>> [INAUDIBLE] GALLETTI, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS ZONING BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.
[Zoning Board of Adjustments on May 5, 2021.]
[00:00:03]
IT IS 4:00 PM WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 5TH.CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
>> BOARD MEMBER CLEMENT? I GUESS HE MIGHT BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE WE GO. CHAIRPERSON GALLETTI?
>> BOARD MEMBER RAILEY? NOT PRESENT.
[NOISE] I'LL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IF SHE JOINS.
BOARD MEMBER SLYER? [NOISE] ALSO NOT PRESENT.
I'LL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IF SHE JOINS.
>> STAFF PRESENT ARE MYSELF, CAPTAIN GORDON AND DONNA FAIRWEATHER, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? OKAY. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON A ROLL CALL, A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, PLEASE.
>> [NOISE] BOARD MEMBER WATFORD?
>> OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE SUSAN SLYER HAS JUST JOINED US.
>> YEAH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT BARBARA RAILEY IS TRYING TO GET IN.
>> IT WOULDN'T LET ME IN WITHOUT A PASS.
>> THEY'RE ASKING FOR A PASSCODE AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
>> OKAY. LET'S SEE IF I CAN FIND THAT FOR YOU. JUST ONE MINUTE.
>> I HAVE THE PASSCODE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PICK ONE.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON TODAY'S CASE? OKAY, I THINK I GOT IT.
STEPH, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, GO AHEAD AND GIVE US THE MEETING FORMAT, PLEASE.
>> OKAY, SURE. JUST THE STANDARD REMINDERS ABOUT THE MEETING FORMAT.
IT'S BEST TO WATCH THE MEETING IN GALLERY VIEW AND THAT'S HOW IT'S SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC.
IT ENABLES YOU TO HELP SEE ALL OF YOUR COMMISSIONERS AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ASK THAT YOU MUTE UNLESS YOU'RE SPEAKING IN ORDER TO CUT DOWN ON BACKGROUND NOISE.
WE ASK THAT YOU PHYSICALLY RAISE YOUR HAND TO GET THE CHAIR'S ATTENTION BEFORE SPEAKING OR MAKING A MOTION, AND WE'LL BE TAKING THE VOTES BY ROLL CALL.
FOR THE ATTENDEES TODAY, WHEN THE CASE IS HEARD AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPENED, THE CHAIR WILL ASK FOR THE APPLICANT AND AT THAT TIME, WE ASK THAT YOU USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN TO RAISE YOUR HAND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
AFTER WE'RE FINISHED WITH THE APPLICANT, THE CHAIRPERSON WILL ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME, YOU USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN TO INDICATE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
I DON'T SEE THAT MS. RAILEY HAS SIGNED IN.
IS SHE STILL HAVING TROUBLE, MS. SLYER? MS. SLYER, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP MS. RAILEY SIGN IN? YOU'RE MUTED.
>> I'M SORRY. OH, HERE, LET HER TELL YOU.
>> I HAVE THE PASSCODE, I HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER, BUT I DON'T HAVE KEYBOARD ON MY PHONE TO ENTER THE PASSCODE, AND WHEN I DO THE AUTOMATIC [INAUDIBLE] HANDSET TO GET IN, IT TELLS ME THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD NUMBER.
I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, BUT IF YOU CAN'T ENTER IT INTO YOUR PHONE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR END.
>> YEAH. I DON'T HAVE NUMBERS WHERE TO PRESS THESE NUMBERS.
>> SINCE I'M A NON-VOTING MEMBER, SHE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK [NOISE] ON MY COMPUTER AND SHOW YOUR HAND, BUT IT'S REALLY DARK IN HERE.
>> OKAY. I'LL NOTE THAT BOARD MEMBER RAILEY IS PRESENT.
>>WELL, MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS. FIRST CASE, PLEASE.
[00:05:04]
IT'S A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM DIVISION 11.400 OF THE GALVESTON LANDS DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
PUBLIC NOTICES THAT WERE 28, ONE RETURNED, THAT ONE IN OPPOSITION.
SUMMARY, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO MAKE THE CURRENT LAND USE A COMMERCIAL LODGING HOTEL CONFORMING A DISLOCATION.
THE USE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1963 OPERATING AS A HOTEL.
IN 2018, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED NEW REGULATIONS FOR HOTELS ALONG SEAWALL, INCLUDING THAT THE GUEST ROOM SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE FROM ONLY AN INTERNAL HALLWAY.
