[00:00:01]
AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.[CALL TO ORDER]
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.I'M THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 2:44 PM ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2026.
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON MEETING TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY HALL ANNEX AT 800 BAGBY.
YOU MAY ALSO MONITOR THE MEETING BY VIEWING VIA 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 FOR ONE MINUTE.
NEW SPEAKERS ARE TIME FOR TWO.
YOUR SPEAKER RULES ARE FOUND ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE SPEAKER FORM ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THOSE, UM, BECAUSE I WANNA GET THE DIRECTOR, UH, TO GO AHEAD.
I DO NEED TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM SO, UM, EVEN WITHOUT THE PRESENTATION I CAN DO THAT, CORRECT? OKAY.
SO TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, I WILL CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN? PRESENT.
I'M GONNA TRY TO REMEMBER ALPHABETICALLY BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE MY FINGERS WORK.
COMMISSIONER CARROLL? PRESENT.
WE HAVE 13 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, SO WE DO MEET OUR QUORUM.
OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO STICK THE MINUTES BEHIND US.
WE'LL DO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES AND I'LL LET THE DIRECTOR
[Director’s Report (Part 1 of 2)]
GET STARTED.HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CLARK.
EARS ON, BUT WE CAN'T HEAR YOU VERY WELL.
WHILE HE'S DOING THAT, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PARKS PRESENTATION.
STAFF IS JUST BEING REALLY CHALLENGED TODAY ON THEIR TECHNOLOGY ABILITIES.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION, AND I WANNA SAY GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M KENNETH ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A ICONIC MOMENT FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHAPTER 42, DIVISION SEVEN, PARKS AND PRIVATE PARKS ORDINANCE INCREASING THE FEE IN LIEU OF DEDICATION FROM 700 TO $900.
DO WE HAVE A SLIDE? DOCUMENT CAMERA.
YOU KNOW, AT THE, UM, OCTOBER 29TH COMMISSION MEETING, UM, I PRESENTED A SUMMARY OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND ANNUAL REPORT, UM, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED BOTH THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, UH, MADE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE GROWING NEEDS THAT REMAIN THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM.
TO DATE, WE HAVE GENERATED $104 MILLION WITH 44 MILLION IN COMPLETED PROJECTS AND ANOTHER 42 MILLION OBLIGATED FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, THESE INVESTMENTS DEMONSTRATE A HIGH IMPORTANCE OF THIS DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE IN HELPING US MAINTAIN, IMPROVE, EXPAND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
THE REPORT ALSO INCLUDED AN ANALYSIS FOR THE CHANGES IN TAXABLE VALUE OF LAND WITHIN THE CITY.
FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, AS I MENTIONED, THE FEE HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED DESPITE OF SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN APPRAISED LAND VALUES AND THE CONTINUED DEMAND FOR OUR PARK SYSTEM.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A DEPARTMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION
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FUND KEEPS PACE WITH A CHANGING VALUE OF LAND AND THE NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.THE PROPOSED $200 ADJUSTMENT, BRINGING THE FEE UP TO $900 PER DWELLING UNIT, IT'S A MODEST BUT VERY MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD.
UM, IT REMAINS WELL BELOW THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT, UH, PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW AND IS INTENDED TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PARK INVESTMENT WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING DEVELOPMENT COSTS REASONABLE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, US AND OTHER CITIES, EVEN IN TEXAS, THE CURRENT FEE IS HALF OF WHAT OTHER CITIES CHARGE.
SO THIS ADJUSTMENT IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT JUST INCREASING THE FEE.
IT'S MORE ABOUT INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO DE - TO DELIVER PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES FOR HOUSTON.
SO BASED ON THE CURRENT ESTIMATES, THE ADJUSTED, THE ADJUSTMENT WOULD GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE ANNUALLY AND ALL FOR, FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND.
THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL HELP CRITICAL IMPROVE- IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING ACCESSIBLE, SHADED, MODERNIZED PLAYGROUNDS THAT PROVIDE SAFE PLACES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PLAY, PROVIDE NEW AND IMPROVED LIGHTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXTENDS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCE SAFETY, AND SIDEWALKS AND TRAILS THAT IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKING, BIKING, AND ACTIVE RECREATION.
IT'S TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WELL-MAINTAINED PARKS AND EQUI- EQUITABLE RECREATION ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS CITYWIDE.
WITH 380 PARKS ACROSS 21 PARK SECTORS, THE NEED FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IS, IS SIGNIFICANT, AS I MENTIONED, BUT WE MUST BE ABLE TO ADDRESS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND ENSURE IMPROVEMENTS REACH NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
UM, RESEARCH WILL TELL YOU THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE PLACES FOR FAMILY TOGETHER, FAMILIES TOGETHER, CHILDREN TO PLAY, RESIDENTS TO STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY, NEIGHBORHOODS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS, AND DISTRIBUTE OVERALL QUALITY OF L - QUAL- QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
SO WITH THIS IN MIND, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION SUPPORT, UH, FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR KIDS DESERVE IT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR BEFORE I CALL SPEAKERS? OKAY.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
[1. Public hearing and consideration of Park and Recreation Dedication Fund 2026 Annual Report and Amendments to Sec. 42-253 by increasing the fee to $900 (Kenneth Allen, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department)]
IS COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.I WON'T, I WON'T TAKE YOU VERY LONG.
YOU GUYS ARE SICK OF HEARING ME TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS INCREASE, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS INCREASE.
WE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR OUR PARKS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE RANK REALLY LOW IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PARKS, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS REALLY NEED THIS MONEY.
INTERESTINGLY, AUSTIN THIS PAST WEEK PASSED A BOND INITIATIVE, $260 MILLION FOR PARKS, UH, AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT, I THINK 35 MILLION FOR LIBRARIES THAT ADDED ABOUT $41 TO THEIR TAX BILL, BUT IT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY 60-39.
UM, ON THE FLIP SIDE, DALLAS, UH, HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURE THAT FAILED AND IT WOULD HAVE ADDED $72 IN, IN, IN, UM, IN THEIR, TO THEIR TAXES.
I HOPE IN THE FUTURE WE CAN ADD TO THIS.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD FOR THIS $1.8 MILLION, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THIS PITTANCE.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP COMING BACK EVERY YEAR TILL WE GET TO THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT SO WE CAN ADEQUATELY, YOU KNOW, GET, USE THAT FUND TO LEVERAGE OTHER RESOURCES.
BUT I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR A BIG BOND ELECTION.
THEY USUALLY SUPPORT PARKS AND WE NEED TO GET A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE, IN THE FUNNEL FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETINGS PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER MEETING DECEMBER 2ND WHERE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEN IN DECEMBER WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY PASSING THIS INCREASE.
SO THANKS TO, TO VON TRAN AND TO KENNETH ALLEN AND EVERYBODY, UH, MAR- MARLENE GAFFRICK, EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED ON THIS AND, UM, JUST RE- REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAKE PATRICK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I'M A DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE WITH CITY CHOICE HOMES.
WE BUILD INFILL TOWN HOMES HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THE RAISE, THE RISE IN THE PARKS
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FEE, UH, BUT WE BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE RELIEF FOR LOWER COST HOMES.UM, AS YOU KNOW, EVERY FEE WE PAY ENDS UP IN THE PRICE OF THE HOME, AND MANY OF OUR BUYERS ARE FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS, AND FOR THEM, EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.
THIS INCREASE COMES ON TOP OF INCREASED INTEREST RATES, INFLATION, PERMITS, PLATTING, ADMIN FEES, AND IMPACT FEES.
ONE FEE BY ITSELF MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT, UH, TOGETHER THEY'RE PRICING FAMILIES OUT OF OUR HOMES.
TO US, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO CHARGE A $300,000 STARTER HOME THE SAME PARKS FEE AS A $10 MILLION HOME IN RIVER OAKS.
WHEN THE PARKS FEE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED, UH, HOMES WERE MUCH...
WERE, WERE PRICED MUCH LOWER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
UH, WE BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN EXEMPTION FOR HOMES BELOW A CERTAIN PRICE OR SET A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON SALES PRICE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY FAIRCHILD.
I'M HERE TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S COMMENTS.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, NELLY KEYS PARK, WHICH IS IN THE RICE MILITARY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED A SERVED NEIGHBORHOOD OR A SERVED AREA, BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT, UH, HAVE GONE UNADDRESSED AT THAT PARK.
SO IT'S HALF, IT'S A HALF ACRE PARK, UH, BUT IT IS THE ONLY GREEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE GATHER.
AND I HEARD JUST YESTERDAY SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, UH, FROM OUR KIDS' CHAIR WHO REALLY, UH, RUNS EVENTS FOR ABOUT 300 CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT A LOT OF THE PARENTS, UM, GATHER IN THAT PARK AT NELLY KEYS TO JUST BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND SHE HAS, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GONNA BE LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO, UM, HAVE AN INCREASED FEE.
I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALI FLANDERS-DODSON.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS ALLIE FLANDERS-DODSON.
I WORK FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UM, WE'RE A NONPROFIT HERE IN HOUSTON WORKING TO EXPAND, IMPROVE, AND PROTECT PARKS ALL ACROSS THE REGION.
PARKS REALLY ARE VALUABLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY'RE THE HEART OF A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE TO CONNECT AND GET OUTSIDE.
UH, THEY MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HEALTHIER.
THEY ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE RESILIENT, AND THEY IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON A PROGRAM THAT WE CALL LET'S PLAY HOUSTON.
THIS INITIATIVE WILL REVITALIZE 25 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ACROSS OUR CITY, AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WILL BENEFIT FROM OPEN SPACE FUNDS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE FEE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS ENSURING THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTES TO THE INVESTMENTS IN PARKS AND GREEN SPACE THAT ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT OUR GROWING HOUSTON COMMUNITIES.
UH, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S MADE THIS POSSIBLE AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I URGE YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASE AND THE UPDATES TO THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE BEING CONSIDERED TODAY.
AND THE LAST SPEAKER I HAVE IS BETH MARTIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE CITY HALL ADVOCATE WITH ENVIRONMENT TEXAS.
UM, WE'RE A POLICY AND ACTION GROUP, UM, WITH ONE MISSION TO PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD, UM, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AN INCREASE IN THE DEVELOPER FEE.
UM, ENVIRONMENT TEXAS HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN AND EFFECTIVE FOR INCREASING RESOURCES DEDICATED TO STATE PARK EXPANSIONS, AND WE TAKE THAT SAME STANCE, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S POLICY CHANGES REGARDING UPDATES TO OUR OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE.
HOUSTON'S PARKS ARE VITAL REFUGES FOR NATURE IN AN - IN AN INCREASINGLY DEVELOPED LANDSCAPE.
THEY PROTECT FORESTS, WETLANDS, AND PRAIRIES, PROVIDING HABITATS FOR BIRDS, POLLINATORS, AND OTHER WILDLIFE WHILE GIVING HOUSTONIANS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL WORLD.
PARKS IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HELP CREATE A MORE LIVABLE CLIMATE, ACTING AS CRITICAL MICROCLIMATIC COOLING ZONES BY REDUCING THE HEAT IN OUR CITY AND ABSORBING STORMWATER.
PROTECTING AND EXPANDING THESE SPACES IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT NATURE HAS A PLACE IN HOUSTON'S FUTURE, YET HOUSTON PLACED 69TH AMONG THE NATION'S 100 LARGEST CITIES IN THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS, 2026 PAR- PARK SCORE RANKINGS.
THE RANKING FOR HOUSTON IS BASED ON HOW IT COMPARES NATIONALLY
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ON FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXCELLENT PARK SYSTEM, UM, ACREAGE, ACCESS, INVESTMENT, AMENITIES, AND PARK SPACE EQUITY.HOUSTON IS BEHIND DALLAS AT 38TH, AUSTIN AT 47TH, AND SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO AT 61ST.
CHRONIC UNDERINVESTMENT LEAVES NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WITH DETERIORATING FACILITIES AND LIMITS THE CITY'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR GREEN SPACE.
HOUSTON NEEDS BOTH MORE PROTECTED LAND AND RELIABLE FUNDING TO STEWARD THE PARKS IT ALREADY HAS.
THE DEVELOPER FEES, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE REMAINED 700, $700 PER DWELLING UNIT SINCE THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED IN 2007, DESPITE THE ORDINANCE CALLING FOR AN ANNUAL REVIEW EVERY YEAR OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUNDS AND A REASSESSMENT OF THE FEES.
SO ENVIRONMENT TEXAS AND OUR ALLIES SUPPORT, UM, A STRONGER FEE TO HELP HOUSTON'S PARK SYSTEM KEEP PACE WITH DEVELOPMENT WHILE ALSO WORKING FOR INCREASED MAINTENANCE FUNDING, AND TOGETHER THESE INVESTMENTS CAN HELP PROTECT MORE HABITAT, RESTORE MORE NATURAL AREAS, AND ENSURE THAT EXISTING PARKS RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
SO BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS AND, AND MAKE A VOTE, UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE, DIRECTOR TRAN, DIRECTOR ALLEN, MARLENE, ALL, ALL THE STAFF, EVERYONE THAT'S WORKED REAL HARD, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR.
HE WORKED AS HARD ON THIS, UH, INITIATIVE, BUT HE ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT AFFORDABILITY AND IN THESE CURRENT TIMES, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO I THANK HIM AND HIS STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AS WELL.
AND I WANTED YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT HE WAS INGRAINED IN THIS DEEPLY AS WELL.
