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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ 1988-01-28 Minutes . MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS JANUARY 28, 1988 - 7:30 P. M. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, George Tucker, at 7:35 P. M. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Members Alt. Member Dir. Economic Dev. Dir. Planning/Dev. P & Z Coordinator George Tucker John Schwinger Carole Flippo Don Bowen Mark Wood David Barfield Ron Lueck Manny Tricoli C. A. Sanford Richard Royston Wanda Calvert CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 1988 Mr. Barfield made the motion to approve the minutes as written. This motion was seconded by Ms. Flippo and the motion carried 6-0 with Mr. Lueck abstaining since he was not present at the meeting. . 1. PS 88-1 Consideration of reV1S1ons to the Thoroughfare Plan. Chairman Tucker stated there was a need for input from the citizens of North Richland Hills regarding the Thoroughfare Plan. He said this is too important to make any snap judgments. Chairman Tucker opened the Public Hearing. . Robert Marks, 8224 Pearl Street, came forward. He said he was speaking for the whole group, especially for Mr. Scoma who is out of town. Mr. Marks gave the Commission a copy of a petition to the Thoroughfare Plan. He said they are in favor of the alternate route of Watauga Road to Cardinal Lane. IIIIII"'" Page 2 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . Mr. Marks said they request the proposed expansion of Main Street from Amundson Drive to Crane Road be removed from the Thoroughfare Plan. He said they request the proposed expansion of Simmons Street from Main Street to Martin Street be removed from the Thoroughfare Plan. Mr. Marks said they request Martin Street west of Crane Road be added to the Thoroughfare Plan as a roadway type C4U (Major 4 Lane), and upgrade the portion from Precinct Line Road to Crane from Roadway Type C2U to C4U. . Mr. Marks said he would like to read from page 1 of the petition, item #4: "According to the City of North Richland Hills Comprehensive 20 year capital improvement needs, an official bond appropriation document, as well as the bond request presented to the NRH voters for approval, the Watauga Road expansion funds are for work between Rufe Snow and Smithfield Road. Contracts however, were let by the city for work between Rufe Snow and Davis Boulevard. Formal action was not taken earlier by the Smithfield neighborhood group regarding the eastern route of Watauga Road from Smithfield Road, because according to the City of NRH, the developer would be required to purchase land behind the homes on Pearl Street before the work could begin. It was assumed there would be enough time to address the issue with the city before they actually locked in the Davis Boulevard Intersection point and expansion plans completed. This is not the way it worked out however." Mr. Marks said there was not enough notice given. . Mr. Marks said he would like to go to Issue #2-Request Cardinal Lane from Davis Boulevard to Amundson Drive be improved to a roadway type P6D principal arterial 6 lane divided road. Page 3 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . . 1. For the past 15 years the road currently referred to as Watauga Road addition was indicated on the City of NRH road plan as "Conet Boulevard" and followed the east-west route along Cardinal Lane. Alternation from the Cardinal Lane route to the route behind the Pearl Street homes was made in late 1985, for the benefit of E-System, Inc. Pool Trust, the owner of large tracts of land in the Smithfield area. 2. New construction and development plans for the Sunnybrook Housing Addition on Cardinal Lane has taken into consideration the expansion of Cardinal Lane and dedicated 25 feet of right-of-way for future widening of Cardinal Lane. The cost for additional right-of-way along Cardinal Lane should be minimal as most road frontage is owned by E-Systems, Inc. between Davis and Amundson Drive. 