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December 20, 1994-Architectural Committee Meeting Architectural Committee Meeting Minutes December 20, 1994 Schertz Municipal Complex The Schertz Architectural Committee convened at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 20, 1994 in the Municipal Complex Conference Room, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. THOSE PRESENT: Tom Weaver Bob Vallance, Sr. Mike Chauret Lavon Major David Elder STAFF PRESENT: Mark Marquez, Coordinator Lucinda J. Fitzpatrick, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER: Mark Marquez, Architectural Committee Coordinator called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing the plans for the new ceramic shop to be built in Schertz. GENERAL DISCUSSION: Mr. Marquez said that the City has asked the Foundation to put up a masonry fence all along the back property line, in between the residents' part. The masonry fence will last forever and would be a commitment to long-term quality. He would recommend that the Foundation will pay the additional cost to put up a masonry fence as opposed to replacing the fence that is presently there. Mr. Chauret asked if the fence belonged to the owner's of the property. Mr. Marquez stated that there is an alley-way which is the City's fence and is not the other landowner's fence. There is an easement on the other side of the fence. It would be advantageous if an arrangement could be made with regard to the fence along the Foundation's property line to have a permanent masonry-type fence put in, for appearances and also to mollify to some degree the people on the other side. The fence that is there now has been there .since the City bought the property. This matter can be worked out. He asked Mr. Charuet if he had the total costing numbers. Mr. Elder said that the paperwork had been delivered to the bank this morning. Mr. Marquez asked if they had looked into the tax abatement situation at all. Mr. Elder said that they were not going to take it until there was improvement made on the land. Mr. Marquez commented they had to make an application for the tax abatement. Mr. Elder said that with the application process, they were not planning on filing for the tax abatement to take effect until the improvements were done on the land. Mr. Marquez mentioned that they had to have their application in before ground breaking. Mr. Elder was unaware of that. Mr. Marquez said that this information was in the abatement policy which has nothing to do with the covenants. The abatement policy states that your application has to be in place, not necessarily approved yet, before you break ground and before construction begins. Mr. Elder asked what the disadvantage was. Mr. Marquez commented that there was no disadvantage, that it is a standard 6-year deal. Depending on what kind of dollars you've got and the involvement, it could save you a sum money. Mr. Elder asked if the Schertz Bank would have the application. Mr. Marquez said that they would have to come to him to get the application. Mr. Chauret said that he had talked to the code guy and showed him the plans before they were modified. He looked at the plans, didn't have any comment, but the reason he had met with the code guy the first time was to look at the plans to show him the fire plan system. The code guy told him that we didn't need one. Mr. Marquez said there was question about that the physical size of the building would make it a requirement. The Fire Chief said that it was not required. Mr. Chauret said that's what he was also told and that it was important for them to know. Mr. Marquez said that clearly it is important and that it would change the numbers a little bit. Mr. Chauret said it would usually run $1.25 a square foot inside the building with the fire alarm but that a fire hydrant would be right out in front and the cost would be lowered by $4,000-$5,000. Mr. Marquez asked Mr. Chauret how close he was to getting his permit. Mr. Chauret said that he was not getting the permit until they get their finances so since they just went to the bank he didn't know how long it would take. Mr. Elder said that they turned in two sets of plans. Mr. Marquez said that the bank may want to go back and do a plan check and other things as that is part of their dealings. He asked if they were going to begin construction as soon as the note has been approved. Mr. Chauret said that the plans would need to have a foundation plan on it. He indicated that there is not enough on the plans to apply for the permit but there is enough for the bank to act on. Mr. Marquez commented that one other thing they would have to do, and he would check with Steve Simonson, is that whenever we put a building or improvements on a piece of commercial property, something says that you need to have a site plan. The site plan needs to go to Planning and Zoning for them to stamp it and approve it. He mentioned that even though they were not changing the plat or anything else they were probably going to have to replat because they have three lots now and they're going to change it into essentially one. Ms. Major said that she thought that had already been done. Mr. Marquez said "no," that there are several different kinds of plats and what they have is a survey plat. Mr. Chauret asked whether or not they should have to replat if one building is on one lot, and the other building is on another. Mr. Marquez thought that they were going to have to replat. He said that it would not be a major dollar number other than they would have to have it put on mylar and get it recorded. He mentioned if the cost was $150.00, then they've paid too much to get it done. Once Planning and Zoning approves the mylar, we'll go up to the courthouse and record it. It would be a minimal number, but he thought that it was a State requirement so he would have to check with our Steve Simonson to make sure. Mr. Chauret stated that in the City of San Antonio, if your property is zoned commercial, and if you own that property, you can cross your property lines and not have to replat. He mentioned that only if it's subdivided and somebody else's business is on the property do you have to replat. Mr. Marquez said that was not always the way it is here and indicated that he would speak with Steve Simonson to confirm replatting. He let them know that they had the entire property identified and he thought there was a requirement for contours, but there are no contours on that piece of land because it's flat. Mr. Chauret said that they have set grades and they know what the contours are. He mentioned that there needs to be more elevations and more details and such. Mr. Marquez said they needed to have vinyl or some kind of siding on the front of both buildings. He also mentioned that the plan is no longer a two-story building, but a single story building. He said the fire department approved all their kiln work, and there was no problem with the bricking. Mr. Vallance said that he doesn't have any problems approving the project but that the owners would need to landscape. Mr. Marquez stated that if it could be concluded that the fence is in good condition, then the Foundation could very well make an agreement to do something on the other side if it's also in good condition, or cut an agreement for sometime later when it is time to replace the fence. The City would like to see a masonry fence and the Foundation would still pay the difference. He mentioned that there are no variances to make a motion on and that the plan meets all our requirements. The landscaping is proper. Our planning people would tell them something about ADA parking. There will need to be ADA Parking (1 or 2 places for every 30) and ADA access ramps. Mr. Weaver asked with regard to the negotiations with the bank what the normal processing time was, but wanted to know what they had expected. Mr. Elder said that the person they needed to see at the bank was not in today so they were anticipating tomorrow morning their application would be reviewed. Mr. Weaver mentioned with regard to the application, it has to be filed before the ground breaking. Mr. Elder said the cost of the project would be over $600,000 and that this particular business would staff at least 3 full-time and 2 part-time jobs. Mr. Marquez said that they were looking at 10~ for the first $75,000 and another 1~ for every $50,000 thereafter. He would need hard figures for their anticipated payroll - 1~ for every $25,000. He indicated they would need estimates on sales tax; they would get 2~ for every $1,000 of City revenue that comes in so they're probably in the 40~ range. Guadalupe County will do something very similar. The SCUCISD school district taxes are competitive. Mr. Marquez stated that he felt that this was going to be very nice. He mentioned that he could speak for the City, and that they are very pleased at what they were doing. Mr. Chauret said that everything will be done in a professional way. There is going to be a full-time superintendent on this project. Peco Construction has a very good reputation and has been in business for 27 years. Mr. Weaver stated that the Architectural Committee does approve the plan. Mr. Marquez mentioned the fact that a potential car repair shop wants to build across the street from them but only if the entire business was enclosed. They do not want anything that will detract from the area. There is also a speculative building located on this block for someone to purchase. Mr. Vallance said that there should be iron-clan defining rules for business owners. Mr. Marquez commented by saying that the City does not enforce covenants, but that the Foundation can. Landowners have rights and the City does have some limitations. By concensus, the Architectural Committee has approved the latest revisions of the plans as drawn. The only contingency is approval of City Code Requirements. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, Mark Marquez adjourned the meeting.