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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_UDCUSC_04.24.2025Minutes of the UDC Update Steering Committee City of Georgetown, Texas Thursdayr April 24., 2025 The Georgetown UDC Update Steering Committee met on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 2.00 PM at Parks and Recreation Community Room at 1101 N. College Street, Georgetown, TX 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 wereBrian Birdwell, Stephen F Dickey, Patrick J Stevens, Wendy S Cash, Michael J Walton, Ercel Brashear, Shawn Hood, josh Schroeder, Kris Kasper Public Wishing to Address the Board 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 ma- be zranted. The re--oaesLorgrantin,-t-Iro-e-txx-aftotheA&Q�eakeT-nmi&talso-subxftft-a-for—m and be present at the meeting. 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. Regular Session 1.A Meeting Minutes Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the March 27, 2025 EM= t*xO—nuTes —Trom the March 27, 2025 UDC Steering Committee meeting. Voting For: Brian Birdwell, Stephen F Dickey, Patrick J Stevens, Michael J Walton, Ercel Brashear, Josh Schroeder, Kris Kasper Voting Against: None 1.B Demolition Criteria and Definitions Presentation and discussion on criteria for demolitions within the Old Town a] Sofia Nelson, Planning Director, introduced the updates to the demolition criteria in Old Town and Downtown, focusing on loss of significance, economic hardship, and compelling interest. Committee Member Walton discussed the financial hardship criterion, nothing that it is not applicable if the buyer has the means to demolish. Committee Member Walton emphasized the need for applicants to provide financial details and evidence of costs. Mayor Schroeder suggested considering economic realities, such as the cost of saving a building versus its market value. Nelson outlined the council's direction to prioritize demolition as the last resort and the loss of significance. Committee Member Bridwell highlighted that the phrasing "exhausted all efforts" or "last resort" was difficult to set parameters on. Mayor Schroeder agreed and mentioned that the language becomes subjective. Committee Member Walton highlighted the emotional concern about demolitions and the need to ensure criteria are applied correctly. Mayor Schroeder shared that the goal was to create objective criteria to prevent emotional decisions. -ommITtUe—IT(`effE7TT non aiscusseR T T ciTar criteria• , neglect. Council Member Hood questioned how to enforce homeowner maintenance. Nelson provided statistics on demolitions over the past five years, noting that only a few were denied. Nol*on .5hared that *taff ha,5 yQt to update the *ection of the UDC that includes demolition by neglect and suggested that the Historic and Architectural Review Commission and City Council meet to discuss that topic. Committee Member Walton questioned the difference between a partial and total demolition. Nelson shared that the update to the definition of a demolition that was presented to the city council included th removal of the phrase "street facing facade." Committee Member Stevens suggested defining partial versus full demolitions and ranking structures by priority levels. Nelson shared that the low priority structures are reviewed by staff and noted careful consideration in which some low priority structures contribute to the district and community at a high level. Committee Member Kasper agreed with Committee Member Stevens and expressed favor for partial demolitions over total demolitions. Committee Member Birdwell shared that the phrase "as a last resort" should be includ in the purpose statement but notas a criterion. Nelson asked the committee for their thoughts on the statement that "HARC shall not consider or be persuaded to I find loss of significance based on items that are not unique to the property in question." Mayor Schroder shared that the statement may not be suited for situations in which CRommittee--MemberBirdwell Lvuestioned how &,re" Wz *,6t,&rrMrrrtd �*;F*v*Gi no longer historically significant. Nelson shared that the development manual could include required qualifiers. Committee Member Brashear recommended to include a reference to the development manual in the appropriate Unified Development Code LC RM District Presentation and discussion on the RM Zoning District -- Sofia Nelson, Planning fT 0-11, -rf eT�; within a 20-acre property. Nelson suggested allowing flexibility with administrative exception. Committee Member Dickey expressed concern about limiting townhome projects to 10 acres. Committee Member Birdwell shared caution with the lack of percentage because some applicants may provide the minimum number of a certain product type. #IOM-X# that chapter 3, the chapter that includes processes, would allow applicants the opportunity to contest the rating from the historic resource survey. LD Use Chart Update Presentation on updated land use chart and associated notes and definitions -- Zane Brown, Management Analyst Mayor Schroder highlighted the notes section N of the use chart and questioned if the live music, entertainment, or event facility would be permitted in MUDT, Mixed -Use Downtown. Nelson explained that this use was initially in place with just live music or entertainment and interpreted the current note as restricting just a live music venue without secondary uses. Mayor Schroder questioned the limitation and requested to allow it to be a primary use. Committee Member Dickey suggested allowing the use as a secondary use to the primary use in the C1, Local Commercial, zoning district. Mayor Schroeder noted that thel 00 foot setback from a residential use must be clarified for situations in which a residential use is built after the fact that an event venue was built. Mayor Schroeder suggested to add wording of "at time of construction" within the requirement. Committee Member Birdwell suggested to add wording of "within 100 feet of RS zoning." Committee Member Brashear recommended that the adjacent property owner must be notified of an application that would create a non -conforming use. Nelson suggested to utilize the zones that were established for height within the Downtown Master Plan for the use in question and Mayor Schroeder agreed. Committee Member Dickey recommended leaving the language for the CI zoning district. to combination of office, medical, and restaurant uses, addition of consumer repair, definition of office warehouse, first- story residential limitations, expansion of Accessory Dwelling Units in certain zoning districts, drive through notation, and home -based business limitations. Committee Member Dickey complimented Brown and the UDC Advisory Committee for their extensive work on the updated use chart. Nelson requested that the UDC Steering Committee continue to review the use chart and provide staff with feedback. 1.E Chapter 12 Presentation on updated on Chapter 12 edits -- Sofia Nelson, Planning Director Sofia Nelson provided an update on Chapter 12 — Pedestrian and Vehicle Circulation, of the Unified Development Code. The requirement for traffic calming elements within each block was debated. Committee Member Dickey and Brashear highlighted the challenges of implementing traffic calming elements while accommodating fire access. 1.17 Tree Preservation Presentation and discussion on Tree Preservation Ordinance -- Sofia Nelson, Planning Director Sofia Nelson reviewed updates to the Tree Preservation Ordinance, including simplified agriculture exemptions. Mayor Schroeder recommended adding a category for safety hazard with regard to trees. Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director of Current Planning, highlighted that there is an ISA certification form for hazardous trees. Committee Member Dickey referred to the March 27, 2025, meeting in which member informally voted for recommendations to the tree ordinance. Committee Member Dicke I clarified that he voted against the exemption of Georgetown ISD from the tree ordinan]- because he wished to include Jarrell ISD and not limit the exemption to just GISD. Committee Member Dickey concluded that he was in favor of exempting school district Nelson continued to provide an update on the definitions for construction, disturbance, and removal of trees. The critical root zone and modified critical root zone definitions Were discussed. The mitigation options for tree preservation were updated, including planting off -site and tree infrastructure credits. I ITI UUM1110tol Uloll 410IMMIAM• mitigaTion, iltMson FPFT•jal Mr w or potential for consideration of reimbursement of mitigation money from the city. Committee Member Birdwell shared a preference with the option of posting fiscal. The process of capturing mitigation through residential building permits was discussed. The meeting concluded with a reminder to review the updated code and provide any necessary feedback. Adjourn ent A a Thes i utes w were approved at the me9jing--o Chair A st