEAKERS.
IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON AN ITEM, PLEASE FILL OUT THE SPEAKER'S FORM BEFORE THE ITEM IS CALLED AND TURN IT INTO STAFF NEAR THE FRONT DOOR.
CONSENT AND REPEAT SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED ONE MINUTE AND NEW SPEAKERS ARE ALLOWED.
TWO MINUTES TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF 11.
I'LL CALL THE ROLE CHAIR CLARK IS HERE.
PRESENT, UH, COMMISSIONER ALLMAN ALLMAN.
COMMISSIONER HINES IS NOT HERE.
COMMISSIONER MAREZ IS NOT HERE.
COMMISSIONER POS PERLE IS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, UH, SIEGLER SIEGLER.
COMMISSIONER STEIN STEIN PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER VICTOR IS NOT HERE.
COMMISSIONER VERE BLAND IS NOT HERE.
COMMISSIONER MANKA MANKA PRESENT.
WE HAVE 15 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, SO WE HAVE A QUORUM.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, UM, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER 93 LAUREL PLACE RESERVE IS NOT GONNA BE HEARD.
[Director’s Report]
THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CLARK, COMMISSION MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
I AM VON TRAN, SECRETARY OF THIS COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE ONLY ONE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, IT'S SOMEWHAT BITTERSWEET.
TODAY WE BID FAREWELL TO DIPTI MATURA, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION.
MANY OF US HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER AND HAVE SEEN DIPTI GROW IN HER CAREER SINCE SHE JOINED THE CITY IN 2006.
FRESH FROM EARNING HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN URBAN PLANNING FROM TEXAS A AND M.
DIPTI HAS STOOD BEFORE THIS COMMISSION FAITHFULLY FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS, SERVING OUR CITY WITH GRATITUDE FOR HER SERVICE.
WE WISH HER THE BEST IN HER NEXT ROLE.
DIPTI, WE'RE GONNA REALLY MISS YOU HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF PLANNING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, DIRECTOR JUAN.
AND I THOUGHT I CAN SPEAK FEW SECONDS.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT, THE TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN ME.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE VOLUNTEERS AND YOU WORKING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION AND YOU SHOW UP EVERY TWO WEEKS AND YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE.
I I'M TRULY VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE FOR 18 YEARS.
UM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES A LOT OF WORK IN THE BACKGROUND TO BRING EVERYTHING TO YOU.
AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED YOUR TRUST AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE, UH, THAT ARE STILL THERE IN THE FLYING DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST SERVICE TO YOU ALL AND TO THE PUBLIC.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S SITTING RIGHT BEHIND HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL PART OF THIS PROCESS, AND YOU ALL DO BEST FOR THE HOUSTON.
I BROUGHT MY KIDS AND MY HUSBAND, I WAS LIKE, YOU ALL SHOULD COME SEE THIS
SO THEY ARE HERE TO WITNESS THIS.
UH, BUT I'M, I'M GLAD THAT I'M, UH, ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'VE HAD THE PRI PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS COMMISSION SINCE 2011, AND, UH, YOU'VE BEEN MORE THAN HELPFUL AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THE FRIENDSHIP AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER, AND I, I PERSONALLY WILL MISS YOU.
AND THIS COMMISSION WILL MISS YOU.
AND I KNOW THERE'S OTHERS THAT WANNA SPEAK.
UM, I CAME ON COMMISSION 2017 AND, UH, YOU REALLY EXEMPLIFY, UH, THE FACE OF THE CITY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A COMMISSIONER THAT THERE WAS NO TIME WHEN I CALLED YOU AND YOU DID NOT PROMPTLY CALL ME BACK AND EXPLAINED THE PROCESS TO ME.
YOU'RE VERY CUSTOMER FRIENDLY.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN.
[00:05:01]
SMILING FACE AND YOU HAVE IT TOGETHER.YOU KNOW, YOU SEE ANY COMMOTION GOING ON OVER THERE AND YOU JUMP IN.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU, BUT GOOD LUCK.
COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? OKAY, TAKE TURNS.
DID WE, I SIMPLY WANNA SHARE THAT.
UH, I WEAR TWO HATS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE.
AND AS A SUBMITTED, YOU KNOW, APPLICATION FOR PLATTING AND DIPTY WHERE THERE WAS CONFUSION AND I CALLED YOU HAD THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
YOU HAD, YOU, YOU, THE EXPLANATION, THE UNDERSTANDING.
THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT, YOU KNOW, THE ROUND HOLE, THE SQUARE BOX AFFAIR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU GOTTA FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.
AND YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF THAT.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.
YEAH, DIPTI, I TOO WANNA THANK YOU IN A NUMBER OF CAPACITIES.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT PLANNING ISSUES, CODE AMENDMENTS, THINGS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
AND YOU WERE ALWAYS SO HELPFUL TO ME AT THE TIME.
AND AS CHAIR, YOU JUST WERE A GODSEND.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I DON'T THINK FEW PEOPLE WORK AS HARD AS YOU DO AT YOUR JOB.
AND, UM, THE CITY'S LOSS IS GONNA BE THE COUNTY'S GAME.
SO, UM, FORTUNATELY WE WANNA WORK TOGETHER.
SO YOU'RE A PERFECT PERSON TO FILL THAT ROLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BALDWIN.
I, I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE THAN MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS EXCEPT JUST PERSONALLY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HOW HARD YOU'VE WORKED AND HOW HARD YOU WORK FOR ALL OF THE CITY.
AND YOU MADE OUR JOB SO MUCH EASIER AND YOU MADE MINE PARTICULARLY EASY AND YOU WERE JUST SO PLEASANT TO WORK WITH.
AND I WISH YOU JUST THE BEST OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE AND ANY WAY WE CAN HELP YOU REACH OUT.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE SAID EVERYTHING THAT I DO, BUT FOLLOW FOLLOWING THE, THE SECOND HAT.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, BUFFALO BODY PARTNERSHIP, CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS COUNTY CREATED A JOINT, A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT WHERE WE, IN 10 YEARS, WE'LL CREATE 300 PLUS THREE OVER $300 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.
UM, NEW PARKS AND TRAILS AND YOU NAME IT.
UM, AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, DIPTI HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
EVERY TIME WE GET A PERMIT ISSUE.
AND BASICALLY IT GOES, WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
FRIDAY NIGHT, DIPTI GETS ANSWERS, GETS CAN BUOY, WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT IT'S ALL UNIQUE THINGS LIKE, WELL, WE'RE NOT RE PLATING UNTIL WE FINISH THE PROJECT 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO SUBDIVIDE IT.
AND THE POINT IS, WHOEVER FOLLOWS YOU, I FEEL SORRY FOR
THEY GOT SOME REALLY BIG SHOES TO FILL.
AND I ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID.
DIPTY, YOU'VE JUST BEEN A AMAZING, AND JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY HAS MADE MY JOB EVERY DAY SO MUCH EASIER TO DO.
UM, SO WISH YOU BEST OF LUCK, BUT, UM, IT'S A HARD DAY FOR ME PERSONALLY.
WE WILL MISS YOU DIPTY, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANNA LET YOU SPEAK OR NOT 'CAUSE YOU STOLE HER
BUT GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MONDA PAKA, I APOLOGIZE FOR STEALING SUCH A GREAT, UH, RESOURCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, COUNTY AND CITY WORK, UH, SO CLOSELY TOGETHER ON SEVERAL PROJECTS.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT TP IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE COMMISSION ACTIVITIES AND, UH, AND SHE, YOU'LL ALL, I PROMISE THAT YOU'LL ALL SEE HER AGAIN.
YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR MOBILE NUMBER.
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AT THE COUNTY AND COMMISSIONER ALLMAN, COMMISSIONER, BUT, UM, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE OUR FAMILY? WOULD YOU OR YOUR FAMILY? DID YOU HAPPEN TO? YES.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS MAKES US KNOW NOT TO GO THERE.
SO MY TWO KIDS, RANIA AND TAHI, AND MY HUSBAND SATIN, AFTER SHE COMES HOME, I HAVE ANOTHER HALF OF THE JOB TO BE FINISHED WHERE I HAVE TO GET TO KNOW ALL THE, ALL THE PLANS AND HOW IT WENT THROUGH
[00:10:01]
BE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF A RESPECT FROM THEM.IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU.
YOU GUYS DO A GREAT, GREAT JOB AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR VOLUNTARY HOURS THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN TO MAKE THIS CITY, WHICH WE CALL IT AS A HOME.
OKAY, SO NOW, UH, I NEED A CON.
WE'RE DOING A, UGH, EXCUSE ME.
GET MYSELF BACK IN THE RIGHT MODE HERE.
[Consideration of March 6, 2025, Planning Commission Meeting Minutes ]
ARE LOOKING AT THE MINUTES FROM OUR MARCH 6TH, 2025 MEETING.DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION GARZA.
[Platting Activities a & b]
TO CONSENT A AND B, CONSENT AND RELAS.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SECTIONS A AND B ARE PRESENTED AS ONE GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES CONSENT AND REPLAY ITEMS NOT REQUIRING NOTIFICATION.
SECTIONS A AND B ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 82 SECTIONS A CONSENT ITEMS ARE NUMBERS, UH, ONE THROUGH 46 AND SECTIONS B.
REPLAY ITEMS ARE 47 THROUGH 82.
IF WE PLEASE THE COMMISSION STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MOVE CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 21, HOOPER LANDING, UH, INTO THE REPL SECTION.
UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN OUTTA ORDER AND THERE ARE NO CHANCE OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IF PLEASE TO COMMISSION, UH, DEPARTMENT REQUEST APPROVAL, ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSENT AND REPL ITEMS NOT REQUIRE NOTIFICATION.
I THINK I HAVE SOME ABSTENTIONS.
COMMISSIONER HEI? YES, MADAM CHAIR, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM ITEM 6 7 8 12 THROUGH 15, 25, 28, 39, 40, AND 51.
ARE THERE ANY O OTHER? ABSTENTIONS? OKAY, SO I NEED A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS. SEVEN, EXCEPT ITEM 6, 7, 8, 12 THROUGH 15, 25, 28, 39, 40, AND 51.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION, MOTION TO HEAR? ROBINS SECOND ROBINS.
NOW I NEED, UH, A MOTION FOR ITEM 6 7, 8 12 THROUGH 15, 25, 28, 39, 40, AND 51.
[c. Replats requiring Public Hearings with Notification (Dorianne Powe-Phlegm, Devin Crittle, and John Cedillo)]
TO C, PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRING NOTIFICATION.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I, UM, MAYBE, UM, IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO AN ITEM FURTHER DOWN IN THE AGENDA.
UM, WHICH ITEM WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MOVE TO? THE VERY NEXT ONE OR YOU WANT ME TO GO DOWN A COUPLE? CAN WE PLEASE MOVE TO 88? SURE.
SO WE'LL COME BACK ON 83 THROUGH 87.
CERTAINLY 88 CORDELL RESIDENCE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM NUMBER 88 IS CORDELL RESIDENTIAL.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AT THE SOUTHEAST INTERSECTION OF PETITE STREET AND CORDELL STREET.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPLAY IS TO COMBINE TWO LOTS INTO ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES BEING REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM.
AND REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CCPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITION.
MADAM CHAIR, YOU PLEASES THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR ITEM 88.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE, I WILL CLO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.OKAY, SO WE'RE SKIPPING NOW 89 THROUGH 92.
ITEM 92 IS HLB HOMES ON NOLL STREET.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS A NEARLY 9,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS SOUTH ALONG NOLL STREET, EAST OF HOMESTEAD ROAD AND NORTH OF LAY ROAD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS TO CREATE FOUR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND A FLAG LOT FORMATION.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ON NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
THE REVIEW B GO THE CASE, THE APPLICATION DOES NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF HAS RECEIVED NO ADVANCE COMMENTS FOR THIS APPLICATION.
THE APPLICATION WAS PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED AT COMMISSION, UH, TO COMPLY WITH NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND NOW HAS COME INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE STANDARDS.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CCP C 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS MADAM CHAIR PLEASES COMMISSION.
YOU MAY CONTINUE THIS HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 92 IS OPEN.
THE ONLY SPEAKER I HAVE TO SIGN IS THE APPLICANT FOR QUESTIONS ONLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
YES, JOHN, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY THESE FLAGGED LOTS VERSUS THE NORMAL CONFIGURATION WHERE WE HAVE SOME EASEMENT THROUGH LOT 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.
IS THIS, SOME IS, DID WE DO SOMETHING DEVELOPMENTALLY WISE THAT ENCOURAGED THIS OR, UH, IT DOES HAVE SOME DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN THE SHARED DRIVEWAY.
UH, THE, FOR ONE THERE IS THE, THE KINDA THE PARKING STANDARDS, BUT ALSO THIS KIND OF OPENS UP THE 16 FOOT, UH, STAFF OF THE FLAG WHERE THEY FOUR FOOT GARAGE BUILDING LINE.
SO IT DOES COMPLY WITH THE 20 FOOT REQUIREMENT.
UM, THERE ARE SHARED DRIVEWAY OPTIONS THAT ARE LIKE 12 FEET BUT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE 20 FOOT VARI UH, SPACING.
BUT THERE'S SOME, SOME PLUSES TO THIS THAT WORK ON THE 60 FOOT WIDE LOT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE 50 FOOT WIDE LOT.
WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE OF THESE, UH, POTENTIALLY THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT COULD BE DONE.
I'LL LET Y'ALL TELL ME WHAT I'M GOING TO NEXT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
OKAY, IT'S AVALON PLACE, PARTIAL REPLA NUMBER ONE, UM, SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY.
SITE IS LOCATED ALONG ALI LANE AND THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE ONE RESERVE.
THIS PROJECT, UH, AFTER LEGAL REVIEW, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A LETTER FROM THE HOA.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER FOR THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THE LETTER FROM THE HOA.
THEY HAVE MET THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER THE PLAT IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION.
UH, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO, UH, LET THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, MOVE THE HEARING TO THE NEXT CYCLE.
SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 83.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM 84, BRANDON CROSSING RELA NUMBER ONE, ITEM 84.
BRANDON CROSSING RELA NUMBER ONE.
UM, SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED, UM, ALONG BRANDON STREET AND THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE FOUR LOTS OUT OF TWO LOTS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RELIGHT IS TO CREATE FOUR LOTS, UM, ALONG AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAGGIE AND BRANDON STREET.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLA IT MEETS THE DE RESTRICTIONS AND THE NOTICE IS GOOD.
SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLA IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION.
UM, WHAT IS, WHAT DID THEY SAY? STAFF WOULD LIKE TO OPEN STAFF.
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
SORRY, I HAD BEEN OUT OF PRACTICE.
UM, OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 85, ITEM 85 CANDELA SOUTH.
SECTION TWO, PARTIAL REPL NUMBER ONE.
UM, SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED AT, UM, SORRY.
[00:20:01]
ALONG VIBRANT SKY DRIVE AND THE APPLICANT IS CREATING TWO LOTS.THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS TO, UM, CORRECT THE STROM SEAVER EASEMENT AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THIS PLAT LEGAL, UH, REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT DOES NOT VIOLATE ANY DE RESTRICTIONS AND THEREFORE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 85 IS OPEN.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
LINA STATES SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED ALONG LINA STREET AND THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
UM, REVIEW BY LEGAL DEPARTMENT INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT DOES NOT, UH, VIOLATE ANY DEED RESTRICTIONS.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS A BUILDING LINE RESTRICTION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED ON THE SIDE.
LOT LINES AND STAFF HAS RECEIVED A REVISED DRAWING.
THEREFORE, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO C PC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 86 IS OPEN.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MIGUEL LOPEZ.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS MIGUEL LOPEZ AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS KIND OF MEETING.
JUST STATE, STATE, WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT US TO HEAR AGAINST THIS, AGAINST OR FOR THIS SUBMITTAL.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THE ONLY THING I WANNA SAY THAT I SPOKE TO, UH, UH, THREE OF MY NEIGHBORS AND THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY NOTICE OF THIS.
UH, UH, TWO LOADS AND, UM, UH, NOT REALLY FAMILIAR, BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING.
'CAUSE WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN BUILD ANYTHING ELSE ON THE, ON THE AREA, UH, FOR BUSINESS OR LIKE EXTRA HOUSES.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY, UH, DOING THIS NOW.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M NOT APPROVED.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY.
I'LL HAVE A MEMBER OF STAFF TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, UM, AFTER WE HEAR OUR OTHER SPEAKER AND, AND THIS ITEM'S BEEN HEARD AND MAYBE THEY CAN GO OVER IT WITH YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I'VE GOT TWO PEOPLE SIGNED TOGETHER, SO WHOEVER WANTS TO COME UP FIRST.
KAREN, RENEE TREVINO SALGADO, AND EDWIN EDMOND TREVINO, JUST ONE.
UM, MY BROTHER AND I ARE HERE TO REPRESENT MY, OUR PARENTS.
UM, WE'RE A LITTLE CONFUSED AS IS THIS THE ONLY PROPERTY THAT IS, UM, CONSIDERED FOR THE PLA? YES, MA'AM.
SO THEN I GUESS THAT'S NOT OUR PROPERTY.
NO, NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING ON YOUR PROPERTY.
WELL, YOU CAN, BUT NOBODY ELSE CAN DO ANYTHING ON YOUR PROPERTY.
YOU GOT A NOTICE ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? IT? WELL, THERE WASN'T AN ACTUAL ADDRESS.
IT JUST SAID CATALINA ESTATES AND THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S THE NAME OF THIS, UH, PLAT UHHUH.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT REFERENCES IS THE NAME OF THE PLAT.
AND YOU SEE ON THE, THE SCREEN THE NOTICE IS UP, SO IT WOULD, WOULD REFER YOU TO THAT PLAT NAME.
AND IT IS JUST FOR THESE TWO LOTS.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON, UH, ITEM 86.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK, UH, MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO JUST SPOKE, UM, WE DON'T, WE WANT SOMEONE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
YES, I WAS GONNA ASK FOR THAT AFTER YOU GUYS VOTED.
ALRIGHT, WELL, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
I STEIN MOTION GARZA, SECOND STEIN.
I I WANTED TO KNOW IF WE, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.
I WANTED TO KNOW, HAVE WE LOOKED AT THE, ARE THERE ANY DEED RESTRICTIONS AT ALL? IS THIS A CASE WHERE THERE'S NO DEED RESTRICTIONS? BECAUSE, UH, THE SPEAKER SAID THAT HE WAS TOLD HE COULDN'T SUBDIVIDE OR DO ANYTHING ELSE? I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S NO DEED RESTRICTIONS OR IF THERE'S DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT EITHER ARE TECHNICALLY, UM, DON'T, DON'T MEET THE TECHNICAL.
BASICALLY, ARE THERE SUPPOSED TO BE DEED RESTRICTIONS? TURNS OUT THEY'RE NOT ENFORCEABLE FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE ENFORCEABLE
[00:25:01]
AND THIS REPL MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.AND MS. BANDEE, I KNOW I TOOK A MOTION AND A SECOND, BUT WHILE WE'RE TALKING, WILL YOU MAKE SURE THAT STAFF GETS WITH MR. LOPEZ FOLLOWING THIS, UH, AND EXPLAIN THAT TO HIM? GO TO CHAIR AND TRY TO HELP HIM OUT.
SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MATT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 87 IS KAYWOOD ESTATES SOCIETY IS LOCATED IN THE CITY, UM, AND THEY ARE REPLYING, THEY'RE CREATING, UH, TWO LOTS.
IT'S WEST OF A ALONG, UH, KAYWOOD.
IT'S LONG KAYWOOD STREET AND WEST OF SHEDDON SHADY VILLA LANE.
THE REASON FOR REPLY IS TO CREATE TWO LOTS.
THERE ARE NO VARIOUS REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCE COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM.
MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE TO COMMISSION YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 87.
I DO HAVE A SPEAKER, MIKE GOFF.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, MR. KAUF.
UH, THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS OUR PROPERTY IS THE ONE DIRECTLY BESIDE THIS AND THERE IS A, AN A LONG ABANDONED CITY EASEMENT, DRAINAGE EASEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES.
AND AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN THERE, WHICH HAS BEEN ALMOST 30 YEARS, THAT EASEMENT HAS COLLECTED WATER.
AND SO MY QUESTION OR MY CONCERN IS WHAT IS THE INTENDED USE OF THAT EASEMENT THAT HAS LONG BEEN ABANDONED BY THE CITY? UM, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
UM,
UM, WELL, THEY'RE INDICATING IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING STRAIGHT UP TO USING THAT ENTIRE EASEMENT, WHICH I DON'T, UH, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO I MAY GET YOU TO TALK TO MR. BROWN, BUT MS. FLM, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EASEMENT? IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE PART OF THIS SUBMITTAL? YES.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE EASEMENT, BUT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT THAT IS, UM, A LINE THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS ACTUALLY, UH, ADJACENT.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT CONNECTING AT ALL TO THAT EASEMENT.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT EASEMENT IS? CAN YOU SHOW US? IT'S ON THE FAR LEFT, RIGHT? THE EASEMENT IS ON THAT 97 POINT 18 LINE.
SO IT'S BESIDE YOUR PROPERTY, BUT IT'S NOT ATTACHED TO THESE, THESE LOTS.
IT RUNS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF OH, I'M SORRY.
IT RUNS THE, UH, IT RUNS THE ENTIRE SIDELINE OF THEIR LOT AND IT RUNS THE ENTIRE SIDELINE OF OUR LOT.
NO, THEIR LOT, THEIR LOT DOESN'T TOUCH, NOT WHAT, NOT WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TODAY.
WELL, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT ON THE MAP DOESN'T, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
I EVEN HAVE THE ORIGINAL
BUT YES, IT RUNS THE ENTIRE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY LINE AND THE SIDE OF YOURS.
SO IT'S, IT'S WHERE THAT 97 POINT 18 LINE IS.
OKAY, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
IT'S NOT SHOWN ON THIS DRAWING.
IT'S SHOWING, WE'RE NOT LOOKING ON THIS.
IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S ALONG THE, THE NORTHERN PORTION.
SO, UM, MS. BANDI WOULD THIS SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MR. BROWN AND, AND YOU COULD GET TOGETHER WITH HIM AND MR. GOFF AND TALK ABOUT? YES, MA'AM.
THIS IS A PRELIMINARY PLAT AND IF THERE ARE EXISTING EASEMENTS THAT WILL SHOW UP ON THE TITLE REPORT AT THE FINAL AND THE PROPERTY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE EXISTING EASEMENTS.
HOWEVER, NOW THAT WE HAVE QUESTION, WE WILL TALK TO THE SPEAKER AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ADDRESSED.
