04-09-1991
.&~ L~t_
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PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES
The Scher~z Planning and Zoning Commission convened in a regular
on Tuesday,
C~)nference
follows:
April 9, 1991 at 7:00 P.M. 1n
Room, 1400 Schertz parkway.
the Municipal
Those present
sesslon
Complex
were as
PLANNING ~~O ZO~ING COMMISSION
CITY STAFF
BOB ANDRE~S, CHAIRMAN
JIM SHRIVER, VICE-CHAIRMAN
KEITH VAK DINE, SECRETARY
MERWIN WILLMAN
GEORGE VICK
HARRY BAU!-L~N
GARY BRIChEN
STEVE SIMONSON,
ASST. CITY MANAGER
NORMA ALTHOUSE,
RECORDING SECRETARY
#1 CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Andrews called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Session March 26, 1991
Gary Bricken made a motion to approve the minutes for the regular
session March 26, 1991. Merwin Willman seconded the motion and
the vote was unanimous in favor. Motion carried.
#3 CITIZENS' INPUT OTHER THAN AGENDA ITEMS
There was none.
14 CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Review of Information
Sheet for Citizens Applying for the City of
Schertz Planning and Zoning Commission
Chairman Andrews reminded the Commissioners they had been
furnished a copy of this document in their packages for the March
26th meeting.
At this time the Commission reviewed the document.
Merwin Willman thought maybe it should be explained that the two-
year terms of the Commissioners expire on an odd and even year
basis - all of them don't expire at the same time. For example,
3 of them will expire October 1, 1991 and the other 4 will expire
October I, 1992.
Mr. Willnan also mentioned a possible change 1n the wording of
one of the reasons a Commissioner forfeits his position.
Currently one of the -~easons is (3) consecutive unexcused
absences. If City Council approves the proposed changes before
them, one of the reasons will then be failure to attend two-
thirds of the regular meetings of the Commission.
Mr . Will D3 n
abstaining.
also asked what Roberts Rules of Order
Does the person have to give a reason?
say
about
Keith Van Dine commented he thinks you can abstain if you don't
want to ..-ate and Mr. Willman said, 10 his opln1on, a person
shouldn't be allowed to do that.
Harry Baunan remarked he thinks abstaining is required when
there's a conflict of interest.
steve Simonson noted it's generally accepted that you abstain if
the decision effects you personally (you have a business
interest, etc.), or in the example of approving minutes, you
abstain if you were absent from the meeting.
Jim Shriver looked it up in his book of Roberts Rules and found
that a person cannot be compelled to vote, a person does not have
to explain his vote, a person can abs,tain if he has a direct
personal interest in the matter being voted on, a person can
abstain if the decision will provide him pecuniary profit, and a
person can vote for himself.
Keith Van Dine observed that in some cases an abstention is a
political game. Chairman Andrews pointed out that's one reason
the Chairman's vote is the last vote. It could break a tie, if
necessary.
Gary Bricken, referring. to ;.thedocument, said ,he thinks it's two
pages too long. The first two pages do the job beautifully, but
the third and fourth pages subtract a lot from it.
Jim Shriver told the Commission to keep in mind this is the end
resul t of having just prepared the document on "Information for
Newly Appointed Commissioners" and also it was done hurriedly.
Chairman Andrews mentioned the possibility
first two pages and keeping the third and
reference until after d new member is chosen.
of just
fourth
using
pages
the
for
Gary Bricken reiterated his previous remarks, stressing again
that the third and fourth pages are not necessary.
After a brief discussion, Gary Bricken made a motion to accept
the first two pages of the "Information Sheet for Citizens
Applying for the City of Schertz Planning and Zoning Commission"
as written. Keith Van Dine seconded the motion and the vote was
unanimous in favor. Motion carried.
15
CONSIDER
AND
MAKE
RECOMMENDATION:
Updating of the
Comprehensive Plan
n'
Chairman Andrews reminded the Commission of the sample format for
the Comprehensive Plan which had been provided to them by Jim
Shr i \-er.
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Mr. _=\ndre\~rs also noted the stack of information, from previous
work on the Comprehensive Plan, given to them by steve Simonson.
Ner\\lin ~\illman advised there w.ere 19 items covered in that stack.
