[00:00:04]
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE CITY OF GALVESTON PLANNING COMMISSION
[1. Call Meeting To Order ]
REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AT 03:34.WE'VE CALLED ROLL BY SIGNING IN,
[2. Attendance]
THE NOTICEABLE ABSENT IS RUSTY WALLA, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.COMMISSIONERS THIS ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS FOR ANY OF THE CASES ON THE AGENDA TODAY? NO, HEARING NONE.
ALSO ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES?
[4. Approval Of Minutes ]
HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE ADOPTED AS PRESENTED.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THIS IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON INDIVIDUAL CASES AS APPROPRIATE.
THIS IS JUST ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, WE'LL OPEN IT UP AT 03:35 PM.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT? HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE INTO NEW BUSINESS.
[6.A.1. 23P-020 (17529 Bristow) Request For Beachfront Construction Certificate And Dune Protection Permit To Include Proposed Construction Of A Single-Family Residence With Unreinforced Fibercrete Under The Habitable Structure And An Unreinforced Fibercrete Driveway. Property Is Legally Described As ABST 121 Hall & Jones Survey, Lot 28A, Gulf Palms Amended Plat, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant: Antonio Rubio - ARM Enterprises Property Owner: Antonio Rubio - ARM Enterprises ]
CATHERINE, TURNOVER TO YOU.>> THE FIRST CASE WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS 23P020 AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY KYLE CLARK. [BACKGROUND]
>> THIS IS THE REQUEST ORDERED IN A SINGLE FAMILY WHICH IS LOCATED [INAUDIBLE] AT NEXT SLIDE IS THE PROPERTY SO RATIO.
[INAUDIBLE] NEXT SLIDE SHOWS [INAUDIBLE] LAB WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] UNAWARE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE SIDE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, KYLE. IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SAY ANYTHING IN ADDITION? IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SIGN IN JUST IN CASE THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING PRESENT AND FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? NOT ON THIS ONE,
[00:05:02]
I WILL GET OFF EASY ON THIS ONE.AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS? HEARING NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 03:39 PM.
COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR A VOTE.
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE 23P-020 ASPIRIN.
>> WE HAVE A FIRST MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
>> WITH THAT, WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RUBIO FOR BEING PRESENT. [BACKGROUND]
[6.B.1. 23P-024 (2222 Bernardo De Galvez/Avenue P) Request For Designation As A Galveston Landmark. Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Portion Of Lots 12 & 13 (2012-1), Southwest Block 68, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant And Property Owner: Joe Torres And Jennifer Gaw ]
[INAUDIBLE] THIS IS 2222 AND RDD GALVEZ HAVE A NEW PETE FOR DESIGNATION OF LANDMARK.TWENTY-NINE NOTICES WERE SENT ONE RETURN THAT ONE IN FAVOR.
INSTRUCTED IN 1909, ELMO AND LILLIAN JOHNSON BUNGALOW WAS BUILT BY ELMO JOHNSON AS HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
MR. JOHNSON PULLED THE BUILDING PERMIT FOR THE HOUSE TWO WEEKS BEFORE HE AND LILLIAN WERE MARRIED.
MR. JOHNSON WAS A LAWYER THAT PRACTICE LAW ON HIS FATHER'S FIRM.
MR. JOHNSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE PROMINENT CRAY FAMILY FROM VICTORIA, TEXAS.
DANIEL'S FROM VICTORIA FAMILY [INAUDIBLE] THINGS IN INVENTORY TO CARRY THE CREAM.
THE MARRIAGE WAS SHORT-LIVED, THE COUPLE DIVORCED IN 1915 AND MR. JOHNSON RE-MARRIED [OVERLAPPING] IT'S INTERESTING.
THE HOUSE WAS LATER OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE SCHULLER FAMILY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THE LANDMARK COMMISSION REVIEW THIS REQUEST YESTERDAY AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RECOMMEND [INAUDIBLE].
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A FINAL DECISION REGARDING THEM [INAUDIBLE] REGULAR MEETING AT 03:37 PM.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS THE HOUSE TO THE NICE EXAMPLE OF PERHAPS [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED HERE AND BASED 23RD STREET, I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND OWNER THAT MOVED INTO THE CURRENT LOCATION AND BUILT THIS [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE RELOCATIONS WERE NOT UNCOMMON AGAINST. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU CATHERINE. COMMISSIONERS WITH ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ABOUT THE CASE?
>> I LOVE THAT A SCANDAL REMAINS A SCANDAL A HUNDRED YEARS LATER.
>> NOW WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS NOTABLE.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, AND I DON'T KNOW ARCHITECTURAL VALUE BUT YES, THIS STORIES ARE FANTASTIC.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? WELL, YOU'RE THE APPLICANT. IS THE OWNER HERE BY CHANCE? EXCELLENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND OFFER UP ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN IF YOU WOULD.
>> MY NAME IS JOE TORRES [INAUDIBLE].
>> MR. TORRES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING PRESENT.
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT THE HOUSE THAT YOU OWN?
>> IT'S VERY OLD. DRILLING THROUGH ANY OF THAT IS EXTREMELY HARD. [INAUDIBLE]
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED IT?
>> FIRST, I APPRECIATE YOUR MASTERS SHOT, AND SECOND.
>> IT'S A MASTER'S WEEKEND. [LAUGHTER]
>> YES, IT IS. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN MARRIED MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
YOU WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME THROUGH THE SIX MONTHS AND A HALF. [LAUGHTER].
>> THE CURSE OF THE HOUSE HAS BEEN BROKEN.
>> THAT WAS MY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. TORRES. APPRECIATE IT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT 3:44 AND COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION. EXCELLENT.
>> EXCELLENT. MOTION AND A SECOND.
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION ON THE CASE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF 23P-024 UNANIMOUSLY.
[00:10:03]
MR. TORRES, CONGRATULATIOS.CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE FINAL DECISION.
THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR THE CASE ON APRIL 3RD. WAIT, NO.
>> APRIL 27TH. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.
>> OUR NEXT CASE IS 23P025 TO BE PRESENTED BY DANIEL [INAUDIBLE]
[6.C.1. 23P-025 (Adjacent To 1811 20th) Request For A Permanent License To Use For A Structure That Encroaches Into A City Alley Right-Of-Way. Adjacent Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lot 7, Southwest Block 69, Galveston Outlots, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant: Lindsey Polk, Tricon Land Surveying LLC. Adjacent Property Owner: David Maxwell Easement Holder: City Of Galveston ]
IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORIC PROVENANCE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
THIS IS ADJACENT TO H11 20TH STREET.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A LICENSE TO USE FOR ENCROACHMENT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THERE WERE 26 PUBLIC NOTICES SENT, ALL THOSE RETURNED.
