HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Planning Commission - 06/26/2019 w 1201 Leopard Street
City of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi,TX 78401
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Meeting Minutes
Planning Commission
Wednesday,June 26,2019 5:30 PM Council Chambers
I. Call to Order, Roll Call
Chairman Villarreal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.and a quorum was
established with no absences.
II. Opening Statement
III. Approval of Absences: Commissioners Williams and Dibble
A motion was made by Commissioner Baugh and seconded by Commissioner
Hovda to approve the absences listed above.The motion passed.
IV. Approval of Minutes
1. 19-0888 Regular Meeting Minutes of June 12, 2019
A motion to approve item "1"was made by Commissioner Schroeder and
seconded by Commissioner Zarghouni.The motion passed.
V. Consent Public Hearing: (Items A, B & C) - Discussion and Possible Action
Chairman Villarreal asked Commissioners if they would like any Consent items
pulled to be heard separately during the Public Hearing. It was determined
that item"4"would be pulled from the Consent agenda and heard separately.
Chairman Villarreal asked Staff to present the Consent Agenda,items V.A,V.B
and V.C,except for item"4".Greg Collins, Development Services,read items
"2, 3,5,6,7,8&9"into the record as shown below.Staff recommends
approval for Variance item"2". New plat items"3,5&6",satisfy all
requirements of the UDC and State Law;the Technical Review Committee
recommend approval.Time Extension item "7"satisfies all requirements of the
UDC and Staff recommends approval.Staff also recommends approval for New
Zoning items"8 &9"as stated in Staff's report.
After Staff's presentation,Chairman Villarreal opened the public hearing for
the Consent items.With no one coming forward,the public hearing was
closed.A motion to approve Staff's recommendation as presented for items"2,
3, 5,6, 7,8 &9"was made by Vice Chairman Crull and seconded by
Commissioner Baugh.The motion passed.
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A. New Plat with Variance (Waiver)
2. 19-0893 19PL1010 -SIDEWALK WAIVER
AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION, BLOCK 2, LOT 4 (FINAL - 0.416
ACRE)
Located east of Heinsohn Road and south of Agnes Street.
Request for a Plat Waiver of Sidewalk Construction Requirement in
Section 8.1.4 and Section 8.2.2 of the UDC.
3. 19-0889 19PL1010
AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION, BLOCK 2, LOT 4 (FINAL - 0.416
ACRE)
Located east of Heinsohn Road and south of Agnes Street.
B. New Plats
4. 19-0894 19PL1054 -CONDITIONAL
ROB-LEX INDUSTRIAL AREA, BLOCK 1, LOTS 15R AND 17R
(REPLAT - 3.61 ACRES)
Located south of Agnes Street and east North Padre Island Drive.
Mr.Collins read New Plat item "4" into the record as shown above. He stated
that upon satisfaction of the remaining conditions/comments in the Plat Review
Comments document,the plat will satisfy all requirements of the UDC and
State Law;the Technical Review Committee recommends conditional
approval.After Staff's presentation,Chairman Villarreal opened the public
hearing. Representing the owner, Murf Hudson with Urban Engineering at 2725
Swantner addressed the Commission. Mr. Hudson disagrees with Land
Development comment number"1"which states:Add a plat note stating that
the private drainage easement is permanent and shall not be closed.The
applicant's response states: "The private drainage easement is private and
between owners.We cannot predict the future and the City cannot impose its
will on a private instrument."Staff's resolution comment states:Add a plat
note stating that the private drainage easement shall not be closed or altered
without consent of the lot owners and approval by the City of Corpus Christi
Planning Commission or other municipal authority responsible for approving
plats.
Mr. Hudson felt that this matter does not fall within the purview of the Planning
Commission but accepts that it will need approval by a City Engineer. Mr.
Collins stated that even though it is private drainage easement,the potential
water flowing through the easement has a potential "public"effect on
adjacent lots/landowners outside the boundaries of the plat.Mr. Hudson stated
the City would not accept it as a public drainage easement.
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Mr.Collins stated the scope and geographic service of this facility is not large
enough to justify it being categorized as a public drainage easement.