[00:30:01]
WERE LOOKING AT WASN'T WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.SO, UM, I WASN'T TELLING YOU YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE WEREN'T SEEING IT.
UM, BUT IF YOU UNDERSTOOD, UM, THEY'RE GONNA GET WITH YOU AFTERWARDS.
UM, AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT IN BETWEEN THE PRELIMINARY AND THE FINAL PLAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 89 IS FAULT AND PLACE TOWNHOMES.
SHE KNOWS BETTER THAN WE DO, BUT, UM, WE'RE ALL A LITTLE CONFUSED TODAY, SO PLEASE PROCEED.
THE SITE IS LOCATED EAST ALONG FULTON STREET, SOUTH OF HARTON STREET AND NORTH OF BROOK STREET AND HOUSTON CORPORATE LIMITS.
THE REASON FOR RELAID IS TO CREATE FOUR SINGLE FAMILY LOTS AND REDUCE THE BUILDING LINE.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO SEEKING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A DUAL BUILDING LINE ALONG A MAJOR RAFFA FOR EXISTING HOMES.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE PLAT IS A RE PLAT OF FULTON PLACE TOWN HOMES, A FOUR LOT SUBDIVISION THAT WAS CREATED IN 2021 WITH WHICH THE LOCKS, THE LOTS TOOK ACCESS FROM AN 18 FOOT SHARE DRIVEWAY WITH A BUILDING LINE OF 10 FEET ALONG FULTON STREET.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY GRANTED A VARIANCE IN 2021 TO ALLOW A 10 FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG FULTON STREET THEN THE REQUIRED 25 FEET BUILDING LINE.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A BUILDING LINE OF 9.68 FEET.
THE HOUSE WAS BUILT AT 9.68 FEET AND THE OWNER WAS UNAWARE OF THE ERROR AND SUBMITTED THIS REQUEST TO MAKE THIS PLAQUE COME IN.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
THE DEVELOPMENT IS IN CHARACTER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ALONG FULTON STREET, AND THE APPLICANT IS WILLING TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED VARIANCE AND WILL PROVIDE MINIMUM 18 FEET WIDE PEDESTRIAN REALM.
11 FOOT WIDE SAFETY BUS BUFFER, MINIMUM SEVEN FOOT WIDE, UM, UNOBSTRUCTED SIDEWALK, MINIMUM THREE INCH CALIBER OF TREES AND DECORATIVE SEA.
SEMI OPEC, RIGHT IRON FENCE, NOT HIGHER THAN EIGHT FEET.
ALL LANDSCAPE LOW LANDSCAPING WILL BE MET AT PERMITTING.
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THIS REQUEST.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILES SEPARATELY, ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAID PER THE CBC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 89 IS OPEN.
I DO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS, BUT ALL FOR QUESTIONS AND THE APPLICANT.
SO I'M GONNA CALL YOUR NAME AND JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANNA SPEAK AND IF NOT, WE'LL PROCEED ON CARLOS ESPINOZA QUESTIONS ONLY.
AND TODD BLITZER QUESTIONS ONLY.
OKAY, WELL THAT WENT PRETTY QUICK.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 89? I HAD A QUESTION FOR STAFF COMMISSIONER STEIN.
SO THE, THE HOUSES THAT WERE BUILT AND I APPARENTLY THERE WERE SOME LACK OF PERMITS INVOLVED THAT WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT OWNER THAN CURRENTLY.
YEAH, ENTIRELY DIFFERENT OWNER, YES.
SO THIS IS A, A NEW PERSON WHO INHERITED A SITUATION? YES.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT.
NO, GOOD QUESTION AND CLARIFICATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE NO ONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK, SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
NUMBER 90, ITEM 90 IS HIGHLAND VILLAGE, PARTIALLY PLA NUMBER THREE, THE SIZE LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF WESTHEIMER ROAD AND SUFFOLK DRIVE.
THE REASON FOR REFL IS TO CREATE AN UNRESTRICTED RESERVE AND REVISE THE BUILDING LINE ALONG WESTHEIMER ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW
[00:35:01]
A ZERO FOOT BUILDING LINE FOR A PORTION OF A NEW STRUCTURE ALONG THE WEST RIGHT OF WAY, LINE OF SUFFOLK DRIVE, AND A 10 FOOT BUILDING LINE FOR A PORTION OF A NEW STRUCTURE TO BE BUILT ALONG WESTHEIMER ROAD.THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED TO PROVIDE REVISED SITE PLAN, VARIANCE REPORT AND EXHIBITS.
MADAM CHAIR, SAM'S RECOMMENDATION IS DE FURTHER PLAT PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
WE HAVE RECEIVED, UM, PREVIOUS, UH, COMMENTS CONCERNING THIS PLAT CONCERNING, UM, UH, THE USE AS WELL AS, UM, PARKING AND, UM, THE TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROJECT MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON.
UM, THE AREA STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFERRED PLA PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 90 IS CONTINUED.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE.
I WILL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE KNOW THE USE? I MEAN, IS THIS BECOMING A RESTAURANT? THIS WAS THE MITCHELL GOLD BUILDING, RIGHT? YEAH.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A RESTAURANT.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A FURNITURE STORE.
BUT, UH, THERE WOULD HAVE LIKE A, A ROOF, A ROOFTOP AREA FOR, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT A RESTAURANT, BUT IT THERE WILL BE CATERING SERVICES FOR LIKE RESTORATION HARDWARE IN THE SAME COMPLEX.
ONE, UH, WE PROBABLY DID NOT DO 91.
DID WE DO 91? NO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M AT IN THIS AGENDA ANYMORE.
ITEM 91 IS HLB HOMES ON BRINKLEY.
THE SITE IS IN HOUSTON, CORPORATE LIMITS SOUTH OF ALONG BRINKLEY STREET, EAST OF SCOTT STREET.
THE REASON FOR RELA IS TO CREATE FIVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE CBC 1 0 1 FORM.
CONDITIONS REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OF THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCED COMMENTS FOR THIS PLAT.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CONTINUED.
I ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, SIGNED FOR QUESTIONS ONLY MA KAREN KOTT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NO.
WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY, SO 93 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
RIGHT? I THINK I'M BACK ON A ROLL NOW.
YES, MA, YOU'VE, YOU'VE DONE GREAT SO FAR.
THAT'S KIND OF, IT'S WHAT IT IS.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ OF HARRIS COUNTY SOUTH OF ALDI, MAIL ROUTE ROAD AND WEST ALONG G BLOGGER STREET.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS TO CREATE 15 LOTS AND FOUR RESERVES.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES BEING REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM.
AND REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLATTER.
THOSE FILED SEPARATELY, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 94.
I HAVE ONE SPEAKER AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
MS. JOYCE OWENS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY OR NO, MA'AM.
UH, IF WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL CLOSE THE, UM, PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND TO HEAR.
ITEM 95 IS POND BERRY, SECTION ONE, REPL NUMBER ONE, THE SIZE.
LOCATED WEST ALONG FANTON STREET, SOUTH OF HOLMES ROAD IN HOUSTON.
THE REASON FOR RELA IS TO CREATE 80 LOTS AND FIVE RESERVES AND REMOVE 10 FEET AND 14 FOOT UTILITY EASEMENTS.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO SEEKING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW LOTS TO HAVE SOLE ACCESS FROM A PRIVATE ALLEY.
[00:40:01]
IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST.THE PLAT IS A REPL OF POND BERRY SECTION ONE THAT WAS CREATED IN 2023 WITH 68 LOTS AND FIVE RESERVES.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION GRANTED A VARIANCE IN 2023 TO ALLOW LOTS TO TAKE SOLE ACCESS FROM A PRIVATE ALLEY RATHER THAN A PUBLIC STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOTS AND REQUESTING ADDITIONAL LOTS TO TAKE SOLE ACCESS FROM PRIVATE ALLEYS.
THE LOT CONFIGURATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ALONG FANIN STREET AND WILL PROMOTE WALKABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY AND LA ADEN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS IN THE CITY.
LEGAL REVIEW INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO THIS REQUEST.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE C BBC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCED COMMENTS CONCERNING THIS PLAT.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CONTINUED FOR THIS ITEM.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ITEM 96.
ITEM 96 IS SHADY VILLA EDITION NUMBER ONE OF PARTIAL REPL.
THE SEPTIC SITE IS A NEARLY 26,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AT THE SOUTHEAST INTERSECTION OF ANTOINE DRIVE AND WESTVIEW DRIVE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS TO CREATE ONE UNRESTRICTED RESERVE.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ON NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MAD CHAIR, PLEASE THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR THIS ITEM.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 97 IS SOUTHGATE PARTIAL REPL NUMBER SEVEN.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS AN OVER 5,600 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS SOUTH ALONG UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AND ISSA GREENBRIAR DRIVE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS TO CREATE ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THE APPLICATION DOES NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
UH, STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCED COMMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MA'AM, CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN FOR ITEM 97.
I DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS, BUT, UH, MS. OWENS IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS OVER 15,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS WEST ALONG DONAL WAY NORTH OF ALAMEDA, GENOA, AND WEST OF COLUM BOULEVARD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPL IS CREATE THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTS FOR THIS ITEM, AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW B STATES THAT THE APPLICATION DOES NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCED COMMENTS FOR THIS APPLICATION.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO C PC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND ITEM 99 IS WHISPERING OAKS TOWNHOUSES.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS A NEARLY ONE ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS SOUTH ALONG PAUL QUINN STREET, NORTH OF TWELL ROAD AND WEST OF MONTGOMERY ROAD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RE PLAT IS CREATE 17 SINGLE FAMILY LOTS AND FOUR RESERVES ALONG A TYPE TWO PAE PRIVATE STREET SYSTEM.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
LEGAL INDICATES THE PLAT DOES NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY AND STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADVANCED COMMENTS FOR THIS APPLICATION.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CCPC 1 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU.I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[d. Subdivision Plats with Variance Requests (Aracely Rodriguez, Devin Crittle, Petra Hsia, and John Cedillo)]
WE'LL MOVE ALONG NOW TO D VARIANCES.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 100 BRICK CREEK VILLAGE, SECTION TWO.
THE SITE LOCATED IN HOUSTON, ETJ IN HARRIS COUNTY, WEST OF FIVE ROAD AND NORTH OR WEST ROAD AND EAST WEST GREEN BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TWO VARIANCES.
ONE TO ALLOW A 14 FEET FRONT AND GARAGE BORDERLINE ALONG A TYPE ONE P-A-E-P-U-E INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 20 FEET BORDERLINE.
AND SECOND, TO ALLOW THE REQUIRED COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE TO BE PROVIDED OUTSIDE THE PROPOSED PLAT BOUNDARY STEP IS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH REQUESTS.
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF 81 LOTS AND SEVEN RESERVE WITH TYPE ONE P-A-E-P-U-E LAYOUT.
THE PROPOSED P-A-E-P-U-E-P-U-E PRIVATE STREET WILL INCLUDE A 28 FEET PAVING SECTION WITH ADEQUATE SPACE FOR UTILITY AND LANDSCAPING.
IN THE REMAINING REMAINING OF THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH A PROPOSED 14 FEET GARAGE BUILDER LINE, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CURB AND THE HOUSE WILL BE 25 FEET, PROVIDING 19 FEET BETWEEN THE GARAGE AND THE PROPOSED SIDEWALK WITHOUT BLOCKING THE, THE SIDEWALK.
I MEAN TO ALLOW A SUFFICIENT SPACE TO ALLOW THE CAR TO PARK IN FRONT THE HOUSE WITHOUT BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK GRANTING THE VARIANT WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT IN BRICK CREEK VILLAGE.
SECTION ONE, WHERE A SIMILAR VARI WAS ALSO GRANTED TO ALLOW A REDUCED 14 FEET BUILDER LINE.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING A VARIANT TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE FOR BRICK CREEK VILLAGE.
SECTION TWO TWO TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE PLANT BOUNDARY USING THE ACCESS COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE FROM WEEK QUICK VILLAGE.
SECTION ONE, WHICH IS THE ADJACENT SECTION AT THIS ADJACENT SESSION ALREADY EXCEED THE COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENT.
SO THE CHAIR OF COMPENSATING OPEN SPACE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND WILL BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THE ENTIRE, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE REQUIRED TO THE REQUEST.
AND THAT RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLA SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 100? OKAY.
WE HAVE A, A RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCES TO HAVE A MOTION.
A OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES ITEM 1 0 1, ITEM 1 0 1.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN, IN THE ETJ IN HARRIS COUNTY, WEST OF FIVE ROAD AND NORTH OR WEST ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TWO VARIANCES.
BEARING NUMBER ONE IS TO ALLOW, UM, A 45 FEET OF BURN WHILE COMMERCIAL RESERVE.
INSTEAD, THE REQUIRE 60 FEET AND SECOND TO NOT EXTEND, TERMINATE, FALL, AND SPRING DRIVE WITH A COOL EFFECT AND TO EXCEED INTERSECTION PACING ALONG THE WESTERN AND EASTERN BOUNDARIES.
STOP IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE PROPERTY IS THE COMMERCIAL SITE WITH 45 FEET ALONG GAR ROAD AND THE CHAPTER 42 REQUIRE A MINIMUM 60 FEET OF FURNISH WITH A COMMERCIAL RESERVE.
HOWEVER, STREET APPLICATION WILL MAKE THIS PROJECT UNFEASIBLE AS THE PROPERTY OWNER CANNOT ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL LAND TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
THE APPLICANT ALSO REQUIRED TO ADDRESS INTERSECTION BASING ALONG THE EASTERN BOUNDARY BY EXTENDING BING SPRING DRIVE, STEP TREE THROUGH THE SIDE.
THIS STREET, UM, CANNOT BE EXTENDED AND IS UNFEASIBLE AS A VARIANT HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED TO THE WET.
SO THIS STREET CANNOT BE EXTENDED FOR THE WET.
ALSO, GRANTING THE VARIANT WILL NOT EXTEND THE STEP TREE WILL HELP YOU PREVENT COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC FROM ENTERING THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ALREADY HAD ADEQUATE, UM, TRAFFIC CIRCULATION WITH REPORT ACCESS TO THE NORTH AND TO THE EAST.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE REQUEST.
AND THAT RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND I APPROVE THE PLA SUBJECT TO THE CPC
[00:50:01]
1 0 1 FORM CONDITION.MS. UH, OWENS IS HERE FOR QUESTIONS.
JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M READING THIS RIGHT, ALL ENTRY WILL BE OFF OF GARRETT, RIGHT? THAT IT COULD.
AND HOW WIDE IS THAT PROPERTY OPENING AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE GARRETT STRIP.
IF THE WHOLE STRIP IS 45 FEET WIDE, IS THAT EVEN WIDE ENOUGH FOR A CAR? I BELIEVE IT'S BETWEEN 1519 FEET.
MY EYES ARE BAD, BUT
CAN, UM, MS. RODRIGUEZ, THERE IS A DRIVEWAY ON THE GROUND THAT GOES THROUGH THE STRIP.
SO THIS PROPERTY, UM, ALSO HAVE AN ASSET EASEMENT THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE IF THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE ON THE STRIP.
IS THE EASEMENT WIDER THAN THIS? THERE'S AN ASSET EASEMENT ON THAT LITTLE STRIP.
I MEAN, THERE'S A DRIVEWAY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING FOR ACCESS.
CAN WE GET A, MS. OWENS IS HERE.
MY NAME IS JOYCE OWENS AND I'M REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT AND IT IS A KIND OF A, A TIGHT FIT RIGHT THERE.
BEFORE I CAME TODAY, I DID SPEAK WITH THE OWNER'S REALTOR AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF THEY CAN ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL LAND AND THAT ONE, UM, TO MAKE THAT LITTLE BIT WIDER.
BUT TO POINT OUT WHAT ELLI WAS SAYING, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LOT, THERE IS A 25 FOOT INGRESS EGRESS EASEMENT THAT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE PLATTE BOUNDARY AND IT DOES EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY.
SO IF YOU LOOK WHERE THE TURQUOISE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THE EAST SIDE, IS THAT THE EAST SIDE OR THE WEST SIDE? THE EAST SIDE.
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, UH, THERE IS A ACCESS EASEMENT, A 25 FOOT ACCESS EASEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED, OH GOSH, I THINK IN THE, IN THE NINETIES.
SO ARE THESE BEING USED AS INGRESS ON ONE SIDE, EGRESS ON THE OTHER? NO.
YEAH, THE AERIAL PHOTO HAS ZERO CIRCULATION IN THAT EASEMENT.
IT'S BASICALLY BLOCKED AT THE DO YOU HAVE A SITE NORTHERN END? YEAH.
IS THE SITE, DO WE HAVE A SITE PLAN? YES.
IF YOU SEE THE HIGHLIGHTED AND LIGHT BLUE MM-HMM
IT'S 25 FEET THAT COME, UH, THAT, UH, COMES OFF OF GARRETT AND THAT IS A ACCESS EASEMENT ON THAT SIDE.
AND IT GOES FROM GARRETT ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
SO THERE IS ANOTHER POINT OF ACCESS.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION OR MAKE IT ANY CLEARER FOR YOU? I MEAN, I CAN ANSWER THAT.
THAT'S NOT BEING USED AS CIRCULATION.
NOW, IF IT'S AN EASEMENT IT COULD BE USED, BUT, UM, ANYWAY, USED FOR MANY, MANY STORES.
SO THE BEARING REQUEST IS TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY TO KEEP 45 FEET FURNISH BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO MEET THE 60 FOR ASSET STAFF COORDINATED WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
IT MET ONE POINT OF ACID IS THE BLUE HIGHLIGHTED ASSET EASEMENT, WHICH IS 25 FEET WIDE, THE GHOST, AND B, THE PROPERTY ADJACENT IT.
THAT EASEMENT WAS CREATED BACK IN 1980.
THAT IS ONE OPTION, BUT MOST LIKELY, UM, THE SITE WILL STILL HAVE, I MEAN IF OKAY, THAT ONE OPTION.
AND THE SECOND OPTION IS THROUGH THE 45 FEET, UM, FRONTAGE.
AND, UM, IF YOU GO TO THE AERIAL CAMP PLEASE.
AND YOU MEAN CLOSURES TO THE FRONTAGE? IF YOU SEE THIS PROPERTY, UM, USED TO BE PART OF THE ADJACENT TRACK AND THERE'S AN EASEMENT THAT CURVE INTO THE STRIP, CURRENTLY THEY'RE TAKING ACID FROM THAT E UM, DRIVEWAY.
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN THE THIRD OPTION, THEY CAN STILL CONTINUE ACID FOR THE 45 PEOPLE AND THAT WILL CONFIRMED WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MAN.
MOTION MANDUKA SECOND ROBBINS.
COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG ONE OPPOSED? YES.
AND I FAILED TO STATE THAT COMMISSIONER HINES HAS JOINED US.
[00:55:01]
TO ITEM 1 0 2, ITEM CHAIR PLEASES THE COMMISSION.STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, UM, ITEM 1 0 2 AND ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR TOGETHER AS THEY ARE RELATED.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS NORTH ALONG WEST 20TH STREET BETWEEN ASHLAND STREET AND RUTLAND STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A ONE AND A HALF FOOT DUAL BUILDING LINE FOR A PORTION OF THE SITE FRONTING ALONG WEST 20TH STREET INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 25 FEET.
ALSO, THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM CHAPTER 28 TO ALLOW THE HOTEL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL AREA TO BE LOCATED NEAR PROTECTED USES AND ALLOW ACCESS FROM ASHLAND STREET.
THIS, THE SITE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED THE VARIANCE REQUEST APPROVAL FOR A REDUCED BUILDING LINE IN MARCH OF 2023 FOR 51 ROOM HOTEL.
AT THE TIME, A DUAL TWO FOOT BUILDING LINE VARIANCE WAS GRANTED ALONG WEST 20TH STREET.
SINCE THEN, THE DEVELOPER ACQUIRED THE REMAINDER OF THE BLOCK TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL 11 ROOMS TO THE EXISTING HOTEL.
THE AREA OF THE REDUCED SETBACK WILL INCLUDE A GUEST ROOM, EVENT SPACE, AND A GYM, WHICH ALL HAVE SOME LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS VARIANCE THAT WAS GRANTED.
THE SITE WILL FEATURE A PEDESTRIAN REALM FROM 15 FEET TO 18 FEET WITH A SIX FOOT UNOBSTRUCTED SIDEWALK.
THE SEVEN FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER INCLUDES A MIX OF EXISTING MATURE OAK TREES AND NEWLY PLANTED TREES.
THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION INCLUDED AN OFFSITE STREET, EXCUSE ME, A OFF STREET PARKING VARIANCE TO ALLOW PARKING TO BE OVER 500 FEET FROM THE SITE.
THIS NEW PROPOSAL ALLOWS FOR ALL REQUIRED PARKING TO BE LOCATED ON SITE WITHOUT A PARKING VARIANCE.
THE VARIANCE RELATED TO CHAPTER 28 ADDRESS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO RESIDENTIAL AND PROTECTED USES JUSTIFIC JUSTIFICATION FOR SUPPORTING THE REDUCED BUILDING LINE INCLUDES WALKABILITY WITHIN THE PEDESTRIAN REALM AND ACTIVE GROUND FLOOR USES.
ALSO, WEST 20TH STREET HAS A GREAT NUMBER OF BOTH RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL USES.
THE REDUCED REQUESTED BUILDING LINE IS IN KEEPING WITH THE PREVIOUS VARIANCE THAT WAS GRANTED ON THE SITE.
ALTHOUGH STAFF IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE VARIANCE REQUESTS IN FRONT OF US TODAY, UH, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO DEFER THE APPLICATION TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM THE NEARBY CHURCH, WHICH WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE PREVIOUS, UH, APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE PREVIOUS, UH, SUBMITTAL.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, THE APPLICANT IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, CHUCK DAVIS, STATE YOUR YOUR HERE FOR QUESTIONS.
DID YOU WANNA MAKE ANY STATEMENT? HELLO? GOOD AFTERNOON.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
DETECTIVE LAND SURVEYOR, THE APPLICANT FOR THE PROJECT.
HE'S THE, UH, OWNER, UH, OF THE PROJECT AND HE, HE CAN, HE WAS BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING, SO HE'S BETTER EQUIPPED TO EXPLAIN, UH, THE SITUATION, UH, AND OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHURCH IN THE PAST.
MR. LEY, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? YEAH, BENJAMIN ACKLEY.
AND YOU WANNA EXPLAIN ANYTHING OR YOU JUST WANT QUESTIONS OR? YEAH.