THE SUBJECT ACCESSORY DWELLING, WHICH IS A MORE COMPLEX, WAS BUILT SOMETIME BETWEEN 1912 AND 1947.
ACCORDING TO THE SAME FOR INSURANCE MAPS.
ACCORDING TO SURVEY PROVIDED A STRUCTURE ENCROACHED IS APPROXIMATELY ONE POINT TO THE ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND THE CURRENT OWNER SEEKING A LICENSE TO USE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING FOR A LICENSE USE.
ROUTINELY THIS EXPRESSION IS CORRECT CONFIGURATION HAS NOTED THIS INSTRUCTURE ENCROACHES CLOSELY 1.2 FOOT TO THE ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY, GENERALLY, THE ALLEY IS 20-FOOT THEREFORE, THERE IS ABOUT 18.8 [INAUDIBLE] ENCROACHMENT AND THE PROPERTY LINE OPPOSITE.
NOTE THAT EXISTING OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL POLES IN THE ALLEY ON THAT SAME SIDE, ENCROACH SOMEWHAT MORE THAN THE STRUCTURE ITSELF DOES.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN THE ENCROACHMENT WAS CREATED.
BUT SANBORN INSURANCE MAPS THAT SHOW THE STRUCTURE WAS NOT THERE.
SOMETIME DURING THAT AREA GALVESTON APPRAISAL DISTRICT RECORDS DATE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE TO 1921, WHICH BASELESS ARCHITECTURE IS PROBABLY PRETTY ACCURATE.
OF COURSE IT'S LESS THAN IS REQUIRED FOR ANY OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
NOTE THAT NO, THERE SAY DEPARTMENTS ARE PROBABLY UTILITIES PROVIDING ANY CONCERNS OR OBJECTIONS TO THE ENCROACHMENT.
STAFF RECOMMENDS CASE 23P-025, REGARDING THIS LICENSE TO USE BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ONE AND TWO AND PLUS TWO OTHER CONDITIONS OF THREE THROUGH EIGHT AND THE STAFF REPORT AND WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS.
HERE ON THE LEFT WE HAVE THE SURVEY AND WE'VE GOT HIGHLIGHTED OR CIRCLED THAT LITTLE BIT OF AN ENCROACHMENT THERE IN THE ALLEY.
ALSO I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE OVERALL PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT HOUSE THERE ON THE CORNER AND THEN THE FOUR PLEX BEHIND WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE ENCROACHMENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
HERE WE HAVE 1920S SANBORN MAP SHOWING A MUCH DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION OF STRUCTURE THERE ON THAT BACK CORNER.
THEN 1947, YOU SEE THE EXISTING APARTMENT BUILDING AS IT SITS NOW.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HERE WE HAVE A PHOTO OF THE ALLEY LOOKING WEST.
ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE YOU WILL SEE THAT SAME BUILDING THAT ENCROACHES A LITTLE BIT AND THE PROPERTY TO THE NORTH, TO THE EAST, TO THE WEST.
>> COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES.
THE BUILDING WAS ALREADY BUILT OVER THE PROPERTY?
>> CORRECT. LIKE I SAID, THE SANBORN MAPS, THERE'S A GAP.
BUILDING DOES NOT SHOW UP IN 1912, DOES SHOW UP ON 1947.
THEN G CAT SAYS 1921, WHICH IS PROBABLY PRETTY ACCURATE BASED ON JUST THE ARCHITECTURAL APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING.
ENCROACHMENTS FOR STRUCTURES BUILT WAY BACK WHEN THEY'RE FAIRLY COMMON.
>> THE APPLICANT DID WHEN IT WAS NOTED.
I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? THE APPLICANT'S PRESENT? WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN-IN SO IN CASE WE'VE GOT QUESTIONS FOR YOU?
>> [LAUGHTER] OKAY. YOU CURRENTLY OWN THE BUILDING ON THE FRONT SIDE AT [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S THE ONE YOU'RE SELLING? THIS IS THAT PROCESS.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?
[00:15:01]
EXCELLENT. MR. MAXWELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING PRESENT.>> WHILE HE FINISHES UP IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SIGN IT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS PAUL CHURCH, WE ARE GOING TO BE PURCHASING THE PROPERTY FOR. MR. MAXWELL.
I WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR THE TIME AND EFFORTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING A BEAUTIFUL, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER BUILDINGS WE'VE DONE ON GALVESTON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE APARTMENT OWNER? WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PRESENT AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESSES TO CLEAN THINGS UP. THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? HEARING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT 3:50 AND COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION WE APPROVE 23P-025 AS WRITTEN.
>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. DISCUSSION?.
>> DOES THE LICENSE YOU USE STAY WITH THE PUBLIC SIR?
>> I HAVE TO DO THAT TOO OCCASIONALLY.
[LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? VERY GOOD WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPOINTMENT? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU.
[6.D.1. 23P-026 (5228 Broadway /Avenue J, 5100 Sealy, Avenue I, And 5215 Winne/Avenue G) Request To Amend Ordinance 20-044 Regarding A Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlay District To Construct A “Multi-Family Residential” Complex In Order To Extend The Deadline For Completion. Properties Are Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey (0-0), Block 232 And The South 1/2 Of Adjacent Avenue I; M.B. Menard Survey (0-0), Block 291, 292, And Adjacent Streets; M.B. Menard Survey (0-0), Block 351 And Part Of Adjacent Avenue H And 52nd Street; And M.B. Menard Survey (0-0), Block 352 And Part Of Adjacent Avenue H And 52nd Street; In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant: Michael Saunders, McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. Property Owner: Galveston Housing Authority ]
IT IS ADDRESSED 528 BROADWAY.THE REQUEST IS FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THREE NOTICES PRESENT, TWO RETURNED ONE IN FAVOR AND ONE IN OPPOSITION. NO OBJECTION.
>> BACKGROUND ON JULY 23RD 2020. CORRECT THAT ERROR.
ON JULY 23RD, 2021, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS LOCATION, THAT WAS PLANNING COMMISSION CASE 20, AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-044.
THE INTENT OF THE APPROVED PUD WAS TO DEVIATE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENT, MAXIMUM LIGHT, AND BROADWAY BUILD IN LINE.
THIS REQUEST IS TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION AS STIPULATED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 20-044.
