HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Planning Commission - 06/12/2019 w 1201 Leopard Street
City of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi,TX 78401
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Meeting Minutes
Planning Commission
Wednesday,June 12,2019 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 Commissioners Williams and Dibble absent.
II. Opening Statement
III. Approval of Absences: Chairman Villarreal
A motion was made by Commissioner Baugh and seconded by Vice Chairman
Crull to approve the absence listed above. The motion passed.
IV. Approval of Minutes
1. 19-0833 Regular Meeting Minutes of May 29, 2019
A motion to approve item "1"was made by Commissioner Baugh and
seconded by Commissioner Hovda.The motion passed.
V. Consent Public Hearing: (Items A & B) - Discussion and Possible Action
Chairman Villarreal asked Staff to present the Consent Agenda,items V.A&
V.B,numbered 2 through 4.Greg Collins, Development Services, read items"2
through 4"into the record as shown below. New plat items"2 &3",satisfy all
requirements of the UDC and State Law;the Technical Review Committee
recommend approval.Staff also recommends approval for New Zoning item
"4"as stated in Staff's report and materials.
After Staff's presentation,Chairman Villarreal opened the floor for
Commissioner comments/questions.Commissioner Schroeder asked questions
regarding item"4"for clarification purposes.After Commissioner
comments/questions concluded,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 through 4"was made by Commissioner Baugh and seconded by
Commissioner Hovda.The motion passed.
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A. New Plats
2. 19-0829 19PL1023
AIRLINE ROAD SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BLK 1, LOT
1 (FINAL - 7.417 ACRES)
Located east of Airline Road and south of Wooldridge Road.
3. 19-0831 19PL1050
STEELE'S ADDITION, BLOCK 12, LOT 7R (REPLAT- 0.1435 ACRE)
Located south of Coleman Avenue and west of Harmon Street.
B. New Zoning
4. 19-0834 Public Hearing - Rezoning Property at or near 5101 Saratoga
Boulevard
Case No. 0619-01 - Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Ordinance rezoning property at or near 5101 Saratoga Boulevard
(located along the south side of Saratoga Boulevard (State Highway
357), east of Long Meadow Drive, and west of South Staples Street)
from the "RS-6" Single-Family 6 District to the "ON" Neighborhood Office
District.
VI. Public Hearing: (Item C) - Discussion and Possible Action
C. New Plat with Variance (Waiver)
5. 19-0835 19PL1032 -SIDEWALK WAIVER
ARUBA TWO CONDOMINIUMS, BLOCK 1, LOT 1 (REPLAT - 0.79
ACRES)
Located north of Aruba Drive and west of Leeward Drive.
Request for a Plat Waiver of Sidewalk Construction Requirement in
Section 8.1.4 and Section 8.2.2 of the UDC.
Mr.Collins presented item "5"for the record as shown above. For location
purposes,he presented an aerial view of the subject property along with a
vicinity map showing commercial and residential uses in the area.The
purpose of the plat is to develop condominiums.Mr. Collins continued the
presentation by citing the following factors in support of the waiver request
and against the waiver request:
Factors in Support of the Waiver-The applicant states that they do not believe
sidewalk should be required because:
1. None of the developed properties within this portion of Padre Island have
sidewalks.
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2. The area is not located on any transit stops or transportation plan.
3.Waiver of sidewalk will not be detrimental to the public health,safety,or
general welfare,and adjacent property will not be restricted or rendered
unfeasible.
4. The Comprehensive Plan will not be substantially affected.
5. The Bicycle Mobility Plan does not show any routes through this property.
Additional factors in support of the waiver are:
6.Aruba Drive is not on the Urban Transportation Plan (UTP).
7.Aruba Drive is not on the City's ADA Master Plan.
Factors weighing against the waiver and in support of requiring sidewalk:
1. The area is within a residential tourist/commercial node,zoned RM-AT/10,
and CR-1 /10 and CR-2/10,with high density potential.
2. There is existing sidewalk along St.Augustine Drive about 1,240 feet(0.24
mi)away,within walking distance of the property.
3. There is a CCRTA transit service route stop within walking distance to the
property,on Leeward Drive,about 805 feet(0.15 mi.)away to the northeast.
4. The property is 0.29 miles from beach public access.
5.Aruba Drive is a 60-foot wide,right-of-way.