IT'S PRIMARILY ACCESSIBLE FROM A CENTRAL LOBBY AREA CONTAINED WITHIN THE HOTEL MOTEL.
AN EXISTING BUILDING IS CONFIGURED SO THAT THE GUEST ROOMS ARE ACCESSED FROM EXTERNAL HALLWAYS AND IS NOT ABLE TO CONFORM TO THE ABOVE REFERENCE REGULATION.
THE APPLICANT IS REPRESENTING PROSPECTIVE NEW OWNERS.
THOSE OWNERS ARE PLANNING A RENOVATION OF THE COMPLEX.
ACCORDING TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURES MAY NOT BE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED, WHICH IS DEFINED AS 50 PERCENT [NOISE] OF THE COST OF THE STRUCTURE.
THE PLANNED RENOVATION WILL EXCEED THAT THRESHOLD.
PLEASE NOTE, CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL AND THE APPLICANT'S JUSTIFICATION IN STAFF REPORT.
SHOULD THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS CHOOSE TO ADMINISTER SECTION 11.404 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, THE FOLLOWING ARE CONDITIONS FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION: ONE, THE SITE SHALL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS A COMMERCIAL LODGING HOTEL LAND USE. WE HAVE SOME PICTURES.
OKAY. THIS IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ALONG SEAWALL.
THIS IS A PICTURE ALONG 10TH STREET THAT SHOWS THE EXTERNAL HALLWAYS.
ALSO, THIS IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
AGAIN, THE PICTURE SHOWING THE EXTERNAL HALLWAYS.
THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
>> OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STEPH? OKAY. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO OPEN HEARING TO THE PUBLIC.
IS THE APPLICANT IN THE ROOM, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS, PLEASE?
>> YES. THE APPLICANT, JAKE JACOBY, IS SIGNED IN.
[NOISE] OKAY, JAKE, YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVATED. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
I APPRECIATE THE INTRODUCTION, CATHERINE.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD.
AS CATHY MENTIONED [INAUDIBLE] , IT'S BEEN OPERATING IN THE HOTEL FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS, MORE OR LESS CONTINUOUSLY.
IT HAD 50 ROOMS, HAD A POOL, AND A RESTAURANT.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE PROPOSING NO CHANGES OF USE TO THE PROPERTY, AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE IT AS A 50-ROOM HOTEL WITH A POOL AND A RESTAURANT, SO NO DIFFERENCES THERE.
REALLY, THE DENTAL DIFFERENCE WE'RE INTRODUCING IS WE WOULD LIKE TO VERY MUCH UPGRADE THE PROPERTY AND PUT IN AT LEAST 3.75 MILLION UPGRADE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IT WOULD COST TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY HAS GREAT BONE, AND IT IS A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY.
FEW ALMOST OUT FROM THAT ERA THAT NOW STILL FIT ON THE SEAWALL.
THERE WERE MANY OTHERS IN [INAUDIBLE] AND MANY MORE.
THIS IS NOW THE OLDEST REMAINING, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT MUCH OF OUR RENOVATION IS GEARED TOWARD RESTORATION TO THE ORIGINAL VALUE THAT WOULD HELP PUT THAT INTO THE SEAWALL, AND IT WAS VIEWED ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AT THE TIME.
THE ARCHITECT SAID WHO BUILT THIS PROJECT WITH A COAT, UMBRELLAS, AND ENTRAPMENT PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THANK GOD, HERE AT GALVESTON AND SEVERAL OTHER PROMINENT ON, AND ARE WILLING TO DO, AS I MENTIONED, IS A SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADED PROPERTY.
KEEP THE USES AS THEY ARE NOW, BUT TRANSFORM IT FROM A HOTEL THAT IS ONE OF THE LOWER-END HOTELS CURRENTLY ON SEAWALL TO A HIGH-END BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
WE WOULD BE TRIPLING OR QUADRUPLING THE ROOM RATE THAT ARE THERE NOW, PUTTING IN A HIGHER-END RESTAURANT AND GRADING COMPANY THAT DOES A MUCH NICER HUMANITY THAN WHAT THE SEAWALL HAS NOW, WHICH WE THINK IS IMPORTANT GIVEN TO THE HIGHLY VISIBLE PORTION OF OUR SEAWALL CLOSE TO [INAUDIBLE] REGION NEAR THE COMMERCIAL PORT OVER THERE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE VARIED.
