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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Planning and Zoning Commission - 2009 - 11/03 - RegularPLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Regular Meeting November 3, 2009 CITY OF ALLEN Commissioners Present: Jeff Cocking Douglas Dreggors John Kelley Steven Platt, Jr. James Rushing Robert Wendland Commissioners Absent: Shirley Mangnun City Staff Present: Ogden `Bo" Bass, AICP, Director of Planning & Development ' Kevin Laughlin, Attorney Helen -Eve Liebman, Senior Planner Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present: With a quorum of the Commissioners present, Chairman Wendland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers at Allen City Hall, 305 Century Parkway Director's Report 1. Director's Report is attached for action taken on the Planning & Zoning items by City Council at the October 27, 2009 City Council meeting. Consent Agenda 2. Approve minutes of the October 20, 2009 meeting. 3. Request for Extension —Consider a 6 month extension of expiration date for a General Development Plan approved for Connemara Crossing, being 20.602± acres located at the northeast corner of Bethany Drive and Alma Drive, 4. Request for Extension — Consider a 60 -day extension to time for recording the Final Plat 1 approved for Twin Creeks Phase 7C-1, being 7.850± acres located southwest of San Jacinto Drive on Walnut Springs Drive. ' I Request for Extension — Consider a 60 -day extension to time for recording the Final Plat approved for Twin Creeks Phase 7D-2, being 9.372± acres located southeast of San Jacinto Drive on Walnut Springs Drive. Motion: Upon a motion by Commissioner Rushing, and a second by Commissioner Kelley, the Commission voted 6 IN FAVOR, and 0 OPPOSED, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried. Regular Agenda Agenda Item #6: Public Hearing — Conduct a Public Hearing and consider a request to amend PD Planned Development No. 99 by amending the Sign Plan for the development. The properly is 63.24± acres in the T.G. Kennedy Survey, Abstract No. 500, Michael See Survey, Abstract No. 543, and the Rufus Sewell Survey, Abstract No. 875, Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm; located southwest of Bethany Drive and US75. (Z 10/12/09-82) Ogden "Be" Bass, Director of Planning and Development, presented to the Commission The property is located at the southwest corner of US75 and Bethany Drive. In February of 2006 the City Council voted to approve PD Planned Development No. 99 for a mixed use community The applicant has submitted an amendment to the zoning for additional signage for the ' development. Mr. Bass explained the unique aspect of the site and how the site orientation does not allow for views of the retail, residential, and office users within it. The proposed sign package adds three elements that will increase visibility for the site. Garage tenant fins, an LED pylon sign, and parking area banners were presented and described to the Commission The garage tenant fins are limited to four, installed along the US 75 frontage, and may not exceed the height of the garage. The LED pylon sign proposed was compared to that of the Village at Allen and the Allen Event Center LED pylon sign. Mr. Bass noted the TXDOT standards related to light pollution for the LED pylon sign are much greater than that of the City of Allen. TXDOT regulates light levels, the number of changes permitted, and the movement the sign is allowed to have. The height proposed for the LED pylon sign from the base of the sign to the top of the sign is 50 feet and the Director of Planning and Development has the ability to determine the grade at which the placement of the sign will be. The proposed maximum copy area of the sign is 700 square feet and of that the LED area may not exceed 472 square feet. It was noted that the proposed LED sign is desired to be seen from a distance. Mr. Bass identified the parking lot pole banner signs along with design details, quantity, and locations within the puking area. It was also noted that additional banners for the f Lure parking areas would be at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Development. 1 Staff recommends approval. Chairman Wendland opened the Public Hearing. With no one wishing to speak, Chairman Wendland closed the Public Hearing. Commissioner Dreggors questioned the material of the banners and if they would withstand high wind speeds. Harold Dull, applicant representative, 970 Garden Park Drive, Allen answered the banners are a polyethylene mesh -like material. The question was raised whether the materials were opaque and if they would be maintained. Ogden "Bo" Bass stated that the materials proposed are opaque and the developer will ensure the banners will be in good condition. Mr. Bass further stated that the City of Allen Code Enforcement department would also ensure the proper maintenance and appearance of the banners. Commissioner Cocking inquired about the garage tenant fins. If the trees grew would the signs be visible. Ogden "Bo" Bass stated that the Planned Development regulations for landscaping would be held to and the City's Urban Forester would not allow the trees to be topped. Commissioner Cocking asked if the signage already on the garage would remain or if they would be removed. Ogden "Bo" Bass answered that the fixed signage would remain but the banners would be removed and that in fact, banners had already been removed from the parking structure in anticipation of the PD amendment review. Commissioner Cocking advised that a motion should include a condition that any additional parking banners should be reviewed by the Planning and Development Director. Commissioner Cocking questioned the wind strength for the banners. Mr. Bass stated that the wind strength would meet ALDC standards. He continued by stating staff would obtain the wind resistance and distribute the information to the Commission in the next week. Commissioner Cocking asked about the number of signs currently permitted in the PD and if this PD amendment removed any of the originally approved signage. Mr. Bass stated that the signs presented in the PD amendment are in addition to the original PD. He also noted that the temporary multi -tenant sign at the comer of Bethany Drive and US 75 had already been removed. Commissioner Cocking asked about the height of the LED pylon sign and how that height is based. He noted that we have a height requirement for pole signs and questioned the reason for allowing the LED sign to be taller than this requirement. He is concerned with the request and stated that the City will be establishing a precedent that other shopping centers will be seeking. Mr. Bass explained the importance of this public investment succeeding and stated that not every shopping center would qualify for signage of this type. 1 Chairman Wendland noted that approval of this amendment would not constrain the Commission or preclude them from denying other applications for similar signage. Commissioner Platt commented that within two years the garage tenant fins may be obsolete due to the tree growth. Commissioner Rushing stated that he was in support of the PD amendment. Commissioner Kelley asked where the LED sign would be located and whether the light would interfere with residential uses in the development. Mr. Bass stated that based on the orientation of the sign it would not be an issue. Chairman Wendland noted the height of the trees would obstruct the visibility of the garage tenant fins. He is concerned that using the centerline grade of US 75 for the LED pylon sign would make it too obtrusive. Chairman Wendland also inquired about the number of monument signs and if the PD amendment would allow too much signage. He supported the parking lot banners. Commissioner Dreggors inquired as to where the US 75 elevation would be determined. Kerby Smith, applicant representative, 301 Commerce, Suite 3635, Ft. Worth, spoke to the Commission. Mr. Smith stated that site line studies will determine the height but could not answer the height question until the studies were prepared. Mr. Bass suggested that site line visibility studies be prepared prior to City Council review in order for the height to be considered in a photographic perspective. He also suggested that the PD include a requirement for City Council to have another review of the height prior to permitting. Mr. Smith stated that there is not enough time to prepare the site line visibility studies prior to City Council review. Chairman Wendland agreed with the recommendation to require a second review of height by City Council. City Council would have the opportunity to accept or reject the height prior to a sign permit being approved. Motion: Upon a motion by Commissioner Cocking, and a second by Commissioner Rushing, the Commission voted 5 IN FAVOR, and 1 OPPOSED (by Commissioner Cocking), to recommend approval of the request to amend PD Planned Development No. 99 by amending the Sign Plan for the development with the following conditions: • Any parking banners in excess of 20 shall be approved by the Director of Planning and Development; • The LED pylon sign height will be reviewed by City Council prior to sign permitting. The motion carried. Other Business None. Adioumment Motion: Upon a motion by Commissioner Cocking and adopted by acclamation the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. These m' es roved thi 17-�hday of / I/U' V. 2009 rt endland, CA vman W"W� Tiff Mc d, Planner H Ct Director's Report from 10/27/09 City Council Meeting There were no items taken to the October 27, 2009 City Council meeting for consideration. I