6. The Comprehensive Plan, Plan CC,states the community's vision for
Transportation and Mobility and calls for connected networks of good streets
and sidewalks and safe bicycle routes.
Regarding sidewalk plat waivers,the UDC does state,under Section
8.2.2.13.1-4,that a waiver may be granted,in accordance with the waiver
procedure in Section 3.8.3.D., but only if certain conditions exist. None of the
enumerated conditions in UDC 8.2.2.B.1-4 for a sidewalk waiver exist on this
subject property.Weighing the factors,Staff recommends denial of the waiver
from the sidewalk construction requirement. Planning Commission may
choose to follow or decline Staff's recommendation,and Planning Commission
may approve,approve with conditions,or deny the waiver request.After Staff's
presentation,Vice Chairman Crull opened the floor for Commissioner
comments/questions.Chairman Villarreal asked if there are any lots adjacent
to the property that are not platted.Mr. Collins stated "no".Chairman Villarreal
pointed out that it would be difficult for the subject property to connect to an
existing "network"of sidewalks considering that the nearest sidewalk is at St.
Augustine Drive.Although it is a fractured,sidewalk network,Staff felt that the
parcels to the east of the subject property will be consolidated in a replat to
accommodate a potential use in the near future. The development trend in the
area is apartment style,condominiums.After Commissioner
comments/questions concluded,Chairman Villarreal opened the public
hearing.
Developer for the project,Alex Harris,addressed the Commission in support of
the waiver request. He said the majority of Padre Island does not have
sidewalk. He also mentioned that there are no sidewalks provided at a park
located on Windward Drive. He believes that he should not be required to
construct a sidewalk that does not connect to an existing sidewalk network. He
also stated that there are no sidewalks at the above-mentioned transit service
route stop. He said that he has done five previous developments on Padre
Island in which he was never required to construct sidewalks.
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Engineer of record for the project, Craig Thompson with Hanson Professional
Services,addressed the Commission in support of the waiver request and
reiterated the same sentiments as Mr. Harris. He felt that Aruba Drive does not
function as a Collector street. He compared right-of-way widths to other streets
in the area and felt that Aruba Drive has extra pavement available. He felt the
City should find other options for which to utilize the pavement to comply with
the Comprehensive Plan.
With no one else coming forward, Chairman Villarreal closed the public
hearing and discussion continued amongst the Commissioners.Commissioner
Schroeder felt that although the factors in support of the waiver request are
valid,developers should do their part to make the area walkable which can
prompt other developers to begin constructing sidewalks as well. He said
developers should envision projects as advancing neighborhoods as a whole
as opposed to whether other developers are required to construct sidewalks or
not. He does not want to penalize developers,but sidewalk construction needs
to start somewhere. He agreed that there are other alternatives the City can
initiate to help comply with the Comprehensive Plan but the resources to do so
would fall on City taxpayers.The Planning Commission has the responsibility
to promote the vision of the Comprehensive Plan.Although these instances are
a challenge,the development community along with the City need to work
together to accomplish these goals.Commissioner Hovda reiterated
Commissioner Schroeder's comments and stated having walkable
communities is an important part of tourism for Padre Island.After discussion
concluded,Vice Chairman Crull made a motion to approve the waiver request
for item "5"and it was seconded by Commissioner Baugh.The motion passed.
6. 19-0830 19PL1032
ARUBA TWO CONDOMINIUMS, BLOCK 1, LOT 1 (REPLAT - 0.79
ACRES)
Located north of Aruba Drive and west of Leeward Drive.
Greg Collins, Development Services,read item "6"into the record as shown
above. New plat item "6"satisfies all requirements of the UDC and State Law;
the Technical Review Committee recommends approval.After Staff's
presentation,Chairman Villarreal opened the public hearing. Developer for the
project,Alex Harris,addressed the Commission to comment on finding the
resources that will help the Padre Island area and tourism.With no one else
coming forward,the public hearing was closed.A motion to approve item"6"
was made by Commissioner Baugh and seconded by Vice Chairman Crull. The
motion passed.
VII. Director's Report
Nina Nixon-Mendez, Director of Development Services,informed the
Commission on the term expirations for Commissioners Dibble and Baugh on
July 31,2019.They will need to inform the City Secretary's office if they would
like to be considered for reappointment.
VIII. Items to be Scheduled
None.
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IX. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss,Chairman Villarreal adjourned the
meeting at 6:05 p.m.
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