HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_UDCUSC_02.27.2025The Georgetown UDC Update Steering Committee met on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM at
City Council Chambers, 510 W 9th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626.
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If
you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the
ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please
contact the City Secretary's Office, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512)
930-3652 or City Hall at 808 Martin Luther King, Jr Street for additional information; TTY users route
through Relay Texas at 711.
The following Members were in attendance:
Present were: Brian Birdwell, Stephen F Dickey, Wendy S Cash, Ercel Brashear, Shawn Hood,
Josh Schroeder, Brad Smith, Kris Kasper
On a subject that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form which can be found on the
table at the entrance to the meeting room. Clearly print your name and the letter of the item on which you
wish to speak and present it to the Board Liaison prior to the start of the meeting. You will be called forward to
speak when the Board considers that item. Only persons who have delivered the speaker form prior to the
meeting being called to order may speak. Speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak. If you wish to
speak for six minutes, it is permissible to use another requestor's granted time to speak. No more than six
minutes for a speaker may be granted. The requestor granting time to another speaker must also submit a form
and be present at the meeting.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: A request must be received by the Advisory Board or Commission
Liaison prior to the day the agenda for this mee ng is posted. Each speaker will be given three minutes to
address the Board or Commission members. No action can be taken.
1.A Meeting Minutes
Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the January 30, 2025
UDC Steering Committee meeting -- Jessica Lemanski, Planner
Moved by Stephen F Dickey; seconded by Ercel Brashear to Approve the minutes from
the January 30, 2025 UDC Steering Committee meeting.
Motion Approved: 7- 0
Voting For: Brian Birdwell, Stephen F Dickey, Wendy S Cash, Ercel Brashear,
Shawn Hood, Josh Schroeder, Kris Kasper
Voting Against: None
1.B Meeting Minutes
Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the February 6, 2025
UDC Steering Committee meeting -- Jessica Lemanski, Planner
Moved by Ercel Brashear; seconded by Stephen F Dickey to Approve the minutes from
the February 6, 2025 UDC Steering Committee meeting.
Motion Approved: 7- 0
Voting For: Brian Birdwell, Stephen F Dickey, Wendy S Cash, Ercel Brashear,
Shawn Hood, Josh Schroeder, Kris Kasper
Voting Against: None
1.0 RM District
Presentation and discussion on the RM Zoning District -- Sofia Nelson, Planning Director
Committee Member Smith arrived at 2:01 PM.
Nelson explained that there is a land use policy in the 2030 plan that allows for more of a
transition in density of smaller residential lots. Nelson further provided that staff identified
the need to update duplex and townhomes to ensure the minimum lot standards for the
density is what the housing type needs. Nelson stated that in order to meet the
development needs of duplex and townhomes, staff needed to learn from the Planned
Unit Developments and code for standards that are being request regularly. Staff needed
to update the code to allow for duplex and townhomes to be used as transitional product
rather than stand-alone developments. Nelson referred to the Unified Development Code
diagnostic report in which recommended to include a courtyard housing product and
questioned if the Residential Mixed zoning district was the place to include it. Nelson
asked for the committee's feedback on the draft purpose statement for the Residential
Mix, RM, zoning district.
Mayor Schroeder inquired about the application of the RM district for larger tracts of land
and its use in master plans. Nelson explained the potential for the RM district in mixed
density neighborhoods and the possibility of mandating variety in larger tracts. Committee
Member Dickey asked if this zoning district would be used to buffer commercial mixed
density and multi -family development. Nelson provided examples of existing
developments that could be considered for the RM district and asked for feedback on their
suitability. Some of the examples provided were the developments on La Conterra
Boulevard, Birch Oak Lane, and Haven Lane. Committee Member Birdwell shared that he
liked the general idea but was also concerned that the property should front on a
neighborhood collector level road or higher Committee Member Brashear recommended a
statement that would encourage, but not prohibit, the parcel to be on the collector level
road or higher. The committee discussed the importance of not blocking access to
existing neighborhoods and ensuring that mixed -use developments can be integrated into
the community.
Nelson reviewed uses permitted for the RM zoning district and asked the committee for
additional allowed housing types. Mayor Schroeder recommended to allow staked
duplexes.
Nelson explained that staff gathered inspiration for the RM zoning district from the housing
diversity regulation and current workforce housing regulations. Nelson asked the
committee if the proposed development standards would be appropriate to test for the RM
zoning district. Committee Member Birdwell recommended a 40-foot lot width and 4,400
square foot lot size for the front loaded single-family, detached use. Committee Member
Birdwell noted that a 10 foot on rear setback for an alley load would not be adequate.
Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director — Current Planning, explained that current
requirements for a private alley is 10 feet.