3. The location of Mr. Scoma's home at 8300 Cardinal Lane, was constructed in 1984 and set back off Cardinal Lane some 500 feet in anticipation of the widening of Cardinal Lane. 4. Federal and State Highway Funds have been made available for expanding part of Watauga Road. Additional funds may be available for the expansion plans between Davis Boulevard and Amundson Road. 5. The economic and environmental loss to 14 houses located on Pearl Street in the Sunny Meadow addition would be major if the proposed route of Watauga Road continued as proposed by the City of NRH. These houses would only be 20 to 25 feet from the edge of a major 6 lane road. Some of these impacts would be: Massive lighting and noise resulting from the proposed road would have a major economic impact upon these families. At speeds of 45 miles per hour major injury and property damage could occur from vehicle accidents. As a major 6 lane arterial roadway it is reasonable to assume hazardous materials such as petroleum . Page 4 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . . products to and from storage tanks on Grapevine Highway would pass over the road thus placing these houses in a hazardous position. Emergency vehicles would use this major road at all hours of the day and night resulting in a negative influence on the value of the homes. There is a possibility of high voltage overhead power lines being installed along the Watauga Road right-of-way much like those being used along Rufe Snow. Recent studies have indicated that this is a major health hazard. These risk and negative factors can be removed by routing the Watauga Road as proposed in Exhibit A (northern route). 6. If the Watauga Road route is followed as proposed by the city, there would be two east-west roads within 600 feet of each other. By using the existing Cardinal Lane route, the city can save maintenance costs by eliminating duplicate roads. 7. Less private land would be required by routing the Watauga Road addition as proposed in Exhibit A. Because of this savings, E-Systems, Inc. may be willing to apply an equal value of funds to expanding Cardinal Lane between Davis Boulevard and Amundson Drive. This would economically be advantageous to all parties as no additional funds would be required from the city for road construction. The overall construction cost for the road would be less because a good road base presently exists on Cardinal Lane, and the developer would have more land to develop, and the city would have additional taxable property. Mr. Bowen asked why they wanted to up-size Martin. . Mr. Marks said you have a 4 lane dumping into a 2 lane. Mr. Barfield stated Crane is a C2U. Page 5 p & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . Mr. Lueck stated that E-Systems said either route would be okay with them. Mr. Royston said that is not a major issue. Mr. Marks said you might could get more funding for the northern route. Mr. Royston stated we could possibly get some funding from the State, but we don't have the final answer; he said either route might be okay with the State. Chairman Tucker said the City might have to maintain the road if they go the northern route. . Don Collins, 6290 Shirley Drive, came forward. He said he is in favor of the northern route for Watauga Road. He said it would affect the entire addition. He said if the northern route is used you would only have 3 people it would impact. Mr. Collins said he had lived there 11 years and he requests you chose the northern route. James Kohler, 6308 Shirley Drive, came forward. He said he is at the corner of Shirley and Pearl. He said he is in favor of the northern route. Mr. Kohler said with the proposed extension of Amundson, he would have a street on 3 sides of him. He asked how much right-of-way will they need for Amundson and where would it go. Mr. Royston said the plans are for it to parallel the eastern side of the subdivision. . Mr. Kohler said how would you like to have a home with streets on 3 sides. He said he not only has problems with Watauga Road, but also with the proposed extension of Amundson Road. Page 6 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 · Chairman Tucker said Mr. Kohler's property would almost be an island. Mr. Barfield asked Mr. Kohler how he would feel if they moved Amundson 200 feet with a high density buffer. Mr. Kohler said he had rather it stay residential. Roy Owen, 8245 Pearl Street, came forward. He said when he was a little boy he always dreamed of having a paved street in front of his house, but he never dreamed of having a 6 lane highway in back of his house. He said they have a pool and they would be able to splash water on their windshields. Mr. Owen said with the noise of 18 wheelers, he is opposed to the southern route. He asked when the other route was put on the map. · Mr. Royston said it was when the Thoroughfare Plan was approved in August, 1985. Chairman Tucker said we don't have a survey where it is going, just the general area. He said the issue now is where is the best route. John Goodson, 8225 Pearl Street, came forward. He said he is in favor of the northern route. He said the southern route would go next to his back fence. Mr. Goodson said following Cardinal Lane you would only have to purchase 25 feet of right of way as opposed to 110 