Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes - 02/12/2014 MINUTES
PLANNING &ZONING COMMISSION
February 12, 2014
PRESENT:
R. C. Taylor, Chairman • Members
Johnny Combs •
John Kidwell •
Rodney Martin •
Karla Metty •
James Wingo •
Anthony Inman (remained in the audience) •Alternate#1
Dan Leslie •Alternate#2
James McKechnie, Assist. City Attorney •Legal Depart.
Karen Gagne, Planning Administrator •City Staff
Monique Coleman, Planner II •
Leo Mantey, Planner I •
Diane Parker •
ABSENT:
Mary Ward • Council Liaison
Barney Brock •Members
Jeff Browning •
Rick Graham •
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Taylor at 2:00 p.m. Chairman Taylor then
proceeded to make the following comments:
a. This meeting is being broadcast live on Channel 11. It will be replayed at 2:00 p.m.
daily including Saturday and Sunday until the next live meeting is aired which will be the second
Wednesday of next month at 2:00 p.m.
b. Motions made by the Commission members include all staff recommendations and
developmental requirements listed in the staff report. Any deviations will be discussed on a
case-by-case basis and voted on accordingly.
c. Applicants and citizens who wish to address the Commission or answer questions
from the Commission members are asked to please speak into the microphone at the podium.
This meeting is being taped and there is no microphone to record statements made from the
audience.
•P&Z COMMISSION PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 12,2014
d. Please silence all cell phone ringers during the meeting. If it is necessary for you to
have a cell phone conversation during the meeting, please use the hallway outside this room.
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS
No one from the audience wished to address the Commission.
III. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN
Mr. Kidwell made a motion to nominate Ms. Metty for Chairperson; Mr. Martin seconded. The
vote was unanimous.
Ms. Metty made a motion to nominate Mr. Kidwell for Vice Chairperson; Chairman Taylor
seconded. The vote was unanimous.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Metty made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2014 meeting. Mr. Wingo
seconded the motion. The minutes were approved with a unanimous vote.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
1. REGULAR PLAT
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the following plats subject to the
Standard Conditions of Approval for Final Plats and Replats and any specific conditions listed:
Standard Conditions of Approval for Final Plats
• Provide utility and drainage easements as required by utility companies and Director of
Public Works.
• Submit water and sewer plans; street; sidewalk; and drainage plans to the Director of
Public Works and water plans to the Fire Marshall. Drainage plans must be complete
enough to include impact on surrounding property and include detention facilities as
required by Director of Public Works.
• Coordinate street lighting plan and provide utility easements as required by the Director
of Traffic & Transportation.
Note: Approval of a plat does not imply approval of development of property in violation
of the Zoning Ordinance.
Edgemere Church of Christ, Lot 1, Block 1 [Revised] (February 2014)
a. The church sold a tract north of the Lot 1, Block 1 but retained a 75 ft. x 75 ft. portion of
the tract sold. As a result, Corlett, Probst & Boyd submitted a revised plat for Lot 1,
Block 1 to include the 5,625 s.f. area of land. (Planning)
b. Please ensure subdivision name is spelled correctly on the large and 8 1/2 x 11 plat.
(Planning)
'P&Z COMMISSION PAGE 3 FEBRUARY 12,2014
c. All other comments as stated in the Dec. 2013 plat comments have been addressed.
(Planning)
d. The site is served by public water and sewer, no additional comments. (Public Works)
e. Easement has been added (Oncor)
2. CARPORT
Case C 14-06
Residential carport in the front setback
3011 Abbott Avenue
Bobby and Brandy Lowery requested conditional use approval to construct a carport in the front
setback of their residence on Abbott. No (0) carports were located in the front setback of
properties within the 200 ft. notification area.
Twenty-four (24) surrounding property owners were notified of this request. Four (4) or 16.67%
replied in favor, none (0) were opposed and none (0) responded as undecided/other.
Mr. Martin made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda; Mr. Kidwell seconded. The motion
carried.
VI. REGULAR AGENDA
1. Case C 14-01, request for conditional use approval to construct a 195 ft. self-
supporting communications tower in a Light Industrial zoning district on a vacant
parcel between 2817 and 2811 Holliday Road, east of Holliday Street Flea Market
and north of Holliday Creek was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting by
the applicant's written request.
