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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ 2015-12-03 MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS DECEMBER 3, 2015 WORK SESSION The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met in work session on the 3rd day of December 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Workroom prior to the 7:00 p.m. regular session. Present: Bill Schopper Place 6, Vice Chairman Don Bowen Place 3, Secretary Mike Benton Place 2 Steven Cooper Place 7 Mark Haynes Place 1 Kathy Luppy Place 5 Jerry Tyner Ex- Officio Absent: Randall Shiflet Place 4, Chairman Staff Members: Clayton Comstock Planning Manager Clayton Husband Principal Planner Chad VanSteenberg Planner Justin Naylor Civil Engineer Marrk Callier Management Assistant Craig Hulse Director of Economic Development Cheryl Booth Recording Secretary Call to Order Vice Chairman Schopper called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 1. General Announcements- upcoming city events Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock presented announcements. At NRH2O on December 5 is the 4th annual Run Run Rudolf 5k followed by the Night of Holiday Magic. North Richland Hills Business Appreciation Luncheon is on December 10, 2015 at the NRH Centre. In an effort to address sanitary sewer issues, the city Public Works department had a holiday cooking grease collection for the week immediately following Thanksgiving and will have it immediately following Christmas in January. December 3, 2015 P&Z Minutes Page 1 2. Discuss development activity report and City Council action Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock discussed development activity. City Council approved the drive through ordinance amendment and the Shady Grove Road development. City Council did not approve Ben Johnson's application for the 35 -lot single - family residential development in an area currently zoned commercial. Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock reviewed DRC activity. 3. Discuss items from the regular Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock presented ZC 2015 -20 Public Hearing and consideration of a request from The Bosquet Group, Inc. on behalf of RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc. for a Zoning change from C -2 Commercial to RD -PD Redevelopment Planned Development on 2.315 acres located at 4940, 5000 and 5028 David Boulevard. RaceTrac is proposing to combine two (2) developed and one (1) vacant property with a portion of Birchwood Drive right -of -way to redevelop the southeast corner of Maplewood Avenue and Davis Boulevard with a new eighteen (18) pump RaceTrac gasoline station and five thousand, five hundred (5,500)- square foot convenience store. The proposed development includes the abandonment of a portion of Birchwood Drive east of Davis Boulevard. The site is accessed by driveways on Davis Boulevard and on Maplewood Avenue. In addition, cross - access is provided from the former Expo Design Center site to the south. The building exterior includes brick and stone material. The east (rear) elevation adjacent to the single - family residential neighborhood contains decorative columns and lighting, awnings, and painted downspouts and electrical equipment boxes to soften the appearance. The pump island canopies have a roof cap that mirrors that of the building. Proposed landscaping meets the development standards for landscaping and screening. Since the site is adjacent to a residential area, a fifteen- (15 -)foot buffer yard and six (6) foot tall masonry screening wall is provided on the east side of the property. The application for a RD -PD zoning district is intended to address the use of the property, modifications to site development standards, and the general design of the Birchwood Drive turn - around. Planned development standards are detailed below. All other development standards have been satisfied. • Land Use — Under the base zoning of C -2 Commercial, a convenience store with fuel sales is only permitted through a special use permit approval. Since the applicant is seeking approval of a planned development, the use of the property will be addressed as part of the planned development standards. Refuse Container Enclosure — The design of the refuse container enclosure gate includes the use of a non - standard building material that requires special approval as part of the proposed zoning. A solid metal gate is the standard material. The proposed material is a synthetic wood product manufactured by Trex and is constructed from 95% recycled materials. Additionally, a solid metal gate is normally December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 2 required for the pedestrian access to the refuse container. The proposed enclosure has a non -gated opening that will be difficult to see through because of its location and orientation. Staff recommends that no pedestrian access gate shall be required on the enclosure. • Birchwood Drive — The portion of Birchwood Drive that exists on this development site is proposed to be vacated and abandoned. The abandonment of the right -of -way requires separate approval by the City Council. Follow the abandonment, the right - of -way would be incorporated into the development site as part of the replat of the property. The City hosted an open house meeting on November 19, 2015, about the proposed abandonment. Letters were sent to residents on Birchwood Drive inviting them to the meeting. Three residents attended. Also present were representatives of RaceTrac. A hammerhead turnaround will be constructed on the RaceTrac site. This will allow for fluid turnaround movements for passenger vehicles. At the west end of the hammerhead, a thirty (30) inch tall masonry wall that matches the building design will be installed, to include reflectors for nighttime visibility. There will not be vehicle access to the RaceTrac from the turnaround; however, a pedestrian access and sidewalk connection to the site will be provided. • Areal Utilities — Previous auto - related redevelopment cases have addressed the aerial franchise utilities on site by either undergrounding them or relocating them to reduce the visual clutter along the street. The applicant has agreed to have each franchise utility audit their lines in the area to see if any adjacent to their site can be removed or relocated. • Reduced Maplewood Landscape Setback — The short portion of landscape setback along Maplewood Drive is approximately eleven (11) feet in depth as opposed to the required fifteen (15) feet. This is a result of shifting the required sidewalk onto the RaceTrac property. Staff recommends that parking entrance islands shall not be required for the site. • Wide Driveways — The Public Works Design Manual allows a maximum driveway throat width of thirty five (35) feet measured from face of curb. The Maplewood and Davis driveways and the westernmost south driveway are proposed at thirty nine (39) feet measured from face of curb. They are requesting a four (4) foot variance as part of their RD -PD Zoning District standards. After a review of QuikTrip and RaceTrac locations in NRH, this would be the only site with driveways in excess of the standard width. Larger driveways can cause lane confusion, where multiple drivers line up to exit the site. It also allows vehicles to enter and exit the site at excess speeds. Therefore, staff does not support the proposed driveway width variance. TXDOT has the final authority to authorize driveway widths on Davis Boulevard. • Signage — The applicant has agreed to prohibit signage on the west - facing portions of the fuel canopy columns and limit signage on the other portions to pedestrian scale signage only. In exchange for removing their rights to a seven (7) foot tall December 3, 2015 P&Z Minutes Page 3 monument on Maplewood Drive, the applicant has requested an eight and a half (8.5) foot tall monument sign along Davis Boulevard. This same concept was implemented with Davis Express Car Wash, Andy's Frozen Custard, and other applications. Staff recommends that signs shall not be permitted on the west - facing sides of the fuel canopy columns. Signs on the west - facing sides of the columns shall be of a size and scale appropriate for pedestrians only. The property is currently zoned C -2 Commercial. The applicant is requesting a rezoning to RD -PD Redevelopment Planned Development in order to authorize the fuel sales land use and accommodate site - specific development standards. The property is currently platted as multiple lots including Lots Al and A2, Block 21, Clearview Addition; and Lot Al, Block 22, Clearview Addition. A replat of the property is under review, which would combine these lots and a portion of the Birchwood Drive right -of -way into a single lot. Staff recommends approving ZC 2015 -20, subject to staff's recommendation for driveway throat widths that meet the Public Works Design Manual. Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock presented AP 2015 -10 Consideration of a request from JBI Partners, Inc. for an amended plat of HomeTown Canal District Phase 4 on 10.892 acres located in the 8700 block of Bridge Street. The final plat was approved on July 14, 2014. The amended plat will modify the following items. 1. A portion of Lots 38 -40, Block B, will be removed from the flood plain. The lots were removed from the flood hazard area per a map revision effective September 4, 2015. 2. The street name Myrtle Street will be changed to Madrid Street. 3. Lot 5, Block D, will incorporate an adjacent triangular- shaped one thousand, four hundred and nine (1,409) square foot open space lot on the final plat. This lot is located at the northeast corner of Monterey Mews and McDonough Street. 4. The font building lines on the thirty five (35) foot wide cottage lots will be changed from ten feet to five feet. This change is consistent with the special use permit for the cottage lots approved on July 14, 2014. Staff recommends approval of application AP 2015 -10. Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock presented RP 2015 -07 Consideration of a request from 7291 Enterprises for a replat of the Edgley Addition on 0.5971 acres located at 7291 & 7293 Glenview Drive. The original plat for Edgley Addition was approved in 1951. At some time in the past, a portion of Lot 2 was sold to the owner of the adjacent property without recording a revised plat. The proposed replat of the property would establish the property boundary for Lots 1 and 2 as they exist under present ownership. An architecture firm has an office building on Lot 1, located at the corner of Willman Avenue. The building has existed on the site since at least 1963. The building footprint is shown on the plat because portions of the building encroach the December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 4 setback lines. The building encroaches the twenty five (25) foot front setback on Glenview Drive by one foot, which is due to right -of -way dedications that have occurred over time. The building also encroaches the fifteen (15) foot side setback on Willman Avenue, and this encroachment was authorized by a variance granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in 1993. Staff recommends approval of application RP 2015 -07. 4. Adjournment There being no other business, Vice - Chairman Schopper adjourned the work session at 7:00 p.m. REGULAR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING The Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting is immediately following the work session (but not earlier than 7:00 p.m.) In the main council chambers. A.0 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chairman Bill Schopper called the December 3, 2015, meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present: Bill Schopper Place 6, Vice Chairman Don Bowen Place 3, Secretary Mike Benton Place 2 Steven Cooper Place 7 Mark Haynes Place 1 Kathy Luppy Place 5 Jerry Tyner Ex- Officio Absent: Randall Shiflet Place 4, Chairman Staff Members: Clayton Comstock Planning Manager Clayton Husband Principal Planner Chad VanSteenberg Planner Justin Naylor Civil Engineer Marrk Callier Management Assistant Craig Hulse Director of Economic Development Cheryl Booth Recording Secretary A.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Kathy Luppy led the National Pledge of Allegiance. Kathy Luppy led the Texas Pledge of Allegiance. December 3, 2015 P&Z Minutes Page 5 EXECUTIVE SESSION The Planning and Zoning Commission may enter into closed Executive Session as authorized by Chapter 551, Texas Government Code. Executive Session may be held at the end of the Regular Session or at any time during the meeting that a need arises for the Planning and Zoning Commission to seek advice from the city attorney (551.071) as to the posted subject matter of this Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission may confer privately with its attorney to seek legal advice on any matter listed on the agenda or on any matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 51, Texas Government Code. B.0 MINUTES B.1 Approve minutes of the November 5, 2015 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. APPROVED MIKE BENTON MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 5, 2015, MEETING. MARK HAYNES SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0 C. PUBLIC HEARINGS CA ZC 2015 -20 Public Hearing and consideration of a request from The Bosquet Group, Inc. on behalf of RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc. for a Zoning Change from C -2 Commercial to RD -PD Redevelopment Planned Development on 2.315 acres located at 4940, 5000, and 5028 Davis Boulevard. APPROVED Vice Chairman Schopper called on Planning Manager, Clayton Comstock to present ZC 2015 -20. RaceTrac is proposing to combine two (2) developed and one (1) vacant property with a portion of Birchwood Drive right -of -way to redevelop the southeast corner of Maplewood Avenue and Davis Boulevard with a new eighteen (18) pump RaceTrac gasoline station and five thousand, five hundred (5,500)- square foot convenience store. The proposed development includes the abandonment of a portion of Birchwood Drive east of Davis Boulevard. The site is accessed by driveways on Davis Boulevard and on Maplewood Avenue. In addition, cross - access is provided from the former Expo Design Center site to the south. The building exterior includes brick and stone material. The east (rear) elevation adjacent to the single - family residential neighborhood contains decorative columns and lighting, awnings, and painted December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 6 downspouts and electrical equipment boxes to soften the appearance. The pump island canopies have a roof cap that mirrors that of the building. Proposed landscaping meets the development standards for landscaping and screening. Since the site is adjacent to a residential area, a fifteen- (1 5-)foot buffer yard and six (6) foot tall masonry screening wall is provided on the east side of the property. The application for a RD -PD zoning district is intended to address the use of the property, modifications to site development standards, and the general design of the Birchwood Drive turn - around. Planned development standards are detailed below. All other development standards have been satisfied. • Land Use — Under the base zoning of C -2 Commercial, a convenience store with fuel sales is only permitted through a special use permit approval. Since the applicant is seeking approval of a planned development, the use of the property will be addressed as part of the planned development standards. • Refuse Container Enclosure — The design of the refuse container enclosure gate includes the use of a non - standard building material that requires special approval as part of the proposed zoning. A solid metal gate is the standard material. The proposed material is a synthetic wood product manufactured by Trex and is constructed from 95% recycled materials. Additionally, a solid metal gate is normally required for the pedestrian access to the refuse container. The proposed enclosure has a non -gated opening that will be difficult to see through because of its location and orientation. Staff recommends that no pedestrian access gate shall be required on the enclosure. • Birchwood Drive — The portion of Birchwood Drive that exists on this development site is proposed to be vacated and abandoned. The abandonment of the right -of -way requires separate approval by the City Council. Follow the abandonment, the right - of -way would be incorporated into the development site as part of the replat of the property. The City hosted an open house meeting on November 19, 2015, about the proposed abandonment. Letters were sent to residents on Birchwood Drive inviting them to the meeting. Three residents attended. Also present were representatives of RaceTrac. A hammerhead turnaround will be constructed on the RaceTrac site. This will allow for fluid turnaround movements for passenger vehicles. At the west end of the hammerhead, a thirty (30) inch tall masonry wall that matches the building design will be installed, to include reflectors for nighttime visibility. There will not be vehicle access to the RaceTrac from the turnaround; however, a pedestrian access and sidewalk connection to the site will be provided. • Areal Utilities — Previous auto - related redevelopment cases have addressed the aerial franchise utilities on site by either undergrounding them or relocating them to reduce the visual clutter along the street. The applicant has agreed to have each franchise utility audit their lines in the area to see if any adjacent to their site can be removed or relocated. December 3, 2015 P&Z Minutes Page 7 • Reduced Maplewood Landscape Setback — The short portion of landscape setback along Maplewood Drive is approximately eleven (11) feet in depth as opposed to the required fifteen (15) feet. This is a result of shifting the required sidewalk onto the RaceTrac property. Staff recommends that parking entrance islands shall not be required for the site. • Wide Driveways — The Public Works Design Manual allows a maximum driveway throat width of thirty five (35) feet measured from face of curb. The Maplewood and Davis driveways and the westernmost south driveway are proposed at thirty nine (39) feet measured from face of curb. They are requesting a four (4) foot variance as part of their RD -PD Zoning District standards. After a review of QuikTrip and RaceTrac locations in NRH, this would be the only site with driveways in excess of the standard width. Larger driveways can cause lane confusion, where multiple drivers line up to exit the site. It also allows vehicles to enter and exit the site at excess speeds. Therefore, staff does not support the proposed driveway width variance. TXDOT has the final authority to authorize driveway widths on Davis Boulevard. • Signage — The applicant has agreed to prohibit signage on the west - facing portions of the fuel canopy columns and limit signage on the other portions to pedestrian scale signage only. In exchange for removing their rights to a seven (7) foot tall monument on Maplewood Drive, the applicant has requested an eight and a half (8.5) foot tall monument sign along Davis Boulevard. This same concept was implemented with Davis Express Car Wash, Andy's Frozen Custard, and other applications. Staff recommends that signs shall not be permitted on the west - facing sides of the fuel canopy columns. Signs on the west - facing sides of the columns shall be of a size and scale appropriate for pedestrians only. The property is currently zoned C -2 Commercial. The applicant is requesting a rezoning to RD -PD Redevelopment Planned Development in order to authorize the fuel sales land use and accommodate site - specific development standards. The property is currently platted as multiple lots including Lots Al and A2, Block 21, Clearview Addition; and Lot Al, Block 22, Clearview Addition. A replat of the property is under review, which would combine these lots and a portion of the Birchwood Drive right -of -way into a single lot. Staff recommends approving ZC 2015 -20, subject to staff's recommendation for driveway throat widths that meet the Public Works Design Manual. Applicant Laura Hoffmann, 2728 North Harwood, Dallas, TX 75201 presented the applicant request for a new RaceTrac. RaceTrac stores are all corporate owned. This particular design is a new prototype. This C -2 Commercial zoned area currently holds an auto repair shop, a restaurant, and a vacant lot. This is an aging commercial area that we intend to make new. We are proposing an outdoor dining area. The driveway width request really has a three (3) feet drainage on each side, which results in a thirty December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 8 six (36) foot net width. We want to have space for our trailer customers and delivery vehicles. We always have strong lane markings at the driveways to delineate traffic flow. Mark Haynes inquired for clarification that the request is for thirty nine (39) feet width as standard. Ms. Hoffmann responded that this is the standard width in their latest locations. Mike Benton replied that if staff has a safety concern about that wide width, he does as well. Clayton Comstock clarified that with the wider throat width, vehicles have the ability to enter at higher speeds. Another concern is that vehicles can stack up side -by -side entering or exiting the driveway. Justin Naylor explained that a thirty nine (39) width could allow two (2) cars to enter and one (1) to exit. Clayton Comstock explained that an audit of nearby RaceTrac driveway throat widths show thirty four (34) feet. Vice Chairman Schopper asked if it makes a difference if the driveway is right in or right out. Clayton Comstock responded that TXDOT has the final approval on whether the driveway has restricted turning. He suggested perhaps one (1) of the three (3) proposed driveways could be the wider width as a compromise. Applicant, Steve Rittle, 3225 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite # 100, Atlanta, GA 30339, came forward to present. He stated that TXDOT does allow for forty (40) foot throat width. The proposed driveway is actually thirty six (36) foot wide with a gutter drain on each side. When there are narrower throat widths, trucks have to wait until the cars come out before they can enter. Likewise, they run over the curbs, breaking the concrete. Mike Benton inquired how many trailers are anticipated. Mr. Rittle did not have factual numbers of trailer counts. Mike Benton reiterated that if staff has a safety concern, then he has a citizen safety concern of the speed of vehicles coming off the freeway into the parking lot area. Mr. Rittle stated that if TXDOT had a safety concern, they would not allow forty (40) foot throat widths. December 3, 2015 P&Z Minutes Page 9 The Commission had no additional questions for staff or the applicant. Vice Chairman Schopper opened Public Hearing at 7:23 p.m. and asked for anyone wishing to speak on the item to come forward. There being no one wishing to speak, Vice Chairman Schopper closed the Public Hearing at 7:23 p.m. MARK HAYNES MOVED TO APPROVE ZC 2015 -20 WITH STIPULATION THAT THE THROAT WIDTH ON DAVIS BOULEVARD BE THIRTY FIVE (35) FEET AND THROAT WIDTH ON MAPLEWOOD AVENUE BE THIRTY NINE (39) FEET. MIKE BENTON SECONDED THE MOTION. Steven Cooper stated that he believed this to be a good compromise by proposing the least traveled street driveway throat to be requested wider width. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. D. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT D.1. AP 2015 -10 Consideration of a request from JBI Partners, Inc. for an Amended Plat of HomeTown Canal District Phase 4 on 10.892 acres located in the 8700 block of Bridge Street. APPROVED Principal Planner, Clayton Husband presented AP 2015 -10. The final plat was approved on July 14, 2014. The amended plat will modify the following items. 1. A portion of Lots 38 -40, Block B, will be removed from the flood plain. The lots were removed from the flood hazard area per a map revision effective September 4, 2015. 2. The street name Myrtle Street will be changed to Madrid Street. 3. Lot 5, Block D, will incorporate an adjacent triangular- shaped one thousand, four hundred and nine (1,409) square foot open space lot on the final plat. This lot is located at the northeast corner of Monterey Mews and McDonough Street. 4. The font building lines on the thirty five (35) foot wide cottage lots will be changed from ten feet to five feet. This change is consistent with the special use permit for the cottage lots approved on July 14, 2014. Staff recommends approval of application AP 2015 -10. Vice Chairman Schopper asked for questions regarding the application. The Commission had no questions. DON BOWEN MOVED TO APPROVE AP 2015 -10. KATHY LUPPY SECONDED THE MOTION. December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 10 MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. D.2. RP 2015 -07 Consideration of a request from 7291 Enterprises for a replat of the Edgley Addition on 0.5971 acres located at 7291 & 7293 Glenview Drive. APPROVED Principal Planner, Clayton Husband presented RP 2015 -07 Consideration of a request from 7291 Enterprises for a replat of the Edgley Addition on 0.5971 acres located at 7291 & 7293 Glenview Drive. The original plat for Edgley Addition was approved in 1951. At some time in the past, a portion of Lot 2 was sold to the owner of the adjacent property without recording a revised plat. The proposed replat of the property would establish the property boundary for Lots 1 and 2 as they exist under present ownership. An architecture firm has an office building on Lot 1, located at the corner of Willman Avenue. The building has existed on the site since at least 1963. The building footprint is shown on the plat because portions of the building encroach the setback lines. The building encroaches the twenty five (25) foot front setback on Glenview Drive by one foot, which is due to right -of -way dedications that have occurred over time. The building also encroaches the fifteen (15) foot side setback on Willman Avenue, and this encroachment was authorized by a variance granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in 1993. Staff recommends approval of application RP 2015 -07. Applicant, Tom Batenhorst, 7291 Glenview Drive, North Richland Hills, came forward to present his application. He is the representative for the owner of both lots. GSBS Architects occupies one lot. The other lot is to be developed. There is a maximum three thousand five hundred (3,500) square feet. The lot lines do not quite match the boundaries, and the plat documents the changes over the years. Vice Chairman Schopper asked for questions of the applicant. The Commission had no questions for staff or the applicant. KATHY LUPPY MOVED TO APPROVE RP 2015 -07. STEVEN COOPER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chairman Schopper adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m. December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 11 Chairman Randall Shiflet Recording Secretary December 3, 2015 P &Z Minutes Page 12 Secretary AO ITO :0 -