Council Member Hood shared an ample amount of setback should be accounted for the
rear load product in order for vehicles to park without impeding the alley. Nelson
explained that the consultants can conduct more research for standards that would fit
those needs and asked the committee if there is an incentive in terms of density or
setbacks for alley loaded product.
Committee Member Birdwell encouraged staff to look at the RM zoning district next to an
agricultural use and questioned if a transition zone or buffer yard would be needed.
Nelson introduced the proposed development standards for single-family attached (Twin
house) use and provided some examples within Georgetown of this use type. Committee
Member Dickey suggested that staff review the dimensions for alley loaded
garage/parking placement.
Nelson introduced the proposed development standards for two-family, duplex- sided by
side use. Council Member Hood shared concern with 88-90-foot depths when
discussing additional rear setback with regard to an alley product. Mayor Schroeder
inquired about the development standard for stackable duplexes. Nelson acknowledged
that staff would review the inquiry.
Nelson introduced the proposed development standards for townhome development.
Mayor Schroeder recommended to increase the building height to 45 feet.
Moving forward with the presentation, Nelson requested direction from the committee with
regard to increased housing diversity based on the size of the property seeking to be
rezoned. Committee Member Birdwell believed that the market should dictate the
requirement of diversity on a property. Mayor Schroeder shared that low density
developments should not be required to increase density.
Nelson questioned if the committee preferred flexibility or variety with developments
that could be considered for the RM district. Mayor Schroeder shared that he would prefer
flexibility. Committee Member Dickey believed that the market should determine the
coding and concluded with preference of flexibility. Committee Member Birdwell
recommended adding percentages with regard to the minimum number of housing types
and noted that utilities will dictate what to add to the development due to utility capacity.
Moving forward with the presentation, Nelson asked the committee if the existing
intersection spacing should be retained. Committee Member Birdwell shared satisfaction
with 900 feet of intersection spacing for higher density product but wanted to ensure that
the development director has the authority to allow more than a 10% variance particularly
due to environmental aspects that limits the ability to create spacing and connectivity.
1.D Chapter 3
Presentation and discussion on Chapter 3- Simultaneous Submission of Related
Applications, Site Plans Applicability, and Subdivision Plats -- Sofia Nelson, Planning
Director
Nelson provided an explanation of section 3.01.030, the simultaneous submission of
related applications. The recommendation was to move the construction plans up to be
submitted at the same time as preliminary plats. The committee approved the
recommendation.
Nelson reviewed section 3.08.020, exemptions from required plat, of the UDC. Mayor
Schroeder inquired about properties that de -annex from the city to follow the county
family subdivision exemption. Nelson shared that staff would research the topic and will
add the discussion to the next meeting.
Nelson summarized section 6.04 of the UDC in which the code identifies properties that
have structures built across a shared lot line. Staff compared the exemptions with
surrounding cities and asked the committee for their thoughts. Mayor Schroeder agreed
with adding language specific to the exemption but added that it should not be limited to
two lots.
Committee Member Kasper highlighted the phrase "a plat may be required" as seen in
section 3.08.020.0 of the UDC and recommended clarification because it appears as a
non -exemption.
Mayor Schroeder and Committee Member Kasper left the meeting at 3:24 PM.
Nelson moved forward with the presentation and asked the committee for their thoughts
on section 3.09.010, Site Development Plan applicability. Committee Member Birdwell
believed that removal of any improvements to a property could be documented through
the demolition permit without having to create a site plan. Nelson acknowledged
Committee Member Birdwell's recommendation and shared that this topic can return to the
committee to review the flexibility available for the authority that staff has. Committee
Member Dickey believed that there should be documentation of the existing condition prior
to demolition.
1.E Status of UDC efforts
Presentation and discussion on draft sections of the UDC since last meeting -- Sofia
Nelson, Planning Director
Nelson provided the draft language of the drive through limitations for the committee to
review. Discussion on distance of the windows and boxes of the drive through, as well
as discussion on administrative exceptions.
Zane Brown, Management Analyst, reviewed the draft language of the hotel use. Council
Member Hood highlighted that the downtown height considerations made his preliminary
calculations exceed 75 rooms and asked staff if the height was taken into consideration.
Brown explained that a special use permit, SUP, would allow more rooms and would
require the public process. Committee Member Birdwell highlighted the certificate of
appropriate, COA, process and questioned if the situation calls for an SUP and COA
public hearing. After further discussion, Committee Member Dickey recommended to
permit the hotel use in the Mixed -Use Downtown, MUDT, zoning district by right.
Brown reviewed the updated language for fuel sales limitations. Committee Member
Birdwell recommended to add the word "desirable" when referring to the determination
by the director if the connectivity is not feasible. Baird asked for guidance on what
would be undesirable. Committee Member Birdwell explained that topography
constraints would make connectivity undesirable.
These minu s we a approved at the eeting of I, � 2 7 2 y
Chair Attest