THE APPROVED PUD REQUIRES CONSTRUCTION NEEDED NO LATER THAN 36 MONTHS, FROM THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL, WHICH IS JULY OF '23.
THE ORDINANCE STATES PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE DISCRETION TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD OF SUFFICIENT [INAUDIBLE].
APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AN EXTENSION OF COMPLETION DEADLINE FROM JULY OF 2023 TO NOVEMBER OF 2023.
EXTENSION THAT REFLECTS THE DELAYED CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN MARCH OF '21.
ALL OTHER CONDITIONS OF THE PART OF APPROVAL WILL REMAIN AS CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION STEP TO TURN MANY APPROVAL FOR THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL EXCEPT FOR THE CONDITION NUMBER 5 [INAUDIBLE].
THE COUNSEL HAS THE FINAL 40 ON THE REQUEST CONSIDER THIS REQUEST ON A REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2023.
HERE'S THE PICTURE SAYS OLEANDER, [INAUDIBLE] PERIODICALLY REVIEW OR PUDS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMPLAINT OF THE [INAUDIBLE] THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THEIR DEADLINE DATES AND SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR FOLKS TO FILE FOR AN EXTENSION.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, JUST AN EXTENSION OF THE COMPLETION DATE AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
>> VERY GOOD. QUESTIONS FOR STAFFS?
>> CATHERINE, WHEN YOU'RE SUBMITTING THIS TO COUNSEL ON THE BACKGROUND PART, CORRECT THE OPENING 2 ON JULY 23, 2020.
>> CATHERINE, I NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE INCONSISTENCY IN EXHIBIT A THAT'S PRESENTED.
THAT'S THE PUD NARRATIVE FOR EXTENSION.
IT STATES THAT THE NEW PHASING AND SCHEDULING CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION DATE IS DECEMBER 2023, BUT THEY'RE ONLY ASKING US TO EXTEND THIS TO NOVEMBER 2023, MUCH HAS BEEN THE CASE PREVIOUSLY,
[00:20:03]
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW THEM AMPLE TIME AND NOT HAVE TO GO BACK AGAIN.CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WITH ME REAL QUICK?
>> UNDER NEW PHASING AND SCHEDULING.
>> NEW PHASING AND SCHEDULING. INDEED.
>> THEN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH STATES THAT THEY'RE ONLY ASKING THEM FROM NOVEMBER 2023. [LAUGHTER]
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I WISH I HAD CAUGHT THAT IN MY REPORT.
I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE CHANGE THE CONDITION NUMBER 5 TO REFLECT THE LATER DATE OF DECEMBER 31ST.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> STEPH ADJUSTS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS NEED FOR DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
>> WELL WE NEED TO DO THAT VIA WHEN WE MAKE THE MOTION.
>> IT'S CLEANER IF YOU DO IT AS AN AMENDMENT.
>> THIS WAS WHAT WAS IN THE STAFF REPORT.
>> WE CAN JUST DO WHEN WE MAKE OUR MOTION.
>> CORRECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I DON'T SEE THE APPLICANT PRESENT OR IS IT CITY THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE?
>> NO, GALVESTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THEY ARE THE CONSULTANTS OR THE APPLICANT.
>> ALL RIGHT VERY GOOD. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF 03:55.
ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? THERE'S NOBODY LEFT. I KNOW YOU STILL GOT TO DO IT.
[LAUGHTER] MY GOOD WALK THROUGH THE DOOR RIGHT NOW.
>> RIGHT NOW. HEY LOOK, I HAD A MINUTE THERE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 03:56. WHO SAID, WE DON'T HAVE FUN WITH PLANNING.
[LAUGHTER] WITH THAT WE'LL COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS CASE, PLEASE?
>> TO THE CHANGE OF THE DATE TO DECEMBER 2023 TO THE TERMINATION OF THE.
>> YES, DECEMBER 31, 2023. WE HAVE A MOTION.
>> COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] IS A SECOND.
DISCUSSION? WITH THAT WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AS PRESENTED WITH THE AMENDMENT.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I THINK THAT'S WE'RE NOW DOWN TO THE IS THAT THE LAST CASE?
[7.A. Plat Application Requirements (Finklea) ]
>> NO, IT'S JUST DISCUSSION ITEMS.
>> WE ARE. WE'RE IN RARE FORM TODAY.
I HAD ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AND IT HAS TO DO WITH PLAT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.
AS WE MET LAST TIME, WE WANTED TO DO THIS IN THE PUBLIC FORUM SO THAT THOSE THAT MIGHT BE LISTENING TO THIS ONLINE MIGHT UNDERSTAND THAT WE WRESTLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT'S PRESENTED TO US, THE REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE RELATED TO PLATTING.
WE WANTED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE IN PUBLIC FORUM ABOUT WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS? WHAT IS IT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS THE ABILITY TO REVIEW OR ASK? NOT ASKED OCCASIONALLY, RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND THEN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
I'VE ASKED CATHERINE TO START US OFF AND OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION.
>> I PUT IN TO THE SLIDESHOW, THIS IS THE APPLICATION, THE CHECKLIST AND THE APPLICATION FORM.
SO THIS IS WHAT STAFF REQUIRES TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH PLAT.
IT IS THE FILING DOCUMENTS AS OR A LARGE SET OF DRAWINGS THAT ARE PHYSICALLY FILED WITH THE GALVESTON COUNTY CLERK AND IT'S TWO MYLARS AND ONE BLUE BLACK LINES, IT'S LARGE SHEETS OF PAPER.
ONE OF THE JOBS OF THE CHAIR IS TO COME OVER AND SIGN THESE FOR US.
THE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR IN THE PAST CHAIRS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE.
THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE MYLARS AND ON THE FILING DOCUMENTS.
IT IS ADDRESSES, EASEMENTS, THEN BUILDING LINES.
REPLAT SURVEY, THAT'S THE SAME THING AS A FILING DOCUMENT, JUST IN A SMALLER FORMAT.
THAT'S EASIER FOR US TO HANDLE AND THIS IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEND OUT TO THE REVIEWERS FOR THEIR REVIEW AND ALSO IS WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS. CURRENT SURVEY.
THE RE-PLOT SURVEY IS THE AFTER THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO WHEN THEY'RE DIVIDING PROPERTY, CURRENT SURVEY IS THE BEFORE SO IT IS THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION SHOWING THE PROPERTY LINES AND EASEMENTS.
WRITTEN NARRATIVE. THAT'S JUST HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REQUEST IS.
CURRENT TAX CERTIFICATES, THOSE ARE PRODUCED BY THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE.
IT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE COUNTY CLERK WHEN WE'RE FILING PLATS.
