08-27-1985 PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES
The City of Schertz Planning and Zoning Commission convened in a regular session
on Tuesday, August 27, 1985 in the Municipal Complex Conference Room, 1400 Live
~ Oak Road. Members present were as follows:
I~
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CITY STAFF
THOMAS YARLING, CHAIRMAN EARL HARTZOG, PLANNING COORDINATOR
BOB ANDREWS, VICE-CHAIRMAN NORMA ALTHOUSE, RECORDING SECRETARY
MERWIN WILLMAN
JAMES HARDEN OTHERS PRESENT
TY BRISGILL
DAVID ALLEN COUNCILMAN RAYMOND STANHOPE
KEN GREENWALD, COUNCILMAN DONALD WILSON
MEMBERS ABSENT
DARWIN PEEK, SECRETARY
#1 CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Yarling called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Session, August 15, 1985
Bob Andrews made a motion to approve the minutes. Ty Brisgill seconded the
motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.
#3 CITIZENS' INPUT
Donald Wilson, an applicant for the Planning and Zoning Commission, stated he
was present to observe the c;ty in action.
#4 CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Forbes Management 191 Acres Rezoning
Request to Ml
Earl Hartzog advised the Commission that a portion of this acreage is not in
the City and that Council is in the process of annexing 88.9 acres. Mr. Hartzog
commented that you cannot zone at the same time you annex. Bob Andrews commented
that one of his assignments on the Feedback List is to look into finding a way to
zone as you annex.
Earl Hartzog commented that Forbes Danagement is working locally with Henry Bain
Engineers. They are from Detroit and Ohio area and used to look for sites for
GM. Utilities are available at the site and they are working on a waste water
facility.
Chairman Yarling asked who furnished the water service. Earl Hartzog replied no
one at the present time, but it would be Schertz. Ty Brisgill said he had noticed
a Sold Sign and wondered if this was the same property. Earl Hartzog replied there
are two separate tracts.
Bob Andrews asked if they wanted industrial zoning in the entire area and if we are
going to eliminate the 300 feet as GB. Earl Hartzog replied this was a specific
request - that they are asking for industrial.
There was some discussion on the difference between MI and GB zoning and the
fact that if the zoning is left at M1, GB can go in.
David Allen questioned if this would be spot zoning. Earl Hartzog said no
because they had asked for a specific zoning.
Ty Brisgill asked if this would set any precedence. Merwin Willman replied
only if you want it to.
Bob Andrews made a motion to recommend to Council to schedule a public hearing
on the Forbes Management 191 acres rezoning request to Ml after annexation.
David Allen seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.
#5 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION:
A. Applicants for the Planning and Zoning Commission
Earl Hartzog advised the Commission he had three applications, but did not send
out notices because Darwin Peek is still on .the Commission. P1r. Hartzog com-
mented he is sure George Vick is still interested.
Mr. Hartzog gave the Commission some input on various things to look for in
regard to applicants - type of employment, mixture of location in City (he com-
mented on the location of current members), are they going to be a leader and
accept responsibility. Mr. Hartzog commented that George Vick had applied before
-and been passed over and still hung in there - so this should be taken into con-
sideration.
Chairman Yarling said he would like to have the applicants at the September 3,
1985 meeting.
Earl Hartzog said he would send out the letters of notification.
Ken Greenwald commented that the earliest the Council could act on it would be
September 17, 1985.
B. Secretary for the Planning and Zoning Commission
James Harden volunteered his services as secretary of the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
Bob Andrews made a motion to recommend to Council the appointment of James Harden
as Secretary of the Planning and Zoning Commission. David Allen seconded the
motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Appointment to the Joint Schertz-Ci6o1o Planning Committee
David Allen asked for clarification of what the Joint Schertz-Cibolo Planning
Committee is. Ken Greenwald replied that it consists of two Planning and Zoning
and two Council members each from Schertz and Cibolo who meet once a month. They
sarve as a from of communication to work things out before they become a problem,
such as abutting land or streets which involve both cities. They are not a deci-
sion making group.
David Allen volunteered his services as a member of the Joint Schertz-Cibolo
Planning Committee.
James Harden commented that before the Joint Committee was formed, there was
very little or no communication between some members of the two cities.
James Harden made a motion to recommend to Council the appointment of David Allen
as a member of the Joint Schertz-Cibolo. Planning Committee. Ty Brisgill seconded
the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.
' #6 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION: Sign Ordinance
Several Commission members remarked on what a good job Merwin Willman had done in
working up the Sign Ordinance revisions.
Merwin Willman stated that only authorized signs were listed in the ordinance.
Article V, Section 4 - Neighborhood Crime Watch Signs prompted the most discus-
sion.
David Allen disagreed with the statement that the approval of the placement of
signs will be by the Chief of Police and Street Superintendent. Mr. Allen felt
it should be the responsibility of the City Manager.
Ken Greenwald commented that it is the responsibility of the City Manager and
that he delegates his authority out to the appropriate department heads.
Chairman Yarling asked if there are any penalties. Ken Greenwald replied that
we can enforce what is enforceable regarding City property versus private property.
There was a brief discussion about Crime Watch Signs on private property versus
City property, how the ordinance can be enforced regarding the signs, and what
signs are authorized in residential areas and how they can be controlled.
David Allen commented we need some guidelines. Bob Andrews questioned the legality
of controlling signs. Merwin Willman stated that it is legal, otherwise why bother
with State laws.
