[00:00:02]
[1. Call Meeting To Order]
GOOD AFTERNOON.WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE 2:30 JUNE 18TH GALVESTON PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP TO ORDER, AND WE'RE ALL HERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE COMMISSIONER EDWARDS.
WE WILL NOTE HER PRESENCE IF SHE JOINS US.
OKAY. IS THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS AND TAKE IT AWAY, CATHERINE.
OKAY, SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DISCUSSION ITEMS TODAY.
A COUPLE OF WHICH ARE GOING TO BE FAMILIAR THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS ALLEY LOTS IN THE URBAN CORE AND ALLEY ACCESS OF LOTS.
[4.A. Alley Lots In Urban Core And Alley Access Of Lots]
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE TWO SECTIONS OF THE CODE IN ARTICLE SIX THAT TALK ABOUT LOTS AND BLOCKS.THERE'S THE SECTION IN ACCESS THAT ALLOWS FOR STREETS FOR ALLEYS.
I'M SORRY, FOR LOTS FRONTING ON AN ALLEY, A STREET, OR A PRIVATE ACCESS WAY, AND THEN A SECTION IN STREET DESIGN AND LAYOUT THAT TALKS ABOUT NO NEW BUSINESS OR DWELLING SHALL FACE OR HAVE ITS ALLEY ENTRANCE MAIN ENTRANCE ON AN ALLEY.
THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
SO I'LL GET US STARTED ON THIS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT ON A PREVIOUS PLANNING CASE, AND THERE WAS A LITTLE AMBIGUITY BETWEEN THE TWO SECTIONS AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, WAS THAT SECTION 303 WAS PROBABLY DISCUSSING MORE IN TERMS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AND NEW ALLEYS, AS OPPOSED 302 WAS EXISTING STUFF.
HOWEVER AND I'LL LET THEM SPEAK THEIR PIECE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS REALLY THEIR ITEM.
I AM GENERALLY OF THE OPINION THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS HAVING REPLANTS, WHERE WE HAVE NEW STRUCTURES THAT ARE NOW FRONTING ON ALLEYWAYS.
SO I GOT I GOT STAFF'S MEMO, AND I KNOW THAT HAVING STRUCTURES AND ALLEYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT, ARE NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
MOST OF THOSE PROBABLY ARE ADUS OR WHAT THEY CALL ADU ACCESSORY, LIKE AN ALTERNATIVE OR ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS, AND SOME OF THAT STUFF DATES WAY BACK TO WHERE THOSE WERE, EVEN QUARTERS FOR THE HELP OF THE STRUCTURE ON THE LOT. SO I GET THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHERE WE'RE MOVING OUT OF THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT AND INTO WHAT I'M CONSIDERING, KIND OF THE URBAN CORE, AND THIS IS.
IN FACT, I FOUND IT KIND OF AMUSING THAT NORMALLY I WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO A BUILDER OR A DEVELOPER IF THEY CAN DO THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING A THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, A BLOCK OF VACANT LOTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SET UP WITH AN ALLEY IN BETWEEN AND TWO STREETS ON EITHER SIDE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CAN TAKE THAT NUMBER AND THEY CAN DOUBLE IT BECAUSE THEY CAN SUBDIVIDE AND HAVE THE ACCESS BE FROM THE ALLEY, YOU KNOW.
IF YOU'RE A BUILDER OR A DEVELOPER, YOU CAN CUT YOUR LAND COSTS IN HALF, WHICH I THINK WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY STAFF THAT THE BENEFIT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A STRETCH, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IT DOES THAT MUCH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SPENT THREE YEARS ON THE RDA BOARD AND THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD, AND, AND WE DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING PROBLEM AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT THE CITY FACES, BUT TAKING
[00:05:07]
STRUCTURES. THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON BACK ALLEYS, AND TRYING TO TURN THAT INTO NEW HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, AND AS I SAY THAT BECAUSE I JUST.DID A QUICK LOOK BEFORE I CAME THAT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN, ACCORDING TO MLS FOR HOUSES IN 77550 AND 77551 UNDER $350,000, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHAT IS AFFORDABLE, AND THERE'S A FORMULA.
IT'S BASED ON MEDIAN INCOME AND IT INTEREST RATES IMPACT IT, BUT JUST SAY UNDER $350,000.
THERE HAVE BEEN 121 SALES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
THERE'S CURRENTLY 177 HOUSES ACTIVE ON THE MARKET UNDER $350,000.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS STILL FUNCTIONING, BUT OF THOSE NUMBERS, NEW CONSTRUCTION. SOLD ONLY FOUR HOUSES, AND OF THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED, ONLY TWO HOUSES ARE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, UNDER THE $350K? YES. OKAY. YES.
SO. SO I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABILITY, THE PART ABOUT AFFORDABILITY REALLY DOESN'T WASH, AND THEN THE OTHER COMMENT THAT I HEARD WAS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL ASPECT OF IT, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT MY, MY WIFE CONNECTS TO.