TITLE REPORT, IF A PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD RECENTLY, WE MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER'S MAKING THIS ACTION IS THE CURRENT OWNER AND THEN THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FILING FEES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THERE'S A FEE FOR FILING AT THE COUNTY AND THEN APPLICATION FEES AT THE CITY.
THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING A PLAT.
[00:25:02]
>> THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO GET TO THE FIRST DISCUSSION WHEN WE'VE DONE THE WHOLE PRELIMINARY PLAT AND FINAL PLAT DISCUSSION, WE HAD THAT AT THE WORKSHOP.
THIS COMES INTO THE AREA OF THAT THIRD CHECK BOX WHERE IT SAYS REPLAT SURVEY AND CURRENT SURVEY.
THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THE CITY REQUIRES IS DICTATED BY STATE LAW? I'M GUESSING. OR DO YOU ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE STATE WOULD REQUIRE AS A PART OF A RE-PLAT?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE STATE REQUIRES ANYTHING AS TO THE CONTENT OF THE PLAT.
THE STATE REQUIREMENTS ARE MUCH MORE ABOUT TIMELINES AND DEADLINES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE, BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY STRICT TIMELINES FOR APPROVAL OF THE PLATS WHICH HAVE TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE ACCEPTANCE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE UP THERE UNDERNEATH MYLARS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IF APPLICABLE, ADDRESS FOR EXISTING NEW LOTS, EASEMENTS, UTILITY EASEMENTS, ACCESS EASEMENTS, ETC AND SO WE FOUND IN ONE OF THE REPLATS PREVIOUSLY THAT THEY DIDN'T SHOW THE EASEMENT IS AT LEAST WE KNEW OF A UTILITY EASEMENT THERE WAS A PIPELINE EASEMENT THAT WAS KNOWN, BUT IT WAS NOT SHOWN ON THE REPLAT.
ARE EASEMENTS TYPICALLY FOUND ON REPLATS?
>> THEY'RE TYPICALLY UTILITY EASEMENT, SOMETHING LIKE A PIPELINE EASEMENTS, PRETTY UNUSUAL.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH VERY OFTEN.
WE MOST OFTEN DEAL WITH A UTILITY EASEMENTS.
>> JUST STANDARD UTILITIES ISN'T IT?
>> THEN PROBABLY ACCESS EASEMENTS.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S LISTED THERE IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S PRETTY COMMON.
>> ONE OTHER THING WE SAW PREVIOUSLY IS WHEN INDIVIDUALS LIST RESERVES AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF RESERVES ARE OR IF THEY'RE RESERVED FOR PARTICULAR USES.
BUT ARE THOSE USES REQUIRED TO BE ON THE REPLAT?
>> THAT INFORMATION IS IN ARTICLE 6, THE GOVERNMENT REGULATION ARTICLE 6 IS THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.
THAT WILL SPECIFY THAT RESERVES I THINK, HAVE TO BE NOTED AS TO WHAT THEIR USE IS.
>> WE SHOULD SEE THAT ON THE REPLAT.
MORE QUESTIONS. I JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND KEEP ON GOING.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ENCUMBRANCES THAT WOULD LIMIT THE DEVELOPABILITY OF THE PROPERTY, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NECESSARY SAY ABOUT IT.
FOR EXAMPLE WE TALKED ABOUT WETLANDS EARLIER.
I KNOW THAT WE DON'T SAY WHAT A WETLAND IS AND IT'S ONLY THE COURT SAYS WHAT A WETLAND SAYS.
THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE APPLICANT AS TO IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT IS QUESTIONABLE.
THAT THEY COULD SAY SOMETHING.
WE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE TO RELY UPON THE EXPERTS BEING STAFF TO SEE THOSE AS THEY COME FORWARD.
WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT WE CAN'T REQUIRE THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> THERE IS NO REGULATION TO APPLY.
>> THAT WOULD APPLY BOTH TO WETLANDS AS WELL AS TO ENCUMBRANCES DUE TO DUNE PROTECTION AREA. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> MAYBE SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT [INAUDIBLE] ARE NOTED ON THE PLAT?
>> I'D SAY, THIS IS THE GOOD QUESTION I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
>> NOT SOMETHING I KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SURE. IF WE TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF THE PRESERVE AT THE GRAND BEACH, WHERE WE WERE PRESENTED WITH BEACH CONSTRUCTION PERMIT REQUESTS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING VARIANCES FOR CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE DUNE PROTECTION AREA AND THE APPLICANT WAS SAYING, WELL, THIS IS THE MOST LANDWARD THAT I CAN PUT MY PROPERTY BECAUSE I HAVE TO BUILD A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY OR HOUSE IN ORDER TO MEET HOA REQUIREMENTS.
IT PUT US IN THE CASE OF SAYING THAT PLAT IS NOT DEVELOPABLE PER THE HOA REQUIREMENTS AND THEREFORE THEY ARE SEEKING A VARIANCE FROM US BECAUSE THE PLAT WAS DONE IN SUCH A FASHION THAT IT MADE THE PROPERTY UNDEVELOPABLE.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT I'M SAYING, HOW CAN WE, AS A CITY OR A PLANNING COMMISSION, HELP TO PROVIDE INFORMATION EITHER DURING THE REPLATING PROCESS OR AT THE STAFF LEVEL BACK TO THE APPLICANTS OF SAYING, I THINK THAT YOU REALLY OUGHT TO GO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AND SAY, I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO DO A SURVEY THAT OUTLINES THE DUNE PROTECTION AREA SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPABLE AREA OF THOSE BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES IN THE FUTURE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST CATHERINE THEN I'LL GO SECOND.
>> I CAN TALK ABOUT THE DUNE PROTECTION.
[00:30:02]
THERE ARE SOME STUFF IN THERE.YOU CAN RESET THE LINES FOR THE DUNES, ALL OF THAT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN ALLOW VARIANCES.
THERE ARE STUFF IN THE DUNE PROTECTION AND IN OUR PLAN THAT IF SOMEBODY COMES AND SAYS, I HAVE TO BUILD THIS HOUSE HERE.
WE CAN ALLOW SOME VARIANCES FOR THAT.
EXCEPTIONS. WE HAD LOOK AT TECHNOLOGY, COSTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SOMEBODY HAS HAD A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN THEIR FAMILY FOR YEARS AND THEY WANT TO BUILD A BEACHFRONT HOUSE AND TO DO THE SAME THING WOULD [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S SOUND LIKE A ONE-OFF.