UM, WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND I SEEK A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUN - CITY COUNCIL.
MOTION BALLARD, SECOND BALDWIN.
I'M GONNA BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
[Consideration of October 29, 2026, Planning Commission Meeting Minutes ]
I ALSO NEED A MOTION, UM, FOR THE PRIOR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 29TH, 2026 THAT WERE IN YOUR PACKET.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MADES.
[Director’s Report (Part 2 of 2)]
YOU COULD DO YOUR REPORT, PLEASE.THANK YOU, CHAIR CLARK, COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC.
UH, I AM VAUGHN TRAN, SECRETARY OF THIS COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT THIS ROUND, UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO, UH, REMIND EVERYONE, UH, YOU MAY CALL THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 832-393-6600, AND, UH, YOU MAY VISIT US ONLINE AT HOUSTONPLANNING.COM.
[II. Presentation on adding Division 9 to Article III of Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances on Retail Fueling Stations and establishing a public hearing date on December 17, 2026 (Marlene Gafrick)]
NOW, I'D LIKE TO CALL MS. GAFFRICK FORWARD TO DO A PRESENTATION ON ADDING DIVISION NINE TO ARTICLE THREE OF CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ON RETAIL FUELING STATIONS AND ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR DECEMBER 17TH, 2026.I JUST APPRECIATE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC BEING VERY, UM, FLEXIBLE FOR STAFF BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD FOR THE DIRECTOR AND FOR STAFF TO PREPARE FOR TODAY, AND THE TECHNOLOGY JUST CREATES PROBLEMS. SO, Y'ALL, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
THE DIRECTOR DOES A GOOD JOB TRYING TO THINK THROUGH SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED.
SO, MARLENE GAFFRICK, I'M WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS - DON'T FEEL BAD FOR HIM.
I WON'T FEEL BAD FOR HIM AT ALL.
SO EARLIER THIS SUMMER, THERE WERE, THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PASSING A MORATORIUM ON PERMITTING RETAIL FUEL STATIONS, AND THAT DISCUSSION WAS LARGELY ENTAILED...
IT, IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RETAIL FUEL STATIONS AND LOCATIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE PERCEIVED AS BEING IN THE WRONG LOCATION.
AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, LOOKING AT THE PROCESS TO CREATE A MORATORIUM, THAT WOULD TAKE US FROM ABOUT...
SO WE WOULD BURN A LOT OF ENERGY CREATING A MORATORIUM ON RETAIL FUEL STATIONS BEFORE WE COULD EVEN START DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE.
AND THEN WE WERE ALSO LIMITED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU COULD EXTEND THE MORATORIUM, AND THIS IS ALL IN STATE LAW.
SO MAYOR WHITMEYER DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT WAS COMPOSED OF THE PLANNING
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DEPARTMENT, THE HEALTH, FIRE, UM...WHO AM I MISSING? UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
SO DIRECTOR TRAN WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED.
HER TEAM WAS VERY HELPFUL ON PULLING A BUNCH OF DATA.
TAMMY KIM AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S HERE TODAY.
THEY WERE ALSO VERY ENGAGED IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA COVER TODAY IN PREPARATION FOR A HEARING ON DECEMBER 17TH, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR RESEARCH BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE C - WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AS WE DRAFTED THE ORDINANCE.
AND THEN I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE AND THEN A TIMELINE BECAUSE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING WE'VE GOTTA MOVE QUICKLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A MORATORIUM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S PROCESSES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE VERY INDUSTRY WE ARE PROPOSING TO REGULATE.
AND ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IN WORKING ON THIS ORDINANCE WAS ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO THAT INDUSTRY TO EVEN LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WERE WORKING ON DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE.
SO OUR FIRST STEP IN TRYING TO LEARN THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT WHO DOES WHAT AND IF THEY'RE INTERRELATED.
AND SO WE TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK AND WE FOUND THAT THERE'S REALLY, THERE'S THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATIONS, WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT YOUR WEIGHTS AND RES - MEASURES, RIGHT? YOU'RE PUTTING A GALLON OF GAS, YOU'RE GETTING CHARGED FOR A GALLON OF GAS, NOT MORE, NOT LESS.
THERE'S THEN THE TCEQ THAT LOOKS AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON, YOU KNOW, THAT'S INSTALLING THE TANKS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE FOUND THAT THEY ARE ALL VERY INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.
THERE'S NOT REALLY TALKING AMONGST ONE ANOTHER, BUT THEY ALL HAVE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MET IN ORDER FOR A FUEL STATION TO OPEN.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TDLR AND THE TCEQ, THEY RELY ON LICENSED COMPANIES TO DO THE WORK AND TO DO WHAT I'M GONNA CALL A SELF-CERTIFICATION AND THEN FILL OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK TO GET THE ACTUAL PERMITS FROM THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY.
IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE GO THROUGH A STANDARD BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
WHERE WE DIFFER IS THAT IT'S ON OUR INSPECTION SIDE.
SO CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU HAVE, UM, THEY'LL DO THE INSPECTIONS FOR THE STRUCTURAL, THE PLUMBING, UM, HVAC, THOSE ITEMS. THOSE ARE STANDARD, BUT IT SPLITS OFF WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL, AND THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS GOING TO FIRST LOOK AT WHEN THE TANK COMES TO SI - TO THE SITE, THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE TANK MATCHES THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE, WHAT I'M GONNA CALL A LANDING SLIP.
THEN THEY WILL GO THROUGH AND THEN WHEN THE TANK IS PUT IN THE GROUND, THEY WILL TEST THE LINES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO LEAKAGE.
THEN THEY MAY GO AND FILL IN THE DIRT AND COVER UP THE TANK.
THEN THEIR THIRD STEP IS TO GO IN FOR WHAT'S CALLED AN OPERATIONAL PERMIT, AND THERE'S CERTAIN SAFETY FEATURES YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ARE IN PLACE, LIKE THAT YOUR, YOUR HOSE AT THE PUMP IS A BREAKAWAY HOSE, THAT YOU HAVE A STOP-OFF VALVE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FOR, TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY WITH THE FUEL SPILLS THAT YOU CAN SHUT IT OFF.
SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ON.
SOME OF THEM ARE CONCURRENTLY, SOME OF THEM ARE, UM, THEY'RE...
YEAH, THEY'RE ALL CONCURRENTLY.
SO FROM THE TDLR, YOU NEED AN OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, SO THAT SAYS THAT YOUR PUMP IS DELIVERING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FLUID OR FUEL.
THEN FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU NEED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL, YOU NEED AN OPERATIONALS PERMIT.
AND THEN FROM THE TDLR, YOU NEED A FUEL DELIVERY CERTIFICATE.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH TO KIND OF FIGURE ALL THIS OUT.
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND LOOK AT OTHER CITIES IN, IN TEXAS, AND THEY'RE ALL REGULATED BY...
THEY REGULATE THE FUEL STATIONS THROUGH THEIR ZONING ORDINANCES, AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT C- CHAPTER IN THE TEXAS STATUTES, THAT'S CHAPTER 211, THAT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A ZONING STATUTE.
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ZONING, WE HAVE TO RELY ON CHAPTER 212, WHICH IS WHERE WE GET OUR AUTHORITY FOR CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REGULATE LAND DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT REGULATORY SCHEME THAN OTHER CITIES, BUT WE DO HAVE SEVERAL LOCATIONAL ORDINANCES IN HOUSTON, LIKE OUR HOTEL/MOTEL, RIGHT? UM, WE HAVE OUR SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR BUFFERING ORDINANCE THAT...
AND THEN ALSO THAT TRIGGERS A TRAFFIC IMPACT
[00:25:01]
ANALYSIS.SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER ORDINANCES.
I'M GOING TO NOW KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE DATA.
I WISH YOU COULD SEE THIS ON YOUR IPAD, SO...
THE BEST DATA WORK WITH THAT WE HAD WAS WITH, UM, THE PORTION OF HOUSTON THAT'S WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.
WE FOUND THAT HARRIS COUNTY, UM, H- HCAD HAD THE BEST DATA THAT WE COULD WORK WITH AND MANIPULATE TO PULL OUR RESEARCH.
SO WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE 188 APPLICATIONS INSIDE THE CITY IN FOUR YEARS, AND 178 OF THOSE APPLICATIONS, OR 95% OF THEM, WERE ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
SO THAT MEAN- MEANT ONLY 10 WERE ON OTHER STREETS.
SO THINK ABOUT COLLECTOR OR LOCAL STREETS.
SO THAT TELLS YOU THAT THE BULK OF THE RETAIL FUEL STATIONS ARE GOING ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, WHICH IS WHERE WE WANT THEM TO LOCATE.
HOWEVER, 50 OF THE APPLICATION...
50 OF THE 188 APPLICATIONS WERE ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AND NON-MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT WERE 80 FEET AND LESS.
SO 50 THAT WERE, UM, ON NON-MAJOR THOROUGHFARES OR THOROUGHFARE 80 FEET AND LESS.
I'M GONNA COME BACK TO THAT 50 NUMBER IN JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA SHOW YOU HOW WE'RE GONNA TIE INTO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO WHY DID WE PICK 80? I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT QUESTION.
SO IF WE THINK ABOUT OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, AND I, OUR ENGINEERS HERE AT THE TABLE WILL KNOW, MOST OF OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES ARE GENERALLY IN THE RANGE OF 80 OR 100 FEET.
80 FOOT RIGHT OF WAYS, WE GENERALLY DON'T WIDEN OUT BEYOND FOUR LANES, BUT OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT ARE 100 FEET OR A LITTLE LARGER THAN 100 FEET, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE SIX LANES.
100 FEET, IT'S KINDA TIGHT, BUT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET SIX LANES WITHIN 100 FEET.
SO WE, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN TYPES OF MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT ARE OVER 80 FEET, THAT ARE PLANNED TO BE OVER 80 FEET, AND IT'S PLANNED BASED ON WHAT IS IDENTIFIED ON THE COMMISSION'S MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FREEWAY HIERARCHY TABLE.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
I'M DIVING DOWN IN THE WEEDS, I'M SORRY.
BUT IT, IT'S REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE WHEN YOU HOLD THE HEARING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE DETAILS ARE UNDERSTOOD.
AND I ALSO WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTOOD, STAND IT.
UM, THERE WERE 138 OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE LOCATED ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES GREATER THAN 80 FEET.
NOW, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, AND WE SAID, "OKAY, SO HOW MANY OF THEM HAD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES NEARBY?" SO WE HAD 98 OF THE 188 OR 52% OF THE APPLICATIONS WERE ON...
HAD SOME RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITHIN 50 OR 100 FEET.
SO WHEN YOU WANNA FLIP THAT NUMBER, WE HAD 90 OR 48% THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY APPLICATIONS WITHIN 50 OR 100 FEET.
SO IT HELPED US DRAW THAT CONCLUSION THAT WE THINK THEY'RE LARGELY GOING IN WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, BUT WE PROBABLY SHOULD DO MAYBE SOME WAYS TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, MAYBE FINE TUNE OR ADDRESS A VERY, UM, CREATE A VERY LIMITED ORDINANCE THAT AFFECTED JUST A FEW PROPERTIES.
OUR FOCUS IS A REASONABLE ORDINANCE THAT PRESERVES THE CHARACTER OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND PROMOTES PREDICTABLE AND ORDERLY GROWTH.
SO WE WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S TRIES TO FOCUS ON PRESERVING NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE WANT A PREDICTABLE PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S LARGELY WHAT HOUSTON HAS TRIED TO DO IN ANY OF OUR REGULATORY SCHEMES.
WE'VE TRIED TO CREATE PREDICTABLE PROCESSES.
SO I WANNA GO INTO HOW THE ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED, AND I'LL...
I WON'T TAKE MUCH LONGER, BUT ON SLIDE FIVE, THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE AMENDING 42, AND WE'RE GONNA CREATE THE NEW DIVISION NINE, AND THE ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE FORWARD LOOKING.
AND BY FORWARD LOOKING, THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BRAND NEW RETAIL FUEL STATIONS OR RETAIL FUEL STATIONS THAT ARE MAKING...
THAT ARE DOING ALTERATIONS OR EXPANSIONS THAT WOULD INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT RETAIL FUEL STATION SITE.
[00:30:02]
THEN WE WILL HAVE A TWO-STEP LOCATIONAL REVIEW PROCESS, AND THEN FROM THERE, UM, WE WILL THEN HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS.AND I, I WANT TO ADD, OR LET ME JUST MOVE ON REAL QUICK, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS.
SO HERE, THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
SO THE FIRST STEP IS TO DETERMINE IF THE SITE'S ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE WITH A PLANNED RIGHT OF WAY OF 80 FEET, EXCUSE ME, GREATER THAN 80 FEET BASED ON THE HIERARCHY OR IN A MAJOR ACTIVITY CENTER.
IF IT IS, IF THE DEVELOPMENT MEETS THAT CRITERIA, IT'S A YES, IT, THE PROJECT IS ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING THAT'S WHERE WE WANT THESE STATIONS TO GO.
IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO A RESIDENTIAL TEST COMPONENT.
AND STEP TWO, IF THE RESIDENTIAL TEST RESULTS IN LESS THAN 50% RESIDENTIAL, IT WILL DROP OUT, WE'LL LET IT GO BECAUSE IT IS NOT A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
HOWEVER, IF IT IS 50% OR MORE RESIDENTIAL, THEN THE DIRECTOR WILL ISSUE A DETERMINATION THAT THE RETAIL FUELING STATION IS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND IT WILL BE DENIED.