IT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT THE HISTORY, AND HE WENT INTO THE BACK ALLEY HOUSING AND TOLD SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT IS FASCINATING, BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BUILDING NEW STRUCTURES, AND WE HAD ONE APPLICATION COME IN THAT WAS A VACANT LOT, AND HE WANTED TO SPLIT IT AND PUT TWO NEW STRUCTURES.
YOU KNOW, I FIND NOTHING HISTORICAL ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T GET A CONNECTION THERE.
SO I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY FOR TAKING AN AREA THAT WAS PLATTED, YOU KNOW, WITH GRID LINES FOR LOTS AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SUBDIVIDE THOSE LOTS FURTHER TO JUST INCREASE THE DENSITY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WHEN I LOOK AT THE NEGATIVES, I MEAN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC DOWN THE 20 FOOT STREET, IF IT IS INDEED 20 FOOT, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS IT HAS TO BE 20 FOOT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME ALLEYS THAT DO NOT HAVE 20 FOOT, AND THEY'RE NOT PAVED ALL THE WAY, BUT THE TRAFFIC THE FACT THAT THERE IS ZERO SETBACK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A LOT FACING A PUBLIC STREET, YOU'VE GOT A RIGHT OF WAY.
THE PAVING IS TYPICALLY 28FT CURB TO CURB.
YOU'VE GOT A RIGHT OF WAY THAT GIVES YOU ADDITIONAL SPACE.
YOU'VE GOT A SETBACK ON YOUR HOUSE.
THESE ARE AT THE PROPERTY LINE.
SO GOING IN COMING OUT IS NOT GOOD.
SO THEY'RE NOT OUT ON THE PUBLIC STREETS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE PUBLIC, BUT THEY'RE NOT OUT ON THE BUSY STREETS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SUBDIVIDE THAT LOT? WHAT DOES THAT PERSON ON THE FRONT DO WITH HIS GARBAGE? THE CITY'S NOT GOING TO START DRIVING DOWN THE FRONT OF THE STREETS, ARE THEY? I MEAN, I WOULDN'T THINK SO.
HE'S GOT TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
YOU KNOW, JUST A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, THAT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT WE WOULD WANT TO OPEN THE GATES AND ALLOW ANYBODY TO COME SUBDIVIDE A LOT BECAUSE IT'S GOT ACCESS TO AN ALLEY.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULDN'T EXPECT.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR URBAN PLANNING.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'D BE CONTRARY TO WHAT THAT WOULD TELL YOU, AND I'M SAYING THAT, AGAIN, AS A DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW, WHO LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHEN THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, TO INCREASE DENSITY, YOU KNOW, TO UTILIZE THOSE THINGS WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, OF COURSE, BUT I SEE NO BENEFIT FROM THIS.
WELL, EVERYTHING HE SAID, BUT I SPOKE WITH TIM AND ADRIEL A LITTLE BIT AFTER THAT MEETING WHEN WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND WE CAME UP WITH A BECAUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN THERE'S SOME LOTS THAT HAVE THEY DON'T HAVE A DRIVEWAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE ALLEY ACCESS.
THEY CAN ONLY PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.
SO NOT EVERY ALLEY IN GALVESTON IS CREATED EQUAL.
[00:10:02]
SO THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS AN ADEQUATE ALLEY FOR ONLY ACCESS BUT THE ONES THAT I'VE SEEN AND THE ONES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US WERE A LITTLE DIRT SHELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRASH.YOU KNOW, THE GALVESTON IS UNIQUE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE SECTIONS OF THE LDRS TELL US, YOU KNOW THAT IF WE, IF THEY EITHER HAVE ALLEY OR PUBLIC ACCESS, HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A NEW DWELLING IN, IT SHOULD HAVE ITS MAIN ENTRANCE, NOT ON AN ALLEY.
SO THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS ON IT.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL BITE. CAN WE REWORD? OKAY, SO YOUR CONTENTION IS SOME OF THE ALLEYS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
OKAY. SO CAN WE REWORD THIS 603 PART THREE TO WHERE UNLESS IT MEETS STANDARDS AND THEN WE LAY OUT STANDARDS MINIMUM 20 FOOT WIDE, SOME SETBACK.
WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBLE THING TO DO, OR WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO ANOTHER PREVIOUS? THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION.
THE SOLUTION I SEE IS OKAY, IF SOMEBODY'S GOT A LITTLE CRAPPY EIGHT FOOT WITH TEN FOOT ON EITHER SIDE DIRT SHIRT, NOT SUFFICIENT.
IF THERE'S INSUFFICIENCIES IN THE ALLEY, THEN WE SHOULDN'T ALLOW NEW CONSTRUCTION TO BE ON THERE.
IF THE ALLEY IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU MENTIONED, JOHN, THEN WE OUGHT TO LET THEM BUILD. CAN WE LOOK INTO THAT MAYBE? I'LL TAKE A SHOT AT ANSWERING THAT, AND I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, AND THAT'S WHY IT IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
YOU KNOW, YOU BRING A GREAT POINT IN THAT ALL ALLEYS AREN'T CREATED EQUAL.
YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, THEY'RE 20FT WIDE, WHICH IS MUCH NARROWER THAN A STANDARD STREET.
SO I'M OF THE OPINION THAT IN THESE IN THESE AREAS WHERE WE'RE TAKING, WE'RE GOING INTO THESE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY.
ALSO, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE THING.
WE ALL KNOW THE HOUSING THING.
WE ALL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF THE DIRECTION THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY HEAD.
WE HAVE A VERY, VERY WE CANNOT.
I THINK IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO LIMIT PROPERTY OWNERS ABILITY TO USE THEIR PROPERTY IN A MANNER THAT THEY SEE FIT, AS IN IF THEY WANT TO PUT MORE LOTS TO PUT IN SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND I'LL JUST SAY IT, I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO MANAGE THAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH THE INTENT IS FOR, HEY, IT'S AN AFFORDABILITY ISSUE, WE HAVE THAT'S ON THE SIDELINE TOO, AND JOHN BRINGS UP SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT.
IT'S THE MAIL. IT'S THE TRASH.
IT'S YOU'RE ONE OF THE LAST MEETING.
WHAT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED IS ARE THERE EVEN SPEED LIMITS IN ALLEYWAYS? I MEAN, SOME OF THE STUFF COULD BE FIXED, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING HAVING HOUSES I GET IT IN HISTORICAL DISTRICT WHERE THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING.
THOSE STRUCTURES ARE EXISTING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S I DON'T THINK THE STANDARDS OF THE ALLEY ALONE FIX THE PROBLEM.
STAN, THAT'S JUST MERELY MY OPINION.
I'M EXPRESSING AN OPINION AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS.
SO THAT'S JUST, I'M JUST WEIGHING IN.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON.
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION, AND I JUST HAD AN EXAMPLE COME TO MIND BEHIND WOODROW, IS AVENUE U, OVER IN THAT SECTION, AND THAT'S THEIR ALLEY AND AVENUE.
[00:15:04]
U, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED A STREET OR IF IT IS JUST RECENTLY DESIGNATED STREET.I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE OF THOSE WE HAVE, AND I COULD SEE I COULD FORESEE SOMEBODY EASILY PUTTING YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION THERE.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF SOLUTION SO THAT WE DO HAVE SOME ABILITY FOR THE OWNERS TO DO STUFF WITHOUT BEING UNDUE RESTRICTIVE, AND IT ALSO MAKES SENSE AND AND THAT'S THE ONE EXAMPLE I CAN THINK OF THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SENSE.
YOU WANT TO HAVE IN HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AVENUE U.
WE CAN'T CALL NAME OUT STREETS, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PONDER-ABLES.
THEY'VE GOT TO PROVIDE PARKING UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING.
WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M COMING OUT WITH.
LET'S HEAR FROM STEVEN AND ANTHONY.
SO LET'S ALL WEIGH IN AND THEN WE'LL KIND OF MAKE A-- I APPRECIATE, JOHN, THOSE FIGURES THAT YOU GAVE BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THE AFFORDABILITY UNDERSTANDING THE, YOU KNOW, THAT SUBDIVIDING THOSE, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE LOT INTO TWO WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
THE NUMBERS ARE TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY THAN WHAT WHAT, AND THAT WAS THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL IS HAVING THAT ANCILLARY STRUCTURE, THAT GARAGE APARTMENT DETACHED FROM THE MAIN HOUSE, AND THEN THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING ESPECIALLY SMALLER HOUSING.
THAT WOULD THAT WOULD THEN BE AFFORDABLE.
HOW THAT WORKS INTO YOU KNOW, THE SUPPLY, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'VE DRIVEN DOWN A LOT OF ALLEYS IN MY LIFE, HERE, IN MY LIFE, HERE IN GALVESTON, I KNOW.
IT'S GOING FROM, YOU KNOW, TRANSVERSING TOWN, AND THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOME ARE PAVED, SOME ARE ARE OYSTER SHELLS, SOME ARE, YOU KNOW, AND AND EVEN IN SOME SOMETIMES YOU'LL GET SOMEBODY PARKED THAT WILL TRY TO PARK IN THE ALLEY AND, AND OBSTRUCT IT. I CAN SEE WHERE THAT WOULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM, AND THEN YOU START ADDING IN FEDEX, UPS, MAIL, GARBAGE.
YOU KNOW, YOU START THROWING THOSE YOU KNOW, UTILITY VEHICLES, THINGS LIKE THAT IN THERE, AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE IT EVEN A MUDDIER MESS.
WE REALLY CAN'T REJECT THEM OUT OF HAND.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE SO THAT'S WHERE THE WHOLE PROCESS STARTS, AND IF THEY'RE MEETING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR LOT SIZE IN THEIR REQUEST, THEN OUR JOB IS TO SAY YES.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY AROUND IT UNLESS THEIR REQUEST IS SO OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
IF THEY MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE CONSTRAINED BY THAT UNLESS THOSE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GET CHANGED, AND PART OF THAT IS A STATE ITEM ABOUT THE OUR APPROVAL OR NOT.
