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09-22-1992PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES The Planning and Zoning Commission convened in a regular session on Tuesday, September 22, 1992 at 7:00 P.M. in the Municipal Complex conference room, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. Those present were as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT BOB ANDREWS, CHAIRMAN KEITH VAN DINE, SECRETARY MERWIN WILLMAN GEORGE VICK BOBBIE VONADA LEONARD ZYCH KEN GREENWALD, COUNCILMAN CITY STAFF STEVE SIMONSON, ASST. CITY MGR. NORMA ALTHOUSE, RECORDING, SEC'Y. #1 CALL TO ORDER OTHERS PRESENT JACOB VALADEZ, RAYCO M.L. COONS DOROTHY COONS GLYN WILLIAMS GEORGE ERWIN JOE POTEMPA, COUNCILMAN Chairman Andrews called.the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. #2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Session September 8, 1992 Merwin Willman made a motion to approve the minutes for the regular session September 8, 1992. George Vick seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: AYES: B. Andrews, M. Willman, G. Vick, L. Zych NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: K. Van Dine, B. Vonada Motion carried. #3 CITIZENS' INPUT OTHER THAN AGENDA ITEMS There was none. #4 CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Request from Dover Homes to Place Bandit Signs Along FM 3009 (Jack Hays Blvd.) There was no representative present from Dover Homes. Chairman Andrews explained that Dover Homes is the new builder in Woodland Oaks and asked Steve Simonson for input. Mr. Simonson advised that as long as they follow the ordinance, the City recommends granting their request. Leonard Zych wanted clarification that the ordinance allows each developer 10 signs plus 2 at each entrance for a maximum total of 14 permitted signs. Chairman Andrews acknowledged that is correct and Mr. Zych observed that-Dover had 18 signs out last weekend and they were not 500 feet apart. Chairman Andrews commented that it should be stated in the letter to the developer and in the motion that approval is granted as long as they post their signs in accordance with the ordinance. George Vick made a motion to approve the request from Dover. Homes to place bandit signs along FM 3009 (Jack Hays Blvd.) so long as they are posted in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance. Chairman Andrews interjected that the letter for this approval should be directed to a responsible individual, not just to Dover Homes. Steve Simonson indicated it would go to Ted Rothman, Area Manager for Dover Homes. Leonard Zych seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. Motion carried. #5 CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Request from RAYCO Homes to Place Bandit Signs Along FM 3009 (Jack Hays Blvd.) Jack Valadez from RAYCO was at the meeting to represent this request. Chairman Andrews explained this is the builder that is finishing Savannah Square and asked Steve Simonson for input. Mr. Simonson commented RAYCO hasn't yet, but advised that as with Dover follow the ordinance, the City rei request. Mr. Simonson then added inspectors out on weekends to monitor Dover and RAYCO. had that many signs out Homes, as long as they commends granting their the City will have the bandit signs of both Keith Van Dine made a motion to approve the request from RAYCO Homes to place bandit signs along FM 3009 (Jack Hays Blvd.) so long as they are posted in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance. Merwin Willman seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. Motion carried. After the vote, Jack Valadez from RAYCO remarked he is at the meeting tonight in. place of George Adams who could not be present. Will the letter of approval go to him or Mr. Adams? -2- Chairman Andrews responded the letter will go to but he would appreciate notification from RAYCO they have a personnel change of Area Manager for Square Subdivision. George Adams, any time that the Savannah Steve Simonson then asked if a letter of notification will be satisfactory, or does the Commission want RAYCO to come back every time there's a change in personnel. The consensus of the Commission was that a letter would be satisfactory. #6 CONSIDER AND MARE RECOMMENDATION: Request from M.L. and Dorothy Coons, 2800 Hidden Grove, for a Special Exception to the Required Setback for Accessory Buildings Mr. and Mrs. Coons were at the meeting to represent this request. Chairman Andrews explained this request must go to the Board of Adjustment. When the Coons' were here before they were wanting to place a 20' x 12' building in their backyard. They have now decided to go with an 8' x 12' building. They are starting the process over again and will need a special exception to the required 10' setback from the house. Glyn Williams of the Woodland Oaks Homeowners Association spoke at this time saying they have been trying to work with the Coons' and will approve this request as long as the City approves it. Bobbie Vonada informed the Commission she had driven by the Coons' property and they will have plenty of room on all sides of the building to mow grass, to walk, etc. The drawing is misleading because it looks like the building is setting right on the fence and it is not. Mrs. Vonada stated that if the Homeowners Associations has no problem with this, unless there's some fire regulation, she has no objections to it. George Vick mentioned that the building will be taking up more than 40% of the Coons' backyard which is in violation of the ordinance. Steve Simonson corrected Mr. Vick saying the building