THE LAST TIME WE APPROACHED THE HEIGHTS BAPTIST TEMPLE, THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT AND WROTE US A LETTER, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THE HOTEL EXISTING THERE.
AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL 4:30 PM LAST NIGHT THAT THEY WOULD NEED AN UPDATED LETTER IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND I WAS OVER THERE TODAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS CHURCHES OPERATE ON SUNDAYS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE PRESENT ON THURSDAYS.
SO, UH, COULDN'T GET ANYONE, WHICH IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE LETTER WITH US.
BUT THERE WAS SUPPORTIVE LAST TIME AROUND.
AS YOU'VE SEEN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CALLS FROM NEIGHBORS TO THE CITY NOR TO OUR PLANNING TEAM.
SO WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT ANY OPPOSITION THIS GO AROUND.
AND ANYONE WHO IS HERE IN THE ROOM FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WHEN IT FIRST GOT APPROVED, THERE USED TO BE A LOT OF OPPOSITION.
AND, UH, SO WE THINK THERE'S ENOUGH SUPPORT THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TODAY.
I I JUST ADD THAT THE, YOU KNOW, OUR SIGNS ARE POSTED JUST DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM 'EM, SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD THAT TO LOOK AT ALL THESE THREE WEEKS, SO.
COMMISSIONER STEIN, YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS? YEAH, I JUST, I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THIS PROJECT AND I, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PROJECT.
I'M EXCITED FOR IT TO COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS.
AND I, I HOPE THAT YOU KEEP THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BUFFER BETWEEN THE ALLEY AND THE, THE DRIVEWAY THAT CONNECTS THE HOTEL
[01:00:01]
TO THE THING GROWING AND, AND BUFFERING.SO JUST TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALLEY.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY CLEVER THE WAY YOU PUT THAT DRIVEWAY ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY, NOT USING THE ALLEY.
I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO HANDLE A PROJECT LIKE THIS, WHICH IS GONNA BE GREAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S A BIG DEAL, A BIG CHANGE AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK AND, AND YOUR COOPERATION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BALDWIN.
YEAH, I JUST ALSO WANNA TELL EVERYONE, AND, AND OF COURSE THE APPLICANTS, THEY, THEY, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS AT THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN AT.
WE ARE, I AM ON AN EMAIL CHAIN WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.
THEY'VE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MEET WITH THEM ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS, KEEP THEM INFORMED.
UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD VERY MANY COMPLAINTS AT ALL.
THEY'VE DEALT WITH THEM IMMEDIATELY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE APPROVED THIS LEFT HAND SIDE.
I THINK ALL THEY'VE DONE IS GONE OUT AND SPENT THEIR OWN MONEY TO ACQUIRE MORE PROPERTY TO REDUCE THE PARKING STRESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN ADDRESSED BY, BY ACROSS THE STREET AND BY LEASING PLACES.
SO I'M INCLINED TO, TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
THEY HAD WEEKS TO REACH OUT IF THEY WEREN'T SUPPORTIVE.
AND I'M INCLINED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BALDWIN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG TO APPROVE, UH, THE SUBMITTAL ALL.
COMMISSIONER STEIN, IS THERE ANY KIND OF REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE THIS LETTER OR IS IT JUST, WHY WERE WE WAITING TO GET A LETTER? ANOTHER LETTER.
I, UH, IT'S TYPICAL TO HELP JUSTIFY THAT SPECIFIC VARIANCE TO BE NEAR PROTECTED USES.
UM, BUT LIKE THEY MENTIONED, THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION WE SAW IN, UH, 2023.
SO SINCE IT CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, WE JUST THOUGHT WE'D GET SOME UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
BUT, UH, ESSENTIALLY WE KNOW THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE AT ONE TIME OF, UH, THE 2023 PROJECT.
AND YOU CAN'T MISS THE BIG SIGN.
IN FRONT OF THE NEW, NEW PLACE BUILDING THAT'S BEEN, I THINK WE'RE SAFE.
AND, AND WHILE GO, I MEAN, THEY MORE THAN DOUBLED THE PROPERTY AND ONLY ADDED 10 ROOMS. I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY ADDED A HUNDRED ROOMS. THEY ADDED 11 ROOMS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND, AND THEN HAVE SOLVED THEIR OWN PARKING PROBLEM BY CREATING SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR THE PROJECT AND MADE IT QUITE BEAUTIFUL, SO, OKAY.
SO I HAVE A MOTION BY BALDWIN, A SECOND BY ROSENBERG TO APPROVE THE, UH, PLOT AS SUBMITTED.
MOVING ALONG TO ITEM 1 0 3, ITEM 1 0 3, KATIE GRAND VILLAGE, SECTION TWO.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE ETJ IN HARRIS COUNTY, NORTH OF I 10 AND EAST OF GRAND PARKWAY.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUEST AN IN VARI TO ALLOW A 10 FEET FRONT AND GARAGE BORDERLINE HELD ON A TYPE ONE PA PUE INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 20 FEET.
BORDERLINE STOP IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 95 SINGLE FAMILY LOT AND FIVE FOR RESERVE WITHIN A TYPE ONE P-A-E-P-P-U-E DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSED 50 FEET WIDE, P-A-E-P-U-E PRIVATE STREET WILL HAVE THE 28 FEET OF PAVEMENT WITH ADEQUATE SPACE FOR UTILITIES AND LANDSCAPING.
WITH THE PROPOSED 10 FEET BORDERLINE, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CURB AND THE GOOD WALK WILL BE 21 FEET, PROVIDING SUFFICIENT SPACE TO ALLOW PARKING IN FRONT THE, IN FRONT OF THE HOMES, GRANTING THE VARI WILL NOT BE INJU TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT IN KATY GRAND VILLAGE, SECTION ONE, WHERE SIMILAR VARI WAS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED, HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE VARI REQUEST.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND I APPROVE THE PLA SUBSTITUTE, THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 3.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO, OKAY.
SO COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MAN.
ITEM 1 0 4, MADAM CHAIR, I'M GONNA RECUSE FROM ITEM 1 0 4.
YES, PLEASE NOTE COMMISSIONER.
SHE'S GOING TO RECUSE ITEM 1 0 4 MEMORIAL TOWN SQUARE.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY LIMIT EAST ALONG GARNER ROAD NORTH, OR
THE APPLICANT IS REQUEST INTER VARIANCES.
ONE IS TO ALLOW A 10 FEET BUILDING LINE IN THROUGH THE 25 ALONG A PORTION OF GASNER ROAD I'VE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE SCREEN.
AND THE SECOND VARIANT IS TO ALLOW A GEO
STAFF SUPPORT BOTH VARI REQUESTS.
[01:05:01]
SITE ENCOMPASSES ABOUT 65 ACRES AND INCLUDE THE 58-YEAR-OLD MEMORIAL CITY MALL.THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO REDEVELOP THIS MALL INTO A MIXED USE, OPEN AIR, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT.
THE REDEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF RETAIL, HOTEL OFFICE, MULTIFAMILY AND COM COMMERCIAL COMPONENT DESIGNED TO PROMOTE WALKABILITY WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
PER CHAPTER 42, A MINIMUM 25 FEET BOO LINE IS REQUIRED ALONG GASNER ROAD, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
THE APPLICANT REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A 10 FEET BOO LINE ALONG ABOUT 6 643 FEET ON GAFNER ROAD TO PLACE A PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE LOCATED BETWEEN THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TOWERS TO ENSURE ITS FUNCTIONAL OPERATION.
THE OTHER STRUCTURE ALONG
THE APPLICANT PROPOSED TO ENHANCE THE PEDESTRIAN ROOM BY MAINTAINING A MINIMUM 20 FEET WIDE PEDESTRIAN ROOM WITH A NEW FIVE FEET WIDE WALKWAY BEHIND THE ASSISTING TREE LINE, ALONG WITH SMALL GARDEN AND CITY ELEMENTS.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT WILL PRESERVE THE EXISTING SIDEWALK AND STREET TREES AND IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE AND SAFETY ALONG GAFNER ROAD.
THE APPLICANT ALSO REQUESTING ANOTHER VARIANT TO ALLOW A ZERO FOOT BUILDER LINE FOR THE EXISTING SKY BRIDGE THAT SPAN GASNER ROAD CONNECTING THE MEMORIAL CITY MALL TO THE ADJACENT OFFICE AND MEDICAL BUILDINGS.
THIS GUIDE BRIDGE WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 2008 AND REMAINED IN SPACE.
SO A VARIANT IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE ASSISTANCE STRUCTURE WHICH ENCROACH INTO THE BUILDER LINE AREA.
SO OVERALL, WHILE SOME IMPROVEMENT ARE PLANNED ALONG GASNER ROAD, THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF WALKABILITY IS INTERNAL TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT.
STA RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLANS SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITION.
STAT DID RECEIVE ABOUT 78 LETTER OF PUBLIC COMMENT IN OPPOSITION OF THE VAN REQUEST, BUT STAT ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HOPMAN FROM DISTRICT G.
AND THIS CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KRISTEN WASHAM.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I AM OPPOSED TO THIS VARIANCES REQUEST, ALLOWING THE DEVELOPER TO DECREASE THEIR SETBACK FROM 25 FEET TO 10 FEET, WOULD PUT DEVELOPER PROFITS OVER PUBLIC SAFETY.
GESNER ROAD NEAR I 10 IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THAT IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING TRAFFIC BACKUPS AND RECKLESS DRIVERS.
THIS, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES IN THIS AREA WHERE SPEEDING CARS HAVE LOST CONTROL AND RUN OFF THE ROAD, CREATING A MAJOR HAZARD FOR ANYONE THAT CHOOSES TO WALK ALONG.
GESNER NEARBY FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO CROSS A CROSS GESNER TO GET TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS CHOOSE TO INSTEAD DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SAFETY MEASURE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED ALONG THIS STRETCH OF ROAD.
THIS IS NOT A DOWNTOWN CITY BLOCK THAT HAS MANY ROADS SERVING AS ARTERIES TO GET CARDS ON THEIR WAY.
THIS IS A MASSIVE PLOT OF LAND THAT HAS, THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT.
FURTHERMORE, OUR AREA SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY AT MAX CAPACITY AND THE RESIDENTIAL TOWER WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THINGS.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN ITS CURRENT FORM IS RESPONSIBLE.
MANY PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY THAT COULD NOT BE HERE HAVE EMAILED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS VARIANCE REQUEST.
I ASK THAT YOU DENY THE REQUEST TO DECREASE THE SETBACK, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, TABLE THIS FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GERALD GRISSOM.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, AS AN APPLICANT, YOU ARE YOU ALSO A AVAILABLE TO GO LAST IF YOU CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE END.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANN GIVENS.
MY NAME IS ANNE GIBBONS AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
[01:10:01]
MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT RECENTLY THIS COMMISSION DENIED A DEVELOPMENT IN MONTROSE FOR VERY SIMILAR REASONS AND FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE FIRE CODE IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE ALSO CITED WITHIN THIS VARIANCE REQUEST.THE TRAFFIC ALONG GESNER IS UNBEARABLE AT BEST.
IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T FREQUENT THAT AREA, YOU SHOULD BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION BECAUSE IT'S VERY CROWDED.
AND THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THE WALL THAT WILL BE PLACED ALONG GESNER FOR THE, UM, I IF YOU COULD PUT THE PICTURE UP, PLEASE.
I, IT'D BE EASIER IF I COULD SHOW YOU THE, THE DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE WALL IS ON, IN, IN THE 25 FOOT RANGE THAT IT SHOULD BE.
THAT WALL WILL PREVENT PEOPLE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO KATY FREEWAY OR FEEDER ROAD.
THAT HIGH WALL WILL BLOCK THE VISION TO TURN IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR RIGHT HAND TURN, THAT SOLID WALL WILL IMPEDE BEING ABLE TO SEE THROUGH IT AS IT AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW WITH THE PARKING LOT THAT'S THERE.
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT.
I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S JUST THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT NEEDS TO BE WITHIN THE CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A 25 FOOT SETBACK.
MR. GRISSOM, DID YOU WANNA COMMENT UP AND MAYBE RESPOND TO, UM, SOME OF THE LINE OF SIGHT ISSUES? THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT, IT DOESN'T GO UP TO NO MA'AM.
THE PROPERTY IS, I HAVEN'T MEASURED IT BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR AWAY FROM I 10, BUT IT'S OVER A THOUSAND FEET AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION OF GESSNER AND I 10.
UM, IT IS, IT, IT'S CLOSER TO BARRY KNOLL THAN IT IS TO I 10.
SO IT'S ABOUT 200 FEET FROM BARRY KNO, MAYBE 300.
BUT, UM, AS FAR AS ITS PROXIMITY, THAT IS A RECOR.
UM, BASED ON WHAT WE CALCULATED WAS TO EITHER MOVE THE BUILDING CLOSER TO GESNER BECAUSE OF FIRE LANE REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULD'VE HAD TO PUT A TURN LANE OR A PULL OFF LANE FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS ON GESNER, WHICH WOULD THEN MAKE TRAFFIC EVEN WORSE.
IT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD SITUATION FORCED PEDESTRIAN FURTHER AWAY, AND IT JUST, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOOD.
PUBLIC WORKS WAS NOT IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND SO THE FIRE MARSHAL, UM, AND PUBLIC WORKS AGREED THAT THE BEST SITUATION WOULD BE TO MOVE THE BUILDING CLOSER TO GASNER.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HEINS, DO YOU HAVE AN INTERNAL, UH, DRIVE AISLE THAT RUNS NORTH SOUTH TOWARDS GRAND AVE, WHICH THEN YOU COULD EXIT TO THE WEST AND THEN GO NORTH? YES, THERE'S PLENTY OF CIRCULATION.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING BRIDGE AS WELL? UM, SPECIFICALLY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY AND THE STEEPNESS OF THE RAMP.
I'M JUST SEEING IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THERE WAS A CONCERN MENTIONED THAT KIND OF PICKED MY CURIOSITY.
SO I WONDER IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO THE, THE SKYBRIDGE IS EXISTING, THAT WAS BUILT IN ABOUT 2007? YEAH.
UM, I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE EXISTING FEATURES OF THAT, UH, STRUCTURE.
IT WAS JUST NOTICED THAT WHEN WE WERE PRESENTING THIS PLAT THAT A VARIANCE WAS NEVER REQUESTED WHEN THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED.
I CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
IT IS AADA A COMPLIANT 'CAUSE IT IS CONNECT, IT'S CONNECTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
UM, BECAUSE THAT WAS, THAT WAS ANOTHER KIND OF POINT THAT THERE IS A HOSPITAL THERE AND ON GOOGLE MAPS, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NOT FULL LIKE CURB CUTS, RAMPS, UM, AT ALL OF THE INTERSECTIONS THERE.
AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF ANOTHER CONCERN.
WELL, GOSH, IF THE PEDESTRIAN RAMP IS ALSO A CHALLENGE.
AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE SCHOOL, IS THERE A SCHOOL NEAR THERE OR IS IT, MAYBE SOMEBODY WAS JUST MENTIONING THAT THERE WAS I JUST DIDN'T SEE A SCHOOL ON THE MAP, BUT THERE'S NOT, I BELIEVE THE SCHOOLS ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE BACK IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
[01:15:01]
ALLMAN ALSO DUE TO THE SIZE OF DEVELOPMENT? ONCE, ONCE, YES MA'AM.ONCE PERMITTING GETS, UH, INTO EFFECT, WE'RE AT THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, WE WILL BE ADDRESSING ALL THOSE NEEDS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MR. G.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLAT? DO I? YES.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE MORE SPEAKERS.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT A, A FEW THINGS.
UM, THEY SAY IT'S PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, YET FIVE FOOT SIDEWALKS, BARELY ENOUGH IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN PUSHING FOR WIDER PEDESTRIAN RIGHTS OF WAY, NOT HAVING BLANK FACES RIGHT UP AGAINST THE STREET.
I MEAN, ANYBODY PEDESTRIANS COMING IN THIS WAY AND THEY'RE, WHEN I COULD TELL HOW EVER LONG THE FRONTAGE IS ON GESNER, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE.
UM, I JUST DON'T, I'D LIKE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE DEVELOPER ABOUT HOW THIS DEVELOPMENT MEETS THE, THE DESIGN STANDARD.
MR. GRISSOM, CAN YOU ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? CERTAINLY.
THERE, THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE CONNECTIVITY LOCATIONS TO THE OFFICE BUILDING THE MULTIFAMILY AND THE GARAGE STRUCTURE FROM THE PEDESTRIAN ROOM.
MAY, MAY, I, BUT, BUT THOSE ARE PRIVATE ENTRIES.
PRIVATE TO AN OFFICE, PRIVATE TO A RESIDENCE.
I MEAN, BASICALLY THIS BUILDING, THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT'S TURNING US BACK TO NER.
YOU WANNA ADDRESS THE QUESTION? UH, YES, CERTAINLY.
UH, SO WHAT STAFF AND I LOOKED AT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT IS THAT THE PEDESTRIAN REALM IS ENCOURAGING, UM, ALL OF THE WALKABILITY ON THE INTERIOR.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT GESNER IS A VERY, VERY BUSY ROAD.
AND WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEDESTRIAN WALKABILITY NECESSARILY.
WHILE WE KNOW THAT IT WILL BE THERE, MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE TRAVERSING ON, UH, BY FOOT WILL ARRIVE TO THE PROJECT, UH, BY BUS.
THEY WILL GET OFF THE BUS AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO, OR THE PROJECT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ENTER THE PROJECT, ENTER THE MALL, ENTER THE PROJECT, AND REALLY EXPERIENCE THAT, THAT BEAUTIFUL GARDEN REALM INTERIOR, THE FIVE FOOT SIDEWALKS IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS EXISTING.
SO CAN YOU GO AND SHOW A CLOSER? DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE PHOTOS, SITE OF THE GESNER? SO WE'VE GOT FIVE FOOT SIDEWALKS, TREES, AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THE PROJECT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS ENCOURAGING THE WALKABILITY ON THE INTERIOR.
DOES THAT, IF, IF I COULD FOLLOW UP WITH ONE MORE PART OF THE QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE FRONTAGE IS ON, ON GESNER, BUT THE SIDEWALK DOESN'T BELONG TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
IT BELONGS TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT NEEDS TO TRAVERSE THIS SITE NORTH AND WEST, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING THERE OR NOT, AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE A SIDEWALK.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL DEFINITELY CONGEST THAT MORE.
AND AGAIN, IT JUST, AGAIN, TRANSPARENCY ON STREETS AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THIS.
THIS JUST SEEMS VERY CONTRARY TO A, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT STATES IT WANTS TO BE.
AND, AND WHAT I PERSONALLY HAVE, UM, STRIVED FOR IN THIS COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER ROBBINS, I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE, WHERE WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT AND STRESSED THAT HAS BEEN IN, UM, MORE INNER CITY IN, UM, SORT OF THE INFILL LOCATIONS.
THIS, THE WAY THAT I'M LOOKING AT THIS, IT REMINDS ME QUITE A BIT OF, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE GROVE IN LOS ANGELES, WHERE IT'S A LOT OF WALKING ON THE INTERIOR AND PEOPLE BASICALLY GET THERE AND THEN THERE'S INTERIOR, UH, FOOT TRAFFIC, AND IT WORKS INCREDIBLY WELL THERE.
UH, AND I, I THINK THE MISSION FOR WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH LIVABLE PLACES FITS A LOT DIFFERENTLY HERE THAN IT WOULD IN AN INFILL LO MORE INFILL LOCATION.
ARE THE TREES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PEDESTRIAN REALM? SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF
[01:20:01]
WOULD CARS HIT THE TREES BEFORE THEY'D HIT PEDESTRIANS AND JUST LIKE, WE'VEWE'VE HAD THE TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I'M JUST WONDERING.
CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND THE, SO THE, THE TURS IN 2009, 2010, INSTALLED ALL THE SIDEWALK AND TREES ALONG GESNER ROAD.
IT IS AN EXISTING FIVE FOOT SIDEWALK ALONG GESNER, UNFORTUNATELY IT IS FROM THE CURB TO FIVE FOOT IN.
UH, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS TO TAKE THAT EXISTING REALM AND EXTEND IT FURTHER INTO THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDE A MUCH WIDER SPACE TO ALLOW ALTERNATE TRAFFIC.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT UP AGAINST THE ROAD, UM, ALL THE TIME.
YOU, THERE WILL BE A MOMENT OR TWO WHERE A PEDESTRIAN WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER THERE GRADING ISSUES, BRING THAT UPON, UH, THE NECESSITY.
SO WITH THAT, THERE WILL BE THE GARDENS AREAS WHERE PEDESTRIANS WILL BE ABLE TO PULL OFF, SIT, PULL INTO AREAS THAT WILL HAVE ANOTHER FIVE TO EIGHT FOOT.
UH, OVERALL THERE WILL BE AREAS OF 16 FEET WIDE OF, OF PAVEMENT AND, UH, DG SO LET, LET ME, MAYBE THIS WILL EXPLAIN IT BETTER.
THE WHITE THAT WE SEE UP AGAINST THE ROAD YES, MA'AM.
THE, THE TAN COLOR IS WHERE YOU ALL ARE COMING IN AND ADDING SIDEWALK.
ON, ON THIS SIDE OF THE GREEN CIRCLES.
AND THAT'LL MAKE, WHEN, WHEN IT'S ALL OPEN BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE EDGE OF THE, UH, GRANITE AND OR WALLS, THERE ARE A FEW RETAINING WALLS, UM, ABOUT 16 FEET.
THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY.
YEAH, I JUST WAS, I, AND I, I ACTUALLY, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE GROVE AS WELL.
I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT, WHICH IS A FABULOUS DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT, THIS IS A, THIS IS A, A SHOPPING MALL.
SO THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO NOT HAVE TRANSPARENCY, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S WAY BETTER BECAUSE YOU'LL GET THAT.
IT'S LIKE TURNING IT INSIDE OUT A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST, I THINK, UM, REPLACING WHAT WAS THERE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE BE WONDERFUL.
WAS THERE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER HAD A QUESTION.
I, I, COMMISSIONER PAUL, I'M, I'M JUST, I MEAN, I'M LOVING WHERE YOU HAVE THIS LITTLE INSET NEW SIDEWALK WITH THE LITTLE BUFFER OF THE TREES.
JUST WONDERING, THIS ONE LITTLE SECTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE IT, WHY CAN'T WE GET IT THERE TOO? WELL, WELL, WE DO HAVE A WATER METER WE DO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH FOR WE MOVE WATER METERS ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW TO PUT THE WATER METER THERE.