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS IN THE CASES OF WHERE WE HAVE BUDS, WHERE WE'RE PLATTING OUT 18 BEACHFRONT HOMES FOR THE PURPOSES OF SELLING OFF THOSE PARCELS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FUTURE. YES.
>> WHAT I ALSO THINK I'M HEARING AND I'M GOING TO RESPOND WITH THE HARD LINE TYPE OF RESPONSE BECAUSE YOU THREW SOME THINGS IN THERE LIKE WHEN THE HOA HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF IDEAL FOR THE PROPERTY, HOW DOES THAT GEL WITH WHAT A DEVELOPER WANTS TO DO IN THE CITY'S REGULATIONS? WHAT I THINK I HEAR YOU SAYING IS, WELL, HOW DO YOU MARRY THAT TOO OR CAN YOU MARRY THAT TOO? MY HARD LINE IN THE SAND IS THE CITY'S REGULATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY MARRY IT WITH AN HOA REGULATIONS.
BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T DEAL WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS OF THAT LEVEL.
I'M ALSO GOING TO SAY THAT THE DEVELOPER REALLY IS THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.
NO ONE SAYS YOU HAVE TO BUILD AN 18 MULTI-FAMILY UNIT OR A 40 MULTIFAMILY UNITS OR WHATEVER TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO.
IF IT'S GOING TO GO AGAINST THE DEED RESTRICTIONS YOU HAVE BOUGHT INTO THAT AREA THAT HAS DEED RESTRICTIONS, THAT'S RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE DEVELOPER OR WHOMEVER IT IS AND WHOEVER THEIR HOA IS OR WHATEVER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY, AS COMMISSIONERS GOT TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM AND LET THEM DEAL WITH WHATEVER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH.
BECAUSE THEY GOT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON WHERE JUST LIKE WE SAID WITH LANDMARK COMMISSIONER FOLKS.
WHEN PEOPLE BUY A HOME IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, [LAUGHTER] THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
YOU GOT TO LET THESE FOLKS EDUCATE THEMSELVES AS THEY SHOULD.
BUT I THINK THE CITY OF GALVESTON IS UNIQUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE ISSUES.
YOUR STAFF PEOPLE ARE SO EDUCATED ON THE WAYS THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH A DEVELOPER, AS WELL AS MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY REGULATIONS ARE MET.
IF THEY'RE COMING HERE FOR VARIANCE, IS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER SAY, WE'VE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE CITY, WE STILL REQUIRE THIS OTHER ASPECT, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT FROM YOU GUYS.
I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR ROLE OF COMMISSIONERS.
BUT KYLE, TIM, CATHERINE, THE REST OF THE STAFF, I THINK THEY WORKED DILIGENTLY TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK.
IN TERMS OF RE-PLATS, THE CITY IS GOING TO LOOK AT THEIR REGULATIONS FIRST TO SEE IF IT'S BEING MET.
THEN WHATEVER ELSE GETS PUT ON THE TABLE IF IT NEEDS TO COME TO YOU GUYS, WILL COME TO YOU GUYS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK. YOU GO FIRST? [LAUGHTER]
>> YES, YOU CAN. THEN I WANT TO COME BACK TO SOMETHING CATHERINE SAID RELATED DUNE PROTECTION.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE QUITE GOT TO YOURS.
>> YOU WANT TO TRY TO RESTATE IT?
>> YEAH. CAN WE TRY AGAIN ON YOURS?
>> LET ME TRY TO RESTATE IT. OR YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
>> I THINK THAT WHAT DAVID'S TRYING TO GET TO OVERALL IS IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE'S COMING TO US ON A SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT, NOT A SINGLE PROPERTY IN AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY HAS ANY KIND OF RULES IN PLACE.
BUT SOMEBODY'S COMING TO US TRYING TO DEVELOP A SUBDIVISION AND WE SEE THAT THEY MIGHT BE GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE GOING WONKY.
MAYBE DEVELOPING SOME LOTS THAT COULD BE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE BEACH FRONT,
[00:35:01]
WETLANDS, SOMETHING THAT COULD CREATE PROBLEMS LATER ON IN CREATING LOTS THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC LATER ON. WHERE DOES OUR RESPONSIBILITY LIE? DO WE HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR POINTING THAT OUT UPFRONT? HEY, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CLOSE TO THE BEACH HERE.HEY, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CLOSE TO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE WETLANDS, COULD BE WETLAND, COULD BE MARSHY LAND OR WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CLOSE TO THIS.
DO WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY THERE? DOES THE STAFF HAVE RESPONSIBILITY THERE? HAVE I GOTTEN ANY CLOSE?
>> YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER AND THEN TO ADD ON THAT, ARE THERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE AS A PLANNING COMMISSION CAN MAKE TO REQUEST EITHER CHANGES TO THE LDRS OR CHANGES TO THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT'S PRESENTED ON A REPLAT IN ORDER TO GIVE CLARITY ON CREATING MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT THE DEVELOPER AND STAFF, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE ENCUMBRANCES THAT ARE ON THAT PROPERTY AS A PART OF THAT SUBDIVISION REPLAT.
THAT GETS BACK TO CATHERINE'S POINT OF SAYING, COULD WE ASK OR IS IT REQUIRED TO SHOW A DUNE PROTECTION LINE IN THE 25 FOOT ON A REPLAT? THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.
>> I WAS LOOKING AT REGULATIONS IN ARTICLE IT'S ACTUALLY IN ARTICLE 29 WHICH IS THE BEACH IN DUNE RULES.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THERE THAT THERE'LL BE A PLAT NOTATION, THAT MY PLAT NOT IS JUST. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S JUST A NOT AT THE BOTTOM.
>> IT'S SOMEWHERE ON THE PLAT AND IS TO NOTIFY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE BUYING THOSE LOTS THAT THE LOTS AND PARCEL SHOWN ON THIS PLAT MAY BE LOCATED WITHIN THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA AND MAYBE SUBJECT TO MORE STRINGENT BUILDING REQUIREMENTS OR LIMITATIONS UNDER STATE OF TEXAS OR CITY OF GALVESTON REGULATIONS.
THERE IS THAT REQUIREMENT BUT YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO PUT THE DUNE FEATURES, THE BEACH FEATURES ON A PLAT BECAUSE LIKE KYLE SAID, THEY MOVE.
>> IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S PLATTED IN THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF AN EVENT AND NOW THE DUNE CONSERVATION AREA IS NOT IN THAT LOCATION, THEN THAT'S A BUREAUCRATIC PROBLEM FOR A PROPERTY.