George Vi2k questioned the format and how it applied to his
particular assignment of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Jim Shrive~ explained to Mr. Vick the format 1S just a sample for
the overall package - he will have to adapt it to his particular
assignment.
George Vick still had some questions on how to go about listing
goals and objectives for natural and cultural resources.
steve Simonson asked Mr. Vick what he would like to see happen to
the Cibolo Creek, it being a natural resource.
Mr. Vick had an opinion but said he disagrees with putting 1n
what he "~ants. The goals and objectives should reflect the
wishes of the citizens.
Gary Bricken agreed with George Vick on the point about the
Commission reflecting the wishes of the citizens.
Mr. Bricken continued. on with a few o-f his thoughts about the
Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Bricken said lIe feels it is esiential we
have the census information because we have to know the growth
rate of the City.
Mr. Bricken also stated that probably 65% of what is contained in
the current Comprehensive Plan hasn't changed, for example the
history of the City, the topography, etc., but the other 35%
will be tough work and without census data and citizen input, it
is senseless to go ahead.
Keith Van Dine interjected his thoughts about the assignments
glven each Commissioner, using his assignment (land use) in
particular as an example. Mr. Van Dine said he interprets the.
first step as being data collection, the second step as
interpretation of the data collected; and the third step as
writing the goals and objectives as a projection of that data.
Gary Bricken commented he sees the Commission as managers, not
doers. Mr~ Bricken further stated a consultant could be hired,
but he doesn't think it I S necessary - we have City staff and
Department Heads available to assist us . We have census data
coming in a few mcinths and resources within the City. Let other
people put forward most of what we want and then manage. Mr.
Bricken also indicated he thinks asking the Commissioners to sit
down and write goals that are their goals is ludicrous and
counterproductive. u'
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Chairman Andrews remarked he agrees that we have City staff
available to assist us, but he disagrees with Gary Bricken about
the Commissioners not being doers. Planning for the City is the
job of the Commission, we are looking ahead to the future. Mr.
Andrews acknowledged that perhaps some help may be needed, but as
planners, it is the job of the Commission to plan, to look down
the road 5, 10 or 20 years from now.
Gary Bricken indicated he could agree with all that, but giving
assignments to individual Commissioners and asking them to write
goals is the wrong approach.
Chairman Andrews pointed out that although it would be
individuals writing goals and objectives, everyone on the
Commission would critique and mold the goals and objectives into
one plan.
At this time Merwin Willman distributed a copy of a letter he had
written regarding citizen input as part of the Comprehensive Plan
updating process. The letter contained several suggestions from
Mr. Willman on how to go about getting citizen input. One
suggestion was to prepare a series of articles for publication
explaining the Comprehensive Plan, why it is needed, and the.
procedures of its preparation. Another suggestion was to
organize a meeting. of all the chairpersons of neighborhood,
charitable and civic organizations, provide them with a list of
goals and objectives recommended by the Commission and a list of
questions to stimulate~;>','discussion ~? The third' suggestion was
basically the same as the second one, only instead of providing a
list of goals and objectives to the chairpersons, a survey could
be developed for the chairpersons to distribute to their
memberships and then return to City Hall.
George Vick mentioned that 3 years ago they did a survey and
Merwin Willman commented that was a general survey. Mr.
Willman's suggestion was to refine the goals and objectives
before making up a survey and Keith Van Dine agreed, saying the
plan needs to be developed first.
Jim Shriver commented he didn t t care for the questions on the
last survey. Steve Simonson reminded Mr. Shriver the questions
on the last survey were approved by the Commission.
Harry Bauman emphasized to the Commission that the main objective
of a Comprehensive Plan is to see that the City grows in an
orderly fashion, not necessarily to incorporate input from a
survey.
Gary Bricken then asked why we need to reinvent the wheel, why
can't we just tweak the old one.
..'
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This prompted discussion on where the City is going and how it's
going to get there. Steve Simonson commented he thinks, with the
exception of the census data, the Commission already has a lot of
informaticn to work with. Mr. Simonson asked if anyone had
checked wl~h the universities about getting some student help.
Harry Baunan reported checking with the University of Texas at
San Antonio and said they told him they have students who. can
spend 16 h~urs a week doing things such as research (not gophers)
and they "ill get credit hours for their work.
steve Simonson asked if there's any money involved. Harry Bauman
said no.
steve Simonson reminded the Commission that Kim Potempa, several
years. ago and at the time a student at Southwest Texas State
University, had researched and completed all the necessary
informatic:1 for a soil map for use in the Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Simonson related that Ms. Potempa had done an excellent job.