There. was a brief discussion on signs with traveling lights. Also, briefly dis-
cussed was Article VI, Paragraph 2 - Advertising vehicles. David asked how it
could be enforced. Earl Hartzog replied he thought this was referring to highly
visible advertising on junk vehicles along the interstate.
Ty Brisgill commented on political signs.
Chairman Yarling pointed out that most of these things had been discussed before
and suggested the Commission get on with it and get the Sign Ordinance to Council
and to the legal department.
Bob Andrews made a motion to recommend .the Sign Ordinance to Council for review
and approval with the changes as noted. James Harden seconded the motion and the
vote was unanimous in favor.
Councilman Stanhope arrived at the meeting at 9:18 P.M.
#7 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION: Subdivision Ordinance
There was some discussion about signs up without a permit and as to whether or not
it can be required they be taken down. Merwin Willman suggested that the Com-
mission ask for an interpretation from TML.
Chairman Yarling suggested the Commission members take the ordinance home and
study it and he requested it be put on the agenda for the September 3, 1985
meeting.
Earl Hartzog said he would put out a copy to the department heads and City
Engineer. Chairman Yarling commented we should get some feedback.
#8 GENERAL DISCUSSION
Earl Hartzog updated the Development List. Mr. Hartzog informed the Commission
that the plat had been recorded for the car wash on FM 78 by the Dairy Queen.
He also told the Commission they should think about temporary signs in the FM 3009
Special Overlay District in regard to whether they should be allowed only on the
property being developed.
Earl Hartzog said there is a gentleman coming in to request permission for the
bandit signs on FM 3009. Mr. Hartzog also informed the Commission that a tour
of the City for Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council is in the process
of being set up. He also informed the Commission that one of the Staff members
is upset about Traffic Ordinance changes and gave him some copies to give to the
Commission members to look over.
Earl Hartzog informed the Commission that the September 3 meeting would be his
last. He has resigned and will be working for Ford Engineering, Inc. Mr. Hartzog
said he has enjoyed working with the Commission. Chairman Yarling commented he
will be a hard person to replace. Ken Greenwald remarked that the City will be
losing a very valuable man.
Ken Greenwald commented that there is a tentative date for. construction to begin
on the Barshop Enterprises project. It is scheduled to begin in November, 1985
and be completed in May, 1986. This construction includes the streets, water
and gas lines. The two exits off IH 35 are not in this project..
Mr. Greenwald said that sometime in the next couple of meetings the Commission
should be considering where they want to place the next Overlay District.
Ken Greenwald said there needs to be some kind of requirement regarding land for
parks put back in the ordinance.
Earl Hartzog commented that we need to try and avoid one-acre parks. Merwin
Willman remarked that little parks are eating up the time and money of the City
and that other things are needed.
Merwin Willman asked if the rules of procedure were reviewed at the last meeting.
Earl Hartzog replied no they were not. Mr. Willman said he had some questions
about who can place an item on the agenda, how it was decided what was a quorum,
whether the Chairman votes on all items, and about the number of letters sent out
for a public hearing.
Earl Hartzog stated that according to the City Charter, the Chairman is a voting
member.
There. was a brief discussion on the rules of procedure and it was felt they should
be reviewed, but not at the next couple of meetings due to the already full
schedule.
Merwin Willman asked for a brief review of what had been discussed regarding the
letter from the Highway Department on acceleration/deceleration lanes and also
about the decision regarding sidewalks along Jack Hays Boulevard. He was filled
in on the information briefly by the other members of the Commission.
Mr. Willman, referring to the Planning and Zoning Minutes of November 22, 1983,
said a recommendation for a public hearing on rear yard setback had been made.
He could not find where a public hearing had been held.
Earl Hartzog suggested that the recording secretary be responsible for keeping
copies of the minutes.
Ty Brisgill commented that some improvement was badly needed at Beck Concrete.
Bob Andrews commented that it is a health and a driving hazard.,
James Harden asked about the status of the CDR drainage ditch. Earl Hartzog
replied they were trying to get the road open before school starts. Mr. Hartzog
commented they are going to call CDR and ask for the money for Valero to lower
the gas line. Mr. Hartzog also commented that the road crossing has been paved.
Ken Greenwald said he thought the road would be open a week or so after school
starts.
David Allen brought up the subject of the Traffic Ordinance changes, specifically
Stop vs. Yield at Beacon and Maple, and asked if there were any statistics avail-
able Earl Hartzog replied that no accidents had been reported, so no statistics
available. Mr. Hartzog commented he should have given the statistics on the
4-Way Stop at Lindbergh had he realized the Commission was not going to recommend
it.
David Allen reported that since he had been assigned the task of looking into
Modular Home zoning, he was having difficulty determining exactly what a Modular
Home is. Bob Andrews commented that Mobile, Modular and Manufactured housing are
all approximately the same. There was some discussion on this matter.
Councilman Raymond Stanhope commented that the Commission was going to miss Earl
Hartzog. He asked the Commission to keep up the good work.
Merwin Willman passed out a booklet called "The Language of Zoning" to each member.
He also gave each member a copy of an article out of APA called "Zoning by Numbers".
Don Wilson said he had enjoyed seeing democracy in action. Chairman Yarling
thanked Mr. Wilson for coming and invited him to attend the next meeting.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is September 10, 1985.
There will be a public hearing and special session on September 3, 1985.
Chairman Yarling adjourned the meeting at 9:42 P.M.