FORTUNATELY, WITH THE LDR THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE CONFINED WITH GIVEN TODAY'S SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT,
[00:10:02]
TWO OF WHICH THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY COMPLIES WITH AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH, AND THOSE ARE HAVING A GOT LAWN AND PREP IT FOR POPULARITY OF 225 SQUARE FEET, AND IT'S SWIMMING POOL AND BUSINESS CENTER, THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY HAS BOTH OF THOSE.WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE BOTH OF THOSE.
WE'LL HAVE A LARGER GUEST LOUNGE AREA THAN THAT, BUT WE'LL BE EXPANDING THAT.
BUT THOSE WILL CONTINUE BEING COMPLIANT.
CURRENTLY, THE PROPERTY IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH HAVING MEETING SPACE AND A BUSINESS CENTER.
WE WILL ADD THAT AS PART OF THE UPGRADE.
THEN AS MENTIONED, THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE AN INTERNAL HALLWAY IS REALLY NOT FEASIBLE FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK WE'VE ALL HAVE PROBABLY DRIPPED BY THE PROPERTY, AND SAW THE PHOTOGRAPH A MOMENT AGO.
THE EXTERIOR CORRIDOR IS REALLY A VERY KEY ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT TO THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY, AND IF THEY CLEAR ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT AS A SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPERTY OF THIS ERA, AND IN ORDER TO ENCLOSE THE CORRIDOR, YOU WOULD LOSE ALL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANT OF THIS BUILDING THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO RESTORE.
ALSO WOULD BE FINANCIALLY UNFEASIBLE FOR THE PROJECT TO DO SO.
AGAIN, WE'RE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING A PRETTY LARGE UPGRADE FOR THIS PROPERTY ON THE SEAWALL AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WOULD UNDERSTAND WE WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ONE ASPECT OF THE LDR.
THOUGH, I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO THE PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF THE LDR.
WE ARE WORKING TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE LDR THAT WE CAN MENTIONING.
THE FEW THAT WE'RE ALREADY COMPLIANCE WITH AND THEN THE BUSINESS CENTER AND THE MEANING PHASE WHICH WE WILL ADD IT FROM THE UPGRADE.
WE THINK THE SPIRIT OF THE LDR FOR GALVESTON TO HAVE HIGH-QUALITY, HISTORICAL ASSET THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO HERE, SO I'LL CONCLUDE MY STATEMENT FOR THAT.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN TAKE THOSE, THANK YOU.
THAT THE ORDERING QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A BUSINESS MEETING AMENITY.
ORGANICALLY CONVENTIONS THINGS OR IS THAT JUST FOR THEM.
BUT AGAIN, THEY ARE SAYING THERE.
>> THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FAITH IN THE PROPERTY THAT HAD TRUE CONVENTION CENTERS THAT WE HAVE MEETING AREA.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO THE BUILDING ENVELOPE AT ALL THERE'S AN AREA IN BUILDING RIGHT NOW THAT APPARENTLY MOTHBALL THAT WE WOULD TURN INTO A MEETING.
DANNER, IT WOULD BE MORE FOR SMALLER RETRIEVED OR SMALLER GROUP WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE A CONVENTION.
CHICAGO WAS NOT REALLY ENOUGH SPACE FOR THAT.
>> MY ONLY CONCERN OR MY ONLY THOUGHT WENT DIRECTLY TO AVAILABLE PARKING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PARKING AVAILABLE.
>> SURE THE PARKING APPARENTLY COMPLIANT WITH CODE AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
I'D ADD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY'RE PARTYING AND IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING STREET IS RESIDENTIAL, PERMANENT ONLY.
THE PARKING WOULD BE RESTRICTED FOR HOTEL GUESTS OR VISITORS IN THOSE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVING QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING IN.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THERE ON THE LINE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS?
>> IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, WE ASK THAT YOU USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?
I'M GOING TO RETURN THE MEETING, THE BOARD FOR MOTION DISCUSSION.
UNMUTE PLEASE, UNMUTE YOUR MIC.
>> OKAY, I'M SORRY I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE USE THAT CONDUCTED AND MANAGE BUT DETERMINED NOT TO BE INFORMING USE THAT HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FUNCTION.
IF EVIDENCED BY THE FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT BRIBERY, PAYING FOR NOT HANDLE WALK, ARE EMPLOYED AT THE PLATE.
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ELIMINATING NEW INPUT OR NEW SERVICES SUCH AS NOISE LIKE WAVE AND THEY'RE KNOWN MATERIAL HISTORY OF COMPLAINT.
[00:15:02]
THEN IT WILL IF THEY REGISTERED AND LIFE THAT IMPORTANT TO THE ORDINATE.>> WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL CHECK ON CLIMATE.
THAT OPENS UP FOR DISCUSSION NOW.
I PERSONALLY STATED, HAD FOLLOWED IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1953.
THEY ARE SPINNING A LOT TO BRING IT UP-TO-DATE DANGERS.
OTHER THAN A COMPLETE TEARDOWN, THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO FORM ON THIS ONE EXCEPTION HERE, THOUGH, THERE'S MY OPINION AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHICH IS BOTH, LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO PLAY ON IT.
I GUESS IT DOWN LIKE FROM THE PARAMETERS THAT WOULD KEEP THAT.
I'M QUALIFYING THIS PROPERTY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE AREA OTHER THAN GOOD SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. I AGREE WITH YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION HERE AND I CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
>> I WOULD FAVOR THE MOTION PASSES.
>> THANK YOU, MRS. KELLY, FOR COMING IN.
>> AT THIS POINT THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I TRIED TO GET ON THE AGENDA TALKING ABOUT MEETING IN PERSON, AND I WOULD CALL THAT ANDREA, YOU HAD TO HAVE PREVENTED IT.
COULDN'T JUST BE ON THE AGENDA.
>> HELLEN, I DO NOT GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT SHOULD BECOME THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME.
>> THAT'S THE PLAN FOR EVERYBODY FOR NEXT TIME THAT SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA.
>> I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SPEAK BUT MY COMPUTER WAS ACTING UP, I APOLOGIZE.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE A DECISION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THAT COUNCIL AGENDA IN TERMS OF BEING A COMPANY FOR ENCRYPTING MEETING.
BUT THAT REALLY IS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN FORMED TO CONSIDER AFTER THEIR FORMAT.
I UNDERSTAND FROM WEEKS TO GO FROM THE MAYOR, IT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THAT NO GROUP CAN MEET IN PERSON.
IT'S NOT ASKING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SMALL GROUPS THAT WERE 100 PATH INFORMATION, MEETING THAT IT'S NOT A FORMAT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IS THE FORMAT THAT WE'RE EXERCISING TODAY.
LOOKS WE HAD BEEN EXERCISING WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS MONTH.
>> THE BODY WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOME OF THE BONES ARE BROKEN.
YOU'RE CORRECT ABOUT THE MOTOR POWER ALLOWED COMMISSIONERS THEMSELVES FROM BEING TOGETHER IN PERSON, BUT THAT DOES NOT ALLOW OTHER GROUPS FROM THE NORTH STAFF.
I THINK THERE'S A QUOTE ABOUT WHAT WORKED ON OPEN MEETINGS, ON PROBLEMS, MOSTLY FOCUSED ON MAKING GAMES OR SOMETHING, SOME OF THEM WITH PERMISSION MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES AND THEN HAS BOTH PHRASES FOR TWO, THERE ARE CHRONICALLY DROP NUMBERS [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT PART ABOUT IT A HYBRID, MAYBE NOT FROM ALLOWED THIS ONE.
NO PROBLEM. OR YOU JUST [OVERLAPPING] FELT DEMO?
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE APOLOGIZED IN TERMS OF
[00:20:03]
I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT SO THAT I CAN TURN IT UP LIKE YOU FINISHED YOUR FIRST MINUTES.I DO APOLOGIZE FOR CUTTING OFF AT WHAT WANTED TO BE QUESTIONED.
>> NO, I'M SAYING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO VOTE ON IT AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO GO IT HONORS ADDITIONALLY AFTER BAKERS
>> I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS NOT A TOPIC THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
THE OTHER THING, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND THE POLICY THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OKAY. I WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND FIRM THAT ATTORNEY COULDN'T EVEN GET IT UP ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT.
>> LET ME CHECK HERE THAT THOUSAND MEETING YOU WOULD PLAY.
BUT MR. CLEMENT DO YOU EVERYTHING TO ADD.
>> I WAS [INAUDIBLE] THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THE TYPE OF DATA READING IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
THE END OF THE MEETING, I WON'T ADD THAT.
>> OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
I THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR THE SCORING FOR GETTING US ALL TOGETHER.
>> I JUST GET DARK BY THAT WILL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
YOU CAN JUST THINK ABOUT GETTING HOPEFULLY BACK AT THEM LIKE A WINNER.
>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.