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09-09-2003 PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 .The Schertz Planning and Zoning Commission convened on September 9, Municipal Complex, Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. 2003 at 6:30 p.m. at the PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION David Richmond, Chairman Ernie Evans, Vice-Chairman Joyce Briscoe Keith Van Dine Clovis Haddock William Sommers Gary Wallace Ken Greenwald, ex-officio CITY STAFF Amy Madison, Community Development Director Misty Nichols, Planning Technician Jonette Ellis, Administrative Assistant COMMISSIONERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT Robert Brockman, 4505 Grand Forest Lawrence Dawson, 11497 E. FM 1518 Larry Fritz, 8789 Y oungsford Road Bo Ramirez, 8201 E. Riverside Brian Cassidy, 100 Congress, Austin .1. Call to OrderIRoll Call Chairman Richmond called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING 2. SUP34-03 PUBLIC HEARING: for a Specific Use Permit for a telecommunications tower located at 11481 FM 1518. Applicant: Nextel of Texas, Inc. Chairman Richmond opened the meeting for a Public Hearing. Ms. Madison reviewed staff comments and stated that four letters of notification were mailed and no letters of response were returned to the City. She stated that the FAA's determination is that the structure will not obstruct or be a hazard to air navigation. The FAA asked the applicant to voluntarily place lighting on the structure. The applicant had previously agreed to do so during site plan approval on August 12,2003. Mr. Lawrence Dawson was present and stated that his property is adjacent to this site and asked that the Commission deny the request. His concerns included that the tower would obstruct the flight path of helicopters traveling between Randolph AFB and Ft. Sam Houston. He also spoke about the unsightly appearance of the salvage yard and thought there should be a fence completely around the property to block the view. The placement of the proposed communication tower would also be visible from the rear . Minutes Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2003 Page I of 5 of his property. Mr. Dawson also voiced concerns about possible interruption of television or radio frequencies. . Mr. Bo Ramirez, Nexte1, was available to answer any technical questions and presented photos of existing camouflaged towers. Mr. Brian Cassidy stated that communication towers are governed by the FCC and the frequencies are different from the signals broadcast to televisions and radios. Mr. Robert Brockman asked what the tower was going to look like. The applicant responded that the request is for a 120-foot steel monopole. There being no one else to speak for or against the request, Chairman Richmond closed the Public Hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING 3. Convene into Regular Session of the Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Richmond convened into regular session at 6:43 p.m. 4. Board of Adjustment Actions: There are no Board of Adjustment actions scheduled for September. e. Approval of the Minutes: Consider and take action on approval of the August 12, 2003 minutes from the Planning and Zoning meeting. Following review, Mr. Wallace moved to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2003 Planning and Zoning meeting. Ms. Briscoe seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote unanimous. 6. Citizen Input other than Agenda Items Mr. Robert Brockman addressed the Commission and voiced concern about a new Lutheran church sign on Schertz Parkway. Ms. Madison stated the Inspections Department was investigating the sign. Mr. Brockman also announced that Reidel Furniture has indicated that they are going out of business and that their building is for sale. He suggested the City consider purchasing the building. 7. SUP34-03 Discuss and take appropriate action on a request for a Specific Use Permit for a telecommunications tower located at 11481 FM 1518 and make recommendation to City Council. Applicant: Nextel of Texas, Inc. The Commission reviewed the photos submitted by the applicant with possible camouflage options. Mr. Evans voiced concerns for the airspace around Randolph AFB, and asked the applicant if it was possible . for a "stealth" tower to be installed in lieu of a steel monopole. Mr. Ramirez stated that could be possible, but the costs would double. Minutes Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2003 Page 2 of 5 . Chairman Mr. Richmond suggested the applicant provide a tower similar to the Verizon tower even if the costs may be higher. Mr. Van Dine confirmed with the applicant that a light would be installed on the tower. Following discussion, Mr. Haddock moved to approve the request as submitted. Mr. Wallace seconded the motion. Voting Aye: Mr. Haddock, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Richmond, Ms. Briscoe and Mr. Van Dine. Voting Nay: Mr. Evans and Mr. Sommers. Motion carried. 8. PC577 -03 Discuss and take appropriate action on a request for a replat of Arroyo Verde Commercial. The request is to vacate one lot and create two commercial lots situated on 4.89::1: acres on the northwest corner of FM 3009 and Green Valley Road. Applicant: U.B.P. Management Co., Inc Ms. Madison reviewed staff comments and stated that the Commission had recently approved the preliminary plat, which should have been a rep1at due to the property being a recorded plat. Ms. Madison also stated that the applicant would pay the tree mitigation fees prior to the replat being recorded. Mr. Steve Braha was present and also stated that he will pay the tree mitigation fees prior to the rep1at being filed. . Following review and discussion, Mr. Wallace moved to approve the replat. Mr. Haddock seconded the motion. Voting Aye: Mr. Richmond, Mr. Evans, Mr. Haddock, Ms. Briscoe, Mr. Wallace and Mr. Sommers. Voting Nay: Mr. Van Dine. Motion carried. 