2. Case C 14-04, request for conditional use approval to construct a 160 ft.
monopole communications tower in a Limited Commercial zoning district at 801
Garfield Street was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting by the
applicant's written request.
3. Case C 14-07, request for conditional use approval to construct a 195 ft. self-
supporting communications tower in a Light Industrial zoning district at 501 Front
Street was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting by the applicant's
written request.
4. Street Closure
Request to close unconstructed paper streets consisting of a portion of Rider
Avenue and the southern part of Columbia Road.
Ms. Gagne explained this case by stating the City of Wichita Falls Planning and Property
Management Divisions requested closing 1) portions of Rider Avenue, formerly known as
Glendale, from the west right-of-way line of Fairway Boulevard to the west right-of-way line of
Columbia Avenue in Block 123 of Westmoreland Park Addition and 2) Columbia Avenue from
south right-of-way line of Rider Avenue to south right-of-way line of the alley in Blocks 122 and
123 of Westmoreland Park and adjacent properties. The roads are unconstructed streets,
known as paper streets.
' P&Z COMMISSION PAGE 4 FEBRUARY 12,2014
Ms. Gagne stated standard City procedure for street, alley or easement closure is to notify all
abutting property owners in addition to the appropriate utility companies and government
entities that may be impacted. Along with that, there is a 10 day period to submit comments to
the Planning office. The final authorization for closures lies with the City Council.
Nineteen (19) surrounding property owners were notified of this request. One (1) response was
received in favor and no (0) responses were received indicating opposed, undecided or other.
Thirty-five (35) different agencies were notified; five (5) recommended closure and two (2) were
conditionally approved. AT&T and the City Engineering office requested easements be
retained for area utilities.
Ms. Gagne continued by informing the Commission this area was proposed for abandonment in
1976 and in 2003. This Commission recommended approval to City Council in 2003 to close
these same portions of Rider and Columbia. In 2006, the closure was presented to City Council
for final authorization. Council approved the closure with the condition that the area be replatted
by the proposed new owners within one (1) year of the approval of the ordinance. The
proposed new owners chose to not have the property replatted. Ownership of the undeveloped
City streets with right-of-way was retained by the City.
Based on the past review and no current objection being received for this closure, staff
recommended these streets be closed and abandoned.
Chairman Taylor asked what the intended use for this property would be. Ms. Gagne stated a
regional multifamily housing development company is working on a 2014 affordable housing
application with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for this tract and
surrounding property. This company reviewed multiple area properties and are now tentatively
under contract for the four properties along Rider and Columbia for purchase. This company
approached the City regarding these papers streets to combine with the other tracts. Mr.
Combs inquired about requiring the platting of this land as a condition for the potential owner.
Ms. Gagne commented all tracts would be platted as one if the development company's
application is approved.
Ms. Gagne stated the annual process of being designated by the State for affordable low
income housing tax credits is very competitive. The application deadline is the end of February
and Wichita Falls is competing with Abilene for urban funds available for these projects. She felt
the purchase of these tracts would be contingent upon State approval of their project.
Mr. Combs asked who maintains this property. Ms. Gagne stated the City maintains the paper
streets now. The properties to the north and south are privately owned. Mr. Combs asked if
this Commission approves the abandonment, who will maintain the property. Ms. Gagne stated
this land would be incorporated with the other tracts into one large parcel and would be
maintained by the prospective owner.
Ms. Metty stated this request should be approved since this land is not being used. Chairman
Taylor agreed.
Ms. Metty made a motion to recommend approval to City Council to approve the closure and
abandonment of 1) portions of Rider Avenue, formerly known as Glendale, from the west right-
of-way line of Fairway Boulevard to the west right-of-way line of Columbia Avenue in Block 123
of Westmoreland Park Addition and 2) Columbia Avenue from south right-of-way line of Rider
Avenue to south right-of-way line of the alley in Blocks 122 and 123 of Westmoreland Park and
adjacent properties. Mr. Combs seconded. The motion carried.
• P&Z COMMISSION PAGE 5 FEBRUARY 12,2014
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
City Council Update
Ms. Coleman stated there were no items from this Commission that required City Council action
during the last month.
VIII. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:16 p.m.
I /
R. C. : ' or, Chairman 4gOv , /; WO2_ Date
ATTEST:
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aren Gagne, Dept. 0 Community Development Date