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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPC 2018-10-11 Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE OCTOBER 11, 2018 Regular Meeting 1. Call to Order The Strategic Plan Committee of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met on the 11th day of October, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. City Council Workroom. Present: Tim Welch City Council Member, Chairman Rita Wright-Oujesky City Council Member, Vice Chairperson Brent Barrow City Council Member Jerry Tyner Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn Planning and Zoning Commissioner Amy Steele Committee Member Brian Crowson Committee Member Blake Hedgecock Committee Member Danny Beltran Committee Member Karen Russell Committee Member Suzy Compton Committee Member Tracye Tipps Committee Member Absent: Tim Barth Committee Member Lee Knight Alternate Committee Member Mark Wood Committee Member Skip Baskerville Committee Member Staff Members: Clayton Comstock Planning Director Clayton Husband Principal Planner Chad VanSteenberg Planner John Chapman Planning Technician Caroline Waggoner Public Works Director Paulette Hartman Deputy City Manager 2. Approve minutes of the September 13, 2018, Strategic Plan Committee meeting. October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 12 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BRIAN CROWSON, SECONDED BY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONER JERRY TYNER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2018, STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 11-0. 3. Discussion of the residential estate land use designation. Deputy City Manager Paulette Hartman made introductory remarks about the strategic plan, Vision 2030. Ms. Hartman discussed what a comprehensive land use plan is and the historical responsibility cities have to create one. Ms. Hartman stated that the comprehensive land use plan is a community's plan that establishes the foundation for development policies, strategies, and actions. Ms. Hartman stated the comprehensive land use plan does not affect or change any existing zoning. Ms. Hartman continued stating the City is updating the comprehensive plan because the current plan has not been updated since 1991. Committee Member Danny Beltran entered the room at 6:09 p.m. Ms. Hartman continued to state the update to the 1991 comprehensive plan is necessary to demonstrate responsiveness in addressing the needs of the community today and planning for future city services. Ms. Hartman also stated that the Strategic Planning Committee work is the beginning of the process. Tonight, the Committee will discuss the Residential Estate land use category, however tonight is not a public hearing. On November 5, 2018, the Committee will discuss and finalize the land use of the remaining vacant tracts. November 8, 2018, will be an open house meeting where the public will have the opportunity to provide their input. After the openhouse, the plan will move forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which is anticipated to be in December or January. Following a recommendation from Planning and Zoning, City Council will then discuss and potentially act on the plan. Both Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council meetings will be public hearings. Planning Director Clayton Comstock presented the changes from the 2012 Land Use Plan and 2018 Land Use Plan and stated North Richland Hills is a low-density residential community. Mr. Comstock discussed the remaining 833 acres of land currently vacant in North Richland Hills. October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 12 Mr. Comstock explained why the residential estate land use category is being discussed and considered by the Strategic Plan Committee. Mr. Comstock provided a brief background of the areas proposed as Residential Estate. Mr. Comstock discussed the April 2014 joint worksession meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, which discussed the areas of Continental Drive and Valley Drive and Little Ranch Road and Meadow Creek Road. Mr. Comstock then discussed a meeting held on July 18, 2017, to discuss the appropriateness for traditional suburban development, half-acre lots, or one-acre lot development in the same areas. Mr. Comstock discussed market pressures of the proposed residential estate areas and presented maps based on Tarrant County Appraisal District data on lot size, AG Agricultural and R-1-S Special Single-Family zoning districts, improvement to total value percentages, price per square-foot, and an index of lot sizes half-area or larger with an improvement to total value ratio of 50% or less. Pertaining to the maps presented by Mr. Comstock, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn stated the maps are very helpful. Mr. Comstock presented three potential scenarios the Committee may chose from if they consider: 1) Residential Estate with 1-acre minimum and a maximum one dwelling unit per acre. 2) Keep the existing designation of low density residential and allow zoning on a case-by-case basis. 3) Residential Estate with half-acre lot sizes with a maximum of two dwelling units per acre. Ms. Hartman stated the scenarios presented by Mr. Comstock are not required to be the decision of the Committee, nor does staff have any position on the consideration. Council Member Tim Welch asked if the area would have a capacity for R-2 Single-Family Residential zoning districts. Public Works Director Caroline Waggoner stated the area would have the capacity for R-2 zoning, however some improvements would be required. Ms. Waggoner stated that since this is a long-term plan, the streets and infrastructure would be the responsibility of the City and would increase October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 12 the cost of providing city-services to the areas proposed for Residential Estate. Committee Member Amy Steele asked if the properties in the Continental Trail and Valley Drive area are developable due to the flood plain. Ms. Waggoner stated the flood plain in the Continental Trail and Valley Drive would be challenging to reclaim, but Ms. Waggoner they would need to examine the flood plain map. Committee Member Steele and Mr. Comstock discussed the current zoning of the area. Ms. Hartman stated that if a property is zoned AG (Agricultural), the property must be rezoned to a single-family residential zoning district for new construction. Committee Member Blake Hedgecock asked Mr. Comstock what the current definition of Low Density Residential is on the 2012 Land Use Plan. Mr. Comstock stated the current 2012 Land Use Plan definition is to "provide for traditional, low-density single-family detached dwelling units." Mr. Comstock also explained the proposed 2018 Land Use definition for Low Density Residential is to "Promote quality neighborhoods of conventional suburban single-family detached homes. General characteristics of these neighborhoods include a density of two to six-dwelling units per acre and houses of one- and two-stories. Although most Low-Density Residential neighborhoods are characterized by driveways accessing the street, some more pedestrian-oriented and/or narrower-lot neighborhoods may have driveways accessed from rear alleys." Committee Member Suzy Compton voiced concerns over different lot sizes being a potential barrier to future development. Committee Member Compton stated the characteristic along Douglas Lane is different from Continental Drive. Committee Member Compton also stated she is not sure if both areas should be considered together or separately. Council Member Welch stated they should be considered separately. Committee Member Compton stated the zoning should be a case-by-case scenario because the lots are different sizes. Committee Member Brian Crowson agreed with Committee Member Compton on examining zoning changes in these areas on a case-by-case scenario. Committee Member Crowson stated the characteristic of Continental Trail should not be changed. Committee Member Crowson stated lots along Douglas Lane would be complicated to develop due to the narrow lot sizes. Committee Member Danny Beltran supported Scenario 2 for Continental Trail and a case-by-case zoning change scenario on Douglas Lane. Mr. Beltran said flexibility is October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 12 necessary. Committee Member Karen Russell stated property owners should be allowed to decide the future of their land and zoning changes should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner asked Mr. Comstock if any property owner wished to subdivide their property, they would need to appear in front of Planning and Zoning and City Council on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Comstock stated yes. Commissioner Tyner stated the residents want to keep the residential estate characteristic. Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn stated the one-acre Residential Estate is appropriate for the area surrounding Continental Trail and Valley Drive. Commissioner Welborn stated Low-Density Residential is appropriate for the area north of Hightower Road and half-acre Residential Estate is appropriate for the area between Chapman Drive and Hightower Road. He stated a case-by-case scenario would be the best practice. Committee Member Amy Steele said she enjoys the character of the area. Hightower and Douglas Lane properties are zoned for R-1-S today, and should be maintained as it is with a one-acre lot minimum. Committee Member Tracye Tipps stated citizens spoke clearly about their wishes and the environment these areas have today. The character should be preserved minimum one-acre lots. Committee Member Blake Hedgecock stated whether we are going to create a new land use category, the 2012 plan shows this area as Low Density Residential and the petition is for a new zoning district, which he clarified is not zoning. Mr. Hedgecock stated we should have a new land use for these areas with a maximum of two dwelling units per acre with zoning changes determined on a case-by-case scenario. Council Member Brent Barrow stated the areas should maintain the current character. Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky stated Low Density Residential for both areas and zoning decided on a case-by-case scenario. Allow property owners to approach October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 12 Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and allow the Commission and Council to decide. Areas on the fringe of these areas might be prime for a different zoning district. Council Member Oujesky chose scenario number 3. Council Member Tim Welch and Mr. Comstock discussed the Continental Trail and Valley Drive map. Council Member Welch stated he is in favor of maintaining a minimum one-acre lot designation. Ms. Hartman stated the Committee may discuss altering the boundary of any land use district on the Land Use Plan. Council Member Oujesky asked Ms. Hartman what the best way to proceed would be. Ms. Hartman stated the best method would be to ask for a proposal to reach a consensus on a recommendation tonight. Council Member Oujesky proposed to recommend the proposed Residential Estate area as one category land use as Low Density Residential. Committee Member Compton asked for clarification on the Little Ranch Road and Meadow Creek Road on the original 2014 map. Mr. Comstock stated the decision not to extend the core Hightower area line to Bursey Road was because there is a potential for the properties along Bursey Road to subdivide. Committee Member Crowson disagreed with Council Member Oujesky's proposal and stated the Continental area should remain as it is today. Commissioner Welborn and Mr. Comstock discussed the broader definition of low density residential. Commissioner Welborn suggested the definition should be broadened to include residential estate lots. Council Member Welch stated a broader definition is a catch-all and the R-1-S zoning is already in place to protect lots from being subdivided. Committee Member Compton and Mr. Comstock discussed the definition of the 2012 Land Use Plan Low-Density Residential land use category. She stated broadening the definition provides a better opportunity for everyone. Committee Member Compton stated she would prefer to remain Low Density Residential with the broad definition in place. October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 12 Council Member Welch stated there should be a land use designation to protect the character and allow future Councils, Commissions, and staff to understand what the desire of the citizens were during this process. Committee Member Tipps seconded Council Member Welch's comments and stated the plan should reflect what the citizens have voiced. Council Member Oujesky stated not all property owners have indicated they want to keep the character of the area. Committee Member Tipps stated that six dwelling units per acre may not be the best. Council Member Oujesky stated that the zoning change would be considered on a case-by-case scenario. Commissioner Welborn asked if apartments, townhomes, and condominiums would be consistent with the comprehensive land use plan for this area. Mr. Comstock stated no and that the zoning for such districts would need to be discussed and decided by Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Commissioner Welborn stated a high density in these areas would be an extreme case to consider and approve. Ms. Hartman stated duplex would be medium-density residential, apartments would be considered high density residential. Commissioner Tyner discussed a zoning case to consider a subdivision on Douglas Lane. Commissioner Tyner stated regardless of the recommendation, all future zoning changes require consideration by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Commissioner Tyner stated he looks to the Land Use Plan for a guideline as how the land should be developed and asked for the Committee to formalize the Residential Estate land use designation. Committee Member Tipps stated the area should have a new land use designation because the area is special and should be protected. Committee Member Crowson asked how developing the area would be cost-effective for a developer. Council Member Welch stated the improvements to public infrastructure would be costly and could cause a project not come to fruition. Commissioner Welborn stated it is possible to assemble property, but that it would be difficult for someone to enter these areas and purchase enough property and to evaluate any future zoning changes on a case-by-case scenario. Committee Member Crowson stated he would accept keeping the designation as is October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 12 and to preserve the characteristic of the area. Council Member Welch called for a recommendation from the Committee. Council Member Oujesky's proposal is to consider leaving the areas as is with the 2012 Low Density Residential land use definition and that any zoning request come before Planning and Zoning and City Council and be decided on a case-by-case scenario. Committee Member Compton stated the definition of Low Density Residential is very broad and encompasses larger lots and is not restrictive to the land owner if they chose to sell the property. Committee Member Hedgecock asked if the Committee is going to designate a new land use category to identify these areas or if the Committee is considering a broader land use definition for all low density residential. Commissioner Tyner asked what the proposed Low Density Residential land use definition is. Mr. Comstock stated there does not need to be a density reference in the definitions for the land use categories. Council Member Tim Welch called for a vote on Council Member Oujesky's recommendation. For: Committee Member Karen Russell, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn, City Council Member Brent Barrow, City Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky Against: City Council Member Tim Welch, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner, Committee Member Amy Steele, Committee Member Brian Crowson, Committee Member Tracye Tipps, Suzy Compton, Committee Member Blake Hedgecock, Committee Member Danny Beltran The recommendation failed. Committee Member Compton stated zoning changes should be considered on a case-by-case scenario and leave the possibility up to the property owners and voting bodies of the City. October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 12 Council Member Welch called for another recommendation from the Committee. Committee Member Hedgecock recommended adopting the Residential Estate for all areas with a maximum of two-units per acre that would fill in a gap where the Low Density Residential land use description begins on all proposed Residential Estates areas with a one dwelling unit per half-acre minimum. Mr. Comstock stated the definition does include two-units per acre and that the proposal targets two dwelling units per acre. Committee Member Hedgecock stated the maximum for Low Density Residential is about six-units per acre. The new designation would be for two-units per acre maximum. Mr. Hedgecock stated this is not zoning, and cases would need to be brought forth to Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Committee Member Steele stated one-unit per half acre could be a potential. Committee Member Hedgecock stated the area should be different from other areas in North Richland Hills. Commissioner Welborn and Mr. Hedgecock discussed what the land use designation of the area should be. Commissioner Welborn would rather have a less restrictive land use. Council Member Welch and Mr. Hedgecock returned to discussing the zoning of the Little Ranch Road and Meadow Creek Road. Council Member Welch called for a vote on Committee Member Hedgecock's recommendation. For: Committee Member Blake Hedgecock, Committee Member Suzy Compton Against: Council Member Tim Welch, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner, Committee Member Amy Steele, Committee Member Brian Crowson, Committee Member Tracye Tipps, Committee Member Danny Beltran, Committee Member Karen Russell, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn, Committee Member Brent Barrow, Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 12 The recommendation failed. Council Member Welch called for a recommendation from the Committee. Committee Member Beltran recommended to create the Residential Estate as proposed with one-acre lot minimums. Council Member Welch called for a vote on Committee Member Beltran's recommendation. For: Committee Member Amy Steele, Committee Member Brian Crowson, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner, Council Member Tim Welch, Committee Member Tracye Tipps, Committee Member Karen Russell Against: Committee Member Blake Hedgecock, Committee Member Suzy Compton, Committee Member Danny Beltran, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn, Council Member Brent Barrow, Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky The recommendation failed. Council Member Welch called for a recommendation from the Committee. Commissioner Welborn recommended one-acre lot minimum on Valley and Continental area and Low Density Residential along Meadow Creek and Little Ranch Road and Douglas Road. Council Member Oujesky confirmed zoning changes are considered on a case-by-case scenario with Mr. Comstock. Commissioner Tyner asked who uses comprehensive plans. Economic Development Director Craig Hulse stated developers consult the land use plan prior to approaching the City as an indication of the response they may receive from Planning and Zoning and City Council. Ms. Hartman stated a resident and buyer may also consult the Land Use Plan to understand the future of property. Committee Member Tipps asked if a developer would be able to come in and put three houses on certain lots. Commissioner Welborn stated the developer would need to approach Planning and Zoning and City Council regardless of what the land use October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 12 designation is. Ms. Hartman stated the land use designation does not take away any property rights. Council Member Welch called for a vote on Commissioner Welborn's recommendation. For: Committee Member Suzy Compton, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn, Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky Against: Committee Member Brian Crowson, Committee Member Danny Beltran, Committee Member Karen Russell, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner, Council Member Tim Welch, Council Member Brent Barrow, Committee Member Blake Hedgecock, Committee Member Tracye Tipps, Committee Member Amy Steele The recommendation failed. Council Member Welch called for recommendations from the Committee. Committee Member Hedgecock recommended both areas be designated Residential Estates and that the definition be single-family detached homes with less than two-units per acre. Council Member Welch called for a vote on Committee member Hedgecock's recommendation. For: Committee Member Danny Beltran, Committee Member Blake Hedgecock, Committee Member Karen Russell, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner, Council Member Brent Barrow, Council Member Tim Welch, Committee Member Tracye Tipps, Committee Member Brian Crowson Against: Committee Member Suzy Compton, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Justin Welborn, Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky, Committee Member Amy Steele The recommendation passed. The Committee discussed the designation of establishing a less than two-units per acre minimum. October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 11 of 12 4. Discussion and consideration of the draft 2018 Land Use Plan. No discussion took place on this item. 5. Adjournment Council Member Tim Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. / I Tim W , o ncil Member October 11, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 12