I'M JUST COMMENTING IT WOULD BE SO MUCH NICER IF THAT ONE LITTLE ONE FOURTH DIDN'T PARALLEL THE OTHERS BECAUSE IT REALLY WOULD MAKE IT, WE CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND, AND MAYBE CREATE SOME KIND OF PROCESS IN THERE.
WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND DO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE BEFORE US A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLAT TO HAVE, HAVE A MOTION.
OPPOSED? PLEASE NOTE COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG IS OPPOSED.
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CHAIR, ITEM NUMBER 1 0 5 IS MR. CAR WASH CROSS TIMBERS.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF WEST CROSS TIMBER STREET, VIN STREET, AND WEST CROSS STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THE VARIANCE TO NOT PROVIDE FIVE FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION ALONG.
CROSS TIMBER STREET STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
WEST CROSS TIMBERS WAS CREATED AS A 80 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY AND REQUIRES FIVE FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE TO BE SUFFICIENT AT 90 FEET.
THE PROPOSED, EXCUSE ME, THE PROPOSED PLAT IS HOME TO AN EXISTING MR. CAR WASH FIRST CONSTRUCTED IN 1970.
THE STRUCTURE PREDATES THE ORDINANCE REQUIRE BUILDING LINE AS AND IS CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED.
A PORTION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING IS ROUGHLY SEVEN INCHES FROM THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY, REQUIRING FIVE FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY.
DEDICATION WILL PLACE THE BUILDING ROUGHLY FOUR FEET WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, STAFF WILL GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT WITH THE CONDITION TO RECEIVE THE FIVE FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY, DEDICATION IF AND WHEN THE BUILDING IS EVER DEMOLISHED.
MADAM CHAIR, THE EXISTING BUILDING IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE VISIBILITY TRIANGLE.
HOWEVER, WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM, WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM CITIZENS AT THE PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING THE VISIBILITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF CROSS TIMBERS AND VIN STREET.
[01:25:01]
BROUGHT TO THE DEVELOPER AND THEIR VOICE, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED TO SPEAK FOR QUESTIONS ONLY.
SO, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS? YES.
COMMISSIONER COLVARD, CAN YOU SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE DEVELOPER ADDRESSED THOSE VISIBILITY CONCERNS? UH, I WAS ALSO, UM, INTERESTED IN, IN HEARING THAT, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN PROVIDED WITH ANY DETAILS.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU THE APPLICANT? YES.
I'M THE CIVIL ENGINEER WITH LJ LINDSEY ON THIS PROJECT, UH, WE, I HAD, I WASN'T PROVIDED INFORMATION ON WHAT THE VISIBILITY ISSUE WAS, UH, FROM GOOGLE EARTH IMAGES.
AND YOU CAN SEE ON THOSE, UH, I BELIEVE WHAT THE CONCERN IS, THE, THE FENCE, UH, SPOKE WITH THE CLIENTS ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THIS MEETING.
AND, UH, THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT TO REMOVE THAT FENCE, UM, TO HELP CREATE, UH, BETTER VISIBILITY IN THAT INTERSECTION.
SO WOULD THEY RELOCATE IT, LIKE MOVE IT INTO THE PROPERTY? THEY'RE JUST GONNA GET RID OF IT ENTIRELY.
UM, I DROVE THE PROPERTY EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND THAT CORNER AND WHAT YOU DESCRIBED AS EXACTLY MY CONCERN.
AND I THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT WITH YOUR CLIENT.
CAN YOU PULL THE SITE PLAN BACK UP? YES.
WHAT IS ALL THAT GOING ON? ON THE EAST SIDE? ON THE EAST SIDE? SO, UM, ORIGINALLY, SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE HARD TO SEE, UH, KEN HOVER OVER THE PARKING, SOME OF THOSE PARKING SPACES.
SO THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BUILD, UM, THE VACUUM.
UM, WHEN THIS WAS FIRST PRESENTED, UM, THE, THE THOUGHT WAS THAT WAS GONNA HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE VARIANCE BECAUSE IT, IT'S A STRUCTURE.
UH, BUT FURTHER DETAILS PROVIDED FROM THE APPLICANT SAYING THAT, THAT THAT AREA IS NOT GONNA BE COVERED.
AND OUR PERMITTING STAFF CONFIRMED THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE CONSIDERED A STRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THIS, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO JUST BE VACUUM CLEANERS? YES, MA'AM.
BECAUSE THAT SIDE HAS A HORRIBLE VISIBILITY AS WELL.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.
UM, I, I UNDERSTAND STAFFS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ONE, AND IN GENERALLY I WOULD BE TWO.
BUT WHAT SEVERELY CONCERNS ME IS THE NATURE OF A CAR WASH.
THAT THERE'S A LOT OF STANDING CARS, A HEAVY AMOUNT OF THEM OFF IN LINES.
I GO TO THESE PLACES MYSELF, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL WHICH ONE'S PARKED AND WHICH ONE'S MOVING.
AND I, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE SOMEONE THAT APPROVES SOMETHING AND SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE.
UM, HAS, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMEBODY, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, UM, OPINE ON THIS SPECIFIC USE AND THE KIND OF TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND THE ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS.
I GO GET MY CAR WASHED EVERY SUNDAY MORNING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING AND THERE'S A LINE AT THE PLACE, YOU KNOW? UM, SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT REALLY CONCERNS ME, HUH? OR YOU'RE, YOU'RE STILL SLEEPING
ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY I'M HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH THIS PROJECT.
UM, ANYWAY, UM, THIS IS AN EXISTING CAR WASH, RIGHT? YES.
I WAS GONNA SAY IT'S EXISTING AND IT HAS BEEN THERE A LONG, VERY LONG TIME.
AND THE CHURCH, EVEN IN FAVOR OF IT LAST WEEK, I DON'T YOUR WIFE NEXT TO NO, THEY DIDN'T.
THEY SPOKE IN OPPOSITION, IF I RECALL.
I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH HAD CONCERNS ABOUT VISIBILITY.
I, AGAIN, NOTHING AGAINST THE NO, I GET IT.
OR THE DEVELOPER, BUT THE CITY GIVING FIVE FEET OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY TO INCREASE THE EXISTING CONDITION JUST 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE, DOESN'T MAKE IT THE BEST DECISION WE COULD MAKE.
NO, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT, UM, UH, OTHER THAN CUTTING THE BUILDING OFF
AND I CAN SPEAK FURTHER ON THAT.
IT PLEASE, IT'S NOT GRANTING EXTRA, WE ARE NOT GRANTING THIS, UH, OUR CLIENT'S EXTRA PROPERTY SO THAT IT, THAT RIGHT AWAY WAS PLANNED TO BE EXPANDED.
IT'S NOT BEING GRANTED ANY EXTRA.
COMMISSIONER CO JUST PIGGYBACKING, JUST SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS THE, IS THE CONCERN THAT THERE'S STANDING CARS ALONG THE STREET, COULD THERE BE SIGNAGE THAT COULD BE ADDED THAT SAYS, NO, NOW I LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND I FREQUENT THIS PLACE SO THEY DON'T STAND ON
[01:30:01]
WEST CROSS TIMBERS.THE CONCERN WITH THE VISIBILITY WAS ON THAT LITTLE ROAD WHERE THEY'VE AGREED TO REMOVE THE FENCING.
'CAUSE THEY WERE GONNA MAKE STRUCTURES ON THAT EAST SIDE THAT THAT WOULD HAMPER FURTHER HAMPER VISIBILITY.
BUT THEY'RE NOT PUTTING STRUCTURES THERE NOW.
SO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS THE EXISTING VARIANCE THAT THEY NEED IS FOR THAT.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. CRIDDLE, THAT CORNER OF THE PINK PART OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS WHERE THE CARS COME OUT FROM THE CAR WASH, THEY'RE ASKING, UH, FOR THAT JUST UNTIL THIS BUILDING IS REMOVED AND THEN THAT WOULD GO AWAY.
YOU, YOU DID IT MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID, BUT
UH, ESSENTIALLY TO NOT PROVIDE THE RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION.
UM, BUT IF THE BUILDING IS EVER DEMOLISHED, UH, WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT DEDICATION AT, AT THAT TIME.
SO YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
MAD MADAM CHAIR, ONE THING TO ADD.
UM, WE CAN MAKE IT A PART OF THE CONDITION TO, UH, REMOVE THE FENCE AT YES.
I'M SURE WHOEVER MAKES THAT MOTION WILL MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
SO YOUR MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE FENCE BE REMOVED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND HINES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 1 0 6 IS PALOMA WATER PLANT SITE.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON, ETJ HARRIS COUNTY, EAST OF MATHIS ROAD, SOUTH OF BURTON CEMETERY ROAD, WEST OF KICKAPOO ROAD AND NORTH OF BETCO ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A RESERVE RESTRICTED TO WATER PLANT USE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE PROPOSED RESERVE TO TAKE ACCESS FROM A RECORDED 30 FOOT ACCESS EASEMENT.
INSTEAD OF A 50 FOOT PUBLIC STREET.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE SANFORD FARMS GENERAL PLAN IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER ALONG LITTLE MOUND CREEK.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NOT AN ESTABLISHED STREET PATTERN PROPOSED IN THIS AREA, THEREFORE, THE WATER PLANT IS REQUESTING TO TAKE ACCESS VIA AN EXISTING, UM, RECORDED 30 FOOT ACCESS EASEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY.
THE RECORDED ACCESS EASEMENT WILL PROVIDE THE SITE SUFFICIENT ACCESS UNTIL FURTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IS BUILT.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS NO OBJECTIONS.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 6.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL SEEK A MOTION TO FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
MOTION HA SECOND, AK SECOND AKA.
ITEM 1 0 7, ITEM 1 0 7 IS PORTER MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT LIFT STATION P.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HOUSTON ETJ MONTGOMERY COUNTY, EAST OF US 59 NORTH OF NORTH PARK DRIVE IN WEST OF LOOP 4 94.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A RESERVE RESTRICTED TO LIFT STATION USE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE PROPOSED RESERVE TO TAKE ACCESS FROM A RECORDED ACCESS EASEMENT INSTEAD OF A 50 FOOT PUBLIC STREET.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE SITE IS A PART OF A LARGE RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL CENTER TO THE SOUTH AND APARTMENT COMPLEX TO THE EAST.
RECORDED ACCESS EASEMENTS EXTENDING FROM USS 59 TO LOOP 4 94 PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PROPOSED RESERVE.
THE ACCESS EASEMENT MEASURES 50 FOOT WIDE BY US 59 AND IS OVER 60 FOOT WIDE AT THE PROPOSED RESERVE ITSELF.
THE ACCESS EASEMENT HAS A CONSTRUCTED PAVEMENT WITH APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AND PROVIDES SUFFICIENT ACCESS TO THE SUBJECT SITE AND ALSO THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS NO OBJECTIONS.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CCPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 7.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A MOTION, I MEAN, A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLAT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION HA.
I'M GONNA RECUSE FROM 1 0 8 AND IF THEY ALSO INCLUDE ROMAN NUM FIVE WITH IT, THAT ONE AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER HUSCH? YES, MR. CRILE, GO AHEAD.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASE THE COMMISSION, UH, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ITEM 1 0 8 AND ROMAN NUMERAL, UH, FIVE AS THEY ARE RELATED.
UM, SO ITEM 1 0 8 IS RESERVE AT HOUSTON HEIGHTS.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SHEPHERD DRIVE BETWEEN 13TH STREET, 14TH STREET, AND LAD STREET.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A HOTEL
[01:35:01]
AND RESTAURANT ON A ALMOST TWO ACRE RESERVE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM CHAPTER 42 FOR A REDUCED BUILDING LINE ALONG LAD STREET AND SHEPHERD STREET.THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM CHAPTER 28 TO ALLOW THE HOTEL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN, UH, CLOSE PROXIMITY OF RESIDENTIAL USES TO ALLOW ACCESS FROM LAD STREET AND TO BE AND TO BE WITHIN 750 FEET OF A PROTECTED USE.
UH, STAFF HAS RECEIVED MANY CONCERNS VOICING MANY COMMENTS, VOICING CONCERNS REGARDING TRAFFIC SAFETY AND THE POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF, UM, VEHICULAR ACCESS ALONG LA LAIRD STREET, UH, WHICH ARE ALL DETAILED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PACKET.
UH, THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO PROVIDED A LETTER FROM THE LOVE ELEMENTARY VOICING SUPPORT FOR THIS REQUEST.
UH, STAFF HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNCIL'S OFFICE AND RESIDENTS IN THE AREA IN THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN DILIGENT AND HELPING STAFF PROVIDE, UH, RESPONSES TO ALL OF THOSE INQUIRIES.
UH, BASED ON ALL OF THE FEEDBACK PROVIDED, STAFF RECOMMENDS DEFERRING THE APPLICATION TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE APPLICANT TO DISCUSS THESE COMMENTS DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD.
MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TRACY YOUNGBLOOD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE SIMPLY HERE TODAY TO LISTEN, UH, FURTHER WITH THE, FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS AND THOUGHTS ARE.
UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY.
UH, IT'S BEEN A VERY ROBUST ENGAGEMENT, UH, OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS PLUS, UH, WE'VE HAD ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE, UH, THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
WE PRESENTED AT, WE ALSO PRESENTED TO THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS LAND USE COMMITTEE.
WE'VE HAD ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATION WITH THE GREATER HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE HAD, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND WE CONTINUE TO, UH, COORDINATE WITH THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TOUR FIVE, ALSO THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, TEAM, UH, LOVE ELEMENTARY, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, UH, THE APOSTLES HOUSTON CHURCH.
UH, WE'VE HAD A ZOOM CALL, UH, ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF TIME, UH, WITH THE RESIDENTS OF LAIRD STREET.
REALLY APPRECIATED THE CONVERSATION.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD ANOTHER SEPARATE AND APART CONVERSATION WITH MEMBERS OF KIND OF THE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AT LARGE, UH, JUST BEYOND THE LAIRD STREET IN THIS PROJECT'S, UH, VICINITY.
UH, AND THEN IN ADDITION, UM, I TOOK AN HOUR IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, OBSERVING LOVE ELEMENTARY, THEIR TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR THAT PEAK TIME, UH, OF PARENT STUDENT DROP OFF.
UM, AND WANTED TO JUST SEE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING, UH, AND AS THEY LEAVE THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
AND ALSO TRYING TO UNDER BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, UH, DURING THAT TIME AS WELL.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, AS WE, AS WE WORK THROUGH THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER JONES? YES.
UH, INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT ARE THE, THE LAIRD RESIDENTS RE REPLIES, RESPONSES, FEEDBACK, UH, POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
YEAH, I, I, I THINK THERE WAS ONLY ONE RESIDENT ON LAIRD THAT I RECALL.
AND, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I DON'T KNOW THIS FACTUALLY, I, THE LAIRD RESIDENTS CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO IT BETTER THAN I CAN.
I THINK THERE'S A HOMEOWNER ON LAIRD, HOMEOWNER, EXCUSE ME, ON LAIRD, BUT THEY DON'T LIVE THERE FULL TIME.
UM, THEY APPEAR TO BE, I'LL SAY, SUPPORTIVE.
UH, FROM WHAT I HEARD ON THE, ON THE ZOOM CALL WE HAD, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY PREDOMINANTLY THE RESIDENTS, UH, ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, SAFETY ALONG LAIRD, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, YOUNGER, YOUNGER FOLKS AND CHILDREN THAT LIVE ALONG, UH, THE LAIRD FRONTAGE.
UH, AND THEN I'M NOT SURE THE LAIRD RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT TO AND FROM LOVE.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY OVERALL JUST PEDESTRIAN, UH, SAFETY AND CONCERNS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, UH, FRANKLY BEYOND THE LIMITS IN FRONTAGE OF, OF THIS PROJECT, BUT JUST IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE PROJECT.
OH, I SPENT SOME TIME LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY.
I DROVE IT, DROVE AROUND IT, UH, SAT, WALKED.
I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, LAIRD IS PROBABLY 13, MAYBE 14 FEET WIDE.
UM, AND WITH THE LIMIT FROM 14TH DOWN TO 13TH, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH THE REPAIR, THE, THE WIDENING, IF YOU WILL, UH, EXTENDS THAT FULL LENGTH, BUT IT ENDS AT THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY ALONG LAIRD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN REALLY DO IT THAT WAY.
I THINK YOU'VE GOTTA DO ALL OF IT, OR, YOU KNOW, WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO ALL OF IT.
I THINK THERE'S, NOW THAT'S NOT A PLANNING MATTER, SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, UH, OUTSIDE OF
[01:40:01]
OUR PURVIEW.BUT MY FIRST REACTION WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT ROAD SOUTH OF THE BOUNDARY ALONG LAIRD IS JUST NOT GONNA BE ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THAT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC.
THE 13TH, UH, NOT EVERYBODY WILL USE 14TH.
SO JUST RESPECT TO YOU, YOUR APPLICANTS WANTED TO SHARE MY, MY COMMENTS, MY THOUGHTS.
AND MY, MY COMMENT OR RESPONSE TO THAT IN THE MOMENT WOULD BE OUR, OUR TIA, WHICH IS ONGOING BY THE WAY.
UM, THE, THE, THE NUMBER OF TRIPS GENERATED BY THE 14 ROOM KEY HOTEL OVER A 24 HOUR PERIOD IS, IS 62.
UH, THE PEAK AM IS THREE TRIPS AND THE PEAK PM IS ONE TRIP, UH, FOR LAIRD, UH, FOR LAYERED.
UM, BUT I, I CERTAINLY HEAR THE COMMENTS AND WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
COMMISSIONER KOVAR, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT? YEAH, HE ACTUALLY JUST ADDRESSED ONE OF THEM.
I WAS ABOUT TO ASK THE NUMBER OF TRIPS.
AND ACTUALLY, UM, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF TOTAL TRIPS? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT'S KIND OF A MULTI-USE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HOTEL AND THE RESTAURANT.
SO THE NUMBER OF TOTAL TRIPS DURING PEAK SCHOOL ZONE TIMES, WELL, YOU THREW ME ON THE LAST PART, SORRY.
UM, I'LL ANSWER IT THE BEST I CAN AND WE'LL KIND OF WORK FROM THERE.
THE, THE RESTAURANT, WHICH FRONTS SHEPHERD, UH, WHICH HAS 14, ROUGHLY 14,000 TRIPS PER DAY TODAY.
UH, THIS RESTAURANT WILL CONTRIBUTE 1000 TRIPS, UH, OVER A 24 HOUR PERIOD.
UH, THE, THE RESTAURANT HOURS ARE PROJECTED TO BE 9 30, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, OPEN, UH, NINE 30, CLOSED DURING THE WEEK, 10:00 PM CLOSED DURING THE WEEKENDS.
UM, I'M SURE THE RESIDENTS WILL CORRECT ME IF I GET OFF THE RAILS HERE.
I NOTICED, UH, YOU KNOW, THE QUEUING OF DROP OFF BEGINS AROUND SEVEN ISH.
UH, DROP OFF, I THINK TECHNICALLY STARTS AROUND SEVEN 20.
THEY OPEN THE DOORS, IF YOU WILL.
UH, THE BELL RINGS AT SEVEN 40.
THEY, THEY CLOSE UP, I THINK I STILL SAW PARENTS DROPPING OFF AT EIGHT.
I THINK THEY'RE TARDY AT SEVEN 50, UM, IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO MY POINT IN SAYING ALL OF THAT, THOSE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE PEAK HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE, FOR THE RESTAURANT.
UM, DINNER TIME, FIVE TO EIGHT ISH.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE NOT OPEN FOR, FOR B THEY'RE NOT OPEN FOR BREAKFAST, SO, RIGHT.
AND THEN MY, I, AND I KNOW WE, WE NEED TO GET TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT, UM, SURE.
I, I'M VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA BECAUSE MA'AM, I LIVE, YOU KNOW, JUST SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY MM-HMM
BUT, UM, LOTS AND LOTS OF LITTLE KIDS THERE.
LOTS OF KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL.
IT'S ALREADY, IN MY OPINION, A LITTLE, I I GET REALLY WORRIED FOR THESE KIDS.
I'M JUST SAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 11TH STREET, THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, FATAL ACCIDENT THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, AND WE ADDED YES, MA'AM.
A CROSSWALK WITH, UH, WITH LIGHTS MM-HMM
THAT IS A PUBLIC WORKS POSSIBLE REQUEST.
AND I, AND, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST A SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND THEN IT HAPPENS.
BUT MY POINT IS, UM, THERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT MEASURES ARE YOU TAKING IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORS? TO PROTECT THE LITTLE KIDS, PROTECT THEIR WELFARE AND PROTECT THEIR, UM, THEIR PRIVACY WITH THE, WITH THE VALET SITUATION AS WELL.
SO ALONG THE FRONTAGES OF THIS PROJECT, THERE, THERE ARE ENHANCED PEDESTRIAN REALMS ALL AROUND, ALL FOUR SIDES.
UM, THERE ARE, UM, EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALKS ALONG, LAYERED, PROPOSED, AND ALSO SHEPHERD, UH, WITHIN THOSE ROBUST PEDESTRIAN REALMS AND SIX FOOT SIDEWALKS ON OUR FRONTAGE, UH, ALONG 14TH AND 13TH.
UM, WE'VE EXPLORED FURTHER MITIGATION MEASURES FOR, UM, WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THEM, UH, FOR A DRIVEWAY THAT IS PROJECTED TO CONNECT TO WEST 13TH, UH, JUST WEST OF THE SHEPHERD INTERSECTION, UH, ALONG WITH OTHER, UH, MITIGATION MEASURES, UM, FOR, FOR ALL THE DRIVEWAYS, UH, CONNECTING TO THE PUBLIC REALM AND PUBLIC STREETS.
UH, AS FAR AS THE PRIVACY CONCERNS, UH, I'VE EXPRESSED TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, ONGOING, IT NEVER ENDS, UH, TRAINING AND RESPECT FOR THE PRIVACY AND UNDERSTANDING WE'RE, WE'RE PART OF A, A NEIGHBORHOOD AND A, AND A SMALL COMMUNITY, RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, UH, IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT, THAT WILL BE AN ONGOING NEVER STOP CONVERSATION WITH OUR, WITH THE TEAM.
UH, COMMISSIONER TAHIR, UM, MY CONCERN, I LIKE THE PROJECT, I THINK WE NEED PROJECTS LIKE THIS WITH, WITH KIND OF A MULTIDIMENSIONAL, BUT THE, THE SITUATION ON LAYERED THE STREET, UH, KIND OF DEAD ENDS WHEN THE THREE HOMES IS START.