>> THIS COMES DOWN TO MAYBE A BUREAUCRATIC PROBLEM OR A STAFF-LEVEL THING OF SAYING, LOOK, I SEE SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO DEVELOP 20 BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES FROM A SUBDIVISION PLAT.
WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK.
BY THE WAY IT'S ALSO IN AN AREA THAT WE KNOW THAT THE DUNES ARE RECEDING.
WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE RIGHTS AND GOALS OF THE DEVELOPER IN TERMS OF MAKING MORE DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY OR MAKING THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THE FUTURE HOMEOWNERS OR WHOEVER'S GOING TO BUY IT BUT THAT'S THEIR INTENT, IS OBVIOUSLY MOST LIKELY TO GO OFF AND SELL THOSE PARCELS.
WE'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY WHERE THOSE PARCELS NOW ARE LARGELY ENCUMBERED BY THE DUNE PROTECTION AREA AND SOMEBODY READS THIS LITTLE BITTY NOTE THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM OF THE REPLAT.
IT SAYS IT MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO THAT, BUT THERE'S A BALANCE THERE.
SOMEBODY COMES IN AND PUTS IN FOR BUILDING PERMIT BEFORE THEY COME TO US, IT'S IN A DATABASE.
WE LOOK AT ANYTHING THEN THAT THING.
IF I GO IN THERE AND I SEE A STRUCTURE TO BE BUILT WITHIN 1,000 FEET WHATEVER I'M MAKING A COMMENT THAT THEY NEED TO COME TO US.
BUILDING NOT GOING TO OFFER A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY THEN I DON'T OFFER ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT SOMEBODY GOES TO BUILDING, GET A BUILDING PERMIT. I'M LOOKING AT IT.
IF I LOOK AT IT AND IT SAYS, LIKE I SAID, IF IT'S WINDOWS YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
IF IT'S A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE YOU NEED TO COME TO US AND THEN ONCE THEY BUILD IT, THEY LET US KNOW ABOUT GOING OUT THERE AND LOOKING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
WE GO OUT THERE AND WE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BUILT LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM THAT IS PLATTED.
SOMEBODY BUYS A LOT, SOMEBODY GETS READY TO BUILD ON IT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO SLIDE ON RIGHT AWAY. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST.
[00:40:01]
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL IF I THINK SOMETHING'S WELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY TO GO DO A WETLAND DELINEATION BECAUSE THOSE CAN BE TENS OF THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.IF WE'RE NOT SURE IT'S NOT IN OUR PURVIEW TO DO THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY YOU'LL DO A WETLAND DELINEATION.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS FOR REPLAT IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE DEALT WITH WHAT OUR REGULATIONS SAY CAN BE DEALT WITH.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN THAT AREA, THOSE FOUR CORNERS OF THAT DOCUMENT BUT SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT FORTH, THE THINGS THAT WELL, MAYBE THE DEVELOPMENTAL AREA IS THIS RECTANGULAR HERE, BUT THAT RECTANGLE IS CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
THE WALK ON BEACH OR THE DRIVE ON BEACH, BUT IT'S CLOSE TO THE BEACH.
SHOULD WE TELL THE DEVELOPER THAT HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT IF THIS PERSON BUILDS A HOUSE HERE, THEY MAY BE AFFECTED IN FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, HURRICANE SEASON IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH WETLANDS AND MARSHLANDS.
I THINK IF THE COMMISSIONERS WANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE REPLATS THE NOT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE STUFF THAT'S WITHIN THE PURVIEW.
THE BEACH LINE IS ACTUALLY FLUID, THE DUNES ARE FLUID.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FLUID.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS BRICK AND MORTAR ON THE EAST SIDE OR AROUND HERE IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO CHANGE ITS FOOTPATH.
WE HAVE STUFF FROM 1920 POSSIBLY 1947 THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT BECAUSE THE HOME IS BUILT ON FOOTPATH AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL THE PERSON YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT BUILDING DOWN.
[LAUGHTER] THAT JUST DESCRIBES A SITUATION WITH YOU CANNOT ALWAYS PROTECT AGAINST EVERYTHING BUT THE 20 FOOT ALLEYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A 20 FOOT ALLEY.
NOW IS 18.8. [LAUGHTER] EACH AREA IS FLUID.
I DON'T WANT US ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE BEACH AND WHATNOT BECAUSE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, YOU GUYS LOOK AT BEACHFRONT CONSTRUCTION, SO I GET IT.
BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE FLUID JUST GOT TO GO WITHIN WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED AND THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HEAR FROM STAFF WHEN THESE SITUATIONS ARE BEING PRESENTED AND COMMISSIONERS WANT TO PUT IN SOME OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER IS THAT YOU GOT TO GO WITH WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED AND IT'S WITHIN OUR REGULATIONS.
BUT I THINK IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN FOLKS COME TO THE HEARINGS FOR YOU GUYS TO SPEAK ON IT AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND WHATNOT.
JUST DON'T LET THAT BE THE GUIDING LIGHT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU GOING WITHIN THE REGULATIONS GRANTING IT OR NOT GRANTING IT.
SO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PURVIEW, THE BOUNDARIES THAT YOU GUYS ARE IN, WHAT THINGS ARE BEING PRESENTED, BUT I ALSO DO THINK THAT DEVELOPERS, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE WHATEVER YOU GUYS SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT IF THEY REALLY WANT TO.
BUT YOU HAVE SMALLER FOLKS THAT DIDN'T COME HERE AND LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU GUYS BRING A WHOLE WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
AND I THINK IT IS GOOD TO PRESENT DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE TO HAVE THEIR CASES HEARD BEFORE YOU.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE SOMETIMES STUCK IN A LITTLE AREA OF WHERE YOU GUYS CAN EITHER SAY YAY OR NAY TOO.
>> NO, THAT'S OKAY. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE LOOKING INTO IS WHERE THESE DEVELOPERS BRING IN A PLAT AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE VARIANCES.
THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT I FEEL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED.
WE KNOW HE IS THROWING THESE TRACKS OUT AND HE KNOWS, THIS HOUSE, THIS HOUSE AND THIS HOUSE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET A VARIANCE AND THAT IS ENCUMBERING THE OWNER AND THE BUILDER.
AND I THINK THAT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THOSE PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT BUYING AND OWNING PROPERTY, THAT THEY WON'T BE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE STRESS OF EITHER BEING APPROVED OR NOT APPROVED OR HAVING TO DO SOME EXCESSIVE COSTLY MITIGATION.
>> HE SAID THAT VERY SUCCINCTLY BY THE WAY WHICH I TRY TO DO FOR 10 MINUTES AND DIDN'T GET THERE.
[00:45:03]
>> CITY RESPONSE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS KNOWN WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS ABOUT 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE REQUIRING VARIANCES, THERE'S AN LDR THING WHERE NOW THEY'RE REQUIRING VARIANCES.
EACH CASE IS GOING TO BE HEARD ON THEIR OWN MERITS.
>> MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MORE STRINGENT REGULATION, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CHANGES TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOME REQUIREMENT.
THE PLANNING REFLECTS WHAT'S WIRED IN THE LDR.
THE LDR IS THE DOCUMENT THAT WE CONTROL.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CHANGES, THAT WOULD BE THE LOCATION TO MAKE THEM.
>> CATHERINE SAID THAT VERY SUCCINCTLY.
>> AND I ALSO THINK THAT I'VE SAT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ROUNDS OF COMMISSIONERS.
AND THIS PARTICULAR ROUND OF COMMISSIONERS IS A VERY EMPATHETIC ROUND OF COMMISSIONERS AND ONE WHO REALLY LISTENS WHEN PEOPLE COME FORWARD.
AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PLOTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD RECENTLY THAT HAVE IMPACTED A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS, PARTICULARLY ON THE WEST END, WHO HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL AND WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LISTEN TO THEM AND TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
THEY'VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT FLOODING, THEY'VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT OVERCROWDING, THEY'VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH I KNOW THAT'S NOT AT ALL IN OUR PURVIEW, BUT THE FLOODING AND THE CITY SERVICES, I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN WITHIN OUR PURVIEW TO LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO AND I THINK THAT THAT'S PART OF THIS OVERALL CONVERSATION, ISN'T IT? TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT AND WHAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T ASK AT, NOT JUST ASK ABOUT, BUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
WHERE WE CAN AND CAN'T GO OUTSIDE THOSE FOUR CORNERS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WANT TO I GUESS THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL.
IF THEY WANTED TO MAKE THIS UP.
>> AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU POINTED TO IS THAT IF A COMMUNITY IS BRINGING FORWARD CONCERNS OF EITHER FLOODING OR TRAFFIC OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT DOES THE CITY HAVE OR REQUIRE, DO THEY HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF CONCERNS? IT'S ONE THING IF YOU'VE GOT LIKE A JUST A 10 UNIT PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT LIKE 80 LOTS NOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DROP DOWN, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC GENERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND WHEN WE FIRST SEE A RE-PLAT, THE CITY'S RESPONSE, OR AT LEAST CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CATHERINE, I THINK WE ASKED I SAID, HAS THERE BEEN A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS DONE AND THE ANSWER IS NO.
SO WHERE'S THE LINE? WHERE IS IT THAT WE AS STAFF ARE WE AS COMMISSIONERS CAN HELP PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
>> WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO INVITE SOME OF OUR REVIEW PARTNERS, GIVE YOU PRESENTATIONS ON WHAT THEY DO.
ROB WINIECKE IS THE CITY ENGINEER, AND HE REQUIRES TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS AND HE ALSO REVIEWS DRAINAGE AND OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALL HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN.
SO WE CAN SEE IF ROB HAS TIME TO SPEND WITH US TO GO OVER WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR REVIEW PROCESS.
>> AND MAYBE, WE DON'T SEE IT FOR A 10 HOUSE DEVELOPMENT BUT WHEN WE SEE A 10 HOUSE DEVELOPMENT AND ANOTHER TEN HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, ANOTHER 10 HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN A 20 HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN A 15 HOUSE DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF A SUDDEN GUESS WHAT, WE'RE AT THAT 80 HOUSES.
>> SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL DON'T OPERATE IN A BUBBLE.
JUST AS CATHERINE WAS STATING, THERE ARE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL LOOK AT THESE PLANS AS THEY COME FORTH, ALL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
[00:50:04]
SO IN TERMS OF WHO TO POINT FOLKS THAT COME TO HEARINGS HERE OR VOICE COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS FLOODING, PARKING, OVER-CROWDING.THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT HAVING THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
BUT YOU ALL DON'T OPERATE IN A BUBBLE.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HARD STANCE OF SAYING THAT'S AN ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT, THAT'S THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THEY WILL REVIEW THESE PLANS AS WELL AND NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLAN MAY COME TO YOU AND THAT INITIAL FORM, IT MAY NOT BE DEVELOPED IN THAT INITIAL FORM BASED ON THE COMMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
WE SAY THAT ALL THE TIME IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER REVIEW.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE AS WELL BETWEEN WHAT IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED IN TERMS OF REVIEWING THESE FLATS AND THE TIME CLOCK, THE SHOT CLOCK AS THEY JUST PROBABLY A REAL APROPOS WAY OF SAYING WHAT IT DOES TO CITIES, IS A SHOT IN THE DARK.
NOBODY LIKES SHOTS, BUT THERE'S A SPECIFIC TIME-FRAME THAT THESE PLOTS ARE TBB OR THEY'RE JUST GRANTED.
THEY'RE JUST GRANTED OUTRIGHT.
THE FACT THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS, TO REVIEW THE PLAQUES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THEM THAT ARE IN YOUR PURVIEW AND TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS, HOPEFULLY DEVELOPERS ARE HERE, COMMUNITIES ARE HERE, AND PEOPLE CALL THE CITY ALL THE TIME.
TRUST ME, THEY MAY BE CALLING YOU GUYS, BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO THE CITY ALL THE TIME.
THOSE SHOW UP AT CITY COUNCIL, ETC.
YOU DON'T OPERATE IN A BUBBLE. YOU CANNOT.
I GUESS YOU CAN, BUT SOMETIMES THE EMPATHY IS GOOD TO SHOW.
BUT THEN YOU STILL HAVE TO HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.
MAYBE I CAN POINT YOU IN THIS DIRECTION OR MAYBE YOU CAN TALK TO THAT DEPARTMENT AND WHAT ARE YOU GOT TO BALANCE IT.
>> WE WERE GETTING BETTER AT THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HERE'S A TEST QUESTION.
SINCE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT AND FOR A FEW MINUTES.
CAN WE AS A COMMISSION MAKE A SUGGESTION OR A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAYBE LOOK INTO AND REVIEW SOME OF THEM LAND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO PLATS AND THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE SHORELINE.
>> YEAH, AND WE NEED TO BE BETTER DEVELOPED THAN THAT.
>> I'M JUST STARTING THE CONVERSATION.
PART OF OUR ROLE IS THAT WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR POTENTIAL LANGUAGE CHANGES TO THE LDR.
IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME AND EFFORT BOTH ON COMMISSIONS PART AS WELL AS STAFF AS WE LOOKED TO THESE QUESTIONS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH OUR TIME TO DO THAT BECAUSE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON HERE, WE'VE SEEN A VARIETY OF BOTH PID APPLICATIONS THAT INCLUDED A NUMBER OF VARIANCES.
WE'VE ASKED FOR STUDIES RELATED TO LEVERAGE LOT SIZES ON THE WESTERN VERSUS EASTERN.
WE'VE STARTED TO POKE AROUND THE IDEA OF ARE THERE WAYS OR ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO DO, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND WE CAN WORK TO TRY TO SCHEDULE SOME TIME.
I'LL WORK WITH CATHERINE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW THAT PROCESS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
>> I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT WORKING WITH CATHERINE, BUT TO HAVE OTHER FOLKS BRING THEIR IDEAS TO THE TABLE, MAYBE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE AN EX OFFICIAL WHO'S THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO BRING THIS TO CITY COUNCIL.
MAYBE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ITEM ON AN AGENDA WHERE YOUR EX OFFICIAL IS GOING TO BE PRESENT IS PROBABLY WARRANTED AS WELL BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ON BOARD WITH THAT.
>> DONNA DOES THIS EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS HAPPEN AT THE WORKSHOP LEVEL OR CAN DOES IT HAPPEN SOME OTHER WAY? DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC FORUM? IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUST TRYING TO EVALUATE THE LDRS AND TRY TO BRING SUGGESTIONS.
WE DO THAT INDIVIDUALLY AS COMMISSIONERS AND COME TOGETHER IN THE WORKSHOP.
[00:55:02]
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?>> IT'S HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, I'M GOING TO DO IT PIECEMEAL IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WAY.
IT WAS STAFF'S TIME AND [LAUGHTER] WHAT NOT.
MORE THAN ONE PERSON HAS THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, IT'S PROBABLY GOOD TO BRING THAT TO THE TABLE FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
WHICH IS WHY I MENTIONED MAYBE ANOTHER WORKSHOP OR A DISCUSSION WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN PUT A GOOD 15 MINUTES TO A HALF-HOUR, PROBABLY CLOSER TO THAT, FAR INTO IT.
THEN MAYBE FORMULATE A PLAN GOING FORWARD.
WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE OR TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO IT AS A COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM, DISCUSSION ITEM AT A COMMISSION MEETING BECAUSE THAT WAY WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF OUR EX OFFICIAL BEING HERE.
I THINK THAT THE FIRST HURDLE THAT WE NEED TO GET OVER IS WE NEED TO GET OUR COUNCIL ARE EX OFFICIAL ON BOARD AND WE NEED TO KNOW THAT HE IS ON THAT HE'S WITH US ON THIS.
I THINK TO ACTUALLY GET HIM ON BOARD WITH THIS CAUSE, WE NEED HAVE SEVERAL ACTUAL BULLET POINTS OF THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT ADDRESSED SPECIFICALLY IN THE REPLANT AND FINAL PLAT OR DEVELOPMENT? WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO CHANGE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD REALLY TRY AND THINK ABOUT BEFORE WE HAD THIS NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM, THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GO TO HIM WITH.
I WAS THINKING OF A LITTLE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.
LISTENING TO WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, I THINK THIS IS TRYING TO WRAP THINGS UP BY THE WAY. I'M TRYING TO DO THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO GO BACK AND START TO LIST OUT THOSE QUESTIONS.
EITHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ARE POINTS THAT WE FIND.
MAYBE WE NEED TO START TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT'D BE FLOODING TRAFFIC.
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? WHAT WHERE DO WE GO? WHERE CAN WE GO POKE AROUND AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS TO STAFF? AND MAYBE WE CAN COME BACK AND MAYBE COME BACK WITH A CONCISE, BRIEF NARRATIVE AND BULLET POINTS THAT WE CAN THEN PRESENT TO OUR EX OFFICIAL THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
>> WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY WE'RE GOING TO DO A WORKSHOP PRIOR TO GIVING IT FOR YOU BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION FROM THE REST OF THE PLANNING PEOPLE ON HOW THESE THINGS WILL WORK OUT, I.E THE ENGINEER AND EVERYTHING.
SHOULD WE ARM OURSELVES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MORE INFO BEFORE WE RUN INTO THROAT IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL ON OUR END TO HAVE YOUR LIST OF QUESTIONS OR THINGS THAT ARE AT THE TOP OF YOUR MINDS AS BEING YOUR NUMBER 1 CONCERNS.
THEN WE CAN TAILOR WHO COMES TO TALK TO ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND I WANT TO ADD WELL, I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO ADD THEM AGENDA ITEM AS A I DON'T KNOW.
DO I DO IT A WORKSHOP NOW WE'LL JUST DO IT AT THE END OF THE AGENDA FOR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A THREE-HOUR CASES.
>> IN MANY CASES, I DON'T THINK IT'S A TON KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THOUGH.
I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT BECAUSE WE'RE BEING RECORDED.
ARE EX OFFICIAL IS USUALLY HERE.
>> USUALLY HEAR ANY SHE USUALLY HERE AT THE WORKSHOPS TOO, IS USUALLY HERE.
WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THEN TWO REGULAR CASES.
>> IT'S NOT BAD. I THINK THE DIRECTIVE TO THE COMMISSIONERS IS I'D LIKE TO TRY TO GIVE YOU A WEEK TO TRY TO COME UP WITH WHATEVER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR WHATEVER.
LET'S SHOOT THOSE BACK TO MYSELF AND CATHERINE, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE NARRATIVE. THEN WE CAN.
>> TO GO THROUGH AND CATHERINE.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN.
[NOISE] I'M OUT THURSDAY UNTIL THE NEXT WHOLE NEXT WEEK.
>> UNTIL WE GET BACK TO THE PLANNING COUNTER.
I ACTUALLY RECOMMEND DOING THAT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE WALKING QUORUMS.
[01:00:02]
>> EMAIL IT BACK AND FORTH AMONGST YOU GUYS.
THEY'LL GET TO SOMEBODY OUT THERE.
>> WELL, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE TRY TO WRAP THINGS UP HERE?
>> YES, A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INVOLVEMENT AND STAFF FOR LISTENING TO THE BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.
YOU CAN TELL THAT WE CARE AND WE CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE THE CITY A BETTER PLACE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO SERVE.
>> WE'RE HERE TO BE YOUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SO WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT WHATEVER TIME YOU HAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.