Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ZBA_04.30.2009Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes August 3, 2009 Page 1 of 4 City of Georgetown Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes April 30, 2009, at 6:00 P.M. City Council Chambers 101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626 Members: Leo Wood, Chair, Patrick Lawson, Steve Lampinstein, Marjorie Herbert, Jenel Looney. Absent: none Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Planning Director; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner; Cathy Sisk, Recording Secretary. This is a regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Georgetown. The Board, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, acts on requests for variances, interpretations and special exceptions under the Georgetown Zoning Ordinance. Order of Hearing Process:  Staff makes a presentation of the project to the Board;  The applicant is provided an opportunity to present their project to the Board;  The Board asks questions of both Staff and the applicant;  *The Public Hearing is open, and both proponents and opponents are allowed to speak;  The Public Hearing is closed and the Board deliberates on the merits of the case; and,  The Board generates findings to support their decision, a motion is made and seconded, and a vote is taken on the motion presented.  Variance approvals require an affirmative vote of 4 members of the Board. * Those who speak please identify yourselves for the meeting record. Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Call to order: 6:01 p.m. (The Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of the Chair, a Board Member, the Director or legal counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.) 1. Action from Executive Session. There was not an executive session. None 2. Consideration and possible action on the Minutes of the regular Board of Adjustment meeting of the April 30th, meeting. Motion by Herbert, to approve the October 21st, 2008 minutes. Second by, Lampinstein. Motion passed 5 – 0. 3. Public Hearing to consider a Variance to Unified Development Code Section 6.03.040 Non- Residential Lot Dimensions, Interpretations and Exceptions, Section 7.04.040 Exterior Building Materials, Section 7.04.070 Roof Treatments, Section 7.04.080 Roof Types and Materials, and Section 8.09.020 Screening of Mechanical Equipment, for 2.3 acres in the Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes August 3, 2009 Page 2 of 4 Dyches Survey, also known as the CARTS Georgetown Station, located at 3620 South Austin Avenue. (VAR-2009-001) (VK) Kreger stated that the applicant is requesting variances from several sections of the UDC, including the screening of mechanical equipment and siding materials. This application is for the CARTS bus station that will be located at the current parking lot at 3530 South Austin Avenue. This project has been in the works for sometime. The original submittal included some “green” development elements, including solar system and water system, etc. However, the project was scaled back due to budget constraints and those items did not continue through the approval process. Since that site plan approval, the applicant has been selected to receive funds under the Texas Department of Transportation’s American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act to construct a sustainable, “green” project as originally planned. So, the “green” elements are being added back into the project, subject to variance approval. In order to proceed with the project as proposed, several sections of the UDC will need to be varied, Primarily because the UDC has not been updated to address the modern design elements. Kreger then summarized from the report, the list of requested variances. David Marsh, General Manager of Carts, thanked the board for moving this project forward. This facility will provide national and regional intercity bus station facilities and serve as an operation station for commuter and rideshare functions between Georgetown and Austin, using an existing park-n-ride facility owned by the, City. Strategically located on a view corridor on the interstate highway, the facility is designed as a beacon for travelers and commuters. The project incorporates LEED principles in the design. Some of these design elements include: solar and passive strategies, the use of recycled materials, and other sustainable building techniques. The incorporation of rainwater collection helps to irrigate the landscape, thus reducing the demand for water. Additionally, the electrical power of the building will be provided by photovoltaic panels and wind generation, both of which contribute to the ability for the building to be off the grid for the summer months. Construction on the facility began in October 2008. Budget constraints had reduced the scope of the project by 33%. The easiest cuts were all the renewable energy assets of the facility. When the CARTS Georgetown Station was selected on March, 2009 as a project under the Texas Department of Transportation’s American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act (“Stimulus Bill”) for the funding of the “green” elements that had been deleted from the project at time of bid due to cost constraints, a series of circumstances began that now require that CARTS request certain variances to the UDC in order to complete the project of originally designed. CARTS has a 40 year lease with the City of Georgetown. This site is also the old city dump. Development is closing off the old city dump and making a site good for the city. Wood asked do we currently have Greyhound bus services here. Marsh replied, no Greyhound bus service at this time. Wood also asked is there any other facilities going “green in the transit business in the area. Is it going to be a model for the country or a true enhancement for the gateway of the City of Georgetown? Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes August 3, 2009 Page 3 of 4 Wood has never seen any thing like this and feels it would be very special for the community. Marsh said he wouldn’t take credit for being the first but that we are on the leading edge. This is an on going trend to combine the “green” and transit together. Marsh did want the board to know that the metal siding is not like a Morton Metal building. What we are proposing is an architectural recycled material. The basic fact that it is steel, demonstrates that it is a long-life cladding. Michael McElhaney, is the project Architect for the CARTS project in Georgetown. McElhaney stated that he thinks Marsh, recapped the project well. He asked for any questions. Looney asked what makes the metal siding “greener” than any other options that are already approved in the UDC. McElhaney stated that they first started off, they were using a masonry product on the exterior building, than the budget cut had reduced that to other materials. But the proposed metal siding is a long-life cladding because the recycled steel content never has to be replaced and the factory-applied paint lasts for 30 or 40 years. Recycled materials with a long life make it a “green” project. Lawson asked McElhaney to explain what LEED is. Are the developers going for LEED certification on this project? Will the project receive certifications because they are using recycled steel? How will this project relate to other projects? As the Board approves or disapproves this one, how will it relate to an amendment in the UDC in the future? Lawson explained to the staff that he was asking these question because he wondered whether this ruling would mean the Board would approve recycled metal buildings in the future, and perhaps allow roofs that with a pitch of less than 2 to 12. McElhaney stated project is not signed up and registered to be LEED certified formally. But the developers have used the process as a guideline and incorporated all the elements of LEED that could fit in the project such as indoor air guilty, recycled products, wind generation system, etc. McElhaney stated he is LEED certified. The slope of the roof works to provide the optimal, renewable energy generating arrangement. The solar panels are photovoltaic on the roof surface, and make the photovoltaic panels viable energy sources. The Building will first draw energy from the solar panels before drawing from the City’s electricity grid. Wind turbine does basically the same thing as the solar panels and is a clean energy. Kreger, stated that staff anticipates changes to the UDC allowing a little more flexible in materials. However, these types of sustainable, energy renewing design methods and devices are currently under review and discussion. Motions to approve the requested variance made by Marjorie Herbert, who very much supports this type of building and supports this type of modernize building and updating our UDC to support and encourage green building. Seconded by, Patrick Lawson. Motion passed 5-0. 4. Kreger, discusses the Unified Development Code (UDC) with the Board. The staff has posted quite a list on the UDC website (UDC.georgetown.org). The overall UDC project list is posted there, as well as any draft language, proposed meetings, and summaries of meetings that Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes August 3, 2009 Page 4 of 4 have been held. This is an interactive site, and the staff encourages the public to get involved and post comments. The first round is ready and will go to Planning and Zoning May 5th. This round has already gone through two public workshops for public comments during the month of April. May 27th, it will go to the City Council for first reading. This first round is very simple, including simple corrections, and clarifications of responsibilities. The second round is getting started and will be posted on the website. Some changes to Old Town Overlay District, which has to do with changes such as garages, carports in Old town areas with setback issues. The staff would like the second round of revisions to work out some things in the ordinances so the staff can be more flexible. Kreger welcomed the board to attend any of the meetings. Kreger, then handed out the role of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 5. Leo Wood made motion to elect, vice chair. Lawson nominates Steve Lampinstein for vice chair. Motion passes with a 5-0 vote. 6. Motion to adjourn at, 7:10 p.m. Approved, Leo Wood, Chair Attest, Steve Lampinstein Secretary