SO IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN WORK WITH THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND CONTINUE THAT PEDESTRIAN KIND OF, UH, FEELING ALL THE WAY TO THE, TO THE 13TH STREET? THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE
[01:45:01]
INTO CONSIDERATION AND, AND TALK ABOUT.BUT THE TS PLAN DOES CONTEMPLATE IMPROVEMENTS FOR LAIRD.
I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE T'S TIMING.
SO, SO IF THAT EXPERIENCE CAN GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEN AROUND THE THIRD HOME YES, SIR.
SO THAT WOULD PROVIDE MORE PEDESTRIAN SPACE.
AND ALSO WANT TO KNOW FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS? WHY ARE YOU, UH, UH, SUGGESTING DEFERMENT? WHAT ARE WE PLANNING TO ACHIEVE? THANK YOU.
SO, UH, THIS IS A, A SIMILAR CONVERSATION A ALONG LAIRD STREET.
A LOT OF THE COMMENTS WE'VE GOTTEN THAT WERE ALSO ECHOED FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE WAS LA LAIRD STREET.
UH, THERE'S VALET DROP OFF PLANNED AND THERE'S ALSO A DRIVEWAY.
SO THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, WHY CHOOSE THIS STREET? WHY, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS STYLE OF DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, WE AT LEAST WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE APPLICANT AND SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S SORT OF A FINAL PRODUCT.
IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM TO SORT OF ADDRESS THESE THINGS? UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF, UH, I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNICATION AND, AND YEARS SPENT ON, UH, THIS PROJECT.
SO WE'VE SEEN IT MANY ITERATION ITERATIONS OF IT, UM, PRIOR TO EVEN COMING TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO, UH, SORT OF MEET IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER AND, UM, THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG, UM, I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU GUYS HAVE SPENT WORKING ON THIS.
UM, NOT STUDYING THE PLAN MUCH.
I DO THINK, AND I'M GLAD WE'RE DEFERRING IT.
SO ONE THING TO MAYBE CONSIDER LOOKING AT IS A LOT OF THE USERS COMING TO THE RESTAURANT MISSED THE DRIVEWAY, WHATEVER IT IS.
AND WE TEND TO LOOP A BLOCK AND GO DOWN LA MM-HMM
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES SENSE OR NOT.
AND THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE OFF OF LAIR, BUT LOOPING THAT STREET TECHNICALLY BACK IN.
SO IF YOU MISS IT, YOU KIND OF COME AROUND AND LOOP THE BLOCK MM-HMM
AND THAT COULD BE A GOOD TRANSITION BETWEEN THERE AND THE REST OF LAIRD RATHER THAN KIND OF DEAD ENDING IT THE WAY IT IS.
UM, AGAIN, PROBABLY ENGINEERING INVOLVED.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE INCREASED TRAFFIC WILL MAINLY BE FOR THIS FACILITY.
SO ANYWAY, JUST SOMETHING TO MAYBE HAVE THEM LOOK AT DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD.
COMMISSIONER STEIN, UM, QUESTION MR. K CRIDDLE? YES, MA'AM.
UM, SO IS, SO THIS, IT LOOKS LIKE JUST SO MUCH PARKING, THIS PARKING IS ALL REQUIRED.
IS IT A COMBINATION OF THE RESTAURANT IN THE HOTEL? YES.
THE, THE RUSH, THE HOTEL PORTION OF IT ONLY REQUIRES 14 ROOMS, YOU KNOW, ONE PER, BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT IS FOR THE, THE RESTAURANT ITSELF.
SO ALL THOSE PARKING SPACES ARE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED UNDER THE, OKAY.
UM, TRACY, WHAT YOU RIGHT AT WE, WE ARE SPOT ON AT THE MINIMUM, BUT THAT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME, UH, BICYCLE PARKING TO GET THE REDUCTION.
SO WE WOULD, IT'S A, IT'S 8,000 SQUARE FEET OF RESTAURANT SPACE.
IT'S NOT SMALL AND THERE'S TWO RESTAURANTS.
I'M GONNA MOVE ALONG NOW TO OTHER SPEAKERS.
KEVIN STRICKLAND, UM, TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER STEIN PARKING MINIMUMS ARE BAD.
UM, MY NAME IS KEVIN, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HEIGHTS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY SUPPORT TODAY IS FROM MYSELF, NOT FROM THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
UM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE DEFERRAL.
THE DEVELOPER SPENT AS HE LISTED 18 MONTHS ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'LL JUST LIST FOR YOU THOSE AGAIN.
HE PRESENTED AT OUR AUGUST MEETING IN DETAIL TWO HOURS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE VARIANCES HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
THEY HAVE REVIEWED THE VARIANCES AND THEIR PLANS WITH ME TWICE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR EACH IN DETAIL.
'CAUSE I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY IN A SECOND.
THEY MET WITH THE RESIDENTS OF LAIRD TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT.
THEY HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM LOVE ELEMENTARY ACROSS THE SCHOOL.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS KIND OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM A SCHOOL, SORRY, MY PHONE TIMED OUT.
UM, THEY ARE COORDINATING THEIR PLANS WITH THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TOURS AHEAD OF THE SHEPHERD DURHAM PROJECT, WHICH IS PHASE TWO, SO TO YOUR CONCERNS.
UM, AND THE TOURIST IS PLANNING ON REDOING TUR UH, LAIRD.
SO THEY WILL BE COVERING THE CURB.
SO THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY 'CAUSE THOSE OPEN DITCHES, WHICH I HATE ARE FOUR FEET.
SO THAT'S GONNA IN EFFECT WIDEN THE STREET.
THEY CHOSE THIS AREA BECAUSE THE HEIGHTS IS WALKABLE AND THE BLACK FAMILY'S
[01:50:01]
MOVING TO THE HEIGHTS TO BE NEAR THE PROJECT.UM, ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I WAS HIT BY A DRIVER WHILE BIKING DOWN 13TH AT DURHAM.
SO I'M VERY AWARE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY.
THIS PROJECT, THOUGH, IN AND OF ITSELF, DOES NOT CREATE ANY RISK TO PEOPLE THAT ANY OTHER PROJECT WOULD.
THE FACT THAT IT'S A RESTAURANT AND A SMALL HOTEL, NO DIFFERENT THAN THE STRIP SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS THE STREET.
THE TOMMY VAUGHN, UH, DEALERSHIP.
UM, CAN I, CAN I JUST HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE? ONE MINUTE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A MINUTE, BUT CLOSE IT UP IN ONE OR TWO SENTENCES.
UM, I'M THRILLED THAT IT'S GONNA BE THIS PROJECT.
IT COULD BE ANOTHER STRIP SHOPPING CENTER OR ANOTHER HUGE CAR LOT.
SO IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE THIS PROJECT, IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING ELSE.
AND LASTLY, CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE WAY TERMS WORK, THE INCREMENT IS REINVESTED INTO THE COMMUNITY WHEN PROPERTIES ARE DEVELOPED AND THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NAOMI DEVOR DEVOR, UH, COME ON UP.
UM, WITH RESPECT, THE ONLY THING I'M HERE TO OPPOSE IS THE VARIANCE TO ALLOW A HOTEL TO TAKE ACCESS FROM LAIRD STREET, A LOCAL RESIDENTIAL STREET.
FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE BUILT OUR HOME AND RAISED OUR THREE CHILDREN ON LD STREET.
THE PROPOSED HOTEL AND POOL MEMBERSHIP VALET ENTRANCE WOULD BE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM OUR FRONT YARD AND DRIVEWAY.
IN FACT, UM, IF YOU PUT THAT PICTURE UP AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE OUR HOME.
UM, AND THEN YOU WOULD SEE THERE WAS A PICTURE, UM, OF THE STREET ITSELF.
IT WOULD BE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM OUR FRONT YARD AND DRIVEWAY.
SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE A BACKYARD, THE FRONT YARD IS WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME.
IT'S WHERE OUR SON PLAYS SOCCER AND OUR YOUNG TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS PRACTICE GYMNASTICS AND YOGA.
IT'S WHERE WE PLAY WITH OUR DOGS AND HOST OUR KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
WE ENTER AND EXIT OUR DRIVEWAY NUMEROUS TIMES, EVERY DAY TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WORK AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
WITH THE VALET STAFF OBSERVING OUR CHILDREN IN DAILY ROUTINES, OUR PRIVACY AND SAFETY WOULD BE THREATENED.
OUR TINY NARROW STREET OF 18 HOMES IS ALREADY BUSY AND DIFFICULT TO NA NAVIGATE.
BETWEEN THE PROPOSED 14 HOTEL ROOMS, THREE BUNGALOWS AND POOL MEMBERSHIP GUESTS USING THE VALLEY ENTRANCE, THE TRAFFIC ON OUR TINY BLOCK WILL ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE.
TERRY BLACKS HAS AN EXTEN EXPANSIVE PROPERTY WITH PLENTY OF POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE ENTRY POINTS ALONG THE NON-RESIDENTIAL STREETS OF 14TH AND SHEPHERD.
AS HOMEOWNERS OF LAIRD, WE DESERVE AND HAVE A RIGHT TO A QUIET PRIVATE STREET WHERE WE CAN ENJOY OUR HOME AND PROPERTY WITH OUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS, RATHER THAN FEELING BOMBARDED BY STRANGERS, VALET STAFF, AND UNNECESSARY TRAFFIC.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO, IT'S WHERE WE LIVE.
ALL WE WERE ASKING IS TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTIAL STREET RESIDENTIAL.
UM, IS RACHEL DIVIV? OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY FAMILY OF FIVE, WHICH INCLUDES THREE KIDS HERE TODAY, LIVE ON THE 1300 BLOCK OF LAIRD STREET.
RESIDENTS OF LAIRD STREET HAVE SENT EMAILS AND ARE HERE IN PERSON TODAY TO PLEAD WITH THE COMMITTEE TO OPPOSE THE VARIANCE REQUESTS THAT WOULD ALLOW A HOTEL TO TAKE ACCESS FROM LAIRD STREET.
LAIRD STREET RESIDENTS DO NOT OPPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, BUT WE ARE UNITED IN OUR OPPOSITION TO THIS ONE VARIANCE.
PRIORITIZING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR FAMILIES.
LAIRD STREET RESIDENTS REQUEST THAT THE PROJECT REMOVE ALL PERSON AND VEHICLE ACCESS POINTS ALONG LAIRD STREET.
THIS REQUEST WOULD BE A REASONABLE COMPROMISE TO MAKE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS A VERY REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE HOTEL'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT PATRONS OR THRIVE AS A BUSINESS.
THE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE IS THIS LOCATE HOTEL ENTRY, EXIT POINTS AND VALET TO 14TH STREET WHERE THERE IS ALREADY A PLANNED PARKING LOT, THE 1300 BLOCK OF LEAR STREET.
WE ARE A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY, FAMILY COMMUNITY.
ROUGHLY 80% OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 11.
OUR KIDS PLAY IN OUR FRONT YARDS, DRIVEWAYS AND RIDE THEIR BIKES AND SCOOTERS ALONG THE BLOCK IN THE EVENINGS AND ON WEEKENDS.
FAMILIES TAKE WALKS ALONG LEAR STREET AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
LEAR STREET FAMILIES HAVE MULTIPLE SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND NOISE CONCERNS RELATED TO THIS ONE VARIANCE.
WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN FROM
[01:55:01]
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TRAFFIC.WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
FROM THE INCREASED NUMBER OF STRANGERS COMING AND GOING FROM OUR BLOCK.
WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OUR PRIVACY, WHICH INCLUDES CHILD SAFETY, BUT ALSO EXPOSURES OF DAILY ROUTINES FROM VALET STAFF POSITIONED ACROSS FROM OUR HOMES.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASED NOISE LEVELS FROM PATRONS AND CARS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
I IMPLORE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE IMPACTED RESIDENTS ALONG THE 1300 BLOCK OF LAIRD STREET.
PLEASE PUT YOURSELVES IN OUR SHOES.
PLEASE ACT ON OUR BEHALF THROUGH COMPROMISE.
A REASONABLE COMPROMISE IS READILY AVAILABLE WITHOUT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE TO THE PROJECT AND WITH POSITIVE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENCE.
PLEASE DENY PERSON AND VEHICLE ACCESS POINTS ALONG THE 1300 BLOCK OF LAIRD STREET.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, NO CLAPPING IS ALLOWED.
PLEASE, PLEASE RESPECT THE COMMISSION.
WHO DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK PURCELL.
I'D LIKE TO START BY JUST SAYING THAT I PROVIDED YOU A PACKET TODAY.
IT SHOULD BE, UH, HAVE A FIVE ON IT.
UM, IN THAT PACKET YOU'LL FIND SIX LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES ASKING Y'ALL TO OPPOSE AND DEFER THESE VARIANCE REQUESTS UNTIL MORE CAN BE DONE BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
TO MAKE THIS A SAFE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT I LIVE CLOSE TO TERRY BLACKS.
YOU CAN SEE MY ADDRESS ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PACKET I'VE GIVEN YOU.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US AT HEIGHTS KIDS DAY OF MUSIC.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE AREA FOR YOURSELF, WE CAN START AT MY HOUSE, WALK ACROSS DURHAM, AND GET TO LOVE PARK.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SECOND SLIDE OF THIS PACKET, THERE'S NO PARKS IN MY AREA WEST OF DURHAM, EAST OF TC JESTER NORTH OF 11TH OR WHAT OR SOUTH OF 20 20TH STREET.
SO MY SON AND I COMMONLY CROSSED, UH, DURHAM ON 13TH TO GET TO LOVE PARK.
AS WE TURN TO THE SECOND PAGE, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF MY PRIMARY CONCERNS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THE SITE PLAN.
THERE'S A DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT WITH THAT EGRESS AND INGRESS ON 13TH STREET FROM RESTAURANT GOERS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE CONSUMED ALCOHOL WHILE UM, AT THE RESTAURANT.
LOVE ELEMENTARY IS CLOSE BY A PROPOSED DESIGN FROM THE WEST DURHAM HEIGHTS RESIDENCE, OF WHICH THERE'S 50 PEOPLE THAT I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH AND ARE ON, UM, IN SUPPORT AND STAND BEHIND ME WEST OF DURHAM.
THEY WOULD LIKE A SAFER DESIGN THAT PUSHES TRAFFIC ONTO SHEPHERD AND PUSHES THEM NORTH INTO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE OF 14TH.
I DIDN'T TAKE ANY, UH, PICTURES OF OUR CROSSING ON SHEPHERD 'CAUSE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS.
BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT I'M EXCITED FOR THE TERRY BLACK'S, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
I CAN IMAGINE THAT MY SON ELLIOT WOULD BE SMELLING A FLOWER THERE ONE DAY.
AS LONG AS WE CAN WALK THERE SAFELY.
AND AGAIN, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, ASK YOU TO DEFER AND OPPOSE THIS, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST DURHAM AND, UM, UNTIL WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY AND WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER TO COME TO A REASONABLE AND SAFE, UM, CONCLUSION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KENNETH WILLIAMS. MADAM SECRETARY COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS KENNETH WILLIAMS. I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THAT AREA AND I AM A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE 1400 BLOCK OF NORTH SHEPHERD.
I HAVE SEEN THAT COMMUNITY GO UP AND GO DOWN.
UH, WHEN I BOUGHT MY PROPERTY IN 1975, IT WAS DEFINITELY IN A DOWN CYCLE.
NORTH SHEPHERD SHEPHERD WAS MOWER NOTED FOR NORTH, UH, FOR USED CAR LOTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I WELCOME TERRY BLACK AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY, I LOVE MY NEIGHBORS.
I GREW UP ON WEST 14TH AND A HALF STREET AND UH, I KNOW LOVE THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE THERE.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS TWO GROUPS THAT WANT IT.
THEY JUST NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK OUT THE DETAILS.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE SAME VARIATIONS APPLIED TO MY PROPERTY BETWEEN 14TH AND 15TH THAT TERRY BLACK IS ASKING FOR ON HIS PROPERTY BETWEEN 13TH AND 14TH.
I HAD TO GIVE UP A NUMBER OF ISSUES IN 20 TH 2004 WHEN I MOVED IN SOME MODULAR BUILDINGS FOR MY BUSINESS.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DEFER THIS, LET THESE PEOPLE TALK, WORK WITH THEM.
I'M SURE THEY CAN WORK IT OUT.
OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL HUMPHREYS.
MY NAME IS RACHEL HUMPHREYS AND I OPPOSE ONE VARIANCE REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE RESERVE HOUSTON HEIGHTS.
THE VARIANCE I POSE IS THE VARIANCE THAT STATES TO ALLOW A HOTEL TO GAIN
[02:00:01]
ACCESS FROM LAYERED STREET, A LOCAL RESIDENTIAL STREET.LAYERED STREET IS THE STREET MY HUSBAND AND I CHOSE TO BUY OUR HOME ON.
WHEN WE MOVED TO HOUSTON, WE HAD A LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS ONE YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
LAYERED STREET IS WHERE SHE LEARNED TO RIDE HER BIKE WHERE SHE COLORS WITH SIDEWALK CHALK WHERE SHE PLAYS CATCH WITH HER DAD.
AND WHERE SHE WALKS HER DOGS TO THE PARK.
IT IS THE STREET WHERE HER 3-YEAR-OLD SISTER AND 1-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WILL LEARN TO RIDE THEIR BIKES.
LAYERED STREET IS AN ACTIVE STREET FULL OF YOUNG FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
70% OF OUR HOMES HAVE CHILDREN IN THEM.
UNDER THE AGE OF 11, 70% OF HOMES HAVE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE LEARNING TO RIDE THEIR BIKES COLOR WITH SIDEWALK CHALK AND WALK TO THE PARK IN THEM.
BY ALLOWING A HOTEL TO HAVE ACCESS TO LAD STREET, YOU PUT ALL OF THESE CHILDREN IN GRAVE DANGER.
CARS WILL DRIVE FASTER, THE STREET WILL BE MORE CONGESTED, AND THE VALET WHOSE JOB IS TO WATCH AND WAIT FOR CARS WILL HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO THAN WATCH THE CHILDREN PLAYING IN OUR STREET.
THAT IS AN INVASION OF SAFETY AND PRIVACY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO DENY THE VARIANCE TO ALLOW A HOTEL TO GAIN ACCESS FROM LAD STREET BECAUSE IT'LL PUT MY FAMILY AND ALL THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE ON LAD STREET AT RISK.
THERE IS A REASONABLE SOLUTION THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN DO.
MY FELLOW NEIGHBOR RACHEL MENTIONED IT TO YOU.
THEY CAN MOVE THEIR VALET AND ENTRANCE TO THE HOTEL, TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THEIR PROPERTY ON NORTHWEST ON NORTH, SORRY, ON 14TH STREET, AND LET THE EIGHT FOOT PRIVACY WALL THEY'RE BUILDING CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THEIR PROPERTY LINE IN LAD STREET.
THIS WOULD ENSURE OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE TO STILL GROW UP ON LAD STREET.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE FOR THE RESERVE AT HOUSTON HEIGHTS TO BE BUILT.
WE JUST ASK THAT YOU THINK OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO WALK OUTSIDE YOUR HOME AND HAVE A VALET SITTING THERE WAITING FOR CARS TO COME 24 7 AND HAVE A HOTEL'S ONLY ENTRY AND EXIT POINT ACROSS FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY.
PLEASE PUT THE CITIZENS OF YOUR COMMUNITY FIRST AND DENY THE VARIANCE REQUEST TO ALLOW A HOTEL TO HAVE ACCESS FROM LAYERED STREET, THE STREET MANY CHILDREN WILL GROW UP ON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHALEAN PATEL.
GOOD AFTERNOON PLANNING COMMISSION.
I LIVE ON LAIRD STREET WITH MY WIFE, MY DOG, AND MY 1-YEAR-OLD SON.
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, HAVE SPOKEN TO THE APPLICANT BGE AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE OWNER ABOUT OUR OPPOSITION TO THE VARIANCE GRANTING HOTEL ACCESS TO LAIRD STREET.
GRANTING THIS VARIANCE WOULD BE INJURIOUS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LAIRD STREET.
NOT GRANTING THIS VARIANCE WOULD STILL ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO KEEP CUSTOMER ACCESS ON THREE NON-RESIDENTIAL STREETS, 13TH STREET TO THE SOUTH, 14TH THE NORTH, AND SHEPHERD TO THE EAST.
ALLOWING VALET ACCESS ON LAIRD WOULD ADD COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND VALET STAFF AT ALL HOURS TO OUR STREET.
OUR STREET WHERE MOST HOMES HAVE CHILDREN AND DOGS PLAY AND WALK THE SAME STREET.
MY SON DOG AND I USED TO WALK TO THE PARK.
AND WHERE I HOPE TO TEACH MY SON TO RIDE A BIKE, ONCE ACCESS IS GRANTED, ITS FUTURE USE IS NOT GUARANTEED TO BE THE SAME.
AND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT VALET ACCESS WILL INVITE CUSTOMERS TO THE HOTEL TO TRY AND USE THAT ACCESS EVEN IF UNINTENTIONAL.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE A TEXAS OWNED HOTEL AND BARBECUE JOINT WALKABLE TO ME, BUT RISKING THE SAFETY OF DOZENS OF LOCAL CHILDREN IS NOT NEEDED FOR THIS BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE APPLICANT BEING A GOOD HOTEL AND PURVEYOR OF BARBECUE AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR BY NOT HAVING A VALET ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET.
I ASK THE COMMISSION TO OPPOSE THE VARIANCE FOR HOTEL ACCESS ON LAIRD AND CONSIDER DEFERRING APPROVAL OF OTHER, UH, VARIANCES UNTIL THE APPLICANT CAN UPDATE THEIR PLANS, UH, WITHOUT THE SUPPOSED ACCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? YES, COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG.
UM, I, UH, BEEN IN THE BAR IN RESTAURANT BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME AND I DIDN'T REALIZE, AND IT'S MY FAULT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MEMBERSHIP CLUB POOL VENTURE.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE IN HOUSTON ACTUALLY OWN A BUILDING
UM, AND, AND ESPECIALLY AT THE CLUBS THAT I'VE, I'VE SEEN IT'S TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN CARS.
UM, USUALLY DURING THE WEEKENDS WHEN THESE PLACES ARE OPEN AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE LIMITS OF WHAT WOULD REQUIRE TIA OR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE SHEER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC THAT IS, THAT COMES TO THESE PLACES TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, WHICH I'M ALL SUPPORTIVE OF.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS RELATED TO THAT SPECIFIC USE.
AND THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE IN THE WEEK OF, UM, THE TWO WEEKS OF DEFERRAL MM-HMM
UH, IF SOME SPECIAL USES OR SOMETHING COULD BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THEY BRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN A VARIANCE IS REQUESTED, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT IT NOT BE INJURIOUS
[02:05:01]
TO HEALTH THEIR SAFETY MM-HMMUM, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A JUSTIFICATION FOR HOW IT WON'T BE, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S MITIGATED.
