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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_P&Z_06.18.2024l"llinutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission City of Georgetown,, Texas Tuesday., June 18,. 2024 The Georgetown Planning and Zoning Commission met on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Council and Court Building, 510 W. 9th Street, The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). m you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the AD' reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request, Please conta or City Hall at 808 Martin Luther King, Jr Street for additional information-, TTY users route through Rel Texas at 711. The following Members were in attendance: Public Wishing to Address an Advisory Board now speak and present it to the Board Liaison prior to the start of the mee ng. You will be called forward to speak called to order may speak. Speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak. If you wish to speak for six may be granted. The requestor gran ng me to another speaker must also submit a form and be present at the meeting. to Board or Commission members, No action can be taken at this meeting. Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Comments from the Chair Announcements 1AM��&l 1. Statutory Consent Agenda The Statutory Consent Agenda Includes non -controversial and routine items that may be acted up with one single vote. An item may be pulled from the Consent Agenda in order that it be discussed a acted upon individually as part of the Regular Session. I.A Meeting Minutes Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the June 04, 2024, regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission -- Erica Metress, Planning Specialist Moved by Scott A Allen; seconded by Michael L Price to Approve the meeting minutes from the June 4, 2024, regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion Approved: 7- 0 Voting For: Doug Noble, Scott A Allen, Chore Heintzmann, Michael L Price, Stephen F Dickey, Pierce P Macguire, Lance A Morgan Voting Against: None 2. Regular Session 2.A 2023-12-SUP GT Gas Station at. cR 24-5 Public Hearing and possible action on a request for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for the specific use of Fuel Sales in the Local Commercial C-1 zoning district on the property located at northwest comer of the intersection of Ronald Reagan Blvd and CR 245, bearing the legal description of Lot 1 -A, Block B, Highland Village Commercial (2023-12- SUP)Webre, Planner IMMM =0 Amanda Brown, applicant, approached the podium to address the Commission and provided a presentation. Alternate Commissioner Morgan inquired about an alternate configuration to move the fuel sales an additional 40 or 50 feet to the east or reduction of the number of fuel pumps. Brown explained that 5 fuel pumps was an economic decision due to the lack of fuel facilities in the area and that the configuration was to provide free circulation for the retail facility without interference with gas pump users. Commissioner MacGuire commented that there appears to be an option to move the fuel pumps further from the residential properties. Brown asked if there was a specific distance that Commissioner MacGuire would prefer. Commissioner MacGuire acknowledged that 120 feet or 100 feet would be .a distance from the residential properties. boundary of the property. Justin Madding, applicant, approached the podium to address the Commission and acknowledged that there were no heritage trees on the site. Madding added that the driveway location on Ronald W. Reagan was hard set and cannot be moved closer to the Ronald W. Reagan intersection. Madding clarified that the design's purpose was to have cars drive directly to the fuel sales. Commissioner Price shared that he understood the circulation and driveway design and added that there may be a better way to organize the building structures on the property. Commissioner Noble inquired about a deceleration lane for the driveway on Ronald W. Reagan. Madding acknowledged that there was no plan for a deceleration lane and that there is a right in and right out. Madding added that there was a 10-foot shoulder on Ronald W. Reagan. Commissioner Allen asked how the right in and right out would be enforced. Brown explained that they will enforce the right in and right out with a pork chop, a raised curb that prohibits other movement from happening. Chair Dickey shared that he would support the request if the retail sales structure was moved to the west side of the property and the fuel pumps were located on the east side of the property. Chair Dickey opened the public hearing. Amanda Hallock, 118 Miranda Way, approached the podium to address the Commission and shared that she understood that the corner lot was zoned C1 with the possibility of office or retail businesses being constructed. Hallock shared that the concerns and discussion among the Commission was very similar to that of the neighbors and added that 50 feet is not very far. Hallock acknowledged that there was no adequate way to buffer gas tanks and fumes at that distance. Hallock highlighted that staff reported that the only appropriate way was to gain distance. Hallock shared that according to research, a 100-foot buffer was not enough to prevent negative impacts of living near a gas station. Hallock shared that a Columbia professor had completed