Steve Simonson continued on saying, even disregarding the census
demographics which will not be available until July 15th, the
Commission has the availability of colleges and universities, the"
state, and AACOG (Alamo Area Council of Governments) to help
obtain information they need.
Gary Bricken's suggestion was to go back to square one -
the ':1" old City Comprehensive Plan "and >,see how much
information in it is still valid.
review
of the
Jim Shriver commented they may want to do this, but they still
haven't answered the questions who, what, where, when, why and
how. Mr. Shriver volunteered to .work up a draft for a game plan,
by the next meeting, answering these questions.
Gary Bricken noted they don't have a baseline to work into the
future. Mr. Bricken pointed out that business districts, his
particular assignment, follow not only population, but a million
other things. Mr. Br icken stressed they need to know how the
last Comprehensive Plan worked so they can go on.
Keith Van Dine, referring back to land use, said it not only
involves future use, but also existing use.
There was discussion about the fact that a game plan is needed
and if a survey is part of that game plan, Gary Bricken suggested
hiring soneone who's an expert at writing questions.
Jim Shriver related he had taken a course on the subject and the
questions can be refined. Mr. Shriver indicated he would be glad
to assist in composing ~he questions for a survey. This \<.-as
followed ~y a brief discussion on how a survey should be
distributed.
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Harry Baur:lan stressed to the Commission that if everyone doesn't
feel the Comprehensive Plan needs to be updated and isn't gOlng
to put forth an effort to achieve this, then they're just
sp1nnlng their wheels.
Chai!Tlan .\ndrews, referring to progress on his assignment of
housing, said he knows how many houses there are in Schertz and
according to what he's read, he found out there has to be a 5%
vacancy rate or there is no growth.
Gary Bricken commented on the "uniqueness" of
sort of a fairy land has been created whereby
independently of some of the issues in society.
Schertz in that
the City exists
Chairman Andrews remarked that someone made a decision years ago
that Schertz should be a bedroom community and shouldn't grow.
Mr. Andre~s said it has taken a long time to turn that philosophy
around. Mr. Andrews further stated that nine years ago when he
established his day care business, the City did not have a zoning
for day care.
Chairman Andrews related he had given some thought to setting up
a new objective date, but will now have to take the game plan"
into consideration. Mr. Andrews asked Jim Shriver if he wants to
schedule" a special meeting for review of the game plan, say one
day next week. Mr. Shriver replied he would like to wait until
the next regularly'scheduled meeting to give him time to work on
it.
Jim Shriver added, that by the way, two items should be added to
the Table of Contents he, gave the Commission. Mr. Shri ve'r fel t'
something is needed on economic de,velopment and also on staff
facilities.
Gary Bricken mentioned receiving the census data by July 15th and
Chairman Andrews asked if the census data will give the
Commission good inf~rmation.
Steve Simonson replied yes to that question. Mr. Simonson said
the census will give us population, ethnic breakdown, age
breakdown, and growth rate. Mr. Simonson continued on, saying
that since 1950 the City has grown at a rate of 40% to 50% every
10 years. In 1988 and 1989 when other cities were not building
homes, Schertz continued to build.
Keith Van Dine estimated that in the last 3 years, the number of
homes in the Schirmerville area has doubled.
Steve Sinonson, saying he agrees with the idea of a game plan,
recommended the Commission look outside themselves to get
informaticr1. Mr. Simonson suggested the Commerce Dept. ,
colleges, maps, and SARA (San Antonio River Authority) just to
name a fe\tt,".
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Gary Bricken requested that when Jim Shriver puts together the
game plan, he include the package given to the Commission bl'-
steve SiD:..'rlSOn which contains all the work done so far on the
Comprehen~ive Plan. Mr. Bricken expressed the opinion he is in
favor of taking the old plan and seeing how much of it is good.
Chairman .;ndrews related that part of what he was trying to
accomplist when he gave the Commissioners assignments was to take
the old plan and review it and sort out the garbage.
