HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ 2002-03-14 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF NORTH RICHlAND HillS, TEXAS
MARCH 14,2002 AT 7:00 P.M.
1.
CAll TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Don Bowen at 7:08 p.m.
2.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Chairman
Don Bowen
Ted Nehring
George Tucker
Tim Welch
James laubacker
ABSENT
Alternate
Doug Blue
Scott Turnage
Don Pultz
CITY STAFF
Director of Public Works
Zoning Administrator
Recording Secretary
Mike Curtis
Cathy Horton
Eliza Margenau
3.
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2002
APPROVED
Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. laubacher, motioned to approve the minutes of February
28, 2002. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).
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4.
PS 2002-10
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FROM WILLIAM PRUITT FOR THE APPROVAL
OF THE FINAL PLAT LOT 2, BLOCK 1 OF RUFE SNOW CENTER ADDITION LO-
CA TED IN THE 7800 BLOCK OF RUFE SNOW DRIVE.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSIONER TIM WELCH ABSTAINED
FROM DISCUSSION OR VOTING ON THIS CASE.
APPROVED
Zoning Administrator Cathy Horton summarized the case. This is a one lot plat, lot 2,
Block 1, Rufe Snow Center Addition. A preliminary plat of this addition was approved
in October of last year. The Development Review Committee has reviewed the plat for
compliance with City regulations and it does comply with the Zoning Ordinance, the
Subdivision Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan. All of the comments have been
addressed by the engineer. Staff recommends approval of this plat.
There were no questions or comments from the commission members.
Mr. Nehring, seconded by Mr. Tucker, motioned to approve PS 2002-10 subject to staff
comments. The motion carried (4-0-1) with Mr. Welch abstaining.
5.
PS 2002-11
REQUEST FROM GREATER N.R.H. REAL TV PARTNERS, LTD. FOR THE AP-
PROVAL OF THE FINAL PLAT OF LOTS 1-28, BLOCK 1 OF NORTHRIDGE MEAD-
OWS ADDITION LOCATED IN THE 7000 BLOCK OF HOLIDAY LANE, NORTH OF
HIGHTOWER DRIVE (7.6 ACRES).
APPROVED
Zoning Administrator Cathy Horton summarized the case. This is a final plat of 28
single-family residential lots. It is zoned R-2 Residential. The plat has gone through
Development Review. All of the comments have been addressed by the engineer. The
plat does conform to the Subdivision Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance and Comprehen-
sive Plan. Staff recommends approval of the plat.
Mr. Nehring asked for an explanation of the Public Works requirements from Holiday
lane to Hightower.
Mike Curtis, Director of Public Works, stated that the City ordinance requires that the
developer of this property construct half of Holiday lane. That section, as well as the
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street in the center of the subdivision, will be constructed as a concrete street. Holiday
lane will be widened and improved adjacent to this development and all the way north
to Starnes, which will leave a small section unimproved between the southern part of
the development to Hightower. Based on traffic (the number of cars using Holiday
lane and the school traffic), Mr. Curtis stated that it makes sense to go ahead and
construct the street to Hightower. This additional section does not need to be concrete;
asphalt pavement with concrete curb and gutter would be acceptable. The curbs and
gutters would provide proper disbursement of water coming down Holiday lane. With-
out the curb and gutter, the water would be discharged onto the property at the corner.
Mr. Nehring restated Mr. Curtis's comments to confirm that the street extension to
Hightower will be constructed of asphalt with curbs and gutters. He also asked for
confirmation that there will be sidewalks. Mr. Curtis affirmed that sidewalks would be
included.
Mr. Nehring asked if there is a significant expense to the City to finish the street in
concrete rather than asphalt.
To answer Mr. Nehring's question, Mr. Curtis reviewed the decision-making process of
this project. Currently, Holiday lane from Starnes to Hightower is asphalt. This as-
phalt is older and will begin to deteriorate as traffic increases on this street. This sub-
division's addition of 28 lots will create enough traffic to warrant widening and improv-
ing the street immediately. The immediate need of improving the street eliminated the
possibility of constructing a temporary asphalt street adjacent to this subdivision and
placing the developer's money into escrow for future street improvement. Temporary
pavement is asphalt pavement that does not meet the City's current design criteria of 8-
10 inches of asphalt. Staff knew it would be several years before the City would be
able to come back and reconstruct the street, so the decision was made to ask the
developer to follow the City's current criteria of a concrete street. However, in fairness,
the developer will not be required to provide concrete on the extension to Hightower.
Rather, the developer has been asked to provide a pavement section from the devel-
opment to Hightower. It's possible the developer will choose to use concrete all the
way to Hightower, but the City is not requiring concrete beyond the section adjacent to
the development.
Mr. Nehring asked how wide the flume would need to be on the easement between the
properties. Mr. Curtis stated that he could not yet answer that question because the
applicant's engineer has designed and turned in plans, but staff still needs to review it,
which should happen in the next week.
Mr. Welch stated that along Holiday lane there is a 7.5-ft screening wall easement and
he wondered if a utility easement is also needed.
Mr. Curtis stated that a utility easement is needed. Originally, the engineer had a com-
bination 7.5-ft wide screening wall and utility easement, but after discussions with the
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engineer, City staff felt it would not be a good idea to combine a screening wall ease-
ment with the utility easement because of the possibility of utility contractors damaging
the wall or vice versa. Staff requested the change to just a screening wall easement,
and the applicant's engineer made that change. Based on discussion in the pre-
meeting for a possible need for a utility easement adjacent to Holiday lane for the TXU
transformers, Mr. Curtis stated that it makes good sense to have two easements - a
separate easement for the screening wall and a separate easement for the utilities.
Mr. Welch stated that on January 10, 2002, in his motion for approval on the prelimi-
nary plat he requested notation on the final plat that residents who backed up to Holi-
day are responsible for maintaining the wall. That notation is absent from this final plat.
The applicant responded that he will add that notation.
There were no further questions or comments.
Mr. Nehring, seconded by Mr. Welch, motioned to approve PS 2002-11 subject to engi-
neering comments. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).
6.
PZ 2002-08
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST BY THE HOOVER/KLEIN GROUP
INC. TO REZONE TWO TRACTS FROM C-1 COMMERCIAL TO R-3 RESIDENTIAL.
THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 7821 DAVIS BOULEVARD (5.1) AND 7901
DAVIS BOULEVARD (4.3 ACRES)
APPROVED
Cathy Horton summarized the case. This is a request for two pieces of land north and
south of Bursey Drive and west of Davis Boulevard to be down-zoned from C-1 Com-
mercial to R-3 Residential. The proposed zoning matches the R-3 zoning located in
the subdivision directly to the west of both of these tracts. The C-1 zoning that exists
on these parcels also exists on out to Davis Boulevard. Down zoning these parcels
further extends the buffer between the existing residential and the proposed commer-
cial development along Davis. The Comprehensive Plan shows Neighborhood Service
for these parcels as well as the land extending to the intersection, but Staff feels that
because adjacent zoning is R-3 and this request is R-3, it would substantially lengthen
the buffer and should not have negative impact on this area. The sizes of the two
tracts (5- and 4-acres) appear to be in-fill development. A plat has not been submitted
to date, but staff showed the Commission a potential drawing that would be submitted
where a cul-de-sac would be taken north off Bursey to develop Tract 2 and one street
would connect Bursey Road south to Green Valley Drive on Tract 1.
Bryan Klein, Hoover/Klein Group, 416 N. Main St., #120, Euless, came forward to
speak on behalf of the owner of the property. The development objective is to rezone
the parcels in order to create 38 residential lots and create the balance of the property
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into reasonable proportional tracts for future commercial development. As currently
zoned, there are no plans for commercial development.
Mr. Klein explained that the property, at present, is excessively deep for as much width
as it has along Davis Boulevard. For active use and development, the owner would like
to extend the present residential from the west toward the east, which is the reason for
this rezoning request. The owner will then seek people who will be interested in devel-
oping and occupying the site for commercial development. Mr. Klein presented each
Commissioner with a packet, which he stated contains two options for reasonable de-
velopment of the remainder of the property.
Mr. Klein stated that the single-family lots meet the standards for R-3 zoning which is a
typical lot size of 65 x 120. The cul-de-sac lots would be considerably larger and would
be considered the premium lots. The two options for future development include com-
mercial development of 7.65 acres with a strip center, some office, some retail/office
mix and a possibility of a branch bank location. Those are not proposed but show the
possibility that this acreage could accommodate those uses. The other option would
be a slightly different style of development on the 7.65 acreage and would include
retail/office mix on smaller pad sites. Mr. Klein stated that it is hard to determine right
now what the market would support. In conclusion, he stated that he is here to address
the questions and concerns of the Commission. He requested that they recommend to
the City Council a favorable rezoning of this property.
Mr. Welch asked if the south tract between Green Valley Drive and Bursey would be
large enough to support, for instance, a Kohl's Department Store. He would find it
undesirable to have a large box user at this site.
Mr. Klein stated that large box users such as Kohl's, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot,
and lowe's have chosen other sites for other market reasons, and this site is not well
situated for a large box user. That drove the owner to divide it down into something
that could be used for commercial development.
Mr. Nehring asked if the tracts will connect to the existing subdivisions to the west on
both the north and south sides of Bursey or will they be separate? Mr. Klein replied
that there will not be a street connection but they will be backyard to backyard.
Mr. laubacher asked if they had done a comparison of property values for the devel-
opment to the west versus the selling price of the homes they plan to build.
Gary Cantrell, PCC Davis Property, Ltd., 3400 Glade Road, Colleyville, came forward
to answer Mr. laubacher's question. Mr. Cantrell stated that the homes to the west,
Ember Oaks Addition, were a Fox & Jacobs subdivision. He stated that those homes
range from approximately $155,000 to $175,000. He stated that his lot prices would be
in the mid-40s and the home values would start at $175,000 to $200,000.
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Mr. Welch stated that R-3 zoning requires 1600 sq. ft. minimum homes. He asked if
they would be willing to raise the minimum size of the houses that they plan to build.
Mr. Cantrell replied that there is a possibility that they could do that. He stated that he
would like to keep it low but 1800 sq. ft. might be acceptable.
Chairman Bowen stated that generally in an area where there is a minimum, the aver-
age is going to be somewhat larger anyway.
Mr. Nehring commented that he understands that these tracts, and what is adjacent to
them, are compatible, and this is a pretty good plan for development, but it is not the
direction that the City or Council wants to go because it goes against the current guide-
lines. Mr. Nehring would like to see R-2 for these lots.
Several citizens filled out comment cards and requested that they be allowed to speak.
Chairman Bowen called Dan Recchia. Mr. Recchia lives at 7820 Cloverleaf Drive in
the Ember Oaks Addition. He stated that two homes on his street are 1680 square feet,
and several are 1800 and 2400 square feet. Mr. Recchia's home is 2806 square feet,
and three other homes on the street are 3300 sq. ft. He takes issue with the values
that Mr. Cantrell placed on the homes that he plans to build. Mr. Recchia values his
home of 2800 sq. ft. at $185,000-$190,000. He wonders how Mr. Cantrell will be able
to sell a 1600 square foot home for $175,000 to $200,000. Mr. Recchia is also con-
cerned about the small lot size. He wondered if it would be possible to have 30 lots
rather than 38 lots.
Chairman Bowen explained that the lot sizes for this development would be very com-
parable to the lot sizes on Mr. Recchia's street.
Mr. Recchia responded that he thinks the lot sizes on his street are 72 x 120.
Chairman Bowen stated that the next street is R-3 and so long as the applicant meets
the standards of R-3 he is within the ordinance.
Mr. Recchia asked if a plan had been submitted yet that the neighborhood could see
and would there be two story homes?
Chairman Bowen explained that this is a zoning hearing only. He also stated that even
during the platting process, the types of houses would not be specified. He stated that
there probably would be a mix of one and two story but at this point that is unknown.
Mr. Welch asked if Mr. Recchia was, generally, for or against this development?
Mr. Recchia responded that he is for it if it is comparable in size of homes to the exist-
ing community to the West. He would like to see offices in the commercial develop-
ment rather than retail.
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Chairman Bowen commented that he would prefer 1800 square feet minimum, which
would make the average somewhat larger.
Chairman Bowen called Byron Meek. Mr. Meek resides at 7805 Cloverleaf Drive. He
requested clarification of R-2 versus R-3 zoning.
Chairman Bowen explained that R-3 requires 7500 square foot minimum lot size with
1600 square foot minimum residence size, and R-2 requires 9000 square foot minimum
lot with 2000 square foot minimum residence size.
Mr. Meek asked what type of home construction would be allowed?
Chairman Bowen replied that the City has a masonry ordinance, which requires that the
first floor of a residence must be 100% masonry.
Mr. Meek stated that he is for residential zoning and his main concern is property val-
ues.
Chairman Bowen called Scott Wood. Mr. Wood resides at 8100 Green Valley Drive.
Mr. Wood's concern regards the location of the street between Green Valley and Bur-
sey. If the street is close to Mr. Wood's driveway, he is concerned that it will be difficult
for him to get in and out of his house.
The Chairman asked Mr. Klein to answer Mr. Wood's question regarding the location of
the road. Mr. Klein suggested that if he lived there he would use Bursey to exit onto
Davis since there is a light at that intersection. Mr. Klein believes that more traffic will
impact Bursey rather than Green Valley. Mr. Klein then summarized his presentation,
again, repeating most of the points he made in his earlier presentation.
Chairman Bowen asked if anyone else wished to speak in favor or against this zoning
request. Mr. Recchia returned to the podium to ask if there is any kind of utility ease-
ment behind the existing backyards. Chairman Bowen explained that Public Works
would have to determine that issue.
As there were no other comments or questions, Chairman Bowen closed the public
hearing.
Mr. Nehring commented that he likes this plan but he would vote for R-2 rather than R-
3 for the homesites.
Chairman Bowen commented that since there is R-3 to the west and this is a continua-
tion of a transition zone, it isn't an R-2 fit. He feels R-3 is an appropriate fit although he
would like to see a minimum of 1800 square feet homes.
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Mr. Welch commented that he concurs with Chairman Bowen. With good planning,
appropriate buffers are needed. An appropriate buffer between R-3 and commercial
could be multi-family, which would not be the way to go here, so this is a good trade-off.
Mr. Welch stated that he is glad to hear that big boxes are not interested in this site. R-
3 with a minimum of 1800 square feet homes is a good plan for this area.
Mr. laubacher stated that he concurs with Mr. Welch's comments.
Chairman Bowen called for a motion.
Mr. laubacher made a motion to approve PZ 2002-08 with the stipulation of a recom-
mendation of 1800 square feet.
Cathy Horton, Zoning Administrator, interrupted the motion to remind the Commission
that this is a straight R-3 zoning request and the Commission cannot place restrictions,
such as minimum house size, on a straight zoning request. The commission can ask
the developer, in terms of a good faith effort, that the house size be raised.
Mr. laubacher, seconded by Mr. Welch, motioned to approve PZ 2002-08, encouraging
the developer to consider 1800 square feet. The motion passed (4-1-0) with Mr. Ne-
hring voting in opposition.
7.
ADJOURNMENT
There was no other business, but prior to adjourning, Chairman Bowen recognized
longhorn Council Troop 348 in the audience. To encourage citizenship, troop mem-
bers are required to attend a City Councilor Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.
Representing the troop were Sterling, Ryan and Jonathan Graf, Jon Burke, and Rick
and Ricky Bower.
Chairman Bowen adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Chairman Secretary
Don!}: O~ TedZ;; ø~
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THE STATE OF TEXAS )
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AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION
COUNTY OF TARRANT
The undersigned Planning & Zoning Commission person of the City of North
Richland Hills hereby under oath says that he has an interest in item 4 on the 0
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Planning & Zoning Commission Agenda for =:rqUY,-~ . ~ A-æc~ /4 I 200~
The nature of the interest is:
fPDrËSSlOi..J/1't C1D^-1 FlIC,
By filing this affidavit with the City Secretary, the undersigned gives notice that he
will not and has not taken part in the discussion or deliberation on such agenda item
and will not vote on such agenda item.
Signed under oath this 11- day of
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Planning & ng Commissioner
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CAROLYN HUGGINS
MY COMMISSION EXPIRES
November 14, 2004
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14 day of
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City of North Richland Hills, Texas I