Chairman Villarreal and Vice Chairman Crull expressed their agreement with
Mr. Hudson.A motion was made by Vice Chairman Crull to approve item"4"
and remove Staff's resolution comment with regard to Land Development
comment number"1".The motion was seconded by Chairman Villarreal and
the motion passed.
5. 19-0890 19PL1046
CIMARRON ACRES, BLOCK 1, LOT 2 (FINAL - 12.22 ACRES)
Located east of Cimarron Boulevard and south of Lipes Boulevard.
6. 19-0891 19PL1032
COLE PLACE, BLOCK 1, LOT 1 R (REPLAT - 1.74 ACRES)
Located south of Doddridge Street and west of Ocean Drive.
Time Extension
7. 19-0892 13-22000013
KITTY HAWK SUBDIVISION (PRELIMINARY 298.72 ACRES)
Located south of South Staples Street (FM 2444) and east of County
Road 41.
C. New Zoning
8. 19-0895 Public Hearing - Rezoning Property at or near 2934 Highland
Avenue
Case No. 0519-03 -Sergio and Magali Martinez:
Ordinance rezoning property at or near 2934 Highland Avenue (located at
the northeastern corner of the intersection of Highland Avenue and
Duncan Street, east of Osage Street, and west of South Port Avenue)
from the "CN-1" Neighborhood Commercial District to the "RS-6"
Single-Family 6 District.
9. 19-0896 Public Hearing - Rezoning Property at or near 916 South Alameda
Case No. 0619-02 -Texas State Roofing Company, LLC :
Ordinance rezoning property at or near 916 South Alameda (located
along the east side of South Alameda Street, south of Coleman Avenue,
and north of Buford Street) from the "CG-2" General Commercial District
to the "CG-2/SP" General Commercial District with a Special Permit.
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VI. Briefing
10. 19®0897 Unified Development Code Text Amendment Briefing
Andrew Dimas, Development Services, presented item"10"for the record as
shown above.The purpose of this item is to give a briefing on upcoming text
amendments.The briefing will cover uses/businesses that require rezonings or
Zoning Board of Adjustment action,updates which will reduce the need for
Special Permits,and changes to State statutes. He began the presentation by
explaining that automatic car washes are currently allowed in the"CG"
General Commercial Districts (and up).The text amendment would allow
by-right automatic car washes in the"CN" Neighborhood Commercial District
with limitations.
Mr. Dimas informed the Commission that the former zoning ordinance allowed
by-right paint and body shops (categorized as heavy vehicle service)as an
accessory use to car dealerships (primary use).The text amendment will be
reinstituting this language.Commissioner Crull suggested that any of the
vehicle services to be performed be done in an enclosed building.
Mr. Dimas stated that aggregate storage is a common accessory use request for
landscape nursery businesses.Aggregate storage is currently allowed in the
Industrial Districts and the text amendment will allow aggregate storage as an
accessory use to landscaping businesses. Commissioner Crull suggested that
the aggregate storage be limited to a certain percentage of the area of
property.Commissioners also brought up concerns for wind speeds,
specifically during hurricanes.Mr. Dimas stated that the property owner would
need to accept the liability of securing materials in those instances.Currently,
crematoriums are also allowed in the Industrial Districts and the text
amendment will allow them as an accessory use to funeral homes.
Mr. Dimas informed the Commission that there have been 10 Special Use
Exceptions for above ground fuel tanks (typically accessory uses)since 2015.
Above ground fuel tanks are currently allowed in the Industrial Districts as a
primary use.The text amendment will remove the requirement for Zoning
Board of Adjustment consideration/approval because they are already
reviewed by the Fire Department.
For side yard requirement updates (also known as the"back to back" rule),Mr.
Dimas explained the following scenarios:
• For corner lots backing to an adjacent lot's rear yard,the corner lot street
side yard requirement shall be not less than the adjacent lot's rear yard,but in
no case less than 10 feet.
• For corner lots backing to an adjacent lot's front yard,the corner lot street
side yard requirement shall be not less than the adjacent lot's front yard,but in
no case less than 10 feet.
• If a corner lot backs up to a parcel that is unplatted,zoned Farm Rural or is
outside city limits,and is at least 10 acres in size,then the corner lot street side
yard shall be a minimum of not less than ten (10)feet.