Chairman Andrews recommended
updating of the Comprehensive
regularly scheduled meeting.
that
Plan
further discussion on
be tabled until the
the
next
#6 GENERAL DISCUSSION
George Vick:
(a) Said that at approximately 502 or 504 Curtiss the individual
seems to be cementing the whole front yard and it appears to go
from lot line to lot line.
Councilperson Ken Greenwald said he's probably building a large
.carpurt.
George Vick pointed out the r06f on such a structure will drain
off onto each neighbor's yard. Steve Simonson said he will have
the inspectors check it' out. ,--
(b) Noted there is a large pothole on FM 1518 where Windy Meadow
Drive comes into the Mobile Home Park. Steve- Simonson reported
it had been fixed very recently.
Mr. Vick. then .observed that where the tractor/trailers are down
digging out dirt to go across the curve, the curve won't last
much longer. .
(c) Asked if the Highway Department is planning to rebuild the
service road which washed out by Gillman Honda. Mr. Vick then
asked if there's going to be no way out FM 1518 to the
expresswa:y.
steve Simonson replied they are not planning to rebuild the
service road, however they are trying to work something out.
Keith Van Dine:
(a) Reported there are more potholes ln
Schirmerville area since the rain.
the roads in the
(b) Said t.here' s another' water I ine break ln approximately the
same place there was last month and wondered how much effect the
guy who drives the big water truck, and fills up there, has on
the pressure in the line. Councilperson Ken Greenwald said the
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:.~, t~,,:,
lines in that area were never installed correctly and that's the
big problem.
(c) Remarked on how game plans were mentioned frequently during
the conve~sation this evening and said he guessed they just need
to put them all together.
Gary Bricken:
(a) Said he would like to compliment someone at the City office
on FM 1518 for helping him solve a problem at his business park,
but he didn't know the gentleman's name. steve Simonson told him
it was Jerry Graham.
(b) Referring to Steve Simonson's letter to C.P. Vaughan
regarding The Gardens Subdivision, asked if a decision was ever
made about Lot 11 and whether or not both sides have to be 100'.
Steve Simonson replied no decision was made.
(c) Informed the Commission he had heard rumors about foundation
cracks in Savannah Square and asked if anyone else had heard it.
Steve Simonson replied he hadn't but would check it out.
Chairman Andrews related there are two lots in Savannah Square
that have had tremendous soil shifting, but he was not aware of
any foundation cracks. Mr. Andrews said the two houses in
question both have 10~year warranties.
Mer~in Willman:
(a) Asked what prompted the floodplain study for The Gardens.
Steve Simonson replied Ford Engineering had requested it because
there was no definitive floodplain study on the ultimate buildout
of that particular area.
Mr. Willman didn't recall a floodplain study ever being requested
before, but Steve Simonson assured him one had been done for
Woodland Oaks, Greenshire and Sil vertree. Of course these all
involved areas of FEMA maps and The Gardens did not.
Mr. Simonson also reminded Merwin Willman that the City had paid
$10,000 to have the flood study done of the west Dietz Creek.
(b) Pointed out that Steve Simonson had furnished the
Commissioners with a copy of the Planning budget and asked when
they're going to discuss it. Chairman Andrews requested it be
placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Mr. Willnan told the Commission to be thinking about the
publications they receive which is currently three plus the APA
magazine. Mr. Willma~ said, in his opinion, the "Zoning
Bulletin" could be eliminated.
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steve Sinonson asked-the Commission to also look at the postage
and the office supplies budget. Postage, in larger amounts than
normal, 15 used whenever there's a public hearing and that would
alsG apply to sending out a survey.
(c) To ld the Commission a number of procedures have beer;.
established (which were discussed as Appendixes to the Rules of
Procedure' over the years, and he has put together a folder for
each of them containing those procedures.
Jim Shriver:
(a) Asked, regarding "The Gardens" subdivision, if Lot 12 is
going to show up on the plat. steve Simonson repl ied it will
shpw up on the plat, but there won't be anything there.
Mr. Shriver then asked who's responsible for maintaining it once
all the houses are built, and steve Simonson replied the Cit;{
maintains it because of the pumping station on the property.
Jim Shriver asked why they are leaving Lot 12 zoned as commercial
and Steve Simonson' replied because it was never requested that it
be rezoned. Chairman Andrews reminded Mr. Shriver the Commission
can always recommend a change in the zoning.
