Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes - 08/09/2023 c-
MINUTES
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
August 9, 2023
PRESENT:
Michael Grassi ♦ Member
Blake Haney ♦ Member
Doug McCulloch • Member
Matt Marrs • Member
Noros Martin • Member
Paul Mason ♦Alternate No.2
Wayne Pharries ♦Member
Jeremy Woodward ♦ vice-Chair
James McKechnie, Deputy City Attorney ♦ City Staff
Monica Aguon, City Attorney •City Staff
Paul Menzies, Assistant City Manager ♦City Staff
Terry Floyd, Development Services Director •City Staff
Fabian Medellin, Planning Manager • City Staff
Christal Cates, Senior Executive Asst. ♦City staff
ABSENT:
David Cook • Chairman
Mark McBurnett ♦ SAFB Liaison
Cayce Wendeborn ♦ Member
Steve Wood •Alternate No.1
Councilor Bobby Whiteley •Council Liaison
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman, Mr. Jeremy Woodward, at 2:00
p.m. Vice Chairman Woodward proceeded to make the following comments:
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Vice Chairman Woodward asked if there were any comments from the public. With
no response, Mr. Woodward closed public comments.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Noros Martin made a motion to adopt the July 12, 2023, minutes. Mr. Matt
Marrs seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously, 7-0
VII. CONSENT AGENDA
Case P 23-13 — Trophy Park, Section 5
Case P 23-14 — Luther Nichols Ill Addition, Lot 1, Block 1
Planning and Zoning 2 August 9, 2023
Case P 23-15 — Plum Creek Commercial Addition, Lot 1, Block 3
Vice Chairman Woodward asked if there were any items that needed to be moved
the regular agenda. Mr. Medellin stated there were no items to be moved to the
regular agenda, however, Case P 23-13 — Trophy Park, Section 5, was requested
to be pulled from the consent agenda by the applicants.
With Case P 23-13 removed, Mr. Wayne Pharries made a motion to approve the
consent agenda with Mr. Marrs seconding. The vote passed unanimously 7-0.
VIII. REGULAR AGENDA
1. Case R 23-03 — 2203 Missile Road - Rezone:
Public hearing to discuss a proposed rezone at 2203 Missile Road (3.43
Acres of the Lewis Wells Survey, Abstract 323), from Limited Commercial
(LC) to Planned Unit Development— Residential Use (PUD-RU) zoning
district to allow for the construction of a 48-unit multi-family complex.
Applicant/Owner: Michael Grassi
*it is noted Mr. Michael Grassi, P&Z Commission member had recused himself, filing the
paperwork with the City Clerk's Office for record.
Vice Chairman Woodward opened the public hearing at 2:02 pm concerning case
R 23-03. Mr. Fabian Medellin presented a review of the case. The proposed
rezone concerning 2203 Missile Road, was not to allow for the development of the
multi-residential complex, as that was currently allowed by-right, but to petition for a
reduction in the setbacks. The subject property was an undeveloped parcel of land,
zoned as Limited Commercial (LC), surrounded by single family uses in a Single
Family-2 (SF-2) zoning district.
Mr. Medellin stated staff had previously met with the owner/applicant, Mr. Michael
Grassi for a pre-development meeting to discuss the property and development
options. During discussions to develop the property for multi-family uses, staff
advised Mr. Grassi that multi-family uses are allowed by-right, up to 25 units per
acre, up to 85 units for this subject property. Development regulations discussed
were the 25ft. setback along frontages, 10ft. setback to the rear and a maximum of
35ft. in height of the structures.
Mr. Medellin stated that the owner, Mr. Grassi, was seeking a reduction of setbacks
from the roadway from 25ft. down to 15ft. and to reduce the separation
requirements for access points adjacent to alleys and other lots. During the pre-
development meeting with Mr. Grassi, staff advised of a rezone that takes a base
zoning and modifies it to support the unique development. Mr. Grassi was
requesting the setbacks so that he could develop a more aesthetically pleasing
development by pushing the structures closer to the roadways, creating more
space to the rear of the property to provide a larger area for parking.
Staff advised Mr. Grassi the development of a Planned Unit Development (PUD)
had a give and take. The PUD could relax some of the setbacks while enhancing
Planning and Zoning 3 August 9, 2023
some sections of the ordinance to provide a unique and more elegant
development.
After the meeting, Mr. Grassi contracted a civil engineer to work on the site designs
and gather preliminary calculations on infrastructure. Mr. Grassi continued working
with staff and provided the site plan the civil engineer had completed.Staff reviewed
the site plan, noting the setback reductions and curb cut locations as discussed;
however, with Mr. Grassi requesting the PUD, staff also made requests to protect
and enhance the development. Mr. Medellin laid out the requirements staff had for
the PUD.
Conditions of PUD
• Maximum of 48 Dwelling Units (12 Quadruplexes)
• Single story structures only
• Reduced setbacks of 15ft. along street frontages
• Reduction of distance of curb cuts from adjacent properties and alleys
• Decorative wrought iron fencing with brick columns along Hooper Drive,
Greentree Avenue and Missile Road.
• Enhanced landscaping — open space/landscape screening
Mr. Medellin displayed photos of a developed complex provided by the applicant to
show what the fencing would be modeled after, giving an example to the
Commission. Mr. Medellin noted in addition, to the example photos given there
would be additional landscaping required as the photos show only minimal
landscaping.
Mr. Medellin displayed the applicant's site plan as well as providing large prints of
the site plan to public attendees. Mr. Medellin noted the dual access points, created
one drive from Hooper Drive to Greentree Avenue. Staff believes this is the best
location to access the site as Missile Road is a minor arterial road on the City of
Wichita Falls Thoroughfare classification, and as such is intended to facilitate and
help move traffic from one neighborhood to the next, or to the next highest
classification road to move them further beyond the neighborhoods to another
portion of town. Public Works did not want to allow any access points along Missile
Road as it is a minor arterial road.
Mr. Medellin stated the two entrances would allow for sanitation trucks to enter and
exit safely, allowing each unit its own rolling poly-cart for sanitation services. Staff
believes the two curb cuts will help with the flow of traffic versus funneling all traffic
in and out of one access point.
Another element Mr. Medellin advised the Commission of was the proposed paved,
internal walking trail inside the complex. In addition, Mr. Grassi would also be
constructing a sidewalk outside of the complex, running along Missile Road for
pedestrian's safety. Mr. Medellin stated each unit would consist of 2 bedrooms and
2 bathrooms, geared toward military housing. Each unit would be required to have
2 parking stalls, for a total of 96 parking stalls for the complex.
Planning and Zoning 4 August 9, 2023
Mr. Medellin stated staff had mailed 50 notices to surrounding property owners
within 200ft. of the subject property. A total of 14 responses had been received, 10
opposed and 4 in favor of the proposed development for the first responses. After
the second notice, only 2 responses were received, both in opposition. One of the
original concerns listed on some of the opposed responses was an increase in
traffic on Missile Road. Mr. Medellin clarified that Missile road was a minor arterial
street with a recommended usage of 16,000 vehicles a day. As of 2020, the
recorded usage was shy of 6,000 vehicles a day, only a one third of the capacity
recommended.
Another listed concern was for pedestrian safety, which Mr. Grassi has addressed
with the construction of the sidewalk along Missile Road providing a safe place to
walk. Privacy was another concern listed that staff has also taken into consideration
and it is noted there will be 6ft.fences at the rear of the property. Grading will also
be needed and will be leveled out, lowering the property 3-4 ft. That along with the
6 ft. fencing would be a 10ft. difference leaving only rooftops visible.
The last item of concern was listed as infrastructure. Utilities will be addressed in
the next phase of platting. Mr. Grassi had already contracted a civil engineer that
produced a site plan with noted future work to be done. The Public Works
department has preformed testing on-site and stated the pressure was adequate
and could handle the requirements the 48 units would need. Mr. Medellin stated
there had been recent work performed by the Public Works department on that
area but also stated there made be some upgrades needed for the sewer lines. As
the developer, Mr. Grassi is aware he will be required to perform such upgrades at
his expense.
Mr. Medellin stated the item was presented to Council on July 18, 2023 with staff's
favorable recommendation and the unanimous recommendation for approval from
the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Council tabled the discussion until August
15, 2023 to allow for additional public comments and the applicant opportunity to
meet with concerned property owners.
Following the City Council meeting, the applicant reached out to the concerned
property owners and shared the details of the project and expressed his desire to
build a quality development. Staff will recommend approval of the proposed
rezoning request of +1- 3.43 acres at 2203 Missile Road to Planned Unit
Development — Residential Use (PUD-RU) to City Council on August 15, 2023
subject to the following developmental requirements:
1 . If approved, the applicant is subject to all other zoning and building code
regulations for commercial-related projects. Adhering to the zoning
requirements may help lessen the potential impact on the abutting and
adjacent residential neighborhood.
Mr. Martin stated he had questions about the notices and the State laws requiring a
super majority required for City Council. Mr. Martin also asked why the City Council
tabled the case. Mr. Medellin explained it was to give the applicant time to meet
Planning and Zoning 5 August 9, 2023
with concerned neighbors to gather additional feedback as requested by the City
Council. Mr. Martin asked why they would have to vote on this again when the
Commission had already recommended approval. Mr. Terry Floyd advised the
meeting was for discussion only and no voting would be happening since they had
already voted to recommend to Council the previous month.
Mr. Paul Mason asked Mr. Medellin what the benefits of the approved rezone would
be. Mr. Medellin stated the enhanced landscaping and the open space and
landscape screening would benefit the neighborhood.
Vice Chairman Woodward asked if there were any other questions from the
Commission. Mr. Woodward asked if there was anyone from the public that would
like to speak, there were no members of the public present. Vice Chairman
Woodward closed the public hearing at 2:15 pm.
IX. ADJOURN
Vice Chairman Woodward adjourned the meeting at 2:16 pm.
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