UM, THIS IS LITERALLY ACROSS FROM LOVE ELEMENTARY, SO THAT IS ONE CONCERN.
BUT THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE IS, UH, MAJOR CONCERN IS, IS LAD STREET AND AM I GOING, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING THAT COMMISSIONER, UM, THAT HE WAS THINKING AS WELL.
SO I I, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO RE TO INVESTIGATE HOW THEY CAN RELOCATE THAT VALET INTEREST, KEEP IT ALL AWAY FROM LAD STREET.
I WAS ALSO WORRIED ABOUT MAYBE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING THAT MAYBE THE PE PEOPLE COMING FOR THE POOL WOULD BE PARKING ALONG LAIRD STREET, POTENTIALLY.
AND THAT'S A, THAT'S YET ANOTHER BIG ISSUE.
UM, I ALSO WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE LOVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AWARE THAT THERE WERE VARIANCE REQUESTS INVOLVED IN WHETHER HE, UM, WHETHER THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND STILL ACTIVE WITH IT.
I MEAN, I, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF THEY GOT SUPPORT EARLY ON BEFORE THE VARIANCE REQUEST WAS, WAS PROVIDED, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S YET ANOTHER THING.
I THINK THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND I, I WOULD REALLY LOVE FOR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE'S A WAY TO, UH, WORK ON GETTING SOME KIND OF CROSSWALK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TURS PROJECT IS E EITHER, AND THAT WOULD BE YET ANOTHER THING DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD FOR THE TURS, FOR, FOR US TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE TOURS, UM, DOES HAVE PLANNED FOR LAIRD OR AROUND THERE.
BUT IN GENERAL, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY COOL PROJECT.
I MEAN, I, I AM ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ROLL OVER THERE.
I JUST REALLY, WE CAN'T LET THE NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT.
YEAH, AND I, I DON'T WANNA BELABOR THIS SINCE WE'RE GONNA DEFER IT, BUT IT JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE FIXED PRETTY EASILY.
AND I, I'M, AND I WON'T ASK YOU TO SPEAK FOR THE, THE DEVELOPER, BUT I MEAN, SURELY WE CAN FIX THIS.
THIS IS, UH, IT IS A GREAT, IT'S A GREAT PROJECT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON LAIRD STREET HAVE AN ABSOLUTE GOOD CASE HERE.
SO I, I SUGGEST EVERYBODY PUT THEIR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE IN THE DEFERRAL PERIOD TO FIX IT.
COMMISSIONER STEIN, ANYONE ELSE? YES, COMMISSIONER ROBBINS.
UM, THIS HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT ON THE HOTELS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND I REALLY THINK, I JUST WANT IT ON THE RECORD THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.
I THINK WHAT THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNED FOR, IT, IT, IT IS NOW, AS YOU SEE THESE INNER CITY HOTELS, THE APPLICATION OF THAT ORDINANCE, IT'S ALMOST, UM, OUR VARIANCE IS ALMOST PERFUNCTORY ON HAVING HOTELS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
AND IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION FOR THE CITY, THEN WE OUGHT TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE.
IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO SEE HOTELS POPPING UP IN AREAS CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, CLOSE TO CHURCHES, CLOSE TO RESIDENCES WHEN WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THEM, I THINK.
UM, AND SO A DIRECTOR, I'LL ASK YOU TO, TO SPEAK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AND, AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING HAPPENING TOMORROW, BUT I DO THINK THIS ORDINANCE, WE EITHER NEED TO GET RID OF THE ORDINANCE OR WE NEED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY SOME DIRECTION ON THE INTENT OF THE APPLICA, THE INTENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO APPLY THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, I WILL ASK YOU THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER STEIN DIDN'T WANT TO ASK YOU, BUT I ASSUME THE CONCEPT OF HAVING INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM SHEPHERD IS NOT A NEW ONE.
AND I, AS, AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT THE DEVELOPER IS RESISTANT TO IT? UM, RESISTANCE COULD BE SUBJECTIVE, BUT WITH SHEPHERD BEING A MAJOR FAIR, FAIR, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT, MOST OF THE TRAFFIC WOULD BE EXPECTED FROM THAT, THAT TYPE OF RIGHT OF WAY.
OBVIOUSLY, I, I, MY POINT IS THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT TO THE DEVELOPER, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU AND THE DEVELOPER DISCUSSED.
THEY WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SUBMISSION TODAY WITH A KNOWING YOU WOULD RECOMMEND DEFERRAL RATHER THAN REVISE THEIR PLAN AND BRING IT WITH A CHANCE OF APPROVAL.
UH, THE DEVELOPER WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEIR DESIGN MITIGATES SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, BUT, UM, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE COMMENTS TODAY.
WE'LL, OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL GO BACK AND, AND I'LL SHARE MY OPINION.
I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SHOWING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF REASONABLENESS ON THIS.
I THINK, UH, THERE ARE, IT WOULD NOT BE UNREASONABLE FOR THEM TO PROTE.
EVERY PERSON WE HEARD FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAID, WE'RE, WE ARE, WE LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT, WE WANT THE COMPROMISE.
AND YOU DON'T HEAR THAT OFTEN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THINK THE DEVELOPER OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE AND TRY TO ACCOMMODATE A VERY REASONABLE REQUEST.
[02:10:01]
WHILE WE'RE ALL JUST WEIGHING IN YES, MR. BALDWIN, I MEAN, I I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE SMALL HOTELS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.I THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP SEX TRAFFICKING AND THINGS THAT WERE IMPROPER IN NEIGHBORHOODS OUT.
AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF EVALUATING WHEN THAT'S HAPPENED.
WHEN I LOOK AT PLACES LIKE SAN AUGUSTINE, WHO I WALK TO FROM MY HOUSE TO GO TO A AIR BLUE DOOR AND RESTAURANT THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM LITTLE BUNGALOWS WITH A BUNCH OF LITTLE KIDS.
I'M TELLING YOU, THOSE NEIGHBORS LOVE THAT.
AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD LOVES HAVING IT THERE.
AND THAT'S 40 ROOMS. IT FITS IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT GIVES US SOMETHING TO WALK TO.
IT HAS NOT CREATED THE TRAFFIC.
AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THE MODELS LIKE THE DAPHNE AND ST.
CECILIA AND SAN JOSE AND OTHERS WHERE IT HAS ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE HILTON.
WE CAN HAVE OUR MOTHER-IN-LAW AND WE CAN HAVE OUR FRIENDS STAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT GIVES US SOMETHING ELSE TO WALK TO.
AND THERE IS A WIN TO BE HAD HERE.
AND I, UM, I DON'T WANNA BE NEGATIVE, BUT SOMETHING IS GONNA BE BUILT ON THIS SPOT, AND IT COULD BE MUCH WORSE THAN TERRY BLACK'S RESTAURANT AND 11 LITTLE BUNGALOWS.
AND SO WE ALWAYS LOOK AT WHAT'S THE BEST WE CAN GET AND WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE? IF WE DENY THIS, YOU COULD END UP WITH ANOTHER VAPE SHOP OR SOMETHING THAT'S ENTERING FROM LAYERED, WHICH WOULD BE MUCH WORSE, 24 HOURS A DAY.
AND I LIVE BEHIND WESTHEIMER, WHO CAN SEE TWO VAPE SHOPS FROM MY MASTER BEDROOM WINDOW.
BUT YOU'VE GOTTA BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE GIVE AND TAKE HERE.
AND, AND I DO THINK LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE IS FINE, BUT I THINK THE ORDINANCE WORKS WELL IN ITS CAPACITY TO ALLOW THIS BODY.
I WENT TO THEM AND ASKED, WHO IS THE DEVELOPER? WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH HOTELS? WHAT'S YOUR HOSPITALITY? THEY GAVE, THEY PROVIDED ME BACK A LONG EXPLANATION THAT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO BANKRUPT IN TWO YEARS, AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING LESS DESIRABLE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I FELT WITH BUNKHOUSE TAKING OVER ST.
AND I'M MORE CONFIDENT NOW THAT THIS DEVELOPER PUTTING IN THIS KIND OF MONEY WOULD MAKE SURE THEY'RE, THE SUCCESS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON THE NEIGHBORS ENJOYING IT.
BUT IF THEY WORK WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WORK WITH THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, THEY WORK WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WORK WITH THE TURS, THERE IS A WIN-WIN FOR, FOR EVERYONE.
SO BILL, BILL, I, I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT WHAT A COUNTER.
THOSE HOTELS DON'T HAVE A CLUB POOL, UH, A PUBLIC KIND OF POOL LIKE THIS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LEVEL OF CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
IF IT DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONCEPT, I'D BE ALL FOR IT ALL DAY LONG.
BUT I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME DUE DILIGENCE LOOKING AT THAT TRAFFIC FLOW, THAT TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND THE SPECIFICALLY THE TIMES THAT IT OCCURS, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE INCREDIBLY POPULAR.
IT KINDA GETS WARM HERE, AS YOU KNOW.
UH, I, I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT THE HOTELS IS VALID.
AND, AND MY ISSUE IS THAT IT BASICALLY IS LEFT TO OUR DISCRETION.
AND THE WAY THAT PRACTICALLY THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED IS YOU GET SMALL HOTELS IN RICH NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE DENY THEM IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE WE ARE DECIDING IT'S BETTER NOT TO HAVE A MOTEL IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A NICE HOTEL IN A RICH NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IF THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE, THEN THE CITY SHOULD CLARIFY THAT FOR US AS ADMINISTRATIVE BODY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE INTENT.
I THINK YOUR POINT, WHICH IS, IS IT AN ASSET? IS IT VALUE ADD? IS IT A AMENITY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD? IS THOSE ARE FACTORS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM THE ORDINANCE.
THE ORDINANCE IS CLEAR THAT IF YOU ARE IN WITHIN CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET OF A RESIDENCE OR A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL, NO HOTELS ARE ALLOWED.
AND THEN WE GRANT THE VARIANCES FROM THAT, AND I JUST WANT IT CLEANED UP SO THAT IT'S NOT LEFT AT OUR DISCRETION EVERY TIME WE NEED GUIDANCE ON IT.
20 YEARS AGO WE HAD ANGEL ARBOR, WE HAD SARAH'S BED AND BREAKFAST, WE HAD 15 BE BARE BBI MEAN, BED AND BREAKFAST IN THE HEIGHTS THAT WE ALL HAD PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY, AND WE NO LONGER HAVE THOSE PLACES.
SO THEY'RE JUST BEING REPLACED WITH HIGHER END HOTELS.
COMMISSIONER VAR, I'LL TRY AND MAKE THIS MY LAST TIME,
SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST WHAT, A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I THINK IT WAS, WE JUST DISAPPROVED, UM, VARIANCE REQUESTS THAT WERE FOR HOTELS THAT WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL.
I THINK IT'S REALLY REASONABLE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY CAREFULLY EVALUATING THE HEALTH, THE SAFETY OF, UM, OUR, UH, NEIGHBORS AND LAIRD STREET.
THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK, WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I MEAN, I, I ACTUALLY THINK, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY COOL DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S GONNA BE A MUCH AN ACID ADD FOR THAT AREA, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S THE ISO BUT, UM, THE DIFFERENCE IS LAIRD STREET IS INCREDIBLY TINY, INCREDIBLY NARROW, AND I MEAN, THERE'S JUST ALL THOSE HOMES.
I MEAN, THE WAY THAT IT'S STRUCTURED IS DIFFERENT.
UM, AND SO IT IS DEFINITELY, I CAN SEE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.
COMMISSIONER TEHIR, UM, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS THING FOR 18 MONTHS, SO WHY CAN'T WE HEAR FROM MAYBE MR. YOUNGBLOOD AGAIN? WHAT OTHER
[02:15:01]
OPTIONS HAVE YOU DISCUSSED WITH THE NEIGHBORS, UH, THAT WOULD AVOID SOME OF THEIR MAJOR OBJECTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE LAYERED STREET? UH, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED OTHER OPTIONS? WE HAVE CONSIDERED OTHER OPTIONS.I KNOW EARLY ON THERE WAS A DRIVEWAY CONTEMPLATED, UH, FROM THE SITE ONTO LAIRD, UH, ROUGHLY SPEAKING, WE'LL CALL IT JUST SOUTH OF THE, THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE INTO THE LOBBY AREA OF THE HOTEL, UH, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS DONE AWAY WITH QUITE QUICKLY.
UM, THE CONVERSATION WITH THE LAIRD RESIDENCE HAS BEEN, UH, APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS-ISH, UM, DIRECTLY BACK AND FORTH.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LISTEN AND, AND HEAR AND, AND TAKE EVERYTHING UNDER ADVISEMENT AND, AND CONTINUE TO, TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE MITIGATED AND AND DONE MOVING FORWARD.
MR. LU, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, BEFORE IT WAS ALL RAISED TO THE GROUND? WHAT WAS THERE? IT WAS COMMERCIAL.
I, I HOPE I'M RIGHT IN SAYING THIS.
I, I THINK THE MOST RECENT USE WAS A USED CAR LOT.
UH, DRIVING THE AREA, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CHARGES HAS DONE TO 14TH, 15, 16.
UH, AND SO IT'S LEFT TURN IN, LEFT TURN OUT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE, IT'S NOT A CROSS TRAFFIC, UH, MANEUVER.
E EVEN AT THE STREET INTERSECTIONS 14TH AND AND 13TH.
UH, I THINK THE TURS IS, IS PROBABLY, UH, A BIG, UH, PROPONENT.
I THINK THEY NEED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, UH, BY ADDRESSING LAIRD AND BY ADDRESSING AND WIDENING AND IMPROVING 13TH BETWEEN IT AND, UH, SHEPHERD AND DURHAM.
BUT I THINK THAT PROBABLY TAKES CARE OF A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT, THAT THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE.
UH, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF, HAVE YOU VISITED WITH THE TURS OR THE TURS, UH, CONSULTANTS TO GET FEEDBACK ON, UH, SCHEDULING OR PLANNING ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE THOROUGH AFFAIRS? YES, SIR.
WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD LAYERED IS APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE YEARS OUT AT THIS TIME, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY GONNA GO BACK AND HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TURS AND SEE IF WE CAN'T GET THEM, UH, ENGAGED A LITTLE MORE.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD A SURE QUICK COMMENT, UM, UH, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE, TO THE LAYBY, BUT RELATIVE TO THE, UM, CURB CUT ON LAIRD, UM, IN THIS TWO WEEKS TIMEFRAME, COULD YOU LOOK AT AN OPTION WHERE THERE'S NO CURB CUT, AND MAYBE IN TURN THERE'S AN ASK FROM US, UH, THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE IF THERE'S NO CURB CUT AT, AT
I I WANNA MAKE SURE I, I HEARD YOU, COMMISSIONER HINES, THE, THE EXISTING CURB CUT ON LAIRD TO, TO ELIMINATE THAT.
IT, IT IS AN EXISTING CURB CUT, BY THE WAY, FOR A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, BUT I'M MAKING SURE I'M HEARING YOU CORRECTLY ELIMINATE THAT ONE ON LAIRD, SIR, BUT WE HEARD YES, SIR.
SO THERE, THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT, UH, PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC INTERSECTING WITH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
AND WHAT I HEARD IN A FEW COMMENTS WAS A CONCERN ABOUT VEHICLES IN INGRESSING AND EGRESSING ON LYRIC.
AND A COMPROMISE, I, AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA DESIGN THIS, IS I STARTED WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE DROP OFF THE LAY BY RIGHT.
WHICH YOU COULD PARK CARS ON THE STREET IF YOU WANTED TO, BUT NOW IF YOU HAVE A LAY BY, YOU ARE NOT TAKING UP THOSE SPACES.
IF THERE'S NO CURB CUT AND ACCESS HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF 14TH.
PARKING LOTS REQUIRE TWO MEANS OF EGRESS.
IF THERE WAS AN ASK, I'M TRYING NOT TO DESIGN THIS, RIGHT.
UM, JUST LOOK AT IT, WE WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CHAIR, COMMISSIONER JONES CONVERSATION HERE WITH MY NEIGHBOR.
UH, AND JUST THINKING ABOUT THE, THE VALET AND LOOKING AT THE MAP, THE, THE SITE PLAN OFF OF LAIRD, THERE AREN'T ANY PARKING SPACES IN THAT PARKING ON THAT PARKING LOT.
I WONDER IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE INGRESS EGRESS EITHER OFF 14TH OR LAIRD AS AS THE VALET AND KEEP IT OFF OF LAIRD IN THE CORNER.
AGAIN, JUST, JUST TAKE THAT BACK, THE CLIENT.
WE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH THE LAIRD RESIDENCE IS JUST WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG, UH, THAT MANEUVER OFF OF 14TH
[02:20:01]
ONLY AND CLOSING OF THE THIR, UH, EXCUSE ME, LAYERED DRIVEWAY, BUT THAT KEEPS THE CARS OFF.IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION, BUT WE ARE NOT DESIGNING FOR YOU.
THE, WE LIKE TO UH, WE LIKE TO DO THAT OCCASIONALLY, BUT IS OUR WAY OF SHOWING SUPPORT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
SO YES, YOU'RE READY TO MAKE A MOTION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER IT FOR TWO WEEKS SO THAT WE CAN JUST GET THIS HAMMERED OUT WITH THE RESIDENTS AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
ALSO, FIND OUT WHAT THE PLAN IS, JURORS SECOND.
TAHIR HAD ALREADY TAGGED ME, SO SORRY.
SO, UH, MOTION BY VAR, SECOND BY TAHIR.
IT'LL BE DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
UM, MOVING ALONG TO, I HAVE LOST MY PLACE NOW.
UH, ITEM 1 0 9 IS RICHIE ELLA DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST INTERSECTION OF RICHIE ROAD AND ELLA BOULEVARD.
THE AFFAIRS, UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO NOT PROVIDE A NORTH SOUTH STREET THROUGH THE TRACT, WHICH STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE SITE IS A VACANT 20 ACRE, 28 ACRE TRACT INTENDED FOUR INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSE USE.
UH, THE NORTH FOREST SUBDIVISION WAS DEVELOPED WITH A SUBST STREET TO THE NORTH.
IF THE STREET WAS TO BE EXTENDED, IT WOULD INTRODUCE INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC WITH THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.
ALSO, INTERSECTION SPACING ON THE MAJOR FAIR FAIR RITCHIE ROAD IS ONLY ABOUT 1400 FEET.
THIS MEANS THAT ANY EXTENSION FROM THE SUBDIVISION WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO CONNECT TO THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
IN ADDITION, SIMILAR VARIANCES WERE GRANTED NEARBY TO NOT EXTEND THE STREET CONNECTIONS FROM THIS SUBDIVISION.
UH, STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REQUEST AND RECOMMENDS GRANTING THE REQUESTED VARIANCE IN APPROVING THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 9? OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS LISTED TO HAVE A MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM ONE 10 IS SHOPS AT NEWPORT.
THE SUBJECT SITE IS AN OVER 18 ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WEST ALONG FM 2100 AND NORTH OF SOUTH DIAMONDHEAD BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING ONE LARGE UNRESTRICTED RESERVE INTENDED FOR MIXED USE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO EXCEED INTERSECTION SPACING BY NOT EXTENDING NOR TERMINATING WITH THE CUL-DE-SAC.
KINGSPORT STREET AND SEVEN C STREET STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AS HIGH AS INTENDED FOR MIXED USE, INCLUDING RETAIL FACING 20 FM 2100, SHOWN IN PINK TO THE NEXT ONE.
UH, AND MULTIFAMILY SHOWN IN YELLOW AS WELL AS DRAINAGE AND DETENTION SHOWN IN BLUE.
EXTENDING THE RIGHT OF WAYS WOULD ALSO SECTION OFF LARGE PORTIONS OF THE SUBJECT SITE WHILE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING RIGHT OF WAY.
CONNECTIVITY, THE SUBJECT SITE IS BORDERED TO THE NORTH BY A LARGE DRAINAGE CHANNEL AND IS COMING OUT OF A TRIANGULAR PROPERTY STRIP BETWEEN FM 2100 AND THE NEWPORT SUBDIVISION.
THE SITE IS BORDERED TO THE SOUTH AND WEST BY RECORDED SECTIONS OF NEWPORT GENERAL PLAN, WHICH HAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED RIGHT OF WAY NETWORK.
THE SOUTHERN MOST FRONTAGE POINT OF THE SITE ALONG FM 20, FM 2100 IS ONLY 1,450 FEET FROM THE NEWPORT SUBDIVISION'S PREMIER ENTRY NEWPORT BOULEVARD ALONG THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE NEWPORT GP.
THERE ARE SEVEN ADDITIONAL STUBS THAT PROVIDE MORE APPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS AND INTERSECTION SPACING AND COULD STILL POTENTIALLY MEET CHAPTER 42 INTERSECTION REQUIREMENTS WITH THE EXTENSION OF BARNACLE STREET.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
STAFF OF RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES STATUS' PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 10.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, I NEED A MOTION TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM ONE 11 IS SPRING HIGH SCHOOL.
THE SUBJECTS ACT IS AN OVER 208 ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY EXTRA TERRITORY JURISDICTION SOUTH ALONG RILEY FALLS ROAD AND EAST OF EAST OF HARDY TOLL ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING ONE LARGE UNRESTRICTED RESERVE AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO NOT EXTEND NOR TERMINATE WITH THE CUL-DE-SAC, ETTES CREEK LANE AND CHAPEL RIDGE LANE.
STAFF IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
RILEY FALLS DOES NOT TRULY INTERSECT HARDY TO ROAD AS THERE IS NO CONNECTING, UH, NO CONNECTION ONTO HARDY TO ROAD NORTH OF RILEY F, BUT ONLY AN EXIT
[02:25:01]
RAMP GOING NORTH TO RILEY F AND AN ON RAMP GOING SOUTH ONTO HARDY TO ROAD, UH, FROM RILEY FOSSIL ALONG, UH, RILEY F THE SITE IS ROUGHLY 2,600 FEET FROM THE WESTERN INTERSECTION OF ALD WESTFIELD AND 5,450 FEET FROM THE EASTERN INTERSECTION OF SPRING TRIALS RIDGE TO THE EAST ALONG THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE SITE.HARDY TO ROAD DOES NOT HAVE A FRONTAGE OR FEEDER STREET AND TO THE EAST.
THE SITE IS BORDERED BY SPRING CREEK WITH NO OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL NORTHEAST WITHOUT FIRST TRAVELING BACK TO ALDE WESTFIELD, THEN NORTH OF SPRINGSTEEN AND DOUBLING BACK THROUGH RALEIGH F.
