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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/2012 P&Z MINUTES CITY OF THE COLONY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JANUARY 10, 2012 After determining that a quorum was present, the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of The Colony, Texas convened into regular session which was held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 6:30pm in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall, 6800 Main Street, The Colony, Texas, at which time the following items were addressed: Board Members Present: Brian Wade, Chairman; Eddie McCormick, Vice Chairman; Karen Hames; Richard Bambury; Debbie Morrison and Shannon Hebb. Board Members Absent: Cesar Molina, Jr. Staff Present: Mike Joyce, AICP, Development Services Director; Brooks Wilson, AICP, Senior Planner; Felicia Koppang, Development Services Coordinator; Gordon Scruggs, Director of Engineering; Jimmy Schnurr, City Attorney and Jeff Connelly, City Councilman. 1.0 CALL REGULAR SESSION TO ORDER Chairman Wade called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM. 1.2 Citizen Input No citizen input was received. 2.0 CONSENT AGENDA 2.1 Consider approval of the minutes of the November 22, 2011 Regular Session. 2.2 RPl1-0003 - Colony Corners Atlydition, Lot 2R Consider approval of a replat of a portion of Lot 1 and all of Lot 2 of the Colony Corners Addition, into one (1) lot, Lot 2R of the Colony Corners Addition, 1.05 acres, located at the southeast corner of Main Street and South Colony Boulevard. It was moved by Commissioner Hames to approve Item 2.1 and Item 2.2, seconded by Commissioner Bambury. Motion carried (6-0). 3.0 PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 SPII-0008 - Colony Corners Shopping Center Expansion Conduct a public hearing, discuss and consider making a recommendation to City Council on a request for approval of a Site Plan for the Colony Corners Shopping Center Expansion on approximately 1.05 acres, located at 4750 Main Street (FM 423), at the southeast corner of Main Street and South Colony Boulevard. Mrs. Wilson presented the staff report. Commissioner Hebb asked if the alley behind the building is considered public access. Wilson stated that she believed that the alley is a public alley. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission January 10, 2012 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Scruggs stated it is an access easement to all the adjacent businesses, not an alley. Commissioner Hebb asked if an individual could get a ticket for driving in the access easement. Mrs. Wilson responded no. She continued by explaining that an access easement is used to provide patrons access to the businesses in the area. Commissioner Hebb said he knows someone that received a ticket for using the access easement as a shortcut. Mr. Scruggs responded that using the access easement as a shortcut is similar to driving through a parking lot. Mrs. Wilson continued by stating that using the access easement as a shortcut is a different issue than using it to access the businesses. Patrons are allowed to drive down the access easement, however, using it to avoid the traffic signal is not allowed. She followed up in stating that the use of the access easement by patrons would be a police issue, not a zoning issue. Commissioner Hebb asked why there is no connection between the sidewalk when it meets the right-of-way and the sidewalk along Main Street. Mrs. Wilson stated that a hike and bike trail will be constructed in the right-of-way and the sidewalk will link to the hike and bike trail. Commissioner Hebb asked if the tree located next to the handicapped parking space could be moved to create another parking space since the property has a shortage of parking spaces. Mr. Kevin Patel of Triangle Engineering, located at 1503 Astoria Drive in Allen, Texas stated that the reason they chose not to relocate the tree to make additional parking is that there are grading and spacing issues in that portion of the property. Commissioner Hebb asked if Big Lots has been contacted to see if they can reserve some parking for the overflow of patrons within this shopping center. Mrs. Wilson responded no, partly because there has been adequate parking at times when staff drove by the property, therefore staff did not think it was necessary. Commissioner Hebb asked if the property owner could make the attempt to contact Big Lots if deemed necessary in the future for overflow parking. Mrs. Wilson responded affirmatively, however continued by stating that having people parking across a major street such as South Colony Boulevard may prove to be difficult. Mrs. Wilson made the suggestion for the property owner to attempt to share parking with First Baptist Church since their peak hours are likely to be opposite of those of the shopping center. Commissioner Hebb noted that there is only one designated location for an enclosed trash receptacle; however, there is an additional receptacle on the east end of the shopping strip. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission January 10, 2012 Page 3 of 5 Mrs. Wilson responded that part of the reason for the replat into one lot is so that the buildings will be like one building instead of two separate buildings on two separate lots. Commissioner Hebb asked if the trash receptacle that is currently on the western lot will be relocated. Mrs. Wilson responded affirmatively. Chairman Wade asked if the architecture of the proposed building will match the existing building. Mrs. Wilson responded that the applicant hopes to get a small chain restaurant located in the proposed building, therefore portions of the elevation may not match completely, however she hoped that the architecture would be compatible. She continued by stating that the reason staff and the Development Review Committee are recommending approval of the site plan is due to the reduced size of the lot being too small to have a freestanding building, as well as attempting to refrain from the lot being the eyesore that it is currently. Commissioner Hebb stated that his concern in having the western wall of the building extend out further is that in having a blank wall, it would remain the eyesore it is currently. He continued by asking if the applicant is planning on updating the facade in order to make it more visually appealing. Mr. Patel stated that upon approval, the fire lane will be built, and improvements will be made on the site and a pad will be built until a tenant rents the space. He continued by stating that unfortunately due to the TXDOT expansion of Main Street (FM423), prospects have backed off. Commissioner Hebb asked if it is the applicant's intention is to have a more appealing facade on the Main Street side of the building. Mr. Patel responded affirmatively and continued by stating that once a tenant is in place, they will contact city staff for elevation approval. Chairman Wade opened the Public Hearing. David Nix, owner of David's Automotive located at 4915 Branch Hollow stated that his issue is the safety of personnel. He continued by stating that he has an issue with having patrons park in the Big Lots shopping center and crossing South Colony Boulevard at night when the area is not well lit. Mr. Nix suggested that the property owner add more parking to the property to replace what was lost when the Shell Station was purchased by TXDOT. Chairman Wade asked for clarification as to if Mr. Nix is requesting for the applicant to expand on the east side of the building instead of the west. Mr. Nix responded no. He continued by stating that he is not against expansion, what he is requesting is for additional parking to be placed on the western side of the building after the expansion has been completed. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission January 10, 2012 Page 4 of 5 Chairman Wade asked if there will be controlled cross walks at the intersection of Main Street (FM423) and South Colony Boulevard upon completion of the TXDOT expansion of Main Street (FM423). Mr. Scruggs responded affirmatively. He continued by stating that the hike and bike trail will be along the east side of Main Street (FM423). Chairman Wade clarified that there will be more lights and controlled pedestrian traffic with the improvements to the intersection. Mr. Scruggs responded affirmatively, explaining that the crosswalk will be stamped concrete stained to look like stone. Chairman Wade asked if there will be crosswalk buttons so pedestrians can cross the street safely. Mr. Scruggs responded affirmatively. Commissioner McCormick asked if the reduction of parking spaces only eliminated two (2) spaces that are required. Mrs. Wilson responded affirmatively. Commissioner McCormick stated that if additional parking is required, patrons should have the option to park at First Baptist Church since patrons of the church used the shopping center as overflow parking on Sundays. He continued by stating that it is much safer to cross Branch Hollow than it is to cross South Colony Boulevard. Mrs. Wilson stated that in contemplating the reduction of parking spaces, staff wanted to keep the reduction to no more than 10%. The reduction of two (2) parking spaces is much less than 10%, will not hinder the businesses and still meets the intent of the law. Mr. Joyce continued by stating that First Baptist Church has recently added parking with the addition of a foyer so the church may not be using the shopping center parking for overflow any longer, but it also gives more space for patrons of the shopping center to utilize with the church's permission. Commissioner McCormick stated that having patrons parking at the church is a "safer alternative" than parking in the Big Lots parking lot across South Colony Boulevard. Chairman Wade asked if in five (5) years Branch Hollow would have the controlled intersection like that of South Colony Boulevard and Main Street (FM423). Mr. Joyce responded no, at which point, the intersection of South Colony Boulevard and Main Street (FM423) would be a safer location to cross the street. Commissioner Hebb asked if a requirement to place a "no thru traffic" sign in the access easement by the applicant to restrict the amount of speeding traffic. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission January 10, 2012 Page 5 of 5 Mrs. Wilson responded that the access easement is not on the applicant's property; however, the property owner of the access easement is allowed to place a "no thru traffic" sign should they choose to do so. Mr. Joyce continued that a similar issue is occurring at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Main Street, where a sign is in place that says "no cut through traffic", therefore the area is well policed. Chairman Wade closed the Public Hearing. It was moved by Vice Chairman McCormick to approve Item 3.1 as stated, seconded by Commissioner Morrison. Motion carried (6-0). There being no further questions or discussion, Chairman Wade adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. Brian ade, Chairman Feli6a Kopp g R or ing Secretary