THE PROCESS IS SET BY THE STATE.
THE STANDARDS ARE SET BY THE CITY.
OKAY. SO IT COULD BE SOMETHING IT'S IN WITHIN THE CITY'S POWER TO CHANGE THE LOT STANDARDS.
OKAY. SO BUT AGAIN IF THEY MEET THE MINIMUMS THEN WE'RE REQUIRED TO SAY YES, YOU REALLY ARE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMING UP AGAINST, AND IF I REMEMBER THE ONE THAT CAME UP RECENTLY, THERE WERE SOME DEVIATIONS FROM THE LOT SIZE FOR THE OWNER. THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CAN VARY LOT SIZE OKAY.
THEY CAN PROVIDE A VARIANCE TO LOWER LOT SIZE OKAY.
[00:20:03]
NO TO FOR THE OWNER.I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY AROUND THAT.
SO AND JUST TO USE THIS AS THE ONE CASE, I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THE CASE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE, BECAUSE HAVING A LOT THAT FRONTS AN ALLEY IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE LDR SAYS IT'S ALLOWED.
WE REALLY HAD VERY LITTLE IF ANY AUTHORITY TO DENY HIS PLAT REQUEST BECAUSE IT MEETS THE STANDARD.
SO IF WE WANT TO, I'M GOING TO GO OUT A LITTLE BIT AND SAY WE WANTED TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THAT.
LOTS TO FRONT ON AN ALLEY, AND IN THAT INSTANCE, WHEN HE SUBMITTED HIS PLAT, IT WOULD IT WOULD BE A REASON FOR DENYING IT IS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON ANY OF THAT, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD APPROACH THIS.
YOU KNOW, SOME IDEAS I HAVE IS I GET IT IN HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE GETTING MY HANDS AROUND IT.
OUTSIDE OF THAT I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT I THINK IF WE'RE ALLOWING A 2500 SQUARE FOOT LOT, THAT'S RELATIVELY GENEROUS.
IN A TYPICAL CITY LOT, A GUY COULD TAKE TWO LOTS AND TURN THEM INTO THREE, NOT FOUR.
SO WE STILL WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME ABILITY TO HAVE SOME REDEVELOPMENT, BUT WHAT I'M THINKING AND WHAT I'M HEARING, THIS IS A SUGGESTION, CATHERINE, WE DON'T HAVE AN EX OFFICIO YET.
I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET A LITTLE DIRECTION FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SEE WHAT THEIR INPUT IS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEIR NOD.
IF WE MADE ANY CHANGE, THEY WOULD NEED TO APPROVE THAT AT THEIR MEETING.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST DO AS A COMMISSION TO GO CHANGE THE LDR.
IS THAT CORRECT? YOU'RE WITHIN YOUR POWERS TO INITIATE A CHANGE, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY A DECISION OF COUNCIL, AND SO YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME AND OUR TIME SPINNING OUR WHEELS IF WE DON'T KNOW. EXACTLY.
COMMISSIONERS IS LET'S GET OUR EX OFFICIO SO IN HERE AND LET'S GET THIS BACK AS A WORKSHOP ITEM.
SO THE FIRST TIME THEY GET TO COME, MAYBE THEY'LL GET TO COME TO A WORKSHOP.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN GET SOME INPUT FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THAT CONTEXT.
SO IS THAT A GOOD WAY TO GO WITH THIS? I THINK THAT'S SENSIBLE. I KEEP LOOKING AT DONNA BECAUSE.
I WOULD TELL YOU TO KEEP IT IN ITS SIMPLEST TERMS, WHICH WOULD BE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I THINK IT'S REALLY THE CREATION OF NEW LOTS.
THAT'S RIGHT. NEW ALLEY-FRONTED LOTS.
YES. LOTS THAT FRONT AN ALLEYWAY? THAT'S CORRECT.
AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THAT? IT ALSO BOILS DOWN TO INTERPRETATION BECAUSE WE'RE NEW, RIGHT? AND THE WAY WE READ THESE LDRS, WE FEEL LIKE IT CLEARLY SAYS NO NEW BUSINESS OR DWELLINGS SHALL HAVE ITS MAIN ENTRANCE ON AN ALLEY.
HOWEVER, THE INTERPRETATION HAS BEEN THAT'S ONLY ON NEW SUBDIVISIONS.
SO WELL, THAT'S JUST TELLING YOU YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR FRONT DOOR ON THE ON THE ALLEY.
IT'S NOT SAYING IT'S PROHIBITED.
IT'S SAYING THAT THE ORIENTATION OF THE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE LOT
[00:25:04]
AND I'M GOING TO, I'M NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THIS SECTION THAT I DO KNOW THAT THIS IF THERE'S SUCH A THING AS THE SPIRIT OF THE DOCUMENT, IT IS SUCH THAT SECTION 6.303 IS PROBABLY MORE IN TUNE WITH IF YOU WERE DEVELOPING A WHOLE NEW SECTION OF TOWN AND YOU WERE GOING TO INCORPORATE ALLEYS, THIS IS A DESIGN REQUIREMENT.I THINK THAT STAFF WAS CORRECT IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THAT IN MY INTERPRETATION.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT IT IS A LITTLE OBSCURE.
SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME MORE STUFF WE WANT TO GET TAKEN CARE OF, CAN WE, CAN WE GET THIS ON A WORKSHOP WITH OUR EX-OFFICIO HERE.
TYPICALLY, THE COUNCIL WILL APPOINT THEIR NEW EX-OFFICIOS IN JUNE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE RUNOFF WHICH HAS BEEN RESOLVED, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT IN JUNE OR JULY, BUT WE'LL MAKE IT A WORKSHOP ITEM FOR THE FIRST MEETING WITH AN EX OFFICIO.
IS EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY, AND I'VE MADE NOTES OF THE CONCERNS.
WE USUALLY DO AN ORIENTATION SESSION WITH THE ANY NEW MEMBER.
MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON IT OKAY.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT OKAY OKAY.
[4.B. Broadway Text Amendments]
THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF BROADWAY ITEMS, AND OKAY, SO THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN CALLED TO OUR ATTENTION ABOUT A POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH SOME CHANGES THAT WE RECENTLY MADE TO THE BROADWAY DESIGN STANDARDS.SO THAT ORIGINALLY IT WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE.
IF YOU WERE ON BROADWAY, UNLESS THAT WAS THE ONLY PLACE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
SO WE'VE MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE WITH CURB CUTS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A SECTION OF THE CODE SPECIFIC TO DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS IN THE LIMITED STANDARDS, WHICH IS ANOTHER SECTION OF THE CODE NOT IN THE BROADWAY DESIGN STANDARDS, WHERE THAT VEHICLE ACCESS LIVES.
SO WITHIN THE LIMITED USE STANDARD FOR A RESTAURANT WITH A DRIVE-THRU, THERE'S A RESTRICTION ON CURB CUTS ON BROADWAY AND ON SEAWALL. SO THE GOAL OF THE COMMISSION AND ULTIMATELY COUNCIL, WAS TO MAKE CURB CUTS ON BROADWAY MORE FLEXIBLE, BUT WE STILL HAVE THIS STANDARD IN THE LIMITED USE STANDARDS THAT RESTRICTS IT.
SO WHAT WE COULD DO TO RESOLVE THAT CONFLICT IS JUST DELETE THE REFERENCE TO BROADWAY.
SO IF THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN MAKING THAT CHANGE, THAT'S HOW WE'D RECOMMEND RESOLVING IT.
I WOULD THINK THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF MAKE IT.
WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BROADWAY STANDARDS AND THE DRIVEWAYS.
SO AND I THINK WE HAD A I WANT TO TALK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT THIS THAT WOULD APPLY TO DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANTS.
SO I'M OF THE OPINION THAT I PERSONALLY THINK IT KIND OF ALL NEEDS TO FIT TOGETHER.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT I WANT TO BRING UP.
WHERE WE HAVE IT DOES SAY TWO ONE WAY ENTRANCES, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, THAT MEANS THAT IT'S TWO ONE WAY ENTRANCES. YOU COULD HAVE TWO INS, YOU COULD HAVE TWO OUTS, YOU COULD HAVE AN IN, YOU COULD HAVE AN OUT, BUT IF YOU'RE HAVING TWO, THEY HAVE TO BE EACH ONE HAS TO BE ONE WAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES. IT WOULD BE UP TO THE DEVELOPER TO DECIDE WHICH DIRECTION THOSE ENTRANCES ARE.
WE'RE NOT DICTATING THAT ONE IS IN AND ONE IS OUT.
IT'S JUST IF YOU HAVE A ONE WAY ENTRANCE, THEN THESE ARE THE STANDARDS FOR IT.
ANYBODY GOT ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? STAFF HAS A BROADWAY CLEANUP STANDARDS CASE THAT YOU SAW A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WE DEFERRED TO ADD THIS IN. SO I'M NOT HEARING ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE, AND STAFF WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD IT INTO THAT CASE AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU.
OKAY. SO WE'LL SEE THAT NEXT MEETING AT OUR NEXT MEETING OKAY.
[00:30:01]
OKAY. THE OTHER ITEM RELATED TO BROADWAY IS REGARDING AUTO RELATED BUSINESSES.SO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL ALL THE LAND USES ARE LISTED IN ARTICLE TWO.
AUTO SERVICE FUELING STATION IS A LAND USE AND THAT IS THAT INCLUDES THE LAND USE THAT'S TOGETHER.
IT INCLUDES BOTH SERVICE AND FUELING.
IT'S CLASSIFIED UNDER THIS LAND USE AND THEN ALSO SERVICE AND FUELING STATION TOGETHER.
IT'S CLASSIFIED UNDER THIS LAND USE.
WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS BEFORE ABOUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT FOR A FUELING STATION? HOW DO YOU PUT A GAS STATION INSIDE OF A BUILDING? SURE, THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT TYPICALLY HOW IT IS SEEN, AND SO THE COMMISSION MIGHT CONSIDER SEPARATING THESE INTO TWO LAND USES AND REGULATING EACH APPROPRIATELY. SO WE COULD SEPARATE THESE INTO AUTO SERVICE AND THEN AUTO FUELING, AND THEY COULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM EACH OTHER.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? NO THAT'S THE ONLY SLIDE ON THAT ONE.
SO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE SAME DEFINITION.
THEY HAVE THE SAME DEFINITION.
OKAY. THEY ARE THE SAME LAND USE.
SO THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP IS THAT BECAUSE ONE IS TO CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE ON THE LDRS, BECAUSE WE KEEP COMING ACROSS THESE CONFLICTS FROM ONE SECTION TO ANOTHER. THE SECOND ONE WAS, WAS IT THE INTENTION TO PROHIBIT FUELING STATIONS, PERIOD, IN THE CITY OF GALVESTON? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S GOING TO COME TO GALVESTON AND PUT A GAS STATION INSIDE AN ENCLOSED STRUCTURE WHEN--.
THAT WOULD JUST BE ON BROADWAY.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S WHO'S GOING TO DO THAT? WHO'S GOING TO PUT A GAS STATION IN AN ENCLOSED STRUCTURE IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE, SO THEY'RE OUTSIDE FOR A REASON.
SO I GUESS MY MAIN THING IS WANT TO CLEAR UP THE LANGUAGE SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY FOR PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF BUSINESS AND DEVELOP IT ON BROADWAY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? RIGHT? SO I THINK IT'S EASIER JUST TO SEPARATE THEM OUT INTO TWO DISTINCT USES.
SO THEY HAVE, DON'T THEY HAVE DISTINCT AND SEPARATE DEFINITIONS? THEY DON'T KNOW. SO THEY'RE TOGETHER, AND I CAN READ YOU THE DEFINITION.
SO THAT'S AUTO FUELING AND AUTO SERVICE FUELING STATION.
MEANS A SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN THE REPAIR OF AUTOMOBILES, NOT INCLUDING BODY REPAIR OR PAINTING, OR AN ESTABLISHMENT ENGAGED IN THE RETAIL SALE OF FUEL, FUEL, LUBRICANTS, PARTS, AND ACCESSORIES.
THESE USES INCLUDE SERVICE STATIONS WITH CONVENIENCE STORES, SERVICE STATION, AUTO WASHES, AND FACILITIES HAVING SERVICE BAY FOR VEHICLE SERVICE AND REPAIR THAT MAY INCLUDE INCIDENTAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF AUTOMOBILES AND LIGHT TRUCKS, AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF LARGE TRUCKS OR BODY OR FENDER OR AUTOMOBILE PAINTING ON ANY VEHICLES. SO YOU COULD HAVE THESE BECAUSE THAT'S TALKING ABOUT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT USES.
IT IS QUITE HONESTLY TOGETHER IN ONE USE, AND THEY'RE KIND OF ALL LUMPED IN ONE.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS, ANTHONY.
IT COMES DOWN TO ME, DO YOU WANT GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY OR DO YOU NOT WANT GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY? BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THE GAS STATION BUSINESS.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE MY GUESS IS, IS IT'S YEAH, IT'S PRETTY LIMITED.
GUESS WHAT? THEY CAN PUT A GAS STATION IN.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION MORE IS DO YOU WANT GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY OR DO YOU NOT WANT GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY? IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF PROHIBITING GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY.
THAT SHOULD BE, WHAT DO YOU WANT? YOU WANT A OR DO YOU WANT B? SO DOES THE CITY OF GALVESTON WANT TO PROHIBIT GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY? YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE. THERE'S ENOUGH GAS STATIONS ON BROADWAY, BUT I'M LOOKING AT JUST THE LANGUAGE AS IT'S WRITTEN.
RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN YOU LUMP THEM ALL TOGETHER WITH AUTO SERVICES, ALL THAT STUFF, THERE'S A LOT OF THAT STUFF THAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE, RIGHT? IT JUST IT JUST MAKES SENSE, AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF WHAT'S TRADITIONAL USES IN GALVESTON, HOW PEOPLE OPERATE THEIR BUSINESSES IN GALVESTON.
[00:35:06]
YOU COULDN'T GET YOUR FLAT TIRE CHANGED OUTSIDE.THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S IN A NUTSHELL.
THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS, AND IN MY MIND'S EYE, REALLY WHAT WE MEAN, IT'S PRETTY WELL, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO ANY OF THOSE USES AND YOU WANT TO DO THEM ON BROADWAY, YOU BETTER FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THEM INSIDE A BUILDING.
WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T DO IT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT IN A BUILDING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE USES COLLECTIVELY. IT'S ANY ONE OF THEM.
IT'S NOT TAKING THEM AND SEPARATING THEM OUT INDIVIDUALLY.
IT'S YOU COULD PICK ONE OF THOSE.