THE SITE PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL SHOWS THE INTENTION TO HAVE PRIVATE RIGHT OF WAYS WITH KNOCK BOX CONNECTIONS TO THE STUBBS STREETS.
SAP POLICE PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO STUBS TO RILEY FSO WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CONNECTIVITY.
A CONNECTION OF THE EASTERN STUB WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR TRAFFIC AND CONNECTIVITY, BUT PROVIDING THE CONNECTION TO THE WESTERN STUB WOULD ALLOW NEEDED THE NEEDED CONNECTION AND ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO AVOID THROUGH TRAFFIC BETWEEN CAMPUS STRUCTURES.
THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN DOES SHOW AN INTENDED CONNECTION THAT COULD BE MADE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING IS NOT INUP SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND IS REQUESTING DEFERRAL TO FURTHER COORDINATE WITH THE APPLICANT REGARDING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER THE PLAT FOR TWO WEEKS TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO COORDINATE WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ONE 11.
IS THERE ANY ONE THAT WISHES TO? ALRIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR DEFERRAL TO I HAVE A MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
OH, THERE'S NO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
[f. Reconsiderations of Requirement (Petra Hsia)]
SOUM, ITEM ONE 12 IS GHAR RESIDENCE.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS HARRIS COUNTY AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF MONT DRIVE AND RAND ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A SINGLE LOT AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A LOT LESS THAN ONE ACRE IN SIZE TO HAVE DIRECT VEHICULAR ACCESS TO MONT DRIVE, WHICH IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THERE IS AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILT IN 1958 AND A GARAGE ON THE PROPERTY WITH VEHICULAR ACCESS BEING TAKEN FROM AN EXISTING DRIVEWAY TO MONT DRIVE.
THE OWNER PLANS ON DEMOLISHING THE EXISTING GARAGE AND BUILD A NEW GARAGE IN ITS PLACE WHICH REQUIRES THE OWNER TO REPL THE PROPERTY TO RECEIVE PERMITS.
HOWEVER, PER CHAPTER 42, IN ORDER FOR A LOT TO TAKE DIRECT ACCESS TO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, THE LOT MUST BE AT LEAST ONE ACRE IN SIZE AND A TURNAROUND ON THE LOT MUST BE PROVIDED TO PREVENT VEHICLES FROM BACKING ONTO THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
DUE TO THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, THE OWNER IS UNABLE TO ACQUIRE MORE LAND TO BRING THE PROPERTY TO SIZE.
IN ADDITION, WITH THE BUILDING OF A NEW GARAGE, THE APPLICANT PLANS TO USE THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY TO MONT DRIVE FOR ACCESS AND INCLUDE A TURNAROUND IN THE DESIGN SO THAT NO CARS WILL BACK ONTO MONT DRIVE.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CCPC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M ASSUMING IT'S A GENTLEMAN TO YOUR UH, RIGHT THERE.
HI, I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE TINA.
UM, WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE WERE RECENTLY GRANTED A, UH, REPL AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE ARE GONNA TEAR DOWN THE, UH, BUILDING THAT IS ADJACENT TO PINE MOUNT AND WE WILL UTILIZE THAT AREA FOR TURNAROUND AND PARKING.
SO WE WILL NOT BE BACKING OUT ONTO PINE MOUNT.
UM, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR US TO ACCESS PINE MOUNT WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE MOVING LANE OF TRAFFIC.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM STAFF TO HAVE A MOTION.
I'LL TRY TO GET TO THIS QUICK.
THE SUBJECT SIDE IS A NEARLY THREE ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY EXTRA TERRITORY JURISDICTION SOUTH ALONG BECCA ROAD AND WEST ALONG WARREN RANCH ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TWO RESERVES RESTRICTED TO COMMERCIAL USE AND TO OPEN SPACE AND REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO NOT DEDICATE RIDE OF WAY WIDENING TO MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
BECCA ROAD STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE DUE TO AN EXISTING 80 FOOT WIDE CENTER POINT EASEMENT, HOSTING HIGH POWER TRANSMISSION LINES ALONG BECCA.
THE APPLICANT CANNOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION.
INSTEAD, THE APPLICANT IS DESIGNATING A 20 FOOT WIDE OPEN SPACE RESERVE ALONG BECCA ROAD, INTENDED FOR FUTURE RIGHT OF WAY, DEDICATION, OR RIGHT OF WAY IMPROVEMENTS IF, IF THEY THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED.
THIS SAME VARIANCE WAS GRANTED TO THE GP TO THE EAST CCA.
THE APPLICANT HAS COORDINATED WITH CENTERPOINT AND HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING WHO HAVE BOTH NO, HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCE SET.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CBC 1 0 1 FORM CONDITIONS.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM
[02:30:01]
STAFF? DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MANDA PARKER.[Platting Activities g - j]
IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SECTIONS.G-H-I-N-J AS ONE GROUP? YES MA'AM.
UM, SECTION G EXTENSIONS OF APPROVAL CONSISTS OF ITEMS ONE 14 THROUGH 1 35 SECTION H.
NAME CHANGES HAS NO ITEMS. SECTION I CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE CONSISTS OF ITEMS 1 36 THROUGH ONE 40 AND SECTION J ADMINISTRATIVE HAS NO ITEMS. THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTS THE APPROVAL OF ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SECTION GHI AND J.
I THINK I HAVE SOME RECUSALS FROM COMMISSIONER HEISS.
CHAIR, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM 1 15, 1 16, 1 18 AND ONE 19.
OKAY, COMMERS, CAN I ALSO PLEASE ABSTAIN FROM ITEM ON ONE 18? YES MA'AM.
OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL ON I ALL ITEMS UNDER G, G AND H.
[k. DEVELOPMENT PLATS WITH VARIANCE REQUESTS ]
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.ITEM 1 41, UH, 45 32 BRI MEYER LANE.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED SOUTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WESTHEIMER ROAD EAST OF SIX 10 LOOP.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND IT IS RE AND IS REQUESTING A 20 FOOT BUILDING LINE IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 25 FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG WESTHEIMER ROAD, THE A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, THE APPLICANT, SORRY, THE APPLICANT IS, UH, SORRY.
THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION IS, UH, IS IN CATERING OAK SUBDIVISION CREATED IN 1953 WITH A PLANTED BUILDING LINE OF 20 FEET ALONG WESTHEIMER ROAD 25 FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG THE LOCAL STREET, WHICH IS BRIAN MAR LANE.
AND ADDITIONALLY, FIVE FOOT BUILDING LINE ON EACH SIDE FOR, UH, DEED RESTRICTIONS.
NONETHELESS, THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL DEPRIVE THE APPLICANT OF LAND TO DEVELOP.
ADDITIONALLY, THE DESIGN WILL LEAVE ROUGHLY 30 FEET F UH, BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE HOUSE AND THE BACK OF CURB.
IN ADDITION, THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DIS UH, DESIGNED TO TAKE, UH, ACCESS VIA THE LOCAL STREET STAFF.
RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
OKAY, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? ALRIGHT.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE MO UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION JONES.
UH, MOTION, UH, ROBBINS SECOND JONES.
UH, 1803 SAYS, UH, C SPRAY COURT.
UM, THE SITE IS, UH, SOUTH OF, UH, WEST TC JESTER BOULEVARD ON, UH, SEA SPRAY COURT NORTH OF, OF, UH, WEST 18TH STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ADDITION AND REMODEL AND, UH, IS EX, SORRY.
IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ADDITION AND REMODEL AND IS REQUESTING A 20 FOOT BUILDING LINE IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 25 FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG WEST 18TH STREET, A MAJOR THOROUGH.
THE ADDITION IS IN, UH, IS IN LINE WITHIN THE EXISTING BUILDING FOOTPRINT, WHICH IS BUILT TO THE 20 FOOT BUILDING LINE.
MOST OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE SUBDIVISION, UH, THAT BACK, UH, ONTO 18TH STREET, ARE ALSO BUILT TO THE 20 FOOT, UH, BUILDING LINE.
AND THE DESIGN WILL, UH, LEAVE ROUGHLY 30 FEET BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE HOUSE TO THE, UH, STREET CURB, WHICH IS SEPARATED BY FENCING AND LANDSCAPING.
UH, THE SITE IS TAKING ACCESS FROM THE LOCAL.
UM, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IT, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 42.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? ALL RIGHT.
I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
[02:35:06]
ITEM 1 43.THAT'S 1630 HALF TABOR STREET.
UH, THE SITE IS LOCATED ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF TABOR STREET AND SOUTH OF, UH, MINOR COLLECTOR, UH, STREET LINK ROAD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS TO ALLOW A SIX FOOT BUILDING LINE IN LIEU OF THE REQUIRED 20 FOOT GARAGE BUILDING LINE FOR A NEW CARPORT ADDITION ALONG TABOR STREET.
THE PROPOSED CARPORT IS REPLACING A PREVIOUS CARPORT ON AN EXISTING HOME WITH NO CAR GARAGE.
THE REQUEST, UH, THE REQUESTED SETBACK IS IN LINE WITH THE EXISTING CARPORTS ALONG THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OPEN DESIGN WILL NOT POSE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BAY CLEAR TRAFFIC.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE REQUEST.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON 1 43.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
[II. Establish a public hearing date of April 17, 2025]
NUMERAL TWO, ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF APRIL 17TH, 2025 FOR KAYWOOD PARK, CRESTVIEW CROSSING GRAND PRAIRIE, SECTION FIVE PARTIAL REPL.NUMBER ONE, HAVEN HOMES AT HOMEWOOD LAUREL PLACE RESERVES ZO PLAZA, TIMBER GROVE MANOR PARTIAL REPL.
NUMBER TWO, WASHINGTON TERRACE, PARTIAL REPL.
NUMBER 12, WILLOW CREEK RANCH, SECTION SEVEN, PARTIAL REPL NUMBER ONE TO HAVE A MOTION.
[III. Consideration of an Off-Street Parking Variance at 4109 McKinney Street (Tammi Williamson)]
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.ITEM NUMBER THREE IS THE CONSIDERATION OF AN OFF STREET PARKING VARIANCE AT 4 1 0 9 MCKINNEY STREET.
THE SITE IS WITHIN HOUSTON ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MCKINNEY STREET, SOUTH OF HARRISBURG BOULEVARD BETWEEN YORK STREET AND SOUTH LOCKWOOD DRIVE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO RENOVATE AND CONVERT AN EXISTING 1920S COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE INTO A RESTAURANT WITH A SMALL TAKEOUT RESTAURANT STRUCTURE.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN OFF STREET PARKING VARIANCE TO PROVIDE 19 PARKING SPACES ON SITE AS OPPOSED TO THE REQUIRED 46 PER LEGAL'S REVIEW.
THIS OFFSITE PARKING VARIANCE WILL VIOLATE SEPARATELY FILED RESTRICTIONS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS TO DEFER PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
STAFF HAS RECEIVED 30 PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE, 25 IN SUPPORT, AND FIVE IN OPPOSITION.
THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT TO SPEAK.
THIS INCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS PAUL ZAPETA.
UH, EXCUSE ME, I WASN'T, UH, AWARE OF, UH, I GUESS HOW I WOULD HAND OUT, UH, SOME OF
YOU MIGHT WANNA GO AHEAD AND START TALKING TO US.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK, UH, TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON HERE.
I'M IN OPPOSITION OF THIS OFF STREET VARIANCE REQUEST HERE, AND IT'S FOR THE SPECIFIC REASON IS THAT THIS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCES SOME REAL CRITICAL ISSUES, UM, ALREADY RELATED TO TRAFFIC.
SO IF YOU CAN SEE I HAVE, UH, A CHART HERE, OR EXCUSE ME, UM, A MAP.
AND IT SHOWS YOU THE RELATION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO A SCHOOL.
AND YOU GOT A NUMBER OF CONCERNS HERE.
THERE'S A COMPLEX TRAIN NETWORK HERE.
THERE'S A LACK OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT ALREADY.
UH, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO A SCHOOL AND POSES ISSUES TO VISIBILITY FOR KIDS THAT ARE WALKING TO SCHOOL IN THE AREA.
AND AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT, THE STREET IS VERY, VERY NARROW.
SO IT ACTUALLY CAUSES PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE OPPOSITE OR OPPOSING SIDE OF TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL TWO TO THREE BLOCKS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AT FULL SPEED.
SO HAVING PEOPLE PARK ON THE SIDE IS NOT GONNA SLOW THEM DOWN.
IT'S JUST GONNA SIMPLY CREATE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ALREADY EXIST.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO MAKE TRAFFIC WORSE, IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME REAL, REAL SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE.
SO I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS, UH, IN STRIKING DOWN THE, THE VARIANCE REQUEST HERE.
SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING IN COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL ZAPETA.
CAN I USE THE DOCUMENT CAMERA? YES.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL ZAPETA AND I, UH, DESIGN SCHOOLS FOR A LIVING.
I WANNA START OFF WITH TALKING ABOUT HOW MCKINNEY STREET IS 28 FEET WIDE, UH, WHICH IS NOT AS WIDE AS A, THE 2021 STUDY, UH, FROM HARRIS
[02:40:01]
COUNTY THAT RECOMMENDS THAT A SINGLE LOADED STREET PARKING, UH, ROAD BE 34 FEET WIDE.AND SO IT SIMPLY DOES NOT MEET THE HARRIS COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS TO FACILITATE STREET PARKING.
AND ON THIS NEXT PAGE, LAND TRIP ELEMENTARY HAS 530 STUDENTS.
85% OF THAT IS, UH, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
AND SO IF WE TAKE A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THAT 10% OF THOSE STUDENTS, UH, WALK FROM SCHOOL, THAT'S 53 STUDENTS.
IF WE RUN DOWN TO 50 EVERY WEEK, THAT'S ABOUT 250 STUDENTS WALKING.
UH, AND IF YOU MULTIPLY IT BY THE AMOUNT OF, UH, SCHOOL WEEKS, THAT'S ABOUT 9,000 OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMETHING TRAGIC TO HAPPEN.
THERE IS NO SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP WITH PEDESTRIAN WALKING IN THIS AREA.
AND IT IS ALREADY CONGESTED AND BACKED UP AS, UH, THE PREVIOUS, UH, PERSON HAS SAID.
UH, HONESTLY, THE SITE IS UNDERSIZED FOR THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND ADDING STREET PARKING IS A LIFE AND SAFETY RISK TO THE NEARBY SCHOOL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFF KAPLAN.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK BACK TO PRESENTATION? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
MY NAME'S RAMO CISNEROS WE'RE THE DESIGNERS FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, LAST YEAR A PLAT WAS APPROVED FOR THIS ENTIRE PROPERTY.
IT HAS BEEN RECORDED WITH THE COUNTY AND TO DATE, FOUR OF THE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR THIS FOR TENANTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY.
ALSO IN CONSTRUCTION IS PROBABLY 85% FINISHED IN OUR VARIANCE REQUEST FOR THE FINAL TENANT.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OF THE THREE LOTS THAT WERE PLATTED PREVIOUSLY THAT NO TITLE REPORT FOR CITY PLANNING LETTERS NEVER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS ANY DEED RESTRICTIONS ON THIS ON THE PROPERTIES.
AND IN FACT, YESTERDAY WE WERE INFORMED BY STAFF THAT THERE WAS ONE LEGAL ISSUE THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WANTED TO EXPLORE ON LOT NUMBER SEVEN, ONE OF THE THREE PROPERTIES THAT NO LONGER EXIST.
TODAY'S VARIANCE IS FOR LOT NUMBER NINE.
SO IT HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE CURRENT APPLICATION.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN NEXT REGARDING THAT.
SO THE SITE WAS APPROVED JULY OF 24.
THE SHELL FOR THE CABOOSE WAS APPROVED ON 1 21 AND SUBMITTED WITH A CPO FOR TODAY AS THE FOURTH PERMIT.
AND WILLOW'S RESTAURANT, WHICH IS OCCUPYING THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING, HAS THEIR TENANT SUBMITTED AND COMING UP FOR APPROVAL ALSO.
SO THOSE ARE ALL FINISHED AND UNDERGONE, UNFORTUNATELY.
LOT NUMBER SEVEN APPARENTLY, OR LOT NUMBER NINE HAS THE LEGAL ISSUE.
THAT'S THE LOT THAT DISAPPEARED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AS ON THE RECORDED PLAT.
BUT THE PERMIT THAT IS PART OF THIS VARIANCE IS LOT NUMBER NINE.
SO IT'S, YOU CAN FINISH UP REAL QUICKLY.
AS OF YESTERDAY, WHEN WE'RE NOTIFIED OF THIS, THE DE THE STAFF WAS GOING TO STAND HERE AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE FOR THE TENANT FOR LOT NUMBER NINE YESTERDAY.
ALSO, IT WAS DETERMINED BY LEGAL THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH LOT NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS A WHOLE NOTHER PROPERTY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR PERMITS AND IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS YOU KNOW, 25, 4 5 AGAINST HAS RESPONDED VERY POSITIVELY TO THIS, UH, UH, PROPOSAL.
ALL THE PERMIT RECEIPTS ARE HERE AND THE PLAT APPROVAL, THE RECORDED PLAT FROM HARRIS COUNTY IS HERE AND A NUMBER OF MULTI-FAMILY, UH, MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA HAVE WRITTEN ALL TO ENDORSE THE PROJECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
A COUPLE OF GENTLEMEN SPOKE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
WELL, THAT'S THE BEST REASON TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT SO THAT YOU CAN WALK TO IT.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE.
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS, INCLUDING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY STARTED AND INVESTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THEIR LEASES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY ALREADY TO BE BUILT.
[02:45:01]
YES, COMMISSIONER GARZA.UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT, UM, I LIVE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS FROM THIS BUILDING AND I'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE NOW FOR 33 YEARS.
AND THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR AT LEAST 40 YEARS.
SO THE FACT THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING ON THAT BLOCK IS REALLY WONDERFUL.
UM, THE SPEAKERS ARE CORRECT ABOUT LAND TRIP.
THERE IS VERY, VERY LITTLE ON STREET PARKING BECAUSE THE ROAD IS NARROW.
BUT I WILL, I WILL REFUTE THE FACT THAT, UH, WHEN THERE ARE TRAINS, IT BACKS UP TO THE SCHOOL.
UM, THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS OF GET THROUGH AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AGAIN, WE NOW HAVE, WELL, I WALK TO CAFETERIA, WHICH I CAN ASSURE YOU IS A MILE AND A HALF AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
AND THERE'S NO FUN ON THE WAY THERE.
IT'S GREAT FUN ON THE WAY BACK 'CAUSE I'M ALL CAFFEINATED.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A VERY, WE ARE TURNING INTO A VERY WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE NEED PLACES LIKE THIS.
IN FACT, THIS IS ACROSS FROM ANOTHER RESTAURANT, LARA, UH, WHICH IS THE FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD TACO PLACE.
SO, UM, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, PARKING WAS NEVER THERE.
IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SMALL AND IT WAS A, A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE.
I THINK IT'S, UH, WORTH APPROVING.
UH, MS. WOODS, DID YOU WANNA MAKE SOME COMMENTS SINCE EVERYTHING WAS ADDRESSED TO LEGAL? SURE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEED RESTRICTIONS IS ON LOT NINE, NOT ON LOT SEVEN.
UM, WHEN THIS WAS REPLANTED INTO, WHAT IS IT, DOWNTOWN EASTWOOD DISTRICT, IT WAS NOT SENT TO LEGAL FOR REVIEW.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHEN IT CAME TO PLANNING THE TITLE REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THERE WERE THREE LOTS THAT WERE REPLANTED INTO THIS RESERVE LOT SEVEN, LOT EIGHT AND LOT NINE, LOT SEVEN AND EIGHT DID NOT HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT STATES THAT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE PERPETUAL.
THEY PROHIBIT ANY BUSINESS OR TRADE FROM OPERATING ON THE PROPERTY AND REQUIRE 20 FOOT FRONT BUILDING LINE TO MCKINNEY.
SO THE BUILDING LINE IS WELL SHORT TO MCKINNEY.
I, AS I STATED, WHEN I SENT MY OPINION OVER TO PLANNING, I DID NOT KNOW HOW THIS WAS ABLE TO BE REPLANTED.
THEY HAVE EXPLAINED HOW, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WHEN THIS CAME OVER TO LEGAL FOR THIS, UH, REQUEST, I HAD TO, YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
SO EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS REPLANTED ERRONEOUSLY INTO THIS RESERVE, UM, WE WENT BACK TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES WHEN IT WAS THE LOTS LOT SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE.
AND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS WERE FOUND.
AND WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO IS, UM, A VIOLATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS.
AND THAT'S ALL I CAN, I CAN ADDRESS.
IT'S DOES THIS VIOLATE THE RESTRICTIONS? YES, IT DOES.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID, RIGHT? THAT THE D RESTRICTIONS WERE ON LOT NUMBER NINE, THIS PERMIT IS FOR LOT NUMBER SEVEN.
NO, IT'S FOR THIS, I LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY IS NOW RESERVED AT WHATEVER DOWNTOWN EASTWOOD DISTRICT.
AND SO THAT IS COMPRISED OF THREE LOTS THAT BECAME THIS NEW PLAT.
AND SO I LOOKED AT ALL THREE, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S ALL ONE BIG PROPERTY.
SO I GUESS THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IS HOW DOES A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN APPROVED AND RECORDED WITH THE COUNTY WHEN THERE'S A DE RESTRICTION ON ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL LOTS, HOW DOES THE WHOLE THING GET RESERVED AND PLATTED AND APPROVED? AND NOW FOUR OF THE FIVE PERMITS APPROVED BECAUSE IT, IT, IT WOULD MEAN THAT EVERY PLAT THAT'S EVER BEEN MADE IS SUBJECT TO SOME SORT OF, SOME SORT OF SECOND GUESSING.
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS BECAUSE THE APPLICANT PROVIDED AN AN ERRONEOUS TITLE REPORT THAT SAID THAT THERE WERE NO DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT RELIED ON.
UM, AND THAT IS, YES, I AGREE THAT THE D RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE, THEY'RE THERE, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT USED TO BE A DRY CLEANERS THAT ENTIRE PROPERTY HAD.
[02:50:01]
MATTERS, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT GOES AGAINST THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT FOR THE WHOLE, UH, 40 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS THAT GROCERY STORE AND A STRIP CENTER, AND I THINK THERE'S A PLEX BACK TO PRESENTATION ON THE NEXT LOT.UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL.
THE USE HAS BEEN COMMERCIAL FOR 40 YEARS AND THEN IT WAS DERELICT PROPERTY.
BUT DEED RESTRICTIONS OR DEED RESTRICTIONS, EXACTLY.
AND I WOULD JUST HARKEN BACK TO THE CHOCOLATE SHOP THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
ALL I CAN DO IS LOOK AT WHAT'S IN THE PROPERTY RECORDS AND SAY WHETHER OR NOT WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED IS VIOLATION OF WHAT'S BEEN FILED THERE.
AND IT IS, THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE TO THAT.
I THINK COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG OR COMMISSIONER ROBBINS, ONE OF YOU GUYS HAD A QUESTION.
ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT WE CAN GET LUCKY, UH, THE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER LOTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE DE RESTRICTIONS? AND DOES THIS OWNER OWN ALL THE OTHER LOTS? SO THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT ISSUE? I CANNOT, I DON'T KNOW THAT ALL I LOOKED AT WAS THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND THE RESTRICTIONS THAT MAY APPLY TO IT.
I DID NOT LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SUBDIVISION.
MAYBE THE APPLICANT COULD WEIGH IN.
SIR, DO YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HERE, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS? NO.
WE'VE ASKED FOR THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY COPIES FROM YOU.
SO THE, THE ONLY THING WE HAVE IS AN EMAIL THAT SAYS LOT NUMBER NINE UNDERSTOOD.
AND I'LL JUST SAY THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, THERE'S NO SUBDIVISION DEED RESTRICTIONS FILED.
THESE DEED RESTRICTIONS WERE FOUND IN THE FIRST DEED OUT FROM THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE FIRST OWNER.
AND THEY STATE THAT THEY'RE PERPETUAL FOR LOT NINE.
AND THAT'S NOT, THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE TITLE REPORT.
AND THAT'S NOT BEEN BY WINDROSE FOUND ON ANY OF HOW MANY NUMBER OF, UH, CPL FOUR CPL LETTERS.
THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY WINDROSE.
THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION OF THAT WHATSOEVER.
I THINK LEGALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ACCURATE TO THE EXTENT THAT NOBODY IS HARMED BY IT.
THERE IS A PATH TO, DEPENDING ON HOW THE, HOW IT APPLIES AND I JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.
THERE MAY BE A PATH SORT OF TO CLEARING THIS UP AND ACCOMMODATING THE APPLICANT AND ALLOWING THEM TO A, AFTER THE FACT CLEAN UP THEIR DEED RESTRICTION ISSUE.
IF THERE ARE NO PARTIES THAT ARE RELYING ON IT OR IMPACTED BY IT AND THE RECOMMENDED DEFERRAL WOULD GIVE YOU THAT TIME TO AT LEAST LOOK AT IT AND FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT, AND ALSO YOUR TITLE COMPANY'S INSURANCE.
I MEAN, I, WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT OVERRIDE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT WE DO.
CAN WE GET A COPY OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS? WELL, THEY'RE RECORDED.
YOUR TITLE COMPANY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL THOSE FOR YOU.
IT WAS NOT ON THE TITLE REPORT.
AND THIS AND OUR WINDROWS, THE PLANNING COMPANY CANNOT LOCATE THEM ANYWHERE.
I'VE GIVEN THE VOLUME AND PAGE NUMBER OF THE RESTRICTIONS TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THEY CAN GIVE THAT TO YOU AND YOU CAN GO TO THE PROPERTY RECORDS AND PULL IT.
NOW, IF THE, IF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY OWNS THE PROPERTY WHERE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE, THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD QUESTION FOR YOUR ATTORNEY.
WE, WE CAN'T ADVISE ON LEGAL ISSUES.
BUT THAT THIS DEFERRAL WOULD GIVE YOU TIME TO REVIEW THEM AND THEN SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR ATTORNEY.
ANYTHING ELSE? YES, COMMISSIONER ROSENBERG.
UM, JUST SO I'M FOLLOWING, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DISCLAIM EVERYTHING.
SO ALL FOUR PARCELS ARE NOW A SINGLE THREE.
ALL THREE PARCELS ARE NOW A SINGLE PARCEL.
SO LOT SEVEN DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
SO I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT TO ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
WOULD ALL THOSE OLD RESTRICTIONS FOLD INTO THE NEW
SO MY THOUGHT WAS COULD YOU REPL IT BACK SEPARATE? PUT IT BACK.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T HAVE BUILDINGS OVER THE PROPERTY LINE, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THERE, BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY ON THE BUILDING, I THINK YOU'D FIND SUPPORT FOR ME AT LEAST PRESERVING THAT BUILDING AND GETTING THIS THING BACK IN FUNCTIONAL USE REPL IT.
DO WHAT? IT'S STILL HAVE A 20 FOOT STEP BACK AND
WELL, SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE DON'T LIKE TO DESIGN PEOPLE'S THINGS.
WE DON'T LIKE TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE.
UM, BUT YES, MS. WILLIAMSON, YOU'LL HELP HIM GET THE VOLUME AND PAGE AND ALL THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
DO I HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO SPEAK? YES, PLEASE.
[02:55:01]
WHAT REALLY? ONE AT A TIME 'CAUSE WE CAN ONLY HEAR ONE PERSON AT A TIME.I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS, MY WIFE AND I, UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
UM, AND DIFFERENT VARIATIONS, POPUPS AND, UH, FOOD TRUCK.
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF SERVICE AT WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL RIGHT NOW FOR A THREE TO DAY FESTIVAL.
UM, THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR.
WE'VE BEEN THERE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
I PLAN MYSELF RIDING A BIKE, BICYCLE TO WORK WHENEVER WE GET OPEN.
UM, WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BE A, A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OF PLACES THAT ARE OPEN IN THE EVENING.
UM, I FEEL LIKE REGARDING THE SCHOOL, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIKE A DOWNTIME FOR, FOR BUSINESS FOR RESTAURANTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THREE, FOUR O'CLOCK.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS THAT THEY, THEY'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE BROKE ONE OF THE WINDOWS THAT WE HAD JUST PUT IN AND SOMEONE PUT A A, A SIGN ON OUR, ON THEIR DOOR LIKE, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WAIT TO COME AND HAVE DINNER HERE.
YOU KNOW? SO WE JUST REALLY HOPE THAT THE VARIANTS COULD BE APPROVED AND UH, WE CAN GET OPEN AND SERVE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
DO YOU WANNA COME FORWARD? MY NAME'S JASMINE BARLA.
I AM CO-OWNER, THAT'S MY HUSBAND THAT JUST SPOKE.
UM, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS, WORKING REALLY HARD, UH, FOR THIS PLACE TO GET OPENED.
UH, REALLY THRILLED THAT THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING THAT WE CAN SAVE AND IT'S NOT GONNA GET TORN DOWN.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLLOWING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY'RE VERY EAGER TO WALK AND RIDE THEIR BIKES THERE.
UM, FOR OURSELF, LIKE WE'LL BE CARPOOLING, WE'LL BE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO, UM, SAVE THEM PARKING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND STUFF.
SO, UM, JUST KNOW THAT WE PUT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE INTO THIS AND WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
OFFER JOBS, OFFER PLACE TO GATHER.
WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THERE TOO.
UH, ONE, I AM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF EASTWOOD STATION, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY GO INTO THE CABOOSE, WHICH IS UH, TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.
AND I ALSO WORK FOR TIM CISNEROS AND I HAVE ASSISTED WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESS OF THIS ENTIRE PROJECT.
UH, SO AS AN OWNER, UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS WITH NO HUGE BACKING.
IT'S JUST BEEN US, OUR SAVINGS, TRYING TO BRING THIS DREAM TO LIFE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. CISNEROS AND THE TEAM FOR OVER A YEAR, UH, ON THIS PASSION PROJECT.
I DUNNO IF ANY OF YOU LIVE IN THE EAST END, BUT WE MOVED TO THE AREA ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND THERE ARE VERY LITTLE FOOD OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES THAT AREN'T LOOKING TO SPEND A HUNDRED DOLLARS A NIGHT.
ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO CREATE A PLACE FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO BE ABLE TO WALK, BIKE, OR DRIVE AND HAVE A SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER AND ENJOY REASONABLY PRICED FOOD.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOTICED LIVING IN THE AREA.
A LOT OF PLACES ARE EITHER CLOSED ONE OR TWO NIGHTS OR THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE, REQUIRE A RESERVATION.
AND WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS, IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GO OUT WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND FIND A REASONABLY PRICED MEAL.
SO THAT IS, UH, MY TAKE AS THE BUSINESS OWNER, AS SOMEONE THAT WORKS IN THE OFFICE.
UM, WE DID RECEIVE THE VOLUME NUMBER AND THE PAGE NUMBER.
I LOGGED INTO THE COUNTY RECORDS.
WE ALSO PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO WINDROSE, PLATTING AND SURVEYING.
AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THAT INFORMATION.
UH, WE DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS COMING FROM AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARCELS ARE ALL CONNECTED NOW.
UM, WE ARE WONDERING IF WE'RE ABLE TO FIND THE PARKING THOUGH AND THE VARIANCE IS NOT REQUIRED.
IS ALL OF THIS NULL AND VOID? IS THE RESTRICTIONS STILL APPLICABLE IF WE NO LONGER NEED A VARIANCE? 'CAUSE THE ONLY REASON IT CAME UP IS BECAUSE OF THE VARIANCE.
THAT'S A ANOTHER THAT BE QUESTION FOR LEGAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE DEED RESTRICTION APPLIES, PARKING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT IF YOU'VE GOT MM-HMM.
THE EMPTY LOT ACROSS THE STREET YES SIR.
THAT WOULD PROVIDE YOUR PARKING.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE DEED RESTRICTION AT ALL.
THAT RESTRICTION, IT ONLY CAME UP BECAUSE OF THE VARIANCE, BECAUSE OF THE PARKING.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN AND WHO WE CAN SPEAK TO.
WELL, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS DON'T CHANGE.
MS. WOODS, I KNOW YOU GAVE THEM THE VOLUME AND PAGE AND ALL OF THAT.
IS THERE A WAY YOU COULD GIVE THAT TO MS. WILLIAMSON, A COPY OF WHAT YOU LOOKED AT? IT'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND LET HER PROVIDE THAT TO THE
[03:00:01]
APPLICANT SO THAT THEY HAVE TIME DURING THIS DEFERRAL TO SPEAK WITH.NO, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS I CAN GET THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS.
I'LL SEND THEM A GOV QA REQUEST AND THEY HAVE TO REQUEST IT THAT WAY.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK, SIR? YES.
UH, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE EAST AND, UH, DISTRICT FOR PAST THREE YEARS, AND FORTUNATELY I'M JUST ABOUT TO CLOSE ON A NEW, ON ONE OF MY HOUSES THAT'S A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM, FROM, FROM THIS PROPERTY.
SO I AM PRETTY EXCITED FOR THIS SPACE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK.
SO IT'S A, IT'S SOMETHING THAT ME AND MY FIANCE ARE PLANNING ON DOING, DOING A COUPLE OF TRIPS HERE AND THERE DURING, DURING THE WEEK.
SO, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME CONCERN FOR SAFETY, HOWEVER, THAT, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, TRY AND MAKE THE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THIS INTO MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
AND ON CONTRAST TO LIKE SAYING JUST HAVING FULL PARKING LOTS, 'CAUSE I, I THINK AT THIS POINT, LIKE WE'VE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING KIND OF GETTING TIRED OF JUST HAVING A FULL PARKING LOT JUST FOR ONE SINGLE TENANT SPACE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOTICED IS THAT, UH, THE PARKING ORDINANCES DON'T REALLY ADDRESS SMALL LOTS WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE OLD BUILDINGS, A LOT OF THE PARKING ORDINANCES ARE MAINLY FOR NEW, NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHERE EMPTY LOTS, WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THE SPACE THEY NEED, NOT FOR SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE.
SO, I MEAN, UH, THAT'S REALLY EVERYTHING I GOTTA SAY.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TODAY.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK, SIR? YES, PLEASE.
I, I THINK I AM THE LAST SPEAKER ON THIS ISSUE, SO I KNOW WE'RE AT THE END OF THE DAY TODAY.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.
DO ME A FAVOR, STATE YOUR NAME SINCE I DON'T HAVE A YES.
UH, MY NAME IS DAVID CISNEROS.
UH, I AM THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND A RESIDENT ABOUT THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THIS PROPERTY.
UM, I'LL JUST LAY OUT THAT I, I FOUND THIS PROPERTY, UH, WALKING AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDING, UH, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
UM, THERE WAS A REFERENCE MADE TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE FIRST, UH, DEVELOPER PUT THIS TOGETHER AND IT ENTERED THAT DEED RESTRICTION.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S 102 YEAR OLD DEED RESTRICTION THAT FROM DAY ONE WAS NOT OBSERVED.
THIS HAS BEEN A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR THE 102 YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN BUILT.
THERE WAS A BUILDING THAT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 2011 THAT TOUCHED LOT NINE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THREE PARCELS HERE, UH, THAT WAS DEMOLISHED DUE TO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS OUR FOCUS AND WE'RE TRYING TO REDEVELOP THAT.
WE REPLANTED THE PROPERTY TOGETHER AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THROUGH AN UNFORTUNATE, UH, UH, ADDITION OF LOT NINE TO THE, THIS PLAT, WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE, UH, TO ACHIEVE THE VISION THAT WE REALLY WANT FOR THIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
AND WE DESPERATELY DON'T WANT TO TEAR DOWN THIS BUILDING.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC, UH, BUILDINGS IN A, YOU KNOW, A VERY HISTORIC PART OF TOWN.
UM, IT FEELS SO MUCH AT TIMES THAT THE GUIDANCE AND THE TAGGING OF THESE THINGS OF LIKE, OH, THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE NOW GETTING SUCKED INTO DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IT'S JUST COACHING LIKE THE BOUTIQUE SMALL DEVELOPER TO TEAR DOWN HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND BUILD TOWN HOMES.
I MEAN, THE, WHAT WE'RE BEING GUIDED TO IS THAT IT'S ACQUIRING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE HEALTHY AND OCCUPIED AND TEARING THEM DOWN TO DO PARKING LOTS.
UM, WE JUST, WE JUST REALLY WANT TO EXECUTE ON THE VISION WE HAVE.
WE THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THE DUE DILIGENCE AND HAVE NAVIGATED THIS PROCESS ON A COMPLICATED PROJECT.
AND IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO UNRAVEL, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNACKNOWLEDGED AND UNOBSERVED HUNDRED YEAR OLD DEED RESTRICTION, UM, THAT HAS NOW GOTTEN ATTACHED AND IS A RIDER TO OUR LARGER VISION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
JUST GIVEN THE, WELL, I THINK REALLY WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.
SO I, I DO JUST SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND COMMENTARY ON, ON ALL THE ISSUES HERE.
SO DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD, YOU GUYS NEED TO REQUEST THE DOCUMENT AND THEY'LL GET THAT TO YOU QUICKLY AND THEN YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR ATTORNEY.
AND YOU ALSO NEED TO WORK WITH PLANNING AND PLANNING WILL TRY TO HELP YOU, HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE SITTING AT THIS TABLE AND I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL OF 'EM THAT WANTS YOU TO HAVE TO TEAR ANYTHING DOWN.
BUT OUR HANDS ARE TIED WHEN THERE ARE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
BUT LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND A WAY, A WORKAROUND WITH YOU.
OKAY, SO COMMISSIONERS, THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER, UNLESS THERE'S ANYONE ELSE.
UM, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
I'M GONNA THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE GONNA DO OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
[VI. Public Hearing and Consideration of a Special Minimum Lot Size for the 3000 Block of Southmore Boulevard in the Riverside Extension Subdivision – MLS 879 (Jacqueline Brown)]
ROMAN NUMERAL SIX.[03:05:03]
GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.MY NAME IS JACQUELINE BROWN WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR ESTABLISHING A 5,250 SQUARE FOOT SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK FOR THE 3000 BLOCK OF SOUTHMORE BOULEVARD, THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES BETWEEN IN STREET AND THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.
THE BLOCK IS IN THE RIVERSIDE EXTENSION AND LUBBOCK SUBDIVISIONS STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARD THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
THE APPLICANT PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FROM OWNERS OF 12 OF THE 19 LOTS, REPRESENTING 61% OF THE TOTAL AREA.
A NOTIFICATION WAS MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE APPLICATION AREA AND ONE TIMELY WRITTEN PROTEST WAS RECEIVED BY STAFF.
ACCORDING TO OUR ANALYSIS, THIS APPLICATION AREA CONSISTS OF 14 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS, REPRESENTING 75% OF THE TOTAL AREA, AND A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 5,250 SQUARE FEET EXISTS ON 14 OF THE 19 LOTS IN THE APPLICATION AREA.
THIS APPLICATION IS IN THE RIVERSIDE EXTENSION IN LUBBOCK SUBDIVISIONS, WHICH WERE PLATTED IN 1927 AND 1929, AND SEVERAL OF THE HOMES BUILT IN THE 1930S AND FORTIES.
MADAM CHAIR, WE'RE READY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
STAFF RECOMMENDS PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ROMAN NUMERAL SIX.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SHARON EVANS BROOKS AND I'M SURE YOU'RE THINKING AT LONG LAST
I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A SACK LUNCH.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD BE LAST.
AND I WAS HOPING TO DEFER TO SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THEM.
WE WENT THROUGH THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WE'RE ELATED THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, THAT, AND AS I SAT HERE ALL DAY TODAY IN IN THIS CHAMBER, MOST RESIDENTS OF OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY ARE IN SUPPORT OF BUSINESS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE HOME OWNERS IN OUR VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE VERY FEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO PROTECT OUR SINGLE FAMILY, UH, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS ONE OF THOSE.
AND SO WE ARE HERE FROM THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE RIVERSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE HERE IN 1000% SUPPORT OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN UM, PURSUING THEIR MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WE WANNA PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY MAINTAINING OUR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY, UM, COMMUNITY.
AND UM, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN KELLY.
I AM A LONG TIME RESIDENT ON A SOPHOMORE 3,000 BLOCK, ABOUT 43 YEARS.
SO I'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME AND PEOPLE GO AND EVERYONE WHO HAS COME BACK WANT TO HAVE A A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
WE DO HAVE TWO, UH, ON THE END OF UH, OF THE BLOCK, THERE'S A MULTI, UM, APARTMENT BUILDING AND UH, FOURPLEX, THEY ARE FINE NEIGHBORS.
I'M IN UH, PROTEST OF WHOEVER IT WAS WHO WROTE THEIR PROTEST OR TURNED IT IN TIMELY SO THAT WE COULD NOT KEEP OUR BLOCK AS SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.
UM, I HAVE A PICTURE, I DON'T KNOW, CAN THIS SHOW ON THE SURE.
THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD PICTURE, BUT IT SHOWS THAT GREEN GRASS IN THE BOTTOM CORNER THAT'S KIND OF FADED OUT.
THAT'S MY PROPERTY AND THIS IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE IS BEING DEMOLISHED.
THERE WAS A LADY THERE THAT LIVED AND RAISED HER CHILDREN THERE FOR YEARS AND THROUGH, UH, I DON'T KNOW, FAMILY QUARREL WHATEVER THEY SOLD, THE CHILDREN SOLD THE HOUSE AND IT WAS UH, DEMOLISHED.
NOW THE HOUSE TO THE RIGHT THAT THE WHITE ONE WITH THE PYRAMID TYPE ROOF IS A FAMILY THERE.
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, TWO PARENTS, TWO CHILDREN AND A DOG AND, AND A GARDEN.
[03:10:01]
UH, STARTED GROWING.BUT THEY ARE SITTING BETWEEN TWO VACANT LOTS NOW.
'CAUSE THIS HOUSE IS GONE THAT YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S A VACANT GO AHEAD.
THE GO AHEAD WRAP UP REAL QUICK.
AND IT'S A VACANT LOT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SO I'M IN PROTEST OF HAVING POSSIBLY FOUR OR THREE SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS ON EITHER ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, IT'S REMAINED THE SAME AS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
NO SPLIT LOTS WITH TOWNHOUSES GOING UP.
THREE STORIES HIGH THAT WE HAVE THAT WILL BE LOOKING DOWN ON US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMPLAINT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAL COHEN.
COHEN, YOU WILL NOT HURT MY FEELINGS IF YOU CORRECT ME.
IT'S HAL KEEN AND CLOSE ENOUGH.
UM, SO I AM NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE MOVED TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY AND THE OLD HOUSES AND WE LOVE IT HERE.
UM, THE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET THAT MISS KAREN WAS TALKING ABOUT, THOSE ARE DEAR FRIENDS OF MINE AND THEY DO HAVE VACANT LOTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THEM AT THIS POINT.
AND THE CONCERN IS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE 16 TOWNHOUSES BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR SORT OF VERY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I THINK ALL OF US NEIGHBORS WOULD LIKE TO AVOID THAT SORT OF AT ALL COSTS.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE PUSHING FOR, FOR THIS MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE A LOT OF ANYONE'S TIME, BUT THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS.
WE'VE ALL LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND MOVED TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT LIKE THAT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TODAY.
THE LAST SPEAK, THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE SIGNED TO SPEAK IS JAMILA GLOVER.
I ACTUALLY WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SO I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE MOVING OUT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MOVING TO THE SUBURBS.
I AM ONE OF THE YOUNGEST PERSONS ON OUR BLOCK AND IF I'M LOOKING TO START A FAMILY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WANT FAMILIES TO MOVE IN, THEN IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN.
SO BEHIND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE MAP WHERE WE'RE APPLYING, BUT BEHIND SOPHOMORE ON PALMER, THEY ALREADY HAVE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS.
AND ONE THING IS THAT, UH, SHARON MENTIONED IS IN OUR RIVERSIDE ASSOCIATION, APPLYING FOR THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS IS REALLY OUR ONLY METHOD FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THESE AS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
SO WE HAVE A CONCERTED EFFORT IN OUR ASSOCIATION TO SAY STREET BY STREET.
THIS IS OUR GOAL, THIS IS THE ACTION WE'RE TAKING TO PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AGAIN, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT ON THE HOUSTON LAND BANK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT BECAUSE I'M A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE, I AM INELIGIBLE.
BUT I CAN IMPACT WHERE I LIVE AND I'M STARTING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS VOTE IN OUR FAVOR.
THAT'S THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, WILL YOU PLEASE RESTATE OUR INTENT HERE? THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO FOR PLANNING COMMISSION TO FORWARD THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
I HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
AND I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BALDWIN, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COVAR TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
I GOTTA ASK YOU NOT TO CLAP 'CAUSE I ASKED THE LAST GROUP SAME THING, BUT Y'ALL GO OUT IN THE HALLWAY AND HOOT AND HOLLER AND CARRY ON.
DO I HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 5:47 PM THANK YOU.