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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/20/77 P&Z MINUTES OF A WORK SESSION PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION CITY OF THE COLONY DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 20, 1977 State of Texas ) ) County of Denton ) The Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of The Colony, Denton County, Texas convened in a work session, open to the public, at the offices of the Colony Municipal Utility District, the City of The Colony, Denton County, Texas at 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 1977, and the roll was called of the members to wit: Mike Mansfield Chairman Cathy Bock Member Bob Brown Member Harry Hunsicker Member Art Welty Member Chairman Mansfield and Members Hunsicker and Welty were in attendance thus establishing a quorum. It was noted that Member Bock had called from Dallas with car trouble and would not arrive until around 8 o'clock. Chairman Mansfield noted that Member Brown was out of town on an excused absence. Also in attendance were Linda Adams, Councilman of The Colony, Rick Chadwick, Manager of the Colony Municipal Utility Dis- trict, and Wayne Thompson and Frank Graham, Fox and Jacobs. Chairman Mansfield distributed copies of the agenda to members of the Planning & Zoning Commission and the public. On agenda Item No. 1, Consideration of a resignation, Chairman Mansfield briefly recounted the discussion at last week's meeting concerning the possible conflict of interest of member Art Welty who is also a director of the Municipal Utility District. Chairman Mansfield then read aloud the legal opinion of the city's attorney, Mr. Bill Davis, regarding the possibility and potential of conflict in the two offices held by Member Welty. Chairman Mansfield advised the members that it was his personal opinion that Mr. Welty had no conflict of interest in holding the two positions but in any case, the operating procedures provided for abstention from voting if a conflict arose. Chairman Mansfield noted that Mr. Welty had submitted a resignation to him which was to be read and accepted if the Planning and Zoning Commis- sion felt a conflict existed. Chairman Mansfield expressed the opinion that this was beyond the jurisdiction of the Planning and Zoning Com- mission since it was advisory and suggested that if any action was taken it would have to be by the City Council. Discussion continued on the possible areas of conflict and Member Hunsicker noted that this was a legal question which none of the Commission members was qualified to answer. He suggested this matter be further clarified by the city attorney. Member Welty noted that when he was appointed to the Municipal Utility District Board he said he would resign his position with the Planning and Zoning Commission if a conflict of interest was established and that he still stood by that statement. He noted, however, that in his reading of the city attorney's opinion, he felt no conflict had been established. After further discussion, the Planning and Zoning Commission decided that a more definitive legal opinion was needed to determine conflict -1- of interest for the two positions and that the City Council would be so advised. Under Item No. 2, Subdivision codes, Member Hunsicker noted that a typed, revised copy had been submitted to all Planning and Zoning Commission members for their review. Hunsicker advised that members should denote any changes in the margin of the proposed ordinance and when the other ordinances and codes the Planning and Zoning Commission is working on are completed, the Planning and Zoning Commission would review them to insure compatibility. Cathy Bock then distributed copies of the revised sign ordinance. Member Bock explained the changes and additions to the previous ordinance which included Section 101--Intent, Section 1.200--Definitions, Section 1.300-- Requirements and Procedures, Section 1.400--Signs Allowed, and Section 1.500--Temporary Signs. Discussion followed which concentrated on the height, number and size of signs in Section 1.400 and Section 1.500. All agreed that a perfect ordinance could not be written but that more flexibility, particularly in the area of commercial signs and temporary subdivision signs, was absolutely necessary. Wayne Thompson, Fox & Jacobs, stated he would check with Bob Harper for his input on necessary subdivision signs. Harry Hunsicker and Frank Graham said they would both look into possible changes in commercial sign needs to provide the flexibility discussed earlier. Ail ~agreed to get back with Member Bock so a revised ordinance could be typed for distribution to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. The Planning and Zoning Commission then considered Item No. 4--Zoning Ordinance. Member Hunsicker questioned whether the Planning and Zoning Commission was moving in the right direction by critiquing the NCTCOG zoning books. Hunsicker noted that the NCTCOG books were more explana- tory in nature and not actually in the format of a zoning ordinance. Hunsicker then suggested that the Commission's efforts would be more productive if they would take an existing zoning ordinance, divide into groups to study it, then meet in two or three weeks to discuss and review the various parts of the proposed ordinance. Members Welty and Mansfield agreed and suggested Lewisville or Irving's zoning ordinance be used as a pattern. Wayne Thompson said it probably didn't make much difference what ordinance was used but noted that most suburban communities had patterned their ordinances after the City of Dallas' so possibly Dallas' ordinance would provide a good working example. Member Hunsicker agreed noting that Dallas is an older city with many diverse uses of property so its ordinance should adequately cover any potential uses of property in The Colony. Wayne Thompson advised Planning and Zoning Commission members that he would have Dallas' zoning ordinance xeroxed and distributed before the meeting next week. There being no further business before the Planning and Zoning Commis- sion, Member Hunsicker made a motion for adjournment which was seconded by Member Welty and unanimously approved. Janice Carroll, Secretary -2-