AND, AND WHAT IS THAT DISTANCE AREA? IT, IT'S GOING TO BE 100 FEET.
I'M, I'VE GOT A SLIDE THAT I WANT TO SHOW THAT TO YOU.
UM, NOW, WE, IN OUR PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL, WE SAID THERE WAS A VARIANCE PROCESS.
AND WHEN WE STARTED TALKING, LISTENING TO THE QUESTIONS AT THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE, WE SAT BACK AND SAID, "OKAY, WELL, WHAT WOULD BE A VARIANCE WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD HAVE DISCRETION?" AND EVERY EXAMPLE WE THOUGHT OF WAS ACTUALLY A FACT.
IS IT RESIDENTIAL? IS IT NOT RESIDENTIAL? AND SO WE HAVE PIVOTED, THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT THE MAYOR SET UP, WE PIVOTED AND SAID, "WE WILL DO AN APPEAL OF THE FACTS." SO, AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY DISCRETION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT'S JUST THEM APPEALING THE DIRECTOR'S DETERMINATION.
SO HERE, THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE APPEAL PROCESS.
SO AFTER THE DIRECTOR'S DETERMINATION, THE APPLICANT HAS 10 DAYS TO FILE AN APPEAL.
AND THEN FROM THERE, WE WILL NOTIFY, THERE WILL BE NOTIFICATION TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL TEST AREA, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE.
THE ORDINANCE HAS MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL BE NOTIFIED, BUT WE WILL ALSO POST THE SIGN ON THE PROPERTY.
AFTER THAT, THEN IT WILL COME TO THE COMMISSION.
THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO SAY, "I KNOW HCAD SHOWS THIS IS RESIDENTIAL, BUT IT'S BEEN OPERATING AS A BUSINESS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS." THAT WOULD BE AN ITEM WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD SAY, "WE CAN OVERRUN, OVERRULE THE DIRECTOR'S DETERMINATION." AND IF IT THROWS THAT PROPERTY INTO THE UNDER 50%, THEN THE COMMISSION, OR 50% RESIDENTIAL, THEN THE COMMISSION CAN, UM, OVERRULE THE DIRECTOR.
UM, I WANNA TALK A MINUTE, JUST, I WANNA GO BACK TO, UM, THE, THE, THOSE 50 APPLICATIONS.
SO WE LOOKED AT THE 50 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AND NON-MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT WERE 80 FEET AND LESS.
AND WE RAN THE 50 FOOT TEST AREA AND WE RAN THE 100 FOOT TEST AREA.
AT A 50%, AT A 50 FOOT TEST AREA, 21 OF THE 50 APPLICATIONS WOULD FAIL.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 21 OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD.
THE 100 FOOT TEST AREA RESULTED IN 25 OF THE APPLICATIONS FAILING.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.
SO, UM, PROBABLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS.
UM, I THINK COMMISSIONER BALDWIN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT BEFORE THE MEETING.
THE, SO IF YOU'LL, IF YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT IN YOUR, YOU CAN'T SEE IT.
WE MEASURE FROM THE PROPERTY, THE, THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO WE DON'T MEASURE ACROSS THE STREET.
WE'RE ONLY MEASURING THE ABUTTING PROPERTIES.
SO ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, STEP ONE, SO IS WASHINGTON AVENUE OR SILVER A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE THAT HAS A PLANNED RIGHT OF WAY GREATER THAN 80 FEET? THE ANSWER'S NO.
SO IT FAILED, SO IT GOES ON TO STEP TWO.
SO STEP TWO, IS RESIDENTIAL TEST AREA GREATER THAN 50%? EXCUSE ME, LESS THAN 50%?
[00:35:01]
THE ANSWER IS NO.SO THAT APPLICATION WOULD BE DENIED.
SO AT THE 50 FOOT RESIDENTIAL TEST ON WASHINGTON AVENUE, IT WAS 80% RESIDENTIAL.
AT 100 FEET, 57% WAS RESIDENTIAL.
I WANT MY NEXT EXAMPLE IS ONE, WAS A SUBDIVISION PLAT THAT CAME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, LAST SUMMER.
AND IT IS ON SOUTHMOOR AND LIVE OAK.
YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS WAS A RETAIL FUEL STATION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD THOUGH THE PROPERTY WAS DEED RESTRICTED.
SO THE SOUTHMOOR AND LIVE OAK, THEY ARE ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT ARE LESS THAN 80 FEET AND RIGHT OF WAY.
SO IT HAD TO GO TO A, UM, THE STEP TWO.
AND IS THE RESIDENTIAL TEST LESS THAN 50%? NO.
AND IN FACT, AT THE 50 AND THE 100 FOOT RESIDENTIAL TEST, WE'RE AT 100% RESIDENTIAL.
AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A, AN APPLICATION THAT WOULD FAIL.
SO THAT KIND OF SUMS THE ORDINANCE.
YOU, IT WAS IN YOUR PACKAGE TO REVIEW.
UM, I WANNA GIVE YOU A SENSE OF TIMING.
SO WE PRESENTED THE FRAMEWORK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 20TH.
AND THEN WE'RE HERE TODAY PRESENTING IT TO THE COMMISSION.
WE WILL, UM, ASK THAT YOU ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY FOR DECEMBER 17TH.
JUST, WE WANNA GIVE PEOPLE 30 DAYS TO COMMENT AND, UM, WITH THE HOLIDAYS, IT PUSHES IT OUT A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
ASSUMING THE COMMISSION ACTS FAVORABLY TO AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD, WOULD ACT AND YOU COULD, YOU COULD DEFER, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD PREFER THAT YOU DIDN'T, UM, BUT THAT YOU COULD VOTE TO APPROVE WITH, OR VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO CITY COUNCIL WITH OR WITHOUT CHANGES, OR YOU COULD DEFER.
UM, FROM THERE, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ON JANUARY 6TH, ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL FOR JANUARY 13TH.
STATE LAW REQUIRES ANY TIME WE OPEN UP CHAPTER 42 FOR AMENDMENTS, CITY COUNCIL HAS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC HEARING ON, FOR JANUARY 13TH, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD THE HEARING ON JANUARY 13TH, AND THEN ACTION POTENTIALLY ON JANUARY 20TH.
THE ORDINANCE THEN WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE ABOUT 30 DAYS LATER, SO SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROCESS IS VERY LONG AND IS, AND AS THE LONGER WE DRAG THIS OUT, THERE IS CONCERN THAT RETAIL FUEL STATIONS WILL BE COMING IN AND GETTING GRANDFATHERED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
DIRECTOR TRAN AND I, NEXT SLIDE.
UM, AND, UM, TAMMY KIM AND I WILL BE AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD BETWEEN AFTER TODAY'S PRESENTATION AND UP TO DECEMBER 17TH.
IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
SO COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER BALDWIN? IS THE RECOMMENDATION 100 FEET OR 50 FEET? I'M, I'M SORRY.
YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID IS WHAT WE PUT IT.
AND, AND SO CAN WE EXPLAIN, SO IF I HAVE THAT GAS STATION AT SOUTH MOORE AND I MEASURED ONLY THE BLOCK FACE BEHIND IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO ACROSS THE STREET FOR ANY CALCULATIONS, AND YOU'RE MEASURING 100 FEET, IS IT BY SQUARE FOOTAGE? SO THERE'S THREE HOMES IN ONE BUSINESS, BUT THE BUSINESS IS AN ACRE AND THE HOMES ARE 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
IS, IS IT JUST PURELY SQUARE FOOTAGE? NO, IT'S TRACKED.
NOW, AND THE OTHER, LET ME MAKE THIS OTHER POINT.
WHEN WE TALK RESIDENTIAL, IT INCLUDES MULTIFAMILY.
SO IS APARTMENT COMPLEX ONE BOAT? SO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS A RATIO OF EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE.
SO IF IT'S A PORTION OF, LET'S SAY IT'S A HALF AN ACRE, THAT WOULD BE FOUR RESIDENTIAL TRACKS, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT, THAT IS ALMOST, NOT QUITE NINE, BUT ALMOST EIGHT, UM, LOTS.
IF I HAVE 12 TOWNHOUSES, THAT'S 12 HOTS.
12 FEET SIMPLE TOWN HOMES, RIGHT.
NO, THESE ARE, THESE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT REALLY THE ONE AT 1909 WASHINGTON.
I WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THAT.
[00:40:01]
GENTLEMAN NAMED JOE BAILEY.SOME OF YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE HEARD HIM SPEAK PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS.
THIS GUY LITERALLY HAD HIS LAST, YOU KNOW, DIED AT, RIGHT AFTER ATTENDING A CIVIC CLUB MEETING AT THE OLD SIXTH WARD.
HE HAD A HEART CONDITION AND HE WAS ADVOCATING FOR THIS SO STRONGLY.
A LAWYER, SUPER SMART, DUG INTO THE WEEDS OF THIS LIKE CRAZY AND REALLY EDUCATED ME AND A LOT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON, YOU KNOW, ON THIS ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ZONING ARE ABLE TO BETTER CONTROL THIS.
SO I THINK THE ADMIN - I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND THE ADMINISTRATION, EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THIS, THIS I THINK WAS A REALLY CREATIVE, SMART WAY TO HAVE PREDICTABLE RULES AND GROWTH AND REALLY HELP US TO HELP NEIGHBORHOODS THAT JUST DON'T WANT A MILLION GAS STATIONS ON EVERY CORNER.
BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE THAT CLOSE AS A RESIDENCE, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE WITH CONVENIENCE STORES AND A LOT OF TIMES CONVENIENCE STORES AND THE GAS STATION HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES FOR, FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I THINK, MARLENE, THIS WAS SUPER SMART AND I THINK THE WAY THEY WENT ABOUT IT WAS GREAT AND JUST ALL 100% IN FAVOR OF THIS.
AND I, I'M GONNA, I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA GET APPROVED, BUT I WANNA NAME IT THE JOE BAILEY OR THE JOE BAILEY RETAIL FUEL ORANGE BECAUSE HE WORKS SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT IT.
AND WHILE HE WASN'T ABLE TO SAVE 1909, BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAD THEIR PERMITS, HE IS GONNA HELP SAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FROM HAVING TO FACE THIS FIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THIS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, IN THE WRONG SLOT, SO THAT WAS IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
YEAH, I THOUGH I HAD A CARD AND I CAN'T FIND IT BUT YES, THANK YOU.
I'VE SIGNED UP LATE FOR THIS ONE.
UM, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT OLD SIXTH WARD RESIDES IN THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR.
SO I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN SAID.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, AGAIN, JUST REITERATE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS ORDINANCE NAMED AFTER JOE BAILEY.
UM, HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROCESS AND EVEN DRAFTED THE ORIGINAL, UH, ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY TO REVIEW.
SO I THINK HE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HONOR HIM IN THAT WAY BY NAMING THE ORDINANCE AFTER HIM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TALK TO MARLENE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE APPEAL PROCESS, UH, BECAUSE WHAT I JUST, I LIKE WHAT I HEARD, BUT I JUST WANNA EXPLORE IT A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE APPEAL PROCESS DOESN'T UNDO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WE'VE ALL SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON.
SO AGAIN, FA - IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND MARLENE, I GUESS YOU'LL GET WITH, WITH HER.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO - OH, I CAN.
UM, BUT DIRECTOR, I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FAQS AND SOME INFORMATION THAT GOES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND THE DESIGNATION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO IF WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE TUTORIAL, I MEAN, I KNOW HOW TO, BUT I, I WENT EARLIER TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT THAT EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO FIGURE OUT IF WASHINGTON IS 80 FEET OR 70 FEET OR 90 FEET.
SO IF THEY COULD HELP ALONG THIS WAY, I THINK IT WOULD HELP.
AND, UH, TYPICALLY WE DO AND WE WILL PUBLISH FAQS ON THIS AND, UM, WE WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WELL TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE.
SO, UH, WE'LL GET THAT UP, THAT FAQS, UH, UP AS SOON AS WE CAN.
[Platting Activities a & b]
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ALONG TO ROMAN NUMERAL THREE, PLATTING ACTIVITY.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SECTIONS A AND B ARE PRESENTED AS ONE GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES CONSENT AND REPLAT ITEMS NOT REQUIRING NOTIFICATIONS.
SECTIONS A AND B ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 65.
CONSENT ITEMS ARE ONE THROUGH 34, AND REPLAT ITEMS ARE 35 THROUGH 65.
NO ITEMS NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTS THE APPROVAL OF ALL STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSENT AND REPLAT ITEMS NOT REQUIRING NOTIFICATION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
[00:45:01]
DO KNOW I HAVE SOME RECUSALS.UM, OUR FIRST, UH, COMMISSIONER HEISCH.
I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM ITEM SIX AND 34.
ABSTAIN FROM 14, 17, 18, AND 29.
AND COMMISSIONER SHEPHERD? ITEM SIX, PLEASE.
SO I NEED A MOTION SAVE AND ACCEPT, ACCEPT ITEMS SIX, 14, 17, 18, 29, AND 34.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MATAZ.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NOW I DO, NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX, 14, 17, 18, 29, AND 34.
[c. Replats requiring Public Hearings with Notification (Ken Calhoun, Aracely Rodriguez, and Dorianne Powe-Phlegm)]
OKAY.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRS AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 56 CHARLOTTESMONT CORNER.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY LIMIT SOUTH OF PARKER ROAD AND EAST OF WAYSIDE DRIVE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPLAT IS TO CREATE FOUR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND THREE RESERVES.