Vice Chairman Crull had a concern when side yards and front yards abut each
other.To further assist with this text amendment,Chairman Villarreal
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suggested to add some language to the amendment regarding previously
approved preliminary plats.
Mr. Dimas informed the Commission that City staff will be reaching out to
property owners to survey an opinion on the reduction of setback for accessory
structures(particularly those in the southern part of the Flour Bluff area).The
larger lot zoning districts,e.g."RE" Residential Estate District,have increased
side yard setbacks Setbacks are applied to both primary and accessory
structures.All structures including garages,sheds, patios,gazebos,and
pergolas must also be setback 25-feet.
Mr. Dimas summarized the following points of House Bill 2496(and Chapter 211
of the Local Government Code)relating to landmark designation,which was
signed by the Governor and is effective immediately:
• The owner of the property consents to the designation. Religious structures
must have the consent of the organization.
• Consent of the designation can be withdrawn at any time during the
designation process.
• The designation must be approved by'/<of all bodies(Landmark
Commission, Planning Commission,and City Council)if owner does not
consent to designation.
• City must provide the property owner a letter 15 days in advance of the 1st
hearing that describes the impact that a historic designation of the owner's
property may have on the owner and the owner's property.
Mr. Dimas also informed the Commission about House Bill 2497(Chapter 211 of
the Local Government Code)regarding the Board of Adjustment(ZBA). The bill
will be effective on September 1st and it requires procedures of the ZBA to be
adopted by City Council. The ZBA will no longer be able to vote on their own
rules.The bill has specifically listed who can file an appeal of an
administrative decision and the appeal must be filed within 20 days of the
administrative decision; must be heard within 60 days of the filing.
The next bill to be signed by the Governor is House Bill 2439 (Title 10 of the
Government Code)regarding building materials.The bill states that a
governmental entity may not adopt or enforce a rule,charter provision,
ordinance, order,building code,or other regulation that prohibits or limits,
directly or indirectly,the use or installation of a building product or material in
the construction,renovation, maintenance, or other alteration of a residential
or commercial building if the building product or material is approved for use
by a national model code. For example,a specific item to consider would be
overlay requirements for Padre Island which regulates types of roofing
materials,architectural styles and color palettes.
The next text amendment involves townhomes(UDC Section 4.4.3.A). Mr.
Dimas gave examples of two different types of townhomes to consider—"real
townhomes"versus "apartment style"townhomes by design.In this case,the
amendment applies to real townhomes.To apply the"RS-TH" Townhome
District standards,the property must be zoned"RS-TH", "RM-1",or"RM-2"
(intended for multifamily).Currently,a written interpretation exists which also
allows townhomes in the"RM-3"district and the amendment will officially add
this district to that list.An important item to consider is minimum lot size. For
example,the minimum lot size for the construction of townhomes in an RS-TH
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District is 20,000 square feet. Many in-fill lots are less than 20,000 square feet
and remain undeveloped/vacant. Discussion will take place on whether the
limitation should be changed to set a new minimum lot size.
The last amendment involves wastewater fee exemptions and construction
waivers.It is proposed to designate certain areas across the city as zones
unlikely to receive wastewater service in the next 15 years. These zones
would receive automatic fee and construction waivers and not require
Planning Commission or City Council action.An amendment to waive
construction and fees for plats used for uninhabitable uses(Ex.electric
substation, billboards,etc.)is also proposed.Commissioner Crull asked if plats
would include a note stating that the area is uninhabitable.Commissioner
Crull also asked if a study would be performed to determine what areas would
be included and that maps would need to be updated/amended on a regular
basis. He also asked if the maps would be amended administratively or would
it involve Planning Commission action/City Council adoption. Commissioner
Hovda asked if the number of service years can change.
VII. Director's Report
Nina Nixon-Mendez, Director of Development Services,introduced Gabriel
Hinojosa(Engineer IV).Mr. Hinojosa will oversee the Platting, Engineering and
Geographic Information System Departments as former Assistant Director, Bill
Green, has retired.
VIII. Items to be Scheduled
None.
IX. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss,Chairman Villarreal adjourned the
meeting at 6:35 p.m.
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