feet for the southern route. He said the city engineer firm has agreed the northern route would be feasible. · Bill Schott, 6309 Freida Lane, came forward. He said he is for the northern route. He said it is just good common sense and would harm less property owners. Page 7 p & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . David Greene, 5604 Puerto Vallarta, came forward. He said he doesn't have a personal involvement, but the northern route would create a great impact on the school. He said he thinks anytime you should avoid getting close to schools with freeways. . Kathy Robinson, 6463 Chilton Drive, came forward. She said here we are back again; from airplanes to automobiles. She said this would mean more problems. She spoke in opposition to the widening of Simmons, Amundson, and Main. Ms. Robinson said they will have to pay assessments. She said she thinks these roads should be left as they are. She requested the Commission reconsider and leave her area alone. Ms. Robinson said they have a beautiful, quiet area. She asked why the roads were not constructed wide enough to start with. Mr. Bowen said it was for the lack of Planning. He said they could not foresee the traffic. Mr. Bowen said the Thoroughfare Plan is for the whole city. Ms. Robinson said when they built their house, they were required to have a 25 foot set back from the street. She asked why the widening was put on the map. Mr. Bowen said the widening would be to improve traffic problems. He said the Commission has to look 10 years down the road. Ms. Robinson showed the Commission a map she had showing the proposed widening. . Mr. Bowen said that map was not adopted. Page 8 p & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 · Mr. Barfield said he lives in that area and he had to disagree. He said he feels Main Street should be widened from the School to Davis Boulevard. Ms. Robinson said that would allow apartments and we do not want apartments. Chairman Tucker stated you have to zone to allow apartments and this Commission and the City Council are not likely to approve apartment zoning. James Robinson, 6463 Chilton Drive, came forward. He said he is against Main Street being widening to 4 lanes. He said he had to get a waiver because his house was 6 inches over the line. Mr. Robinson said to please keep it a 2 lane. · Fred Butz, 6552 Riddle Drive, came forward. He said there is a traffic problem that goes from Smithfield Road to Davis. He said there are children who walk to Smithfield Junior High and he would hate to see what would happen with a 4 lane. Mr. Butz said there would be children hit by a car or truck if the street were widened. He said no one obeys the speed limit on Main Street now. He said to take into consideration how close the homes would be to the street and the children having to walk. Mr. Bowen stated there are no plans or funds to enlarge these streets. Mr. Royston said Martin would be done as a residential street. · Billy Delp, 8400 Cardinal Lane, came forward. He said he is in favor of the route to the south. He said Watauga Road, from Davis Boulevard east, should be constructed south of Cardinal Lane because this route: Page 9 p & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 · · "1. Avoids potential hazardous accidents for persons and cars traveling to and from Smithfield Junior High School. Avoids the need for a school zone. Smithfield Junior High School students frequently use Cardinal Lane when involved in Physical Education activities at school. 2. Avoids having two street penetrations from the residentially zoned land owned by Lloyd Development Corporation and two penetrations from Cardinal Lane into Watauga Road and the fast-moving traffic. A design for 40 m.p.h. speeds will in reality turn into 45-50 m.p.h. traffic. 3. Creates a "buffer zone" between land to be developed by E-Systems and existing residential neighborhoods to the north. 4. Creates potential "commercial" value for property in Block A of the Sunny Meadows Addition, as well as other properties along this southern route. 5. Meets the least resistance in terms of the effect on existing structures and delivers the most straight path to the east. 6. Reduces congestion and retains Cardinal Lane as a useful street for local traffic to circulate." Mr. Barfield said if you go through the middle, you would only get Mr. Scoma's house and eliminate the problem with 14 neighbors to the south. He said the original Thoroughfare Plan showed it to go straight through the middle. · Mr. Delp said if you take the southern route, it would only take one structure, my barn. He said the people who back up to this road in 10 years would be wanting to sell their property for Commercial. The property value would go up. Mr. Delp stated he felt the Commission should choose the southern route. Page 10 p & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 · Don Zobel, 8253 Pearl, came forward. He said he had bought his home 16 months ago. He said he is not opposed to the extension of Amundson, but he is opposed to the southern route of Watauga Road. Cindy Fortier, 6425 Sunnybrooke, came forward. She asked if there is a time schedule for Watauga Road. Mr. Royston stated "IF" we were to be placed in the PASS program, it would be two to three years before we could start, but we have not been approved. He said if we have to have a bond program it would be 1992. · Ms. Fortier said she is not opposed to either route, but would request they allow a buffer between it and their addition and install the power lines to the south. Joanelle McMahon, 8708 Main Street, came forward. She said her area used to be quiet, but it is noisy and the speed is bad. She said she could see no reason for Main Street to be made wider and to please consider removing if from the map. John Reynolds, 8501 Cardinal Lane, came forward. He said he is in favor of the road going down Cardinal Lane. He said it would be least disrupted if you go to the north. Mr. Reynolds said he would like to point out that the majority here tonight are for the northern route. Mr. Schott, 6309 Freida, came forward. He asked if there is any way when a person comes in for a building permit to be informed where roads would go. · Mr. Royston said that is why we have a Thoroughfare Plan. Page 11 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . Chairman Tucker stated roads are decided in the platting process and changes can get made. He said unless you have the right-of-way, it could be changed. Mr. Bowen stated that so many problems come from poor planning many years ago. He said had Crane Road been proposed, that house would not have been built there. James R. Simmons, 6824 Cliff Street, came forward. He said he lives on two dead end roads with no sewer. He said there are no maintenance on the roads. Mr. Simmons asked the Commission to try to plan where there would be no dead end roads and no sewer. . Charles McMahon, 8708 Main Street, came forward. He said to consider the sidewalks on Main Street. He said this is a nice neighborhood with sidewalks. He said you would mess the whole neighborhood up if you make Main Street a 4 lane street. Kevin Pierce, 8241 Pearl Street, came forward. He said there are approximately 100 houses to the south which would lose property value if the road is put to the south. Mr. Lueck asked Mr. Marks how they would feel if the road would go straight through. Mr. Marks said that had not been discussed. Mr. Barfield said he would like to see the consensus of the people here on having Watauga Road go straight through. . Mr. Bowen stated he was not in favor of widening Main Street. He said with Watauga Road being 6 lanes, he thinks the Commission should consider leaving it as is. Page 12 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 · Mr. Barfield said he felt Simmons should be widened. Nell Wheeler, 8240 Pearl, came forward. She said the neighbors want Watauga Road to go to the north, not south, nor straight through. Alice Scoma, 8300 Cardinal, came forward. She asked Mr. Barfield if he was being facetious. She said she, naturally, is in favor of the northern route. Mr. Barfield stated that in 1972, it showed the road to go straight through. · John Elam, 6278 Shirley, came forward. He said Amundson is already proposed for 4 lanes. He said if it runs south, would Pearl Street be opened up to Amundson. Chairman Tucker said he could not answer that. Carol Marks, 8224 Pearl, came forward. She said she previously lived at 8229 Pearl. She asked the Commission to consider the northern route. Chairman Tucker said the Commission understands that most are in favor of the northern route. He stated he appreciates everyone coming and giving their input. Chairman Tucker said the Commission will discuss and consider this matter and will have another meeting on the Thoroughfare Plan. Mr. Royston stated that he would be sure that word gets out about the meeting. · Frank Madden, Amundson Road, came forward. He said he would be opposed to Simmons being widened. He asked if he would be assessed. Page 13 P & Z Minutes January 28, 1988 . Chairman Tucker said he would. Chairman Tucker closed the Public Hearing and called for adjournment. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:18 P.M. ¿£Lð- c ~r- Chairman Planning & Zoning Commission 4~ Secretary Planning & Zoning Commission . .