(b) Asked, regarding "The Gardens" subdivision, if the .039 acres
wher~ Pecan come.s into Schert-z. Parkway has: b~en dedicated. ste.ve
. ":'~'~''i'<.';;~,\~,:!":S.imqnson. "'riep~ied... he' 's"':/alinQ~t.::~~,pO"siti.vei~:it'(i,has;:",..b~ent"' .:butF'~he . will-
." :" ." 'let' them .knowfor 's~re" at the next .me"et"ing. " . . " '.' .
(c) Remarked that those houses lost in San Antonio last week were
in the 100 year floodplain.
Steve Simonson commented that's why Schertz requires drainage
backwater studies.
There was a brief discussion about the watershed and about
flooding in the City of Schertz.
(d) Told the Commission that a senior citizen who lives on Valley
Forge complained to him that when the Sycamore Creek Apartments
were built, the City put pipes in behind his house and left a big
hole there that develops into a pond every time it rains. He's
been trying to get it fixed for a number of years. Jim Shriver
asked Steve Simonson to give the gentleman a call.
(e) Asked if anything is being done about the cutting of grass on
vacan~ lots. Steve Simonson replied there is a regular procedure
that is followed.
<f) Quest~aned if the ~ity has control
the C it Y . Steve Simonson sa id the re are
would have to check on it.
over drilling wells 1D
some controls, but he
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(g) Noted, according to what he's seen lately, the JunI:<ed
Vehicle Ordinance is apparently being enforced erroneously.
Chairman .~ndrews asked if it's in the City Council's plan to
revise the ordinance and Councilmember Ken Greenwald said there
wi II be q .~~ i e t c h a n 9 e s .
Jim Shri\-er asked if the City stopped sending out letters and
Steve Simonson said the letters are'being revised.
Chairman Andrews:
(a) Remarked he thinks it's out of the City's jurisdiction, but
he has witnessed 50 to 60 truckloads of dirt being hauled out to
where that one mobile home is on FM ~518 - they're filling up the
creek.
Councilperson Ken Greenwald said he knows it's been reported to
the Count}~ several times, but nothing has been done about it.
Merwin Willman commented he had reported it to a County
Commissioner.
(b) Asked Keith Van Dine if he had any word on student help for"
the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Van Dine replied he should have some
information by the next meeting.
(c) Inquired if there's any progress on the finalization of a
contract between. the City and;n,the Resurrection~ Baptist Church.
Councilperson Ken Greenwald informed Mr. Andrews it is his
understanding the lawyers have tentatively agreed to a contract,
but the church is aware that until it is signed, they can be
asked to leave.
Councilperson Ken Greenwald:
(a) Reported he had attended a meeting at the Guadalupe County
Commissioners Court. All the major water purveyors, most of the
surrounding cities and Russell Masters of the Edwards Underground
District were there. Mr. Greenwald said the subject being
discussed was why Guadalupe County is not included in the
Edwards Underground District, what would it take to become part
of it, and do we want to become part of it. Mr. Greenwald said a
portion of Schertz, based on hydrologic boundaries, is in the
district. Schertz is classified as a transporter. When the
water level drops to a certain number, everyon~ is cut back 10%.
Mr. GreenMald related there is a current bill in the legislature
to dissol\-e the Edwards Underground District and make each county
it's own water district. Schertz has no major water source and
the questions are being asked about what it takes to be in the
District ~~d do we have a'vote.
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~ .
Mr. Green~ald went on to say 60% of Guadalupe County gets water
from the Edwards Underground District. In fact, Edwards supplies
a major part of the water for Guadalupe County, but the County
and none cf the cities have any say so in the District.
Gary BrickeD observed that as a result of not being included 1n
the distr~ct, they're not regulated. Hr. Greenwald replied to
this by saying if the State goes along with what the Edwards
Underground District is proposing and we're cut back, what do we
do for water.
Mr. Green"ald further stated that both GBRA and Green Valley plan
to sue on the Endangered Species Act.
steve Simonson:
(a) Indicated that Schertz has as many acres 1n as out of the
Edwards Underground District.
(b) Told the Commissioners to glve him a call if they need any
help on the Comprehensive Plan.
#7 ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Andrews adjourned the meeting at 9:35 P.M.
The next regularly sc~eduled meeting is April 23, 1991.
.'
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