will not be infringing on the 40% because nothing will be in the easement which is still part of their backyard. George Vick then asked if they meet the sideyard setbacks and was informed by Steve Simonson they do. Bobbie Vonada made a motion to recommend approval to City Council of the request from M.L. and Dorothy Coons, 2800 Hidden Grove, for a 4' Special Exception to the required 10' setback for accessory buildings from the main building and to recommend it be scheduled for a Board of Adjustment hearing. ISM Merwin Willman seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: AYES: B. Andrews, K. Van Dine, M. Willman, B. Vonada, L. Zych NAYS: None ABSTENTIONS: G. Vick Motion carried. Chairman Andrews informed Mr. and Mrs. Coons they will receive a letter from Steve Simonson letting them know when the Board of Adjustment hearing is scheduled. Mr. Andrews also thanked Glyn Williams and said he appreciates someone from the Woodland Oaks Homeowners Association coming to the meeting. #7 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION: Review of the Current Table of Contents for the Comprehensive Plan Chairman Andrews commented the Commission has talked in the past about a lot of things and seemed to reach an impasse. We have not really gotten any kind of blessing from City Council. The Commission did work up a Table of Contents as far as what they thought should be included in the Comprehensive Plan, so Mr. Andrews suggested submitting the Table of Contents to City Council for their input and /or approval and asking for a reply from them. Merwin Willman inquired if this is the Table of Contents in the book and Chairman Andrews replied yes, it is. George Vick then asked if that includes the amendments made to the Table of Contents and Chairman Andrews replied it does. Mr. Andrews remarked that if everyone agreed, he would send a letter to City Council as soon as possible and, hopefully, we can get a reply by our next meeting which is October 13th. Keith Van Dine made a motion to submit the proposed Table of Contents from the Comprehensive Plan book to City Council for their input and /or approval and to request a reply from them, if possible, by our meeting of October 13, 1992. George Vick seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. Motion carried. #8 CONSIDER AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION: Comprehensive Plan Update Chairman Andrews, saying he had listened over the past few months to all the input from the Commission on the Comprehensive Plan, suggested breaking the plan down into smaller parts, reviewing those parts and putting them in draft form, and then holding a public meeting on those particular parts. Following the public meeting, revise the draft, if -4- needed, and file it away and start on another part. Chairman Andrews recommended the Commission begin with the Library (5H) and the Media (5I), since they are smaller sections, comparatively, and draw up what they have, take into consideration the 5 -year library plan, and schedule a public meeting, either simultaneously or individually for the Library and the Media. We can get progressively larger as we go along as far as the number of sections covered in a public meeting. Sections 5H Library and 5I Media read as follows: Library GOAL: To provide the facility, staff and environment to meet the needs that will enhance a continuing growth of knowledge and the recreational use of our library resources by all ages of Schertz citizens. OBJECTIVE: By 1996, three new staff positions, to include an assistant librarian, must be in place to compliment the increased usage of the library as well as the technological advances in information accessibility. The addition of automated services such as CD -ROM reference libraries, computers, printers, fax and automation of the circulation . system shall be completed during the 1994 through 1996 fiscal years. RATIONALE: Like the Fire Department and SAFES, the Schertz Library was born in the dreams of volunteers trying to bring a service to the citizens of Schertz. The Library grew from this concern of a few citizens and a meager start of 7395 books and a circulation of 4542 the first year to become a modern 9000 square foot facility with a circulation approaching 70,000 and filled with over 36,901 volumes of books, videos, microfiche, magazines and newspapers to serve the children and adult population of Schertz and the surrounding County residents. (H.1) Although the Library is currently staffed by a combination of full and part time paid personnel, it is augmented by approximately 20 volunteers to extend the hours of operation and provide the wide array of services needed in a modern library. To meet the needs of an expanding population and ever - changing technology, the Schertz Library will require additional qualified paid staff within the next couple of years. Additional hours of operation and specialized services to the elderly, physically and mentally impaired will require careful planning to meet the coming challenges of the- 21st century. Communications Media GOAL: To insure every citizen of the City of Schertz has the opportunity to access news and entertainment via the various -5- forms of media available. This includes the freedom to receive the newspaper of choice, listen to radio or watch television and have adequate postal service. OBJECTIVE: To convene a committee of elected officials and concerned citizens from Schertz and Cibolo to seek avenues of opportunity in securing a local newspaper for Western Guadalupe County. RATIONALE: The lack of local newspaper