9. PC563-03 Discuss and take appropriate action on a request for site plan and variance approval for Benevest Subdivision, Phase 1, Block 1, Lots 1, 2 and 3 and Block 2, Lots 1 and 2. The request is for five industrial lots on 2.79::!: acres located on Campus Drive with 19,250 square feet of office space and 21,248 square feet of warehouse space. The variance request is to allow for parking in the side and rear setbacks. Applicant: Don McCrary & Associates Ms. Madison reviewed staff comments and stated the plat was approved July 22, 2003 and that this site plan included five lots to be developed in the first phase. She also stated that the applicant was requesting a variance to allow parking within 25-feet of the side and rear property lines. Mr. Evans agreed that the parking requirements could create a problem for the applicant and stated that the variance should be considered to get quality development. Mr. Evans reviewed the signage for each lot. Mr. Frank Bennett was present and stated that each lot will have a tenant sign, but no signs will be permitted on the building. Mr. Sommers asked if there are restrictions and covenants. Mr. Bennett stated yes. . Mr. Richmond asked if the fencing would be chain-link or ornamental, and Mr. Bennett stated that the fencing would be wrought iron maintained by the association. Mr. Bennett further stated that the signage Minutes Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2003 Page 3 of 5 and landscaping also would be maintained by the association. . Following review and discussion, Mr. Van Dine moved to approve the site plan with a variance to allow parking within the 25-foot side and rear property lines. Mr. Sommers seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote unanimous. 10. SUP36-03 Discuss and call for a Public Hearing on a request for a Specific Use Permit for a residential dwelling use in the General Business District (GB). The property is located at 205 First Street. Applicant: Larry FritzI Audio Concepts Ms. Madison reviewed staff comments and stated the applicant is requesting a specific use permit to allow for a living quarters to be placed in a section of the building and three variances to 1) modify the landscaping requirements; 2) reduce required parking; and 3) allow for two building signs. Mr. Larry Fritz was present and stated that his son would run the business and also live on site. Following review and discussion, Mr. Van Dine moved to call a Public Hearing for September 23,2003. Ms. Briscoe seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote unanimous. 11. PC586-03 Discussion of a Master Plan of the Heitkamp tract containing 192.48::1: acres situated between IH 35 and Wiederstein Road. The proposal is for three General Business (GB) lots containing 38.2::1: acres, 557 residential lots on 154.3::1: acres and 7.7::1: acres of parkland. Applicant: Continental Homes of Texas, LP . Ms. Madison stated that the Commission, Staff and interested parties visited the site on September 5, 2003 and that the applicant would be producing a revised master plan for review. Ms. Erika Jucknies presented a new master plan for the Commission's review stating that the new layout and thoroughfare design would provide 49% of the lots being 50-foot wide and 51 % of the lots being 60- foot wide. Concerns included detention and drainage and the Commission asked that Ford Engineering review all documents. Discussion included having a I-foot non-access easement long the collector and to maximize circulation. Fencing between the residential and commercial would be an eight-foot fence with masonry columns. The future widening of Wiederstein Road was questioned, and Ms. Madison suggested having County Commissioner Jim Wolverton present at the next meeting to discuss Guadalupe County's responsibility. Don and Susan Schaez1er requested to address the Commission and stated their property is adjacent to this property in Cibo10, and asked that the Commission consider the natural habitats and trees in the area to preserve the wildlife sanctuary currently in place on their property. Ms. Jucknies stated that two environmental assessments had been performed and that development wouldn't be an issue. . The Commission asked the applicant to provide a TIA and a tree survey. Minutes Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2003 Page 4 of 5 Discussion only, no action taken. . 12. Items by Commissioners and City Staff a. Update on Green Valley Road. b. Change date of Unified Development Code meeting c. Results of discussion on Unified Development Code with Board of Adjustment Ms. Madison stated she was waiting for Don McCrary's office to provide a right-of-way map for Green Valley Road and would update the Commission. She also stated the date for the Unified Development Code meeting has changed to September 24, 2003, and that the Board of Adjustment reviewed Article II of the Unified Development Code and made minor changes reflecting their responsibilities. Mr. Evans asked that the church sign on Schertz Parkway be reviewed because he believes it's too large. He also asked for an update on when the fencing will be installed at Savannah school adjacent to the residential properties. He further voiced concern about the landscaping to be completed. Ms. Madison stated staff would follow-up. Mr. Wallace voiced concern about signage at Main Street Garage, Precision Body and Sheer Design. Ms. Madison stated staff would follow-up. Councilman Greenwald provided information on the public hearing City Council would be conducting on the tax rate and the 2004 budget. He also reminded the Commission of the September 2ih Schertz Parkway dedication. . Mr. Richmond asked about the progress with the Union Pacific Railroad to get signs removed along FM 78. Ms. Madison stated that Gail Douglas, Community Services Director, was working with Union Pacific to not only enforce signage, but also maintain the property. Mr. Richmond also asked that the following items be placed on a future agenda: FM 3009 overlay district, rezoning along FM 3009 and rezoning throughout the City. 13. Adjournment. There being no further business, Mr. Van Dine moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Mr. Wallace seconded the motion. Motion carried. Vote unanimous. (Y~ ~ i..--1 oL Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission /7 ,;/ . Minutes Planning and Zoning Commission September 9,2003 Page 5 of 5