THE VARIANT REQUEST IS NO LONGER NEEDED.
THE APPLICANT HAS REVISED THE PLAT MEETING ALL CHAPTER 42 REQUIREMENT AND APPLICABLE DEED RESTRICTION.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
STAFF HAS RECEIVED ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ADVANCE VOICING OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTION ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
THAT RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 101 INFORMED CONDITION.
MADAM CHAIR, IS TO PLEASE TO THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 66 IS OPEN.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 67, DENTON STREET VILLAS.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY LIMIT EAST OF WEST SIDE DRIVE AND NORTH OF LAY ROAD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE WEE PLAT IS TO CREATE TWO SINGLE FAMILY LOT AND TO REVIVE THE BUILDING.
NO VARIANCES ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS ITEM.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT AND STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT IN ADVANCE.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THE PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTION ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOUGH FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 101 INFORMED CONDITION.
MADAM CHAIR, IS TO PLEASED WITH THE COMMISSION.
YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 67 IS OPEN.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 68 IS FOREST GREEN RESERVE.
THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS, EAST ALONG MESSER ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CREATE ONE UNDERSTOOD TO RESERVE.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM, AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
UH, ON THE ONE LINER, YOU WILL SEE THAT STAT - STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE.
UH, HOWEVER, WE DID GET WRITTEN COMMENT FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON OF, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT B TO DEFER FOR STUDIES...
SO, UH, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 68 IS OPENED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? YES, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M THE APPLICANT WITH WINDROSE.
UM, I ALSO HAVE, UM, THE, UH, OWNER/DEVELOPER CLIENT WITH US AS WELL IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THIS BEING DEFERRED.
[00:50:01]
OKAY.COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
SO I'M GONNA CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF DEFERRAL.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF HADDOCK STREET AND MADERA LANE.
THE REASON FOR REPLAT IS TO CREATE THREE SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM, AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A, UM, RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON TO DEFER THIS ONE AS WELL.
SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER PER COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST.
UH, MADAM 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 69.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 70 IS HIGHLAND HEIGHTS GREEN, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE.
THE SITE IS IN HOUSTON CORPORATE LIMITS, SOUTH ALONE TUSKEGEE HEIGHTS LANE, WEST OF TUSKEGEE STREET.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPLAT IS TO CREATE ONE 4,928 SQUARE FOOT RECREATIONAL RESERVE AND REQUEST TWO VARIANCES.
A VARIANCE FROM 42-193 TO ALLOW A LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE RESERVE TO BE RE-PLATTED INTO A RECREATION RESERVE AND TO ALLOW A RECREATION RESERVE TO BE LESS THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET.
STAFF ARE IN SUPPORT OF BOTH REQUESTS.
THE PLAT IS A RE-PLAT OF A LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE RESERVE THAT WAS CREATED WITH THE HIGHLAND HEIGHTS GREEN SUBDIVISION IN 2021.
THE ORIGINAL SUBDIVISION CONTAINS 32 LOTS.
ONLY THREE LOTS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND THE SUBDIVISION IS STILL UNDER THE DEVELOPER'S CONTROL.
THE DEVELOPER PLANS TO DEVELOP THE SITE TO BUILD A PICKLEBALL COURT TO PROVIDE A GREATER AMENITY THAT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATION AND EXERCISE AND PROVIDE A BENEFIT FOR THE FUTURE HOME OWNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WILL NOT VIOLATE ANY RESTRICTIONS FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCES AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CBC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS RECEIVED ONE COMMENT IN EVENTS CONCERNING WHAT AMENITIES PLANNED FOR THE SITE.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 70 IS OPEN.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 71 IS JDS HOPFIE ROAD, SECTION FIVE, PARTIAL RELIEF PLAT NUMBER ONE.
THE SITE IS IN USED IN EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
NORTH ALONG JASPER HILL DRIVE, WEST OF MASON ROAD.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPLAT IS TO CREATE THREE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND A LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE RESERVE.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE CBC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS IN ADVANCE.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 71 IS OPEN.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
MOTION MANDAPAKA, SECOND MODES.
THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ANGLETON AND JETLAND ROAD.
[00:55:01]
UH, THE REASON FOR THE REPLAT IS TO CREATE TWO SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTS WITH THIS ITEM AND THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THE PLAT WILL NO LONGER VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 72 IS CONTINUED.
I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 73 IS MILL RIDGE VILLAGE SECTION ONE.
THE SITE IS A NUISANCE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, SOUTH OF EXISTING REGENCY WOOD DRIVE AND REGENCY GREEN DRIVE EAST OF MILL RIDGE DRIVE.
THE REASON FOR REPLAT IS TO CREATE 147 LOTS AND 15 RESERVES.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TWO VARIANCES.
THE FIRST VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW REGENCY WOOD DRIVE TO TERMINATE IN A CUL-DE-SAC AND NOT PROVIDE A NORTH-SOUTH STREET THROUGH THE SUBJECT TRACK.
THE SECOND REQUESTED VARIANCE IS TO ALLOW A REDUCED BUILDING LINE OF 15 FEET INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 20 FEET FOR LOTS IN THE SUBDIVISION.
STAFF ARE IN SUPPORT OF THESE REQUESTS.
THE PLAT WAS DEFERRED AT THE LAST PLANNING COMMISSION PER THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO REVISE THE SECOND VARIANCE REQUEST.
THE APPLICANT IS RE-PLATTING A PORTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY LOT RECORDED IN 2018 WITH A REGENCY GREEN PLACE SUBDIVISION.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ADEQUATE VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE SOUTH THROUGH SAT OFF STREET AND THE REGENCY WOOD DRIVE TO THE NORTH, AND NORTH SOUTH STREET CANNOT BE FURTHER EXTENDED SOUTH BECAUSE OF EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, MILL RIDGE NORTH SECTION ONE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING THAT THE GARAGE AND HOUSE IS SET BACK AT 15 FEET.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES 11 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE CURB TO THE PROPERTY LINE AND 26 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE CURB TO THE STRUCTURE WITH A FOUR FEET SIDEWALK AND A THREE FEET LANDSCAPE BUFFER WHICH ALLOW SEVEN FEET BY 18 FEET SIZE VEHICLES NOT TO BLOCK THE SIDEWALK WHILE CARS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.
WITH A PROPOSED LOT LAYOUT, MINIMAL TO NO VEHICLE IMPACTS TO PEDESTRIANS USING THE SIDEWALK.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT DOES NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS FILED SEPARATELY.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE POSES NO OBJECTION TO THIS REQUEST.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS IN ADVANCE.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 73 IS CONTINUED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 74 IS MONTROSE RESIDENCES.
THE SITE IS IN HOUSTON CORPORATE LIMITS AT THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF ABERHEART, ABERHART STREET AND WEST PIERCE STREET.
THE REASON FOR REPLAT IS TO CREATE ONE UNRESTRICTED RESERVE.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCE REQUESTED WITH THIS ITEM.
THE APPLICANT HAS MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
REVIEW BY LEGAL INDICATES THAT THIS PLAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FACE OF THE PLAT OR THOSE FILED SEPARATELY.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE PLAT PER THE CBC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS IN ADVANCE.
MADAM CHAIR, IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, YOU MAY OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 74 IS OPEN.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ZACH GRANBERRY.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK.
UH, I WASN'T SURE, UH, WHAT THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT WAS GONNA BE, AND I GUESS I STILL AM NOT, BUT IT WAS, UM, LOOKED LIKE EIGHT PLATS NOW GOING TO ONE UNRESTRICTED.
UM, THIS IS A, UH, KIND OF A RESIDENTIAL POCKET AREA.
THEY'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, LARGER MULTI-FAMILY, UH, RESIDENCES ON THE MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, MONTROSE, WEST DALLAS, WA, AND, UH, WEST GRAY.
UH, THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'M JUST NOT SURE, UH, WHAT'S GONNA BE DEVELOPED THERE.
[01:00:01]
THOUGHT IT WAS, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, A SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEX OF SOME SORT.UH, JUST NOT SURE, BUT, UM, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING, UH, HEIGHT OF A, UH, OF A, OF A DEVELOPMENT THERE.
UM, THE STREETS ARE SMALL INTER NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, SO SOMETHING WITH A HIGHER DENSITY ON THAT CORNER LOT, UH, JUST DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE.
UM, I'VE LIVED ON WEST PIERCE FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW AND, UH, LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UM, JUST, I GUESS, NOT REALLY SURE WHAT'S GOING THERE AND, UH, THAT DIDN'T GIVE ME MUCH COMFORT, UM, WITH JUST AN UNRESTRICTED LOT OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE THERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE A LOT MORE INFORMATION.
UM, DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INGRESS AND EGRESS IS GOING TO BE, UH, WHAT THE PARKING SITUATION'S GONNA BE.
SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT.
UM, MS. FLEMM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.
JUST FOR THE RECORD AND SO YOU UNDERSTAND, THIS IS JUST THIS PLATTING STAGE.
SO THIS IS THE VERY FIRST STEP IN ANY DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE USE IS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BREAKING UP, BREAKING UP TO SEVERAL LOTS.
THIS WILL GO TO PUBLIC WORKS FOLLOWING PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPROVAL.
THEY'LL HAVE TO GET THEIR PERMITS THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY FIGURE OUT DRIVEWAY CON - YOU KNOW, THE CONFIGURATION OF ALL OF THAT.
ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE LOOKED AT.
UM, MR. BROWN IS BACK IN THE BACK, SO MAYBE MS. FLEMM CAN BRING SOME LIGHT TO IT.
WHATEVER LIGHT SHE DOESN'T BRING ON PUBLIC WORKS, MR. BROWN THAT JUST STOOD UP, WILL HELP YOU OUT BACK IN THE BACK.
MS. FLEMM, DID YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FOR ANY OF HIS QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION, BUT I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
COULD YOU COME FORWARD? YOU'RE ONE OF MY SPEAKERS.
I'LL, I'LL CALL YOU OUT OF LINE SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
I'M MONICA FONTENOT POINDEXTER.
SO ORIGINALLY, THE EXACT SAME OWNER DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO BUILD EIGHT SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS ON THIS LOT THAT YOU SEE, ON THE EXACT SAME SPACE.
WHEN IT GOT READY TO BUILD AND THEY STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT, THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BUILD SOME CONDOS INSTEAD.
JUST GET IT RE-PLATTED AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT LATER." SO THEY'RE STILL MEETING WITH THE ARCHITECT TO TRY TO DETERMINE IT, BUT I ASSURE YOU, THEY WILL SATISFY ALL PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND THEY WILL PROVIDE EXTRA PARKING, YOU KNOW, AS A PART OF THEIR PLAN BEFORE THEY ATTEMPT TO SUBMIT IT FOR PERMITS.
MAYBE YOU COULD GET WITH MR. GRANBERRY AND SHARE YOUR CONTACT INFO SO YOU ALL COULD STAY IN TOUCH.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLENN CLEMENTS.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR HEARING FROM US TODAY.
I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THIS PROPERTY, AND THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR THE 11 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED THERE.
FORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT OWNERS HAVE RAISED THE PROPERTY AND IT'S A VACANT LOT WITH WEEDS 10 OR 12 FEET TALL, BUT NOT UNABANDONED, OR ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT ZACH HAS SAID.
THIS IS A VERY QUIET N - RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
A LOT OF, UH, RETIRED PROFESSIONALS, WORKING PROFESSIONALS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES SEE A LOT OF, UH, YOUNG FAMILIES PUSHING STROLLERS DOWN THE STREET AND, UH, IT, IT IS A VERY NARROW STREET.
UH, IT'S A QUIET STREET AND WE HOPE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
UH, GOING TO AN UNRESTRICTED RESERVE CONCERNS ME, UH, VERSUS HAVING SOME IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, EIGHT HOUSES, WAY TOO MANY FOR THAT LOT.
UH, BUT, UH, PUTTING 20 RESIDENCES IN THERE WOULD, WOULD DESTROY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, TRAFFIC IS A PROBLEM THERE CURRENTLY.
MOST OF THIS STREET ARE TOWN HOMES, WHICH HAVE DOUBLE DRIVEWAYS, AND SO THERE'S ALMOST NO ON-STREET PARKING.
UH, WHAT LITTLE THERE IS IS ALWAYS, UH, OVERCROWDED.
SO AGAINST IT UNTIL I HEAR MORE, I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH A DEVELOPER TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, UH, RETIRED AFTER 48 YEARS WITH STEWART TITLE.
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT LAND AND, AND LAND RECORDS AND LAND USE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.
SO MS. FONTENOT AND MR. BROWN BOTH ARE GONNA GET WITH MR. GRANBURY, SO MAYBE THE FOUR OF YOU GUYS COULD HUDDLE.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO? YES.
[01:05:01]
WARNER AND, UH, MY WIFE AND I OWN 1231 WEST PIERCE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT PROPERTY.AND AS GLENN HAS MENTIONED, OUR, OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR THAT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT PROPERTY.
WE'VE HAD VAGRANTS ACROSS THE STREET.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THE LOT ACROSS THE STREET.
SO WE'RE JUST CONCERNED WITH IT AND WE'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION AS WELL.
AND, UH, YOU CAN HUDDLE OUT IN THE HALLWAY WITH THE, THE OTHER GROUP.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, ROBERT PARELLIA.