research on benzenes released by gas stations and found that people could be exposed to the chemical located beyond the setback distance of 300 feet. Hallock shared that residents nearby gas stations are significantly affected by benzene exposure. Hallock acknowledged that the neighbors started a petition for the city to consider amending the code. Hallock commented that Georgetown did not lack land and acknowledged that the applicant can be more selective of the property. Hallock concluded with the request that the Commission thoughtfully consider what the residents had to say. Sarah Serbiak, 301 Mirand Way, approached the podium to address the Commission and provided her background to highlight her experience in city, state, and federal regulations. Serbiak echoed the 3 criteria that are non -compliant. Serbiak mentioned that a Special Use Permit required stricter standards due to the nature of the business. Serbiak highlighted that the planning report acknowledged anticipation of significant noise glare and fumes that would disrupt the existing uses. Serbiak continued with a reason as to why she chose to live in the area. Serbiak acknowledged that the proposal did not meet minimum requirements and believed that a gas station would not be the best economic decision. Serbiak highlighted the new gas station on FM 3405 and Williams Drive and expressed that there are enough gas stations in the area. Serbiak mentioned that stakeholder capitalism will only benefit the developer and business owner. Serbiak repeated that the proposal did not comply with the minimum requirements and asked that the permit is not issued until the proposal is fully amended. Bryan Thomas, 409 Miranda Way, approached the podium to address the Commission and expressed concern for the request. Thomas believed that the application did not meet the standards and cannot be deemed compliant. Thomas shared that issue is about ensuring that any enterprise in the city limits serves to enhance rather than detract from the community's well-being. Thomas encouraged prioritization of strategic growth. Thomas acknowledged that the discussion with the developer included perks to the community which were requirements for the SUP. Thomas requested that should the Commission and city approve the fuel sales, that modifications were to be included to lessen the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Thomas requested that the gas pumps were positioned further from the residence, the canopy height was limited to 13 feet, operational hours set from 6 AM -9 PM, tree screening, double the wall height than currently proposed, neighborhood gates fully funded by the developer, signage limited to discrete height not to exceed 6 feet above existing ground level, and fagade akin to the neighborhood's requirements. Thomas concluded with a final comment that it appears the financial gain is taking precedence of the wellbeing of the community and affecting the residents. Chair Dickey closed the public hearing. Commissioner Allen inquired about the timeframe of the process if the request were denied. Webre explained that if the request were denied, the item can proceed to the City Council which would, then, require a super majority vote. Webre continued to explain that if the request were denied at City Council, then nothing further can proceed, and the developer would have to wait 12 months before returning to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a similar request. Baird explained that the applicant could withdraw the request and return to the Commission at a later date. Baird recommended that the Commission set a future date to allow the applicant to amend the concept plan and for staff to provide an updated analysis. Moved by Stephen F Dickey; seconded by Scott A Allen to Postpone the item to the July 16, 2024, P&Z Meeting for the applicant to bring back a revised site plan and to plan another meeting with the adjacent neighborhood. Voting For: Doug Noble, Scott A Allen, Chere Heintzmann, Michael L Price, Stephen F Dickey, Pierce P Macguire, Lance A Morgan Voting Against: None 23 Discussion Items Updates, Commissioner questions, and announcements -- Travis Baird, Assistant NEMEM�M I)Update on ODC rewrite - work to be done over the summer -- Sofia Nelson 2) Meeting preparation and discussion -- Sofia Nelson Sofia Nelson, Planning Director, approached the podium to address the Commission 2nd provided an update on the Unified Development Code. Nelson explained that the Unified Development Code Advisory Committee is currently looking at uses and providing recommendations on changes. The Unified Development Code Steering Committee has been working on landscaping ordinances. Nelson noted that the upcoming City Council discussions will be looking at rules and regulations for the historic districts and tree preservation. rurrurs-TY1477-77 T(Tant itles 171 is TY1 microphone during P&Z meetings. pe:t . I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I that it would be a qood opportunitv for staff to remind the applicant when meetinq a neighborhood to express that. Nelson acknowledged that staff attending the meeting can provide input on UDC requirements and suggested that the Commission recommend that with the UDC update if they prefer that step to be added, Nelson concluded with encouragement for the Commission to ask staff to provide state law process during the meeting to have it on record.