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02-24-2014 BOA MinutesBOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES February 24, 2014 The Schertz Board of Adjustment convened on February 24, 2014 at the Municipal Complex, Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz Parkway Building #4, Schertz, Texas. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Frank McElroy, Chairman Richard Dziewit, Vice Chairman David Reynolds Earl Hartzog Reginna Agee Mark Tew, Alternate CITY STAFF Michelle Sanchez, Director Development Services Lesa Wood, Senior Planner Bryce Cox, Planner I Patti White, Executive Asst. of Development BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT Brian Hefley, MW Builders, Inc. Jill Marcotte, Scannell Properties Amanda Bahrij, P.E., Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc. James Griffin, Wal -Mart 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Mr. McElroy called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. and recognized members present. 3. 61 None was required. No one spoke. MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 25, 2013 MEETING. Mr. Dziewit moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Agee seconded the motion. Vote was 5 -0. Motion carried. IQU1311[a DI_ \:7f►C171 Mr. McElroy pulled Item 5A out of order and moved to Items 5B and 5C. A. BOA 2014 -001 Hold a public hearing, consider and act upon a request for a variance to Article 9, Section 21.9.5(D)(1), Exterior Construction and Design Standards — Horizontal Articulation to allow a variance from the required Horizontal Articulation on the South Elevation building wall at Doerr Lane Subdivision, generally located at 9929 &c 9943 Doerr Lane. Mr. Cox presented this item by stating that the property owner is requesting a variance to the Unified Development Code (UDC), Section 21.9.5(D)(1), Exterior Construction and Design Standards with Minutes Board of Adjustment February 24, 2014 Page 1 of 4 regard to horizontal fagade articulations. The requested variance, if granted, will allow an articulated plane on the south elevation of fifty six (56) feet which is equal to 7.4% of the walls length. Additionally the remaining 17.6 %, or one hundred and thirty four (134) feet, of the required articulation on the south elevation will be redistributed and added to the remaining three facades of the building. The public hearing notice was published in "The Daily Commercial Recorder" on February 7, 2014 and in the "Herald" on February 12, 2014. There were eleven (11) notices mailed to surrounding property owners on February 11, 2014. At the time of this staff report no responses have been received. The property owner is proposing to construct an approximately 202,000 square foot distribution center on the 26+ acre tract of land known as the Doerr Lane Subdivision, located southeast of the intersection of Doerr Lane and Bell North Drive. The distribution center utilizes a complex conveyor system that requires a straight line on the dock side, south elevation, of the building. The offsetting the dock doors causes a loss of productivity and efficiency on daily operations. Additionally, the applicant is proposing to add a total of one hundred and thirty three (133) feet of horizontal articulation, which is equal to the requested reduction on the south elevation, spread out among the remaining facades which provides a total of five hundred and twenty two (522) feet of articulation equal to twenty five percent (25 %) of the perimeter fagade of the building. As a result of our discussion and review of the building plans it was determined that reducing the length of horizontal articulation along the south fagade does not violate the spirit and intent of the UDC because the fagade will still provide appropriate interruptions and relief on the south elevation improving the aesthetics of the building and property. If the variance is granted the result would be the construction of an approximately 202,000 square foot building with fifty six feet (56 ft.) of horizontal articulation on the south facing building fagade and five hundred and twenty two (522) total linear feet of horizontal articulation around the entire building fagade. A typo in the public notice was discovered, the property was listed as "generally located at 9299 & 9943 Doerr Lane ". The correct general location should be "9929 & 9943 Doerr Lane ". This typo does not affect any of the mandatory noticing requirements that are stated in UDC Section 21.4.3 and Local Government Code Section 212. Staff recommends approval of BOA 2014 -001 Ms. Marcotte, representing the Applicant, gave a presentation and showed a couple renderings on the horizontal articulations, and stated that they are meeting the glazing and vertical requirements of the code and the end users conveyor system, which is a national organization, has specific requirements. Mr. McElroy opened the public hearing at 6:17 P.M. ® Robert Brockman, 1000 Elbel, spoke on the letters sent out. Mr. McElroy stated that there were no responses. Mr. McElroy closed the public hearing at 6:18 P.M Minutes Board of Adjustment February 24, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Mr. Hartzog asked if this is not granted, how would the building look. Mr. Cox stated that the general concept is to prevent square shoe box buildings and Staff is going to host a focus meeting to address our site design section in the UDC, because Staff keeps receiving these types of variances. Mr. Cox also stated that on the south elevation the main doors are part of the articulation. Ms. Agee stated that if the Board does not approve this item, there would be offsets on the back wall, but if the Board does approve this item, it will be one long wall to accommodate the operations better. Mr. Cox stated that it will still have offsets. Discussion continued between Staff, the Applicant and the Board. Mr. Hartzog moved to approve the item because no one was opposed. Mr. Dziewit seconded the motion. Vote was 5 -0. Motion carried. B. BOA 2014 -002 Hold a public hearing, consider and act upon a request for a variance to Article 9, Section 21.9.7 — Landscaping from the requirement that a twenty foot (20') landscape buffer with trees and shrubs be provided adjacent to a residential use or residentially zoned property; and adjacent to all perimeter parking lots and vehicular use areas for a depth of at least ten (101) at 711 FM 3009. C. BOA 2014 -003 Bold a public hearing, consider and act upon a request for a variance to Article 9, Section 21.9.5(0), Multifamily and Nonresidential Exterior Material Requirements, to allow a variance from the required thirty percent (30 %) windows and doors on the front fagade on the ground level floor, in order to permit a twenty six percent (26 %) coverage of windows and doors on the entire fagade on the ground level floor at 711 FM 3009. Mr. McElroy asked if Items 513 and 5C had anything different from the last time that the Board heard these 2 items and if it was the same. Mr. Cox replied that there were no changes, the same request and Staff recommends approval. Mr. Griffin, the Applicant, stated there was no new information and 180 days went quicker than they had anticipated. Mr. McElroy opened the public hearing for both 5B and 5C at 6:04 P.M. ® Robert Brockman, 1000 Elbel, spoke on the majority vote and asked if our UDC is too restrictive. Ms. Wood stated that 4 of out of the 5 board members have to approve for it to pass, and the City is in the process of suggesting changes on the Architectural Elevations in the UDC. Mr. McElroy closed the public hearing for both 5B and 5C at 6:07 P.M. Mr. Hartzog moved to approve both items with a clarification that the Board had approved these items before and that they expire at 180 days. Mr. Reynolds seconded the motion. Vote was 5 -0. Motion carried. The Board continued onto Item 5A — BOA 2014 -001. G�t7�[�lO �F.`II K� \►117 \lf►C /�IT:I Minutes Board of Adjustment February 24, 2014 Page 3 of 4 A. Requests by Member to place items on future Board of Adjustment Agenda. 0 None B. Announcements by Members Mr, Dziewit stated that the Wilenchik Wall: for Life is this Saturday, March 1, 3014 at 8:00 A.M. and hopes that everyone will come out for this event. C. Announcements by City Staff Mr. Cox will send information to the Board for the focus group being planned for Design Standards with groups planned from the Economic Development Corporation, the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, architects, developers, members of American Institute of Architects and the Urban Land Institute. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:26 P.M. H Chairman, Board of Adjustment Recording Secretary, City of Schertz M n rites Bomd of Adjustment February 24, 2014 Page 4 oF4