NICE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, I ALSO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SITE.
YOU'VE HEARD, UH, A LOT ABOUT WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID.
IT'S CLEARLY A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THE S - THE TRAFFIC ON THE STREET POTENTIALLY COULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GONNA GO ON THAT SITE.
I WAS TOLD THAT, UH, THAT THERE WAS NO PLAN YET, BUT THE IDEA IS AN UNRESTRICTED PLAT GIVES ME, UH, CAUSE FOR PAUSE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED ALSO.
UH, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO, TO OVERSEE THIS, UH, I'D APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
YOU CAN JOIN THEM IN THE HALL AND, UM, MS. FONTENOT CAN SHARE INFORMATION AS THE, UH, DEVELOPER MOVES FORWARD IN PLANS AND MR. BROWN CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
MR. BROWN, MS. FONTENOT, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN EDUCATING EVERYONE AND KEEPING THEM INFORMED.
THE SITE LOCATED IN THE CITY LIMIT SOUTHWEST OF WHEELER STREET AND EAST OF EMANCIPATION AVENUE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REPLAT IS TO CREATE ONE MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL RESERVE.
NO VARIANCES ARE BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS ITEM.
STAT RECEIVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN EVENT EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER THE PLOT PER THE APPLICANT REQUEST.
MADAM CHAIR, IS IT PLEASURE TO COMMISSION YOU MAY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 75 IS OPEN.
I DO HAVE A SPEAKER, UH, MICHELLE MAYS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, MY NAME IS MICHELLE MAYS AND I'M IN OPPOSITION TO ANYTHING HAPPENING.
UH, NO ONE TOLD MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE, I'M WASHINGTON TERRACE.
IT'S ALL SUPPOSED TO BE WASHINGTON TERRACE.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED TO, OR THAT SECTION FROM DELANO TO, I GUESS IT'S ENNIS, TO BE CALLED WHEELER RESIDENCES.
WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT TO US? AND PLUS, THERE IS A, THERE WAS A MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION THAT WAS FILED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND I THOUGH THAT'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS.
SO IT, IT SEEMS TO BE A SLIGHT OF HAND.
AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE GET THIS.
SO IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN LET ME KNOW WHAT IS OR KEEP ME INFORMED? OUR STAFF MEMBER BESIDE YOU, MS. ARACELI, COULD YOU, UM, GIVE HER YOUR CONTACT INFO, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION SHE REFERENCED? OH, AND I HAVE A, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A RESERVE? I CAN EXPLAIN.
UM, SO WHEN I DID THE REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION, I DID NOT FIND ANY SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT, I CAN DOUBLE CHECK - THANK YOU.
AND THEN PLEASE GET WITH HER AND HELP HER UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF RESERVE AND, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHE NEEDS.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO? OKAY, HEARING NONE, I'LL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEEK A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[01:10:02]
FAM SECOND.AND JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, MS. MAYS, WHAT WE JUST DID IS WE DEFERRED IT FOR TWO MORE WEEKS.
THAT WILL GIVE STAFF TIME TO LOOK AT THE MINIMUM, LOOK FOR A MINIMUM LOT SIZE APPLICATION, WHICH THEY DIDN'T FIND IN THEIR FIRST RESEARCH, BUT SHE'S GONNA DIG REALLY, REALLY DEEP.
I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. GRISSOM.
IT'S THE HOLIDAYS, SO IT'LL BE THREE WEEKS.
UM, BUT YEAH, SHE'LL GET WITH YOU AND, AND HELP YOU OUT.
[d. Subdivision Plats with Variance Requests (Suvidha Bandi, Tammi Williamson, and Devin Crittle) ]
MS. BANDY, WE'RE MOVING ON TO D.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 76, BRIDGELAND PRAIRIE LAND VILLAGE SECTION 48.
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, HARRIS COUNTY, WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIE LAND VILLAGE GENERAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT, SOUTH OF BRIDGELAND CREEK PARKWAY, WEST OF GRAND PARKWAY AND EAST OF KATY HOCKLEY ROAD.
WITHIN SECTION 48, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 94 LOTS, THREE LANDSCAPE OPEN SPACE RESERVES, AND REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW MORE THAN 150 LOTS TO HAVE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS VIA A TEMPORARY ACCESS EASEMENT INSTEAD OF A PUBLIC STREET.
STAFF AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST.
THE SITE IS A GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIE LAND VILLAGE GENERAL PLAN.
THE COMBINED LOT COUNT OF BRIDGELAND PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE SECTION 48 AND 54 EXCEEDS 150 LOTS AT ABOUT 196 LOTS IN TOTAL, WHICH REQUIRES TWO POINTS OF PUBLIC STREET ACCESS.
THE FIRST POINT OF ACCESS IS PROVIDED FROM MIGRATION WAY TO BRIDGELAND CREEK PARKWAY.
THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSED SECOND POINT OF ACCESS IS FROM THE INTERSECTION OF MIGRATION WAY AND THE FUTURE NATURE PRESERVE WAY THROUGH A PROPOSED ACCESS EASEMENT TO THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTED HOUSEHOLD ROAD.
ALTHOUGH THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO USE HOUSE HALL ROAD FOR ACCESS, THERE ARE PLANS TO ABANDON THIS ROAD AND IT IS NOT SHOWN AS A PROPOSED OR EXISTING STREET PATTERN ON THE APPROVED GENERAL PLAN.
BOTH THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF USING A ROAD AS A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THAT IS PLANNED FOR ABANDONMENT AND IS NOT REFLECTED ON THE GENERAL PLAN AS A PERMANENT STREET.
THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THROUGH THE PLANNED STREET NETWORK.
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED STREET DEDICATION PLATS, IF RECORDED, WOULD PROVIDE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS AND MEET ALL ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
TOGETHER, THESE DEDICATIONS WOULD PROVIDE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THROUGH A STREET NETWORK SHOWN ON THE GENERAL PLAN.
ANOTHER OPTION IS TO SUBMIT THE STREET DEDICATION PLAT FOR NATURE PRESERVE WAY BETWEEN MIGRATION WAY AND POLLINATED DRIVE.
THIS DEDICATION WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A SECOND POINT OF ACCESS THROUGH THE PLANNED STREET NETWORK.
ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, THE STREET DEDICATION FOR NATURE PRESERVE WAY IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED AND RECORDED DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2027.
THE CURRENT VARIANCE IS BEING REQUESTED TO AVOID DELAYS IN RECORDING SECTIONS 48 AND 54.
STAFF RECOGNIZES THE COORDINATION OF THE SUBMISSION OF PLATS AND STREET DEDICATIONS WITHIN THE BRIDGELAND PRAIRIE LAND VILLAGE GENERAL PLAN.
IT INVOLVES MULTIPLE APPLICANTS WITH VARIOUS SECTIONS MOVING FORWARD IN DIFFERENT TIMELINES.
HOWEVER, THE HARDSHIP PRESENTED APPEARS TO STEM FROM MISCOMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION ISSUES RELATED TO THE PHASING OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS, A SELF-IMPOSED HARDSHIP RATHER THAN FROM CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
STAFF AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUESTED VARIANCE.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PLAT TO BE DENIED AND REQUESTED VARIANCE BE, UM, SORRY.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE VARIANCE BE DENIED AND APPROVES THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE.
THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO ADDRESS THE ACCESS EASEMENT CONCERNS AND IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MY FIRST SPEAKER IS BOB TERRY.
I'M, UH, WITH THE FIRM OF MCKIM AND CREED.
WE'RE THE APPLICANT, UH, AND, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, SPEAK UP A LITTLE LOUDER BECAUSE MY HEARING IS NOT THE GREATEST, SO...
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[01:15:01]
THANK YOU.DID YOU HAVE ONE? I'M, I'M SORRY.
JUST YOU HAVE A 30-DAY, UH, REQUEST TO US, SO, UM, I MEAN, I GUESS ARE WE JUST GONNA SEE A, A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION OF THIS PLAT PRESENTED AT THAT TIME THAT WE BELIEVE WE - YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
I THINK YOU'RE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO WITH THAT 30 DAYS IF YOU GET IT, I GUESS.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CHAIR AND, AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
PETE HINKER FROM UH, HR GREEN.
WE'RE THE ENGINEER FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, SO OUR INTENTION IS TO MEET WITH, UH, WITH STAFF, UH, TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.
UM, AS, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND WE STILL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE THAT, UH, WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO STAFF.
SO, UM, WE HUMBLY REQUEST TO, UH, EXTEND THIS SO THAT WE CAN GIVE A L- LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO, TO WORK THROUGH THIS SINCE THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE, UH, MOVING PARTS, UM, IN THIS REQUEST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER I HAD.
SO COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE, UH, RECOMMENDATION BY WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO HAVE A MOTION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 77 IS CYPRESS TRAILS AT BAUER LANDING SECTION TWO.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN NORTHWESTERN HARRIS COUNTY ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF BOWER ROAD, NORTH OF FM 2920 AND SOUTH OF SPRING CREEK.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A SUBDIVISION OF 160 LOTS AND FIVE RESERVES AND REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW FOUR GROUPINGS OF FIVE TO SIX LOTS TO TAKE SOLE VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM A FLAGSTAFF IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED MAXIMUM OF FOUR LOTS PER FLAGSTAFF.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE SITE IS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CYPRESS TRAILS AT BAUER LANDING GENERAL PLAN.
IN 2023, A VARIANCE WAS GRANTED FOR THIS SECTION WHEN IT WAS PROPOSING A CLUSTER LOT CONCEPT OF 32 LOTS WITH SOLE ACCESS TO SHORT 22 FEET WIDE PRIVATE ALLEYS.
THE APPLICANT IS NOW PROPOSING A FLAG LOT STYLE FOR SHARED VEHICULAR ACCESS INSTEAD OF THE PRIVATE ALLEYS FOR THE SAME SMALL GROUPINGS OF LOTS ALONG A PORTION OF THE WESTERN BOUNDARY.
IN THE ORDINANCE, A FLAG LOT DESIGN ALLOWS MULTIPLE LOTS TO SHARE ACCESS THROUGH ONE DRIVEWAY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR FLAG LOTS, INCLUDING THE DRIVEWAY DEPTH, THE DRIVEWAY WIDTH, SETBACK OFF OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE NUMBER OF LOTS ACCESSING THE DRIVEWAY.
THE PROPOSED PLAT MEETS THE MAJORITY OF THE CRITERIA EXCEPT FOR THE NUMBER OF LOTS TAKING ACCESS FROM THE FLAGSTAFF.
THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS UP TO FOUR LOTS FOR SHARE ACCESS FROM ONE DRIVEWAY.
THE PLAT PROPOSES SIX FLAG LOT GROUPINGS.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE NUMBER OF LOTS TAKING ACCESS FROM ONE DRIVEWAY APPROACH TO BE INCREASED TO SIX LOTS FOR TWO GROUPINGS AND FIVE LOTS FOR TWO GROUPINGS.
FOR SIX, SIX LOTS AND TWO GROUPINGS, FIVE LOTS AND TWO GROUPINGS.
SO FOUR GROUPINGS OF FLAT LOTS.
THIS DEVELOPMENT ATTEMPTS TO OFFER A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS, ALLOWING HIGHER DENSITY WHILE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DRIVEWAYS WHICH MEET THE INTENT OF THE REDEN - RECENT ORDINANCE CHANGES RELATED TO FLAG LOTS.
THE ADDITION OF ONE TO TWO LOTS IS A SLIGHT DEVIATION FROM THE STANDARD.
ALSO, THE DEPTH OF THE DRIVEWAYS IS LESS THAN 200 FEET AND THERE ARE NO SAFETY CONCERNS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCE REQUESTS.
THEREFORE, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION? MOTION JONES.
MONDAPAKA, WAS THAT WHO I HEARD? YES.
I, I HEARD YOU, BUT YOU ARE NOT FAST.
I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ONE.
PLEASE NOTE ABSTENTION BY COMMISSIONER SHEPHERD.
I WILL ABSTAIN FROM 78, 79, AND 80 COMING UP.
YOU'RE ABSTAINING FROM THIS ONE OR THE NEXT ONES? YES.
[01:20:01]
STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ITEM 78 AND 79 TOGETHER, PLEASE.ITEM 78 AND 79, GARDEN C - GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE SECTION ONE AND GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE SECTION THREE.
THE SUBJECT SITES ARE LOCATED, UH, ARE PART OF A 420 ACRE GENERAL PLAN LOCATED IN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, NORTH ALONG GRAND PARKWAY 99 AND WEST OF HALLSWORTHS SAWMILL ROAD AND REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW 84 LOTS TO TAKE ACCESS VIA A PRIVATE ALLEY IN LIEU OF PUBLIC STREET FRONTAGE.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST.
GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE SECTION ONE LOCATED SOUTH OF EAST MOSSY OAKS ROAD AND WEST OF SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PARKWAY CONTAINS 55 ACRES PROPERTY.
THE PLAT PROPOSED 208 LOTS ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OPEN SPACE RESERVES AND 84 LOTS TAKE ACCESS VIA A PRIVATE ALLEY IN LIEU OF PUBLIC STREET.
GARDEN LIGHT CITY PLACE SECTION THREE LOCATED SOUTH OF EAST MOSSY OAKS ROAD AND EAST OF SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PARKWAY CONTAINS 25 ACRES.