YOU COULD BE IN THE OIL CHANGE BUSINESS AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE INSIDE.
SO ANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHE READ OFF OF THAT LIST, THIS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
IF ANYTHING THAT'S ON THAT LIST, YOU CAN DO IT.
WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T DO IT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, YOU NEED TO DO IT INSIDE.
SO I THINK IT'S TO ME IT PRETTY MUCH SAYS.
IT'S NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T DO IT, BUT YOU GOT TO DO IT INSIDE.
I THINK IT'S IN THAT REGARD, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
SO I GET THAT COMPLETELY, AND I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM WHERE WE LIVE, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE LIVE IN.
IT'S HOT AND A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE DONE OUTSIDE.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY'RE DONE, BUT I BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE I'M LOOKING MORE AT THE CLARITY OF THIS IN CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME IN AND SAY, I WANT TO DO SOME KIND OF BUSINESS THAT'S AUTO RELATED, WHETHER IT'S A GAS STATION OR SOME TYPE OF SERVICE BUSINESS, AND IT'S THE BULK OF MY BUSINESS IS EASIER TO DO OUTSIDE.
THEY WOULD NEED TO DO IT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN ON BROADWAY.
THAT'S THE WAY THIS IS, AND LOOK, THESE ARE MY INTERPRETATIONS.
I WILL ALSO GO OUT THERE AND SAY THAT WE GOT ENOUGH COMMENT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE AUTOMOTIVE USE ON BROADWAY, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU THE QUESTION OF DO YOU WANT THESE USES, OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO FLAT OUT BAN THEM? THAT'S I'M LIKE, I'M MORE IN THE CAMP OF IF A GUY HAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND HE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GAS CARS INSIDE A BUILDING WHEN IT'S 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE, KNOCK HIS LIGHTS OUT.
WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU CAN'T DO IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIMIT THAT USE, BUT.
HEY, I'M JUST LOOKING AT CLARITY OF THE LANGUAGE.
YEAH, AND I THINK IT'S A DEAL OF.
ARE WE MAKING IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BEING DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN GALVESTON IN THE FIRST PLACE? WELL, THIS IS SAYING IF YOU WANT TO DO THOSE USES AND IT'S NOT THEM COLLECTIVELY, IT'S ANY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT UNDERNEATH THE CANOPY ON BROADWAY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD A BUILDING AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT INSIDE.
SO ALL THOSE GUYS, THEY'RE ALL GOLDEN.
THEY'RE GOOD FOR THE MOST PART.
SO YOU GUYS JUMP IN IF YOU WANT, BUT I'M-- BROADWAY BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE THAT THEY ASKED US TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE BROADWAY WHEN PEOPLE COME ON TO OUR ISLAND LOOK BETTER? SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
A GAS STATION COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY ARE WITH A MARGARITA MACHINE.
SEE, MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO STEAL MY IDEA NOW [CHUCKLING] BUT THAT WOULD BE A SERVICE STATION.
THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE A FUELING STATION INSIDE CONCEPT.
LOOK, ANTHONY, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
I'M NOT TRYING TO CREATE AN ARGUMENT.
SO THIS IS HOW THIS IS HOW THINGS GET DONE AND CHANGED.
[00:40:02]
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM THE CLARITY OF THE AND I AND I AND YOU KNOW WHAT AND KIND OF LIKE WHAT COMMISSIONER LANTZ SAID ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED US TO LOOK AT THIS BROADWAY REDEVELOPMENT, BROADWAY BEAUTIFICATION.THEY START AND STOP ON BROADWAY BEAUTIFICATION.
SO THAT'S HOW I'M LOOKING AT IT AND THERE THERE ARE PLACES ON BROADWAY THAT ARE IN THIS BETWEEN 19 TO 65TH STREET THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE COULD PUT A GAS STATION IF THEY CAN FIGURE IT OUT, LIKE YOU SAY.
I WANT TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION, WOULD YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THAT BE THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO COME DO THOSE USES, WE'RE NOT DENYING THEM THE ABILITY TO COME DO THAT, BUT IT HAS TO BE INSIDE A BUILDING.
OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT THIS WAY.
OKAY. I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING FROM BOTH OF YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION IS, I THINK, MR. ANTHONY, YOU'RE JUST ASKING FOR CLARITY OF THE DEFINITION.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE THINKING IS AUTO FUELING IS REALLY A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SERVICE SERVICE, THEN SOMEONE WHO'S DOING AN OIL CHANGE, ETC., ETC., AND MAYBE THOSE SHOULD JUST BE SEPARATED.
IT COULD HAVE THE SAME DEFINITION, IT COULD HAVE THE SAME PROHIBITION ON BROADWAY, BUT TO MAKE IT DISTINGUISHABLE, YOU HAVE AUTO FUELING STATION AND THEN AUTO SERVICE BUILDING WHATEVER AUTO SERVICE PROPERTY, WHATEVER.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? THAT IS WHERE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
JUST IF YOU SEPARATE THEM, YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ONE IS A GAS STATION WHERE YOU GO, YOU DRIVE IN, YOU FILL UP YOUR CAR WITH GAS.