coveraae for communit civic, business and school events continues to hinder our efforts that would provide an increased sense of harmony we need to bring together the various diverse sections of Schertz from the highly urbanized Guadalupe County region to the rural areas of Comal and Bexar Counties. A concerted effort to secure a local newspaper for Schertz would be imperative to correct this most serious oversiaht by the existing local newspaper. (I.1) Next is the absence of uniform cable coverage for the rural residents of Schertz. While some may feel this service is a luxury, other people feel just as strongly it is a necessity to give them a choice in television programing. In addition, with the coming of fiber optic technology in the cable industry, the ability for residents to be able to bank, shop, educate and protect their homes or business will be available to them in greater proportions in the years ahead. An effort must be made to work with the cable industry to try and make this service available to our rural residents. George Vick observed that Chairman Andrews is proposing a large number of public meetings by doing it this way and wondered who's going to conduct them and when they will be held. Chairman Andrews replied he will conduct the public meetings, we will hold them on the same evening as our regular meetings and special sessions will be called if necessary. Discussion on Chairman Andrews' suggestion elicited the following remarks from the Commission: ('a) Don't think we should have more than two or four public meetings. San Antonio had an open forum with a moderator and had quite a turnout. We should have one big general meeting first and then a public meeting. (b) If we break the plan into sections, suggest we have handouts for people to read. Also suggest these handouts have guidelines for type of input we want, but not too lengthy. We don't want to dictate. (c) Is the library 5 -year plan going to be discussed at the public meeting? (Some thought it should be so the citizens have some idea where the library wants to go. Others felt it should not be because we want the citizens' ideas of where they think the library should go in the future.) (d) We need a game plan. (Chairman Andrews said laying it out according to goal, objective and rationale and then tackling it in sections and holding public meetings is his game plan.) (e) Think too much emphasis is being placed on the 5 -year plans from the departments. (Chairman Andrews indicated he thought the Commission would be remiss if they didn't utilize the professionalism of the department heads who had submitted the 5-year plans.) (f) Some background should be given on where we are so the citizens can let us know where we should go in the future. (g) We need department input and citizen input. (h) As far as the library is concerned, we might want to get some information from Gail Douglas on what it takes to maintain accreditation. (i) We need information on the library, but not personnel from the library present at the public meeting. (Some agreed, some disagreed. Those who disagreed felt someone should be there to answer technical questions.) (j) We should present the citizens with just the facts - where we are and how we plan to grow. We want their ideas, we don't want them to know our ideas. (It was mentioned there may be a problem about withholding information. To this, it was suggested the information be available to the citizens, perhaps by saying we are considering these and these and these issues.) (k) We have to be careful not to lead the citizens. We want their ideas to be free - flowing. (1) We will get quality input from those library. (Chairman Andrews agreed but st have at least a draft of our page (5H) on Andrews felt we should take what we have 5 -year library plan, boil those down to one public meeting.) interested in the ressed the need to the library. Mr. already, take the sheet, and hold the (m) The 5 -year plan should be held in abeyance. (n) We should go ahead with Media (5I) because there's not much input and we can discuss it at the same time we're doing the Library. (Some felt the Media section should be eliminated. Chairman Andrews indicated it is part of the Table of Contents and if City Council wishes to- eliminate it, they will make that suggestion.) -7- (o) We should use only the GOAL and then get input from the citizens. (p) Somehow. we have to meld together giving the citizens information on where we are and getting their input on where we should go in the future. (q) Suggest we present the GOAL, give a little history, and mention areas of concern. After some further discussion, the Commission decided to rewrite from the Library page with GOAL, OBJECTIVE and RATIONALE and come up with an abbreviated form just for the public meeting. The following was the result: The Library is a modern 9000 square foot facility with a circulation approaching 70,000 and filled with over 36,901 volumes of books, videos, microfiche, magazines and newspapers to serve the children and adult population of Schertz and the surrounding Counties' residents. The Library is currently staffed by a combination of 3 full time and 1 part time paid personnel. It is augmented by approximately 20 volunteers to extend the hours of operation and provide the wide array of services needed in a modern library. The current hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 -6, Tuesday and Thursday 12 -9, and Saturday 10 -4. What else do you want this Library to provide? What do see for the future of the Library? The page on Media will be presented as is with one change. Telephone service will be added after postal service in the paragraph on GOAL. The Commission also decided to go ahead with a public meeting on just the Library and the Media. Chairman Andrews suggested they hold the public meeting, on October 13th, after they come back from the APA Conference and everyone agreed. The Newsletter and the Community Calendar of the Herald will be the two main forms of advertisement. Leonard Zych suggested the possibility of holding the meeting at the Library. Chairman Andrews mentioned the Council Chambers and said we should maintain consistency so the citizens know each time where the meeting will be held. It was agreed to hold it in the Council Chambers. Councilman Ken. Greenwald thought it might be a good idea to make part of the invitation a suggestion to tour the library. Steve Simonson recommended just one public meeting per month so it can be advertised in the Newsletter. Chairman Andrews then mentioned the possibility of changing the name Comprehensive Plan to Development and Growth Plan which may be more meaningful to the public. Mr. Andrews suggested submitting this to City Council also for their input and /or approval and asking for a reply. The Commission agreed to the proposed name change and asked that input and /or approval of it and a request for a reply be included in the previous motion sent forward to City Council asking for their input and /or approval and a reply on the proposed Table of Contents. Bobbie Vonada made a motion to schedule a public meeting, for October 13, 1992, on the Library and the Media using the information rewritten this evening, and to include the proposed name change for the Comprehensive Plan in the previous motion to City Council asking for their input and /or approval and a reply on the proposed Table of Contents. Keith Van Dine seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. Motion carried. #9 GENERAL DISCUSSION Keith Van Dine: (a) Reported Schirmerville is in dire need of assistance for all their potholes. (Steve Simonson related that Pfeil and Ware- Seguin are on the schedule to be repaired as soon as possible.) (b) Complimented the City staff. Someone dumped lots of trash in the Schirmerville area and the City cleaned it up. Bobbie Vonada• (a) Asked why developers have to come before the Commission to get permission to put up bandit signs. Chairman Andrews replied because of the ordinance and all the regulations and then pointed out, also, that the two that came in this evening want to put their bandit signs in an overlay district. (b) Questioned why Mr. and Mrs. Coons had to pay another $50 fee when they applied for the Special Exception, they had paid $50 before when they applied. Chairman Andrews explained because the last time.they wanted a Special Exception for a 12' x 20' building and would not compromise on the size so their request was denied. This request is not an appeal, this time they are wanting a Special Exception for an 8' x 20' building, so it is just like starting over again. Councilman Ken Greenwald pointed out the paperwork involved with a request that needs to go to the Board of Adjustment such as the legal notice in the paper and the notification of property owners within a certain number of feet. Merwin Willman: (a) Mentioned that in The Gardens Subdivision there is going to be a section without sidewalks and suggested asking City Council to send a letter to the developer making arrangements with him to put sidewalks in that section and having the City pay for it. Chairman Andrews pointed out there are several areas in the City where this same thing has occurred leaving sections without sidewalks and it is .a problem. There was some discussion about what could be done and George Vick said he thought the City had to go out for bids on this type of thing. Councilman Ken Greenwald noted that amounts under $10,000 they can tie onto an existing contract. (b) Noticed at the last City Council meeting they brought up the subject of changing the name of Jack Hays Blvd. in recognition of Dr. Roy Richard. Will this request come to the Commission? Councilman Ken Greenwald replied they had started the process and yes it will come to the Commission. (c) Asked if there is a curb cut for the handicapped at The Gardens Subdivision and was informed by Steve Simonson there is. Councilman Ken Greenwald: (a) Informed the Commission that Johnny Woodward has been named the new Fire Chief, effective September 21, 1992. (b) Reported that approximately 120 people attended the Business Appreciation dinner. The speaker was Greg Pitzer, the gentleman who is in the process of buying Tri- County, and he has lots of plans. Chairman Andrews: (a) Noted there are four positions on the Commission due for reappointment this October and we will need a new Chairman and Vice - Chairman. We need to give this some thought and also check with_ those due for reappointment to see if they are interested in remaining on the Commission. -10- Leonard Zych, in referring to his own reappointment which is due this October, said it seems inconsistent to come back from the APA Conference and find you are not reappointed. Bobbie Vonada commented she didn't know of anyone, who had been recommended for reappointment by the Commission, who had not been reappointed by City Council. Steve Simonson related the advertisement for the opening on the Commission is on the water bills this time. #10 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Andrews adjourned the meeting at 8:45 P.M. The next regularly scheduled meeting is October 13, 1992. -11-