THE PLAT PROPOSED 94 LOTS ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OPEN SPACE RESERVES AND 51 LOTS TAKE ACCESS VIA PRIVATE ALLEY IN LIEU OF PUBLIC STREET.
APPLICANT ASSERTS THAT THESE SECTIONS ARE DEVELOPED AS AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD TO PROVIDE A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT ALIGNS AND EXPANDS THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THESE SECTIONS OFFER A VARIETY OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TYPES, INCLUDING LOTS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM PUBLIC STREET AS WELL AS SMALLER LOTS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE VIA A REAR PRIVATE, UM, PRIVATE ALLEY.
THE SECTIONS ALSO CONTAIN LOTS FRONTING ON A LANDSCAPE RESERVES TO ENHANCE THE STREETSCAPE AND PROMOTE MORE OPEN SPACE AND WALKABLE SPACES THROUGHOUT THE SUBDIVISION.
THE LOTS THAT TAKE ACCESS FROM THE PRIVATE ALLEY ARE LESS THAN 150 FEET AWAY FROM A PUBLIC STREET AND HAVE ADEQUATE FIRE ACCESS.
THE DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSING VARIETY OF HOUSING PRODUCTS AND IS PROMOTING PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT WHICH MEETS THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE PRIVATE ALLEYS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THE APPLICANT IS CONTINUING TO COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO ADDRESS UTILITY RELATED QUESTIONS, WHICH WAS THE REASON FOR DEFERRAL LAST CYCLE.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS NO OBJECTION TO THIS VARIANCE REQUEST AND THEREFORE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE.
SO COMMISSIONERS, I NEED A MOTION ON ITEM 78 AND 79 TOGETHER.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY BETWEEN FM 2100 AND MILLER WILSON ROAD AND BISECTED BY THE FUTURE DIAMOND HEAD BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING AN APPROXIMATELY 200 ACRE GENERAL PLAN FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE REVERSE CURVE RADII TO BE LESS THAN THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE NEWPORT POINT GP IS BOUNDED ON THE EAST BY MILLER WILSON ROAD.
AT THE INTERSECTION OF MILLER WILSON ROAD AND NORTH DIAMOND HEAD BOULEVARD HAIR COOK ROAD, THE EXISTING ROADWAY ALIGNMENT IS SKEWED.
THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO ROUND OUT THE TWO OFFSET ROADWAYS OF MILLER WILSON NORTH AND SOUTH OF HARR COOK ROAD TO CREATE A SAFER INTERSECTION.
A LONGER TANGENT DISTANCE WAS REQUESTED BY THE COUNTY TO HELP REDUCE THE SKEW, WHICH LEADS TO REQUESTING THE RADII OF THE REVERSE CURVE TO BE 1,800 FEET IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 2,000 FEET.
THE TANGENT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO CURVES IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL ENABLE A SAFER INTERSECTION OF THE TWO MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AND FOR TRAFFIC TO ADJUST BEFORE CURVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCE REQUEST.
THEREFORE, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT, APPROVE THE GENERAL PLAN SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[01:25:01]
WEATHER FACILITY.THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS, NORTH OF WHEELER STREET, EATH - EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY 35 AND SOUTH OF I-45.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A WET WEATHER FACILITY TO TAKE ACCESS FROM AN ACCESS EASEMENT INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE SITE IS AN EXISTING CITY OF HOUSTON WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MANAGED BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT WAS ACQUIRED IN 1995.
THE PURPOSE OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST IS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO BETTER, BETTER HANDLE THE HEAVY STORMWATER SURGES AND TO COME INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
THE 50 FEET WIDE ACCESS EASEMENT WAS RECORDED IN 1995 WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY AND HAS BEEN THE SOLE ACCESS TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY SINCE.
THIS ACCESS EASEMENT IS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SERVES THIS TRACT AS WELL AS ANOTHER PROPERTY TO THE NORTH, CONNECTING TO STARWAY STREET, A LOCAL STREET.
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST, THEREFORE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
MS. OWENS, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK OR YOU JUST WANTED TO BE HERE FOR QUESTIONS? MADAM CHAIR, I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? WHAT'S A WET WEATHER FACILITY? I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA ASK THAT.
COMMISSIONER BALDWIN HAS A GOOD QUESTION.
WHAT A WET WEATHER FACILITY? I AM NOT WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
SO IT IS AN EXISTING - MS. OWENS CAN...
MS. OWENS PROBABLY CAN ANSWER THAT.
SO WIND, WET WEATHER, YOU KNOW, EX- EXTENSIVE RAINS TO BETTER HANDLE THOSE TYPE OF SURGES, BUT - YEAH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS.
A WET WEATHER FACILITY ACTUALLY ACCUMULATES WASTEWATER OVERFLOW WHEN THERE IS A, A WEATHER EVENT.
SO I WAS THINKING IT WAS STORM WATER, BUT IT'S WASTEWATER, SO IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED.
THERE'S A CLEAN AIR ACT, A FEDERAL ACT OR LAW.
I THINK IT'S A CLEAN AIR ACT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS COMING IN COMPLIANCE WITH AND THEY DO HAVE SOME PERMITS IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT AND A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT I, I'LL PROBABLY MESS UP THAT NAME, SO WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION SECOND.
MOTION BALDWIN, SECOND SIEGLER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 82 IS SPRING MEADOWS LANE RESERVES.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE ETJ OF HARRIS COUNTY, S- SOUTH OF CYPRESSWOOD DRIVE AND WEST OF WEST HARDY ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW TWO COMMERCIAL RESERVES TO TAKE ACCESS FROM AN EXISTING ACCESS EASEMENT.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DE- DEFER TO PLAT TO ALLOW FURTHER COORDINATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD, WILL DETERMINE IF THE ACCESS EASEMENT IS PUBLIC OR PRIVATE IN NATURE.
IF THE EASEMENT IS DEEMED PUBLIC, THE RESERVE WILL DEDICATE THE NECESSARY RIGHT OF WAY AND THE VARIANCE REQUEST WILL BE REMOVED.
UH, IF THE EASEMENT IS CONSIDERED PRIVATE, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE VARIANCE, UH, AS SUBMITTED.
UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 83 IS WEST 99 GENERAL PLAN.
THE SITE IS ALSO LOCATED WITHIN THE ECJF HARRIS COUNTY, NORTH OF LOGANBAUGH ROAD, WEST OF THE GRAND PARKWAY AND SOUTH OF WEST ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO EXCEED BOTH 1400 AND 2600 INTERSECTION SPACING WITHIN MULTIPLE AREAS WITHIN THE GENERAL PLAN.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER THE PA - PER HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE REQUEST.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[e. Subdivision Plats with Special Exception Requests (Devin Crittle) ]
CHAIR, I'M GONNA RECUSE FROM THE NEXT TWO ITEMS. OKAY.AND I HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE.
ARE YOU DOING THESE ALL AT ONCE? YES, MA'AM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 84 AND 85, I'VE GOT THE APPLICANT HERE.
UM, SO DO WE NEED TO DO A PRESENTATION? YES, MA'AM.
[01:30:01]
OKAY.UM, THESE ARE THE FIRST ITEMS IN THE SPECIAL REQUEST, I MEAN THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AREA.
UH, ITEM 84 AND 85, THIS IS FONDREN AT COURT RESERVES GENERAL PLAN AND FONDREN AT COURT RESERVE SECTION ONE.
THE SITE'S LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS WITHIN FORT BEND COUNTY, EAST ALONG THE FORT BEND TOLL ROAD AND EAST OF COURT ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TWO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
THE FIRST IS TO ALLOW A REDUCED CENTER LINE RADIUS OF 1800 FEET INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 2000 FEET FOR A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
AND THE SECOND IS TO EXCEED INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG COURT ROAD, WHICH IS A MAJOR FAIRFARE.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH REQUESTS.
THE SITE CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 83 ACRES OF VACANT LAND PROPOSED FOR LIGHT WAREHOUSE AND INDUSTRIAL USE.
AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT, THE MAJOR THEREFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN ALIGNMENT OF FONDREN ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE PROPERTY.
A SEGMENT OF FONDREN ROAD HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DEDICATED TO THE SOUTH.
HOWEVER, IT'S OFFSET BY APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET FROM THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT.
DUE TO THE LIMITED DISTANCE AVAILABLE TO CONNECT THE TWO SEGMENTS, THE REQUIRED RIGHT OF WAY NECESSITATES A CENTER LINE RADIUS OF 1800 FEET RATHER THAN THE STANDARD.
GIVEN THIS EXISTING OFFSET, THE REDUCED CENTER LINE RADIUS REPRESENTS THE ONLY PRACTICAL MEANS OF CR- CREATING A CONTINUOUS ROADWAY CONNECTION PER THE MAJOR FAIRFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN.
THE REQUEST FOR THE REDUCED INTERSECTION SPACING IS JUSTIFIED BY EXT - EXISTING SITE CONSTRAINTS AND THE SURROUNDING LAND USES.
A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL STREET CONNECTION TOWARDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN INTRODUCED COMPAT- COMPATIBILITY, EXCUSE ME, COMPATIBILITY CONCERNS BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SOUTHERN, EXCUSE ME.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE SITE IS CONSTRAINED BY 150 FOOT WIDE DRAINAGE EASEMENT OWNED BY FORT BEND COUNTY, WHICH FURTHER LIMITS THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANOTHER STREET CONNECTION.
BASED ON THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, STAFF FINDS THE REQUESTED DEVIATION TO BE WARRANTED.
STAFF RECOMMENDS GRANTING THE REQ - THE REQUESTED SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND APPROVING THE PLAT SUBJECT TO THE CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE THE APPLICANT, MR. GRISSOM, HERE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
HEARING NONE, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
[f. Reconsiderations of Requirement (Tammi Williamson) ]
MOVING TO F, RECONSIDERATION OF REQUIREMENT.ITEM 86 IS GRACE LANE ESTATES.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON'S CORPORATE LIMITS IN HARRIS COUNTY, SOUTH OF GRIGGS ROAD BETWEEN CULLEN BOULEVARD AND MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A SUBDIVISION OF THREE LOTS AND IS REQUESTING A RECONSIDERATION OF REQUIREMENT WITH THE VARIANCE TO ALLOW EXCESSIVE INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG GRACE LANE BY NOT PROVIDING AN EAST-WEST PUBLIC STREET.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE GRIGGS TERRACE UNRECORDED SUBDIVISION AND IS PLOTTING TWO LOTS INTO THREE LOTS, WHICH IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DENSITY.
THE CURRENT INTERSECTION SPACING BETWEEN GRIGGS ROAD AND PERRY STREET IS APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FEET.
THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES AN INTERSECTION ALONG LOCAL STREETS AT LEAST EVERY 1,400 FEET.
THE PROPERTY TO THE WEST OF THE SUBJECT SITE, ALTHOUGH NOT PLOTTED, IS CURRENTLY UTILIZED AS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
TO THE SOUTH IS THE RECORDED SUBDIVISION OF SOUTHERN VILLAGE SECTION TWO WITH NO SUB STREETS FROM WAYLAND STREET TO GRACE LANE.
REQUIRING 60 FEET WIDE PUBLIC STREET DEDICATION FROM THIS PROPERTY WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE DEVELOPABLE AREA AS 60% OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE RIGHT OF WAY.
IN ADDITION, WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT TREND, STAFF FINDS THAT THE EXISTING STREET GRID IS SUFFICIENT FOR TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE VARIANCE REQUEST.
THEREFORE, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND APPROVE THE PLAT SUBJECT TO CPC 101 FORM CONDITIONS.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ITEM 86, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
ITEM 87 IS SEEK CENTER GULF COAST.
THE SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN HOUSTON'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, WEST OF FAIRBANKS NORTH HOUSTON ROAD, NORTH OF WEST ROAD AND ALONG PRAIRIE DRIVE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING ONE RESERVE RESTRICTED TO RELIGIOUS AND RELATED USES AND IS REQUESTING A RECONSIDERATION OF REQUIREMENT WITH A VARIANCE TO ALLOW EXCESSIVE INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG PRAIRIE DRIVE BY NOT PROVIDING A NORTH-SOUTH PUBLIC STREET.
[01:35:01]
BE DEFERRED FOR THREE WEEKS PENDING FURTHER REVIEW BY HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING AND STAFF ON THE VARIANCE REQUEST, AS THIS IS THE ONLY DEFERRAL POSSIBLE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.THE INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG PRAIRIE DRIVE IS APPROXIMATELY 4,200 FEET.
THE SITE HAS 300 FEET OF FRONTAGE ALONG PRAIRIE DRIVE WHERE NORTH SOUTH PUBLIC STREET COULD BE DEDICATED.
THE APPLICANT'S SOLE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE REQUEST IS BASED ON THE EXISTING LANDFILL SOUTH OF THE PROPERTY.
FURTHER SOUTH ARE TWO EXISTING STUB STREETS AND THERE IS A PROPOSED MAJOR THOROUGHFARE BISECTING THE LANDFILL SITE.
STAFF IN HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING ARE REQUESTING A DEFERRAL TO SEE IF HAVING A SUB STREET AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE POTENTIAL CONNECTION IF THE LANDFILL SITE DEVELOPS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
STAFF HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ADVANCE AND THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON ITEM 87, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO DEFER BALDWIN.
[Platting Activities g - j]
ON TO G, EXTENSION OF APPROVAL.AND PLEASE NOTE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE ABSTENTIONS, 92, 93 AND 95.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SECTIONS G, H, I, AND J AS ONE GROUP.