THE OTHER ONE IS WHERE YOU DO OTHER TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S AN OIL CHANGE, WHETHER IT'S AUTO DETAILING, WHETHER IT'S GETTING YOUR FLAT TIRE CHANGED, WHETHER IT'S GETTING YOUR BATTERY PUT IN YOUR CAR, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE ARE SEPARATE.
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, I JUST HAVE A GAS STATION.
WHERE DOES THAT FALL? HOW CAN I, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THAT FALL? AUTO SERVICE. WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE DOING TIRES OR I'M NOT A DISCOUNT TIRE TECHNICALLY IF ANOTHER TECHNICALLY IF PEP BOYS CAME AND OPENED UP A NEW FACILITY IN GALVESTON, THEY'D HAVE TO GO HAVE A GARAGE AND YOU'D HAVE TO DRIVE IN FOR THEM TO CHANGE YOUR BATTERY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'LL COME OUTSIDE AND CHANGE YOUR BATTERY FOR YOU IN THE PARKING LOT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT FALL.
IN THIS LAND USE AUTO SERVICE FUELING STATION.
YES, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENCLOSED.
OKAY, SO I'M JUST LOOKING FOR CLARITY TO MAKE OUR LIFE EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN.
IT'S CALLED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION.
OH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY THERE, AND YES.
I'LL JUST STICK MY NECK OUT ON A LIMB AND TELL YOU I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH AUTOMOTIVE USES ON BROADWAY, AND THE CONSENSUS WHEN WE STARTED ALL THIS WAS MOST FOLKS DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYMORE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THE ONES THAT ARE THERE ABOLISHED, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE ANYMORE, AND I QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS A WAY TO LIMIT IT, AND IF THEY WANT TO BE THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE BEING IN THE WOODLANDS.
YOU DON'T SEE THE GAS STATION.
SO I THINK HE'S STILL SAYING THAT.
I THINK I THINK MR. ANTHONY'S STILL SAYING THAT.
I THINK HE JUST WANTS TWO LISTED, NOT JUST ALL LUMPED TOGETHER.
THERE'S NO AUTO SALES ON BROADWAY, RIGHT? YES. THAT'S PROHIBITED.
SO THEREFORE, THE GOAL IS NO MORE.
THAT'S THE END OF THE STORY, ISN'T IT? I'M SORRY? THAT'S THE END OF THE STORY, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, THE GOAL IS.
THE CLARITY, YEAH, I GET WANTING THE CLARITY.
[00:45:02]
YEAH, YEAH.ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S DO THIS.
SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AUTO FUELING SEPARATED FROM AUTO SERVICE.
AUTO FUELING IN MY WHEN I SEE THAT I SEE GAS STATION.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, LET'S GET A GENERAL CONSENSUS OF THE OUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO? SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE FUELING STATIONS SEPARATED FROM AUTO SERVICE, IS THAT KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE THINKING? IN ORDER TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE AND CLARIFY WHAT THE BUSINESS IS ABOUT? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
OH, WELL, I'VE GOT AN ALTERNATIVE.
WE'RE NOT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH. WHAT IT SAYS NOW IS AUTO SERVICE FUELING STATION.
SO, YOU COULD SEPARATE IT INTO TWO AND TREAT THEM THE SAME.
OKAY. YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT THIS? DELETE IT. NO AUTO SERVICE OR FUELING BETWEEN 19TH. PROHIBITED OUTRIGHT.
PROHIBITED OUTRIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE.
SO WHAT WOULD THE KING DO? WE CUT THE BABY IN HALF OR GIVE IT TO THE OTHER KING.
OKAY, SO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN.
THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE DEFINITIONS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT DENYING THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ENDED UP WITH THIS WHERE IT IS OBSCURE.
BECAUSE IT PRETTY MUCH SAYS NO, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY NO.
SO WHY STAN BRINGS A GOOD POINT.
WHY DON'T WE JUST WHY WOULDN'T WE JUST DELETE IT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE WOULD BE DELETING WHERE YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE.
THERE WOULD BE NO AUTO SERVICE OR FUELING STATIONS PERMITTED, AND HOW DO WE END UP? COMMISSIONER RIOS'S POINT IS, IF WE WANT TO PROHIBIT IT, JUST PROHIBIT IT.
WHY DON'T WE JUST PROHIBIT IT? WE CAN.
SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT ONE.
WE'RE TAKING WORDS OUT OF A DOCUMENT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS SAYING, IS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT.
WE'RE SPLITTING IT. THE CONSENSUS THAT I'M.
STAFF WILL STUDY THAT AND BRING IT.
YOU LIKE THAT ONE? I CAN GO WITH THAT.
WE CAN STUDY THAT AND WE'LL STUDY IT AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS A CASE.
IS EVERYBODY SORRY, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY.
I'M JUST LIKE, HOW DO WE GET THAT DONE? SO OKAY, GOOD I'M GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT I FEEL LIKE WE MOVING ON ON THAT OKAY.
SELF STORAGