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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z MN 08-20-07 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS MINUTES August 20, 2007 The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of University Park met on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 5:10 P.M. in the City Hall Modular Building, 3800 University Blvd., University Park, Texas. The following are minutes of that meeting. Commission Members Attending Robert H. West - Chairman Reed Shawver, III Bea Humann Jerry Jordan Bill Foose Staff Members Attending Harry Persaud - Community Dev. Mgr Lorna Balser - Planning Assistant Rob Dillard, City Attorney Present and Seated Ed Freeman Randy Biddle Abstained Doug Roach Mr. West opened the meeting, welcomed everyone in attendance and then read the specifics of the case. PZ 07-015 - Architexas, representing First Unitarian Church of Dallas, requesting a zoning change from SF-2 to Planned Development District "PD-24" zoning district classification for a tract of land situated East of Preston and North of and abutting St. Andrews Dr., and described as lot 3A, St. Andrews Place Addition, in the City of University Park; and consideration of an amended conceptual site plan for PD-24 zoning district. The subject tract is zoned Single Family SF-2 and PD-24 and owned by the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. Mr. West then asked for Harry Persaud to review the case. Mr. Persaud stated that the submittal was a Planned Development concept plan for the subject property. He reviewed the zoning for the area, and displayed the 200 ft. buffer area for which letters were mailed. Harry Persaud then introduced James Snell from the First Unitarian Church of Dallas and John Allender from Architexas. James Snell is a University Park resident who resides at 4017 Stanford, and is a past president of the church from 2003-2006. Mr. Snell approached the podium and spoke of the proposed project which began in 2003. He reviewed the churches values and the churches desire to be integrated into the community. At the present time, church members feel that their current space does not meet their needs. They have attempted to construct their design and architecture to be sensitive to the surroundings. James Snell then introduced John Allender with Architexas. Mr. Allender reviewed the plans for more classrooms, offices and a fellowship hall. With their building designs, he stated that protection of the trees is very important while also increasing their on site parking while maintaining a residential feel of the church grounds. Mr. Allender then reviewed the church plans with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. He emphasized the reinforcement of the fire lane with the new fire hydrant that will be placed onsite. He said that the planting plan was being developed with the building plans so as to maintain the trees. The arbor court outlines a vehicle drop off within the colonnade into the campus. Mr. Allender reviewed the green building goals proposed by the church such as using native plant materials which are sustainable in the Texas heat. He assured the committee that there are no building heights which will exceed 35' in height. Mr. Allender addressed the parking proposed for the subject property. There are 427 proposed seats in the sanctuary with 142 on site parking spaces required. The church has proposed 75 on site parking spaces. With the additional Sunday spaces available at Highland Park Village of 317 and other spaces available in an adjacent bank and retail, there are plenty of parking spaces available around the church to park. Bob West asked for any questions or comments. Bob West asked Mr. Allender if the church will run a school. Mr. Allender responded that the church will not run a school. Janet Tharp, President of the Congregation outlined the number one goal in the church's plan. This goal is for the church to provide community outreach which would be run by the church board and church staff. They would invite people to speak at their church for education. Jerry Jordan asked if the church would be considered a 503 C1 organization. Ms. Tharp responded that it is not right now but that the church is exploring that possibility. James Snell added that it is an extension of what is already done at the church. Jerry Jordan questioned the classrooms and education. John Allender stated that they can add restrictions on education and use of the facilities to the PD requirements. Bill Foose asked about the drive off of Preston Road. John Allender stated that there is a marker for the front entry of the church, for inclement weather as well as older members of the congregation. Bob West asked Mr. Allender how many cars the front entry of the church would accommodate. John Allender responded that it would accommodate 3-4 cars. Bill Foose asked Mr. Allender about the car circulation out of the front entry of the church. John Allender responded that people would take a right out of the exit. Bob West advised everyone in attendance that the plan currently being considered IS a conceptual site plan. First Unitarian Church will come back later with the details. Clyde Jackson who resides at 6001 St. Andrews asked about the dumpster situation. John Allender responded that there will be a gate enclosure which is being reviewed by the city staff. Mr. Jackson expressed a possibility for placing it further back toward Preston Rd. John Allender stated that the design requirements would make it difficult. Bea Humann asked if parking spaces would be lost if the dumpsters were placed toward the parking lot. John Allender stated that they would. Andrew Campbell who resides at 4004 St. Andrews corrected John Allender that trees 2 would be lost if the dumpster location were moved further back. Bea Humann stated that any spillage though would be on their own lot. John Allender agreed. Bob West advised John Allender to re-visit with the Jacob Speer again regarding sanitation. Andrew Campbell stated that there are many things that he does not like about the plans but that it sounds like the church is working out the details. Clyde Jackson noted that the YMCA next door has their trash accommodated and contained within an enclosed area and that the church might consider looking at that. Bob West added that the YMCA's faces Shenandoah. Mr. West again asked for any further questions or opposition. Dr. James Huth who resides at 4005 Normandy commended the church on their growth but added that the church is land locked. Any increase in size will increase traffic and noise. Although the sanctuary is not changed for now, he questioned what will happen in 10 years, considering what has happened in the past. He recalled a previous week's function in which many people were picking up kids and provided the members of P&Z with photos he had taken. He felt that the commission should consider more than the one piece of property in their decision. Bob West asked Clyde Jackson to expand on his letter and recommendations to the Planning & Zoning Commission dated August 20, 2007. Clyde Jackson responded that he (1) wants language outlining the uses of the school, (2) would like restrictions placed on the YMCA uses in reference to the church, (3) would like to see the dumpster located where it is proposed. Bob West again asked for any further questions or opposition. John Roach who resides at 4101 San Carlos approached the podium and stated that the church is good neighbors and that parking is generally not a problem. He feels though that the parking has reached its maximum potential though. He feels that to ask neighbors to accept any more is not acceptable and he is against any expansion. Bob West questioned the church about their growth. Janet Tharp responded that while they have grown through the years, it has been really slow. John Allender added that the largest problem for the church has been with their educational classrooms. He stated that they have had to double their age groups for classes and stagger the schedules. They would really like to break up the student according to their age groups. Gil Brown who resides at 4007 Normandy approached the podium and questioned the church's rental uses. Bill Foose asked about the types of services held at the church. Janet Tharp responded that there are 2 services held on Sunday along with 2 sessions of Sunday School. There are 2-3 groups which meet once during the week. Bill Foose asked if it was on Wednesday nights that groups meet. Ms. Tharp responded that it was not. Some groups meet on Wednesday nights but no services are held. She added that during the summer, they hold "Sun Fun" which is equivalent to Vacation Bible School with approximately 45 kids. Jerry Jordan asked if the pick up of kids loops through the St. Andrews parking lot. Janet Tharp responded that having the bank across the street provides a security issue for the kids. 3 Rob Dillard noted that renting to non affiliated groups presents a question of the facility having a accessory use. Jerry Jordan suggested that the proposed draft show facilities which cannot be rented unless the church can provide parking. Harry Persaud recommended that the PD amendment be worded to say "only affiliated". Art Anderson, Attorney for the church stated that he would like to work with Rob Dillard on the PD language. Bob West asked Rob Dillard about possibly tabling the item until the next meeting. Rob Dillard stated that tabling was a possibility. John Allender quickly added that the church wanted to move onto the detailed design of the development. Bob West reviewed the items of concern which had been brought before the commission. 1. The sanitation issue: to relocate to an internal part of the site. 2. Restrictions on rentals to take place within certain hours with no more than 3 consecutive days in a calendar year. 3. Restrictions to the school use, with cones being put out, etc. Rob Dillard stated that the city could place all items into motion and still proceed to Council. Bill Foose stated that he still had concern about the parking lot and the pick up of children. Bob West asked Harry Persaud about the Preston Road drive through and the stacking distance required. Harry Persaud stated that he did have concern for the stacking of automobiles. A representative with the traffic consultant approached the podium and stated that there would be minimum impact for Preston Road on Sunday mornings according to their observations and calculations. Gil Brown who resides at 4007 Normandy asked the church representatives about the detailed landscape plan and what trees would be coming down and what would be saved. She asked that there be sensitivity to the neighbors. Bill Foose asked the direction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic through the site. John Allender responded that it will be East to West access. Janet Tharp added again that the church has a great deal of concern for the trees and will continue to do so as the plans are completed. As to the dumpster, she stated that the church would be happy to work with the city and the sanitation department. Bob West closed the public hearing and asked for discussion from the P&Z members. Bill Foose made a motion to table until the next meeting so that specific issues would be studied and worked out. Bob West added that the council could then look at it and they would then come back to the Planning and Zoning Commission with the detailed site plan. Bob West asked for a second. There was none provided. Reed Shawver motioned to approve the conceptual site plan with the restrictions earlier provided by Bob West along with resolutions to the rental of the facility and for the church to work with the neighbors on the screening of the 4 dumpsters. He recommended that a restricted use be outlined in the PD requirements and to move forward to rezone the SF-2 lot as PD-24. Jerry Jordan questioned the two parts to motion. Harry Persaud recommended approval of the rezoning and conceptual plan with restrictions prior to going to council. Bea Humann seconded the motion for approval with the rezoning from SF-2 to PD-24, and amending the concept site plan of PD-24 with the requirements for rental uses, school restriction and sanitation satisfied prior to proceeding to City Council. Harry Persaud recommended that the church submit copies of the parking agreements with surrounding lots to the city. Reed Shawver stated that he did not wish to amend the motion further. Bill Foose stated that he continued to question the on site circulation. John Allender stated that the church can place a chain or sign on the lot when the spaces are full. Reed Shawver stated again that he wanted to leave the motion as previously stated. The motion was passed in favor 4-0 with 1 opposition from Bill Foose. Mr. West then asked for approval of the minutes from the July 16, 2007 meeting with any comments or changes. With no comments or changes other than to change Bill Foose's comment on page 3 to read that "University Park cannot really accommodate University apartments". Bill Foose made a motion to approve the minutes with the change. Bea Humann seconded the motion and the motion was passed with a 5-0 vote. With there being no further business before the Board, Mr. West adjourned the meeting. ffM# If:;;! Robert H. West, Chairman Planning & Zoning Commission qjJ'l j tJ 'l Date f f 5