SECTION H, NAME CHANGES CONSIST OF NO ITEMS. SECTION I, CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE CONSISTS OF ITEMS 96 AND 97.
SECTION J, ADMINISTRATIVE CONSISTS OF NO ITEMS. UH, THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTS THE APPROVAL OF, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SECTIONS G, H, I, AND J.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FOR PERDLE? SECOND CAROL.
[k. Development Plats with Variance Requests (Malcolm Oliver and Ramon Jaime-Leon) ]
ON TO K, DEVELOPMENT PLATS WITH VARIANCE REQUESTS.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, MY NAME IS MALCOLM OLIVER.
ITEM 98 IS 13515 PERTHSHIRE ROAD.
THE SITE IS LOCATED NORTH MEMORIAL DRIVE AND WEST OF BELTWAY EIGHT AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE GLENCHESTER DRIVE AND PERSHAR ROAD INTERSECTION.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND IS REQUESTING A REDUCED GARAGE BUILDING LINE OF 11 FEET ALONG GLENCHESTER DRIVE INSTEAD OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 20 FOOT GARAGE BUILDING LINE.
THE SUBDIVISION WAS PLATTED WITH A 10 FOOT SIDE BUILDING LINE ALONG GLENCHESTER AND THE EXISTING HOME WAS BUILT WITH THE GARAGE DOOR AT THAT SETBACK.
THE PROPOSED HOME'S GARAGE, UH, WOULD BE IN THE SAME LOCATION ALONG WITH MANY OTHER HOMES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA ON THAT STREET THAT ALSO HAVE GARAGES BUILT AT OR NEAR THE 10 FOOT PLATTED BUILDING LINE.
WHILE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO SIDEWALKS ALONG GLENCHESTER STREET, UH, THE SIDEWALK'S NOT REQUIRED TO BUILD ONE, THERE IS SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR A FUTURE SIDEWALK TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT BEING BLOCKED BY A CAR PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE REQUEST.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION JONES.
ITEM 99 IS 3747 DRAYFUS STREET.
THE SITE IS LOCATED NORTH OF THE SOUTH LOOP 610 EAST FREEWAY AND EAST OF THE SOUTH FREEWAY AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN DREYFUS STREET AND THE UNDEVELOPED NATHAN STREET RIGHT OF WAY.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND IS REQUESTING TWO VARIANCES.
FIRST IS TO REDUCE THE BUILDING LINE TO FIVE FEET ALONG THE UNDEVELOPED NATHAN STREET INSTEAD OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 10-FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG LOCAL STREETS.
AND THE SECOND REQUEST IS TO NOT DEDICATE FIVE FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY TO NATHAN STREET, UH, WHICH IS ONLY 40 FEET WIDE ACCORDING TO THE PLAT.
THE LOT WAS PLATTED WITH FRONTAGE ALONG NATHAN STREET, BUT THAT RIGHT OF WAY WAS NEVER INSTALLED OR IMPROVED WITH THE STREET.
UM, THE PLATTED STREET, UH, GOES ONLY SIX BLOCKS BEFORE DEAD ENDING AT EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS ON EITHER SIDE, MAKING IT UNLIKELY THAT THE STREET WILL BE IMPROVED.
STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF BOTH REQUESTS ALONG NATHAN STREET.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE RIGHT OF WAY AND BUILDING LAND VARIANCES FOR NATHAN STREET.
COMMISSIONERS, IF I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I NEED A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ITEM 100, UH, 403 YORKSHESTER DRIVE.
THE SITE IS LOCATED SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE AND WEST OF NORTHWEST WILCREST DRIVE AT THE NORTHWEST INTERSECTION OF YORKSHESTER DRIVE AND APPLE STREET ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND IS REQUESTING A
[01:40:01]
14-FOOT GARAGE BUILDING LINE IN LIEU OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 20-FOOT GARAGE BUILDING LINE.THIS WOULD PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 31 FEET BETWEEN THE GARAGE DOORS AND THE BACK OF CURVE ALONG APPLE STREET AND WOULD, UH, REPRESENT A FOUR-FOOT INCREASE IN SETBACK COM, UH, COMPARED TO THE EXISTING GARAGE ON THE SITE.
THE RESULTING 31-FEET, UM, CLEARANCE ALLOWS ADEQUATE VISIBILITY FOR, UM, FOR VEHICLES ACCESSING APPLE, UH, ACCESSING APPLE STREET ROAD, THE, A LOCAL STREET, AND WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGH, OF THE NEARBY CORNER LOTS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO SIDEWALKS ALONG APPLE STREET ROAD AND, AND YORKSHESTER DRIVE, AND THIS PROJECT DOES NOT REQUIRE TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS AS PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED 14-FOOT SETBACK WOULD ACCOMMODATE FOR A FUTURE 15-FOOT...
NO, SORRY, FOR A FUTURE FIVE-FOOT SIDEWALK AND FOUR-FOOT SAFETY BUFFER, UH, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING 20 F, 22 FEET BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK EDGE AND THE GARAGE DOORS.
UH, THIS CONFIGURATION UPHOLDS THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE BY ENSURING THAT VEHICLES PARKED IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE WOULD NOT OBSTRUCT THE FUTURE SIDEWALK.
GIVEN THE SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE, UH, THE 14-FOOT SETBACK PROVIDES TO THE STREET, THE ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE A FUTURE SIDEWALK NETWORK AND THE, UH, COMPABILITY WITH, UH, SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, STA, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE.
COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION? MOTION SIGLER, SECOND BALDWIN.
ITEM 101, UH, 6102 WA, UH, WALTWAY DRIVE, PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF WEST 11TH STREET AND EAST OF ELLA BOULEVARD AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF INTERSECTION OF, UH, WEST T.C.
JESTER BOULEVARD AND WALTWAY DRIVE.
UM, APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A REDUCED BUILDING LINE OF 10 FEET ALONG TC, UH, ALONG WEST T.C.
JESTER, UH, BOULEVARD INSTEAD OF THE ORDINANCE REQUIRED 25-FOOT BUILDING LINE ALONG A MAJOR THOROUGH.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEFER AT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST.
COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 101? MOTION NARANJO? SECOND, BALLARD.
[IV. Establish a public hearing date of December 17, 2026 ]
TO ROMAN NUMERAL FOUR, ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF DECEMBER 17TH, 2026 FOR BACKER PARK RESIDENCES, CASHMERE AL DEVELOPMENT, ENCLAVE AT NEWPORT PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER ONE, FOX CREEK VILLAGE, HOMES AT SPRINGDALE, MELANIE COURT, PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER TWO, AND SCOTTS POINT LIFT STATION.DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BALLARD.
[V. Public Hearing and Consideration of the renewal of a Special Minimum Lot Size for the 1700 of W Main Street in the West Lancaster Place; Lancaster Place Extn 3; Lancaster Place Extn 3 Amend; Lancaster Place Extn Sec 2 Subdivisions – MLS 247REN (Eriq Glenn)]
ON TO ROMAN NUMERAL FIVE.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT...
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR...
I RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A 6,250 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK APPLICATION, UM, RIN 247, UH, FOR THE 1700 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN STREET, NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES BETWEEN WOODLAND STREET AND DUNLAVY STREET.
THE BLOCK IS LOCATED IN THE NEAR TOWN MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD, COUNCIL DISTRICT C, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 27.
THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, UH, 2007 - 1062 WAS ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2020...
THE APPLICATION AREA CONSISTS OF 23 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND SIX MULTIFAMILY LOTS.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS REPRESENT 79% OF THE T - OF THE LOTS AND 76% OF THE LAND AREA.
A LOT SIZE OF AT LEAST 6,250 SQUARE FEET EXISTS ON 27 LOTS IN THE APPLICATION AREA.
THE APPLICATION IS WI- WITHIN THE LANCASTER PLACE EXTENSION TWO AND THREE SUBDIVISIONS PLATTED IN 1922 AND 1923.
THE EARLIEST HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1924.
EVIDENCE OF PETITION SUPPORT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS RENEWAL.
NOTIFICATION WAS MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE APPLICATION AREA.
ONE TIMELY WRITTEN PROTEST COVERING SIX PROPERTIES
[01:45:01]
WAS RECEIVED BY STAFF.THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO FORWARD THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ELISA LIPSKY.
I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE 2008, SHORTLY AFTER THE PRIOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS ADOPTED.
UM, THE NEW HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT ON THE STREET HAVE ALL FOLLOWED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
UH, I SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENTS YESTERDAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S INCLUDED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
UH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE CONTINUE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY.
IT'S THE FIRST STREET SOUTH OF THE MONTROSE HEB, SO REALLY IT'S THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN ARTERY BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE EAST SIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I ALSO HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS THE ENTITY THAT IS PROTESTING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE DOES NOT PERHAPS HAVE THE BEST, UM, THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT HEART.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS LIVE IN MISSOURI CITY.
I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEM BECAUSE I HAVEN'T REALLY MET THEM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I GOOGLED THEM AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT APPEARED WAS THEIR YELP RESER - UM, YELP REVIEWS.
UH, THEY HAVE A ONE OUT OF FIVE FROM THEIR TENANTS.
I WON'T, UM, ENTER THEM INTO THE RECORD HERE, BUT, UH, I BELIEVE THAT SINCE WE HAVE 60%, 62% OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION SUPPORTING THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, UM, THAT THE CITY SHOULD GO WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS' WISHES AND, UH, PLEASE CONTINUE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER BOWEN? CAN I GET CLARITY ON THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT? I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S NOT REQUIRED, BUT WERE THERE...
WHEN I LOOK AT THAT SIDE OF THE BLOCK, I SEE FOUR PEOPLE FOR IT AND FIVE PEOPLE AGAINST IT ON, ON THAT NORTHERN SECTION OR WESTERN SECTION OR WHATEVER.
SO THE PROTESTOR REPRESENTS 23.59% OF THE PROPERTY.
THE PETITION THAT THE, UH, APPLICANTS TURNED IN, WELL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TURNED IN, REPRESENTED ABOUT 63%.
SO THAT'S NOT A MAP OF THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THERE.
WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THAT MAP SHOW? SORRY, THE...
SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS SINGLE FAMILY, MULTIFAMILY, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S LAND USE.
THE XS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, IS THE CORPORATION THAT, UH - PROTESTED.
AND WHERE'S THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT? THERE IS NO LEVEL OF SUPPORT ON THIS MAP, IT BEING A RENEWAL.
THE COMMUNITY WENT OUT OF IT...
WELL, GATHERED SIGNATURES, BUT THOSE SIGNATURES, UH, ARE PUT INTO THE RECORD, BUT THEY'RE NOT A PART OF, UH - SO WE DON'T HAVE A MAP INDICATING WHERE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT WAS.
I THINK YOU JUST SAID LEVEL OF SUPPORT WAS 62%.
IT'S NOT MAPPED OUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT - I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW MUCH WAS ON ONE SIDE OF THE BLOCK VERSUS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BLOCK.
AND I UNDERSTAND HOW THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, BUT WE DO LOOK AT THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND THE LEVEL OF OPPOSITION, AND WE CAN CONSIDER A BLOCK.
WE DO, BUT THIS IS A RENEWAL, SO WE DON'T.
UM, I'M SORRY, MA'AM, BUT YOU CAN LEAVE THAT UP FRONT WITH STAFF, MS. LIPSKY.
SO THE GREEN OR BLACK OR WHATEVER COLOR THAT IS, THAT'S THE SUPPORT.
I KNOW I'M GONNA MESS YOUR NAME UP, FOTE.
I GUESS YOU GUYS ARE COMING UP TOGETHER.
YOU'LL JUST COME UP ONE BY ONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
I AM OPPOSED TO THIS MATTER AND WOULD REQUEST A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO EXPLORE ALL LEGAL OPTIONS AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO HELP US IN THIS MATTER.
AND SO WE'RE CLEAR, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SUPPORTED, THAT HAD THESE PROTESTS, RIGHT, FOR THESE FIVE PROPERTIES, SIX PROPERTIES? WE ARE - YOU'RE THE OWNER OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? THERE WERE TWO NAMES ON THERE.
[01:50:07]
GOOD AFTERNOON.STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
WE WOULD LIKE A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO REVIEW OUR LEGAL OPTIONS AND TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HERE FOR YOUR GOOD ADVICE.
UM, I MEAN, THIS IS THE RENEWAL, WHICH MEANS IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR 20- 20 YEARS.
SO DID YOU PURCHASE THOSE PROPERTIES A- ALREADY KNOWING THAT THERE WERE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE ON THEM? WE HAVE OWNED THOSE PROPERTIES ANYWHERE FROM 1957 - OKAY.
WE OWN, WE OWN MORE, UH, PROPERTIES ON THE 1600 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN, ONE PROPERTY ON THE 1600 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN, AND WE OWNED, UH, TWO OTHER PROPERTIES ON COLQUITT STREET TOO.
PUR- PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE GOING INTO EFFECT? INDEED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOANNA SPIRES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LANCASTER PLACE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND I'M ALSO THE APPLICANT, UH, FOR THE RENEWAL OF SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR THE 1700 BLOCK OF WEST MAIN.
UH, FOR CONTEXT, OUR BOUNDARIES FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE WEST ALABAMA TO THE NORTH, RICHMOND AVENUE TO THE SOUTH, WOODHEAD STREET TO THE WEST, AND MANDEL STREET TO THE, UM, EAST.
WE ARE A DEED RESTRICTED NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ALL EIGHT OF OUR INTERIOR BLOCKS CURRENTLY HAVE MINIMUM LOT SIZE PROTECTION.
WE RELY ON THESE PROTECTIONS TO MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER AND CONSISTENCY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE APPRECIATE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION OF THE RENEWAL OF SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR THIS BLOCK.
UNFORTUNATELY, A PROTEST WAS RECEIVED FROM A FAMILY OF LANDLORDS WHO OWN SEVERAL PROPERTIES THAT YOU JUST LEARNED WITHIN LANCASTER PLACE.
ONE FAMILY MEMBER DOES LIVE WITHIN THE SUBJECT BLOCK, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ABSENTEE PROPERTY OWNERS.
ONE COULD DESCRIBE THEIR PROPERTIES AS MINIMALLY MAIN- MAINTAINED, AND SINCE THEY DO NOT RESIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EXCEPT AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, ONE COULD SURMISE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO HIGHLIGHT THIS POINT, AND AS A LITTLE BIT OF SCUTTLEBUTT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PROTESTORS HAVING PAID CIVIC ASSOCIATION DUES SINCE I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, I KNOW IT'S NOT REQUIRED, BUT, BUT YOU GUYS WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND YOU GOT THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
THAT IS WHAT THE MAP THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
SO IT WAS NOT REQUIRED, BUT, UM, JUST TO REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO MINIMUM LOT SIZE, AND REALLY YOU'LL HEAR FROM, UH, GLADYS, BUT SHE WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, SO...
YES, COMMISSIONER CARROLL? UM, MA'AM? SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, 20 YEARS AGO, UH, SINCE THIS IS A RENEWAL, SO THAT WOULD BE 2006, DID THE PEOPLE, UH, DID THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO, UM, ARE NOW PROTESTING, DID THEY SIGN THE RENEWAL, UH, OR THE INITIAL APPLICATION? THEY DID NOT SIGN THE, UH, INITIAL APPLICA - THEY DID NOT INDICATE THEIR SUPPORT OF THE INITIAL APPLICATION.
BACK IN 20 - BACK IN, YEAH, 20 YEARS AGO, THEY DID NOT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLADYS BELL.
I LIVE AT 1736 WEST MAIN STREET, AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF OUR BLOCKS, MLS RENEWAL.
30 YEARS AGO
THE BLOCK WAS DERELICT, AND I WAS DUBIOUS.
[01:55:01]
TIME, THE BLOCK WAS IN A TIME WARP.OF THE 28 PROPERTIES, 25 STILL HAD THEIR ORIGINAL BUILDINGS DATING FROM THE 1920S.
ANOTHER THREE PROPERTIES WERE SO-CALLED NEW APARTMENTS, DATING FROM THE 1950S AND 1960S.
ALMOST HALF OF THE 28 PROPERTIES WERE OWNED BY LANDLORDS WHO RENTED THEM OUT, AND MOST OF THOSE WERE POORLY MAINTAINED.
A YEAR LATER, SOMETHING CHANGED.
AN AGING CORNER APARTMENT BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED.
THE LOT SUBDIVIDED, AND A PAIR OF THREE-STORY TOWNHOMES ROSE.
SOME THOUGH IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR BLOCK'S REVIVAL, EXCEPT IT WAS NOT.
OVER THE NEXT NINE YEARS, THERE WERE NO MORE TOWN HOMES BUILT AND NO HOME REMODELS.
HCAD SHOWS ONLY ONE NEW HOUSE BUILT IN 2000, BUT THAT WAS IT.
OWNERS HAD A DILEMMA, SELL, RENOVATE, BUILD NEW, BUT WHY RENOVATE BUNGALOWS IF TOWNHOMES WERE ABOUT TO RISE THREE OR FOUR STORIES HIGH ON EITHER SIDE? THEN IN 2007, A CHANGE.
HOUSTON REVISED ITS RULES FOR MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR BLOCKS SIGNED A PETITION IN FAVOR.
WHY? BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE WAY, THE BEST WAY TO GROW OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
IN THE 20 YEARS SINCE OBTAINING BLOCK MLS, HERE IS THE RESULT.
10 ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL HOMES HAVE BEEN RENOVATED, ACCORDING TO HCAD, AND THREE ADDITIONAL NEW HOMES HAVE BEEN BUILT.
THAT IS ALMOST HALF THE BLOCK.
THESE NEW SINGLE-FAMILY TWO-STORY HOMES RANGE FROM 3,600 TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND ARE VALUED FROM 1.5 TO $1.8 MILLION EACH.
PROPERTY VALUES IN THE WHOLE BLOCKS HAVE SOARED WITH THE LAND ALONE NOW WORTH 120 PER SQUARE FOOT.
ANY OWNER CAN EASILY SELL THEIR LOT FOR NEW NON-TOWN HOME DEVELOPMENT.
TODAY, OUR MLS IS UP FOR, UH, RENEWAL.
62% OF THE BLOCK HAS SIGNED A PETITION.
THIS WAS MAILED IN TWO DAYS AGO ALONG WITH THAT MAP THAT IS DISPLAYED.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ORLANDO ORTEGA.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE.
UM, UH, YEAH, I'M THE RESIDENT OF 1706, AN OWNER, UH, 1706 WEST MAIN STREET.
UM, I VOTE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE, UH, RESTRICTIONS IN THE 1700 BLOCK OF LA- LANCASTER PLACE, EXTENSION TWO.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE BLOCK AND HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 23 YEARS.
MY HUSBAND, UH, PAUL TERRY, WAS THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT OF THE LANCASTER PLACE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND VOLUNTEER ON THAT ROLE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I KNOW THAT MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE TRIED TO PROTECT MLS RESTRICTIONS FOR MY BLOCK AND ANYWHERE POSSIBLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE MOST RESIDENTS WHO APPROACHED HIM SUPPORTED MLS FOR THEIR BLOCKS.
PERSONALLY, I WANT TO PRESERVE MLS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE DISTURBING TRANSFORMATION OF QUAINT NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE MONTROSE AREA WHERE BEAUTIFUL CENTENARY BUNGALOWS HAVE BEEN GIVEN PLACE TO RIDICULOUSLY SKINNY THREE OR FOUR STORIES TOWN HOMES.
THE SEGMENTATION OF PROPERTY LOTS IS DESTROYING THE FEEL AND APPEAL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OLD MONTROSE, INCREASING GENTRIFICATION, POPULATION DENSITY, TRAFFIC, AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON ALREADY TIRED CENTRAL HOUSTON SERVICES.
IF YOU OWN A BUNGALOW AND GET A TOWER OF CARDBOARD NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE, YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO BE CRUSHED BY THEIR TALL SIDEWALLS ERECTED AT THE VERY EDGE OF WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE.
MY HUSBAND WAS AN AVID GARDENER AND FEARED THAT WHAT THOSE TALL STRUCTURES COULD DO TO HIS GARDENS AND GRASS, PROJECTING THEIR OPPRESSING SHADOWS OVER OUR PROPERTY.
IN ADDITION, I DO NOT LIKE THE FEEL OF BEING WATCHED ALL THE TIME FROM WINDOWS THAT LOOK DOWN ON MY PROPERTY.
I WILL END BY SAYING I VOTE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MLS ON MY BLOCK IN SUPPORT OF MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS, IN SUPPORT OF WHAT IS BEST FOR ME, AND AS A SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S FUTURE.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
IS THERE ANY- ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
STAFF, COULD YOU REITERATE THE RULES FOR FOR RENEWAL,
[02:00:01]
PLEASE.SO FOR, UH, MINIMUM LOT SIZE RENEWAL, THE ONLY, THE RULES ARE THAT THE APPLICANTS NEED TO TURN IN AN APPLICATION STATING THAT THEY WANT TO RENEWAL.
THERE IS NO PETITION OF SUPPORT.
UH, THE, THE APPLIC - I'M SORRY, THE, THERE'S A 30 DAY PROTEST PERIOD.
THUS, WE, WE ARE HERE IN PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THERE IS NO PERCENTAGE THAT THEY NEED TO GET APPLIED.
SO COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO RENEW THIS APPLICATION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
[VI. Public Hearing and Consideration of the renewal of a Special Minimum Lot Size for the 2300 Block of McClendon Street in the Windemere Subdivision – MLS 171REN (Eriq Glenn) ]
MOVING ON TO, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL SIX.GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A 5,750 SQUARE FOOT SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK APPLICATION, 171 WREN, FOR THE 2300 BLOCK OF MCLENDON STREET, NORTH SIDE BETWEEN GREENBRIER DRIVE AND MORNINGSIDE DRIVE.
THE BLOCK IS LOCATED IN THE WINDMERE, WINDERMERE NEIGHBORHOOD IN COUNCIL DISTRICT C, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 28.
THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, UH, 2006-749 WAS ADOPTED IN JULY, JULY 5TH, UH, 2006.
THE APPLICATION AREA CONSISTS OF NINE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND THREE MULTIFAMILY LOTS.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS REPRESENT 75% OF THE LOTS AND 75% OF THE LAND AREA.
A LOT SIZE OF AT LEAST 5,750 SQUARE FEET EXISTS ON 12 LOTS IN THE APPLICATION AREA.
THE APPLICATION IS WITHIN THE WINDERMERE SUBDIVISION PLATTED IN 1926.
THE EARLIEST HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1938.
EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE OF PETITION SUPPORT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS RENEWAL.
NOTIFICATION WAS MAILED TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE APPLICATION AREA.
ONE TIMELY WRITTEN PROTEST COVERING 2348 MCLENDON STREET WAS RECEIVED BY STAFF.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO FORWARD THE APPLICATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
I HAVE A SPEAKER, FRED GILLESPIE.
UH, MY NAME IS FRED GILLESPIE.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE MORNINGSIDE PLACE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND THAT'S A CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT COVERS GREENBRIER TO PAT TO KIRBY UNIVERSITY DOWN TO, UH, HOLCOMB.
BUT ONE LARGE SUBDIVISION OF, OF THE FIVE IS WINDERMERE.
IT'S THE LARGEST WITH OVER 220 HOMES AND 10 F - 10 STREETS.
SO IT'S 20 FACES THAT WE 20 YEARS AGO WENT THROUGH, GOT THE, UH, MLS DONE WITH OVERWHELMING.
I WASN'T LEADING IT, BUT I LIVED THERE.
THANKS FOR THE CITY FOR, UH, WE HAD ON OUR TASK LIST FOR THIS YEAR TO RENEW THEM.
WE KNEW IT WAS COMING UP, BUT THANKS FOR THE CARDS OR THE LETTERS GOING EVERYONE.
I STARTED GETTING CALLS, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW IT WAS COMING, A FEW OF US DID.
FRED, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? AND WE SAID, WE EXPLAINED IT TO THEM AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ON SOME BLOCKS YOU HAVE 12 HOMES AND YOU ONLY HAVE TWO THAT WERE AROUND IN 19 AND 20 YEARS AGO, OWNERS.
BUT WE PREPARED, YOU KNOW, A KIND OF A HAND THING AND, YOU KNOW, THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS NOT TO PROMOTE, TO ADVOCATE, BUT JUST TO E- EDUCATE PEOPLE.
AND I KNOCK ON DOORS AND THEY UNDERSTAND IT.
HOW YOU DOING? SOME I KNEW, SOME I DIDN'T.
AND OVERWHELMINGLY WAS, UH, FULL SUPPORT ON ANY BLOCK.
WE'VE SUBMITTED SO FAR 12 SIDES.
OF COURSE, WE'RE ONLY HERE TO TALK 2300 NORTH MORNINGSIDE, UH, MCLENDON, BUT WE'VE DONE 12 SIDES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND THANKS TO THE PLANNING GROUP TO, UH, ABOUT EVERY THREE WEEKS I'M DOWN THERE WITH ANOTHER ONE.
I'M THE MAIN APPLICANT ON THIS ONE AS THE, AS A HOMEOWNERS, UH, PR - ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
OF COURSE, WE HAD A ALTERNATE THAT LIVES ON THE, UH, AFFECTED BLOCK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UM, ONE THING WE DID THEM ALL TOGETHER NOT KNOWING THEY WERE COM - WELL, KNOWING THEY WERE COMING, BUT BE UNIFORM TO MAKE IT MORE CONSISTENT WORK PRODUCT FOR THE TEAM, UH, MS. SAWYERS OR, UH, TO REVIEW.
AND ALSO, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LEARNING EXERCISE FOR EVERYBODY IN EVERY BLOCK TO DO IT RANDOM.
SO, UH, I OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT IT.
UH, WE'VE, UH, IT'S A HIGH VALUE.
IT WAS 30 YEAR, 20 YEARS AGO MADE SENSE.
WE'RE SINGLE FAMILY OR WE'RE SING - RESIDENTIAL AREA, AS MR. GLENN SAID.
AND, UH, THERE'S, UH, OUT, UH, VALUE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BASED ON THAT.
PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN BECAUSE IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OH, EXCUSE ME.
SO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO, UH, MOVE THIS RENEWAL FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
SO MOTION BALLARD, SECOND SHEPARD.
[02:05:01]
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.WE DON'T NEED TO EXCUSE THE ABSENCE OF SYKES AND PIERCE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR WORKING THROUGH ALL OF OUR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TODAY.
Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB AND IT WAS SEAMLESS THE WAY YOU DID IT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND AT, MY WATCH IS TELLING ME IT'S TIME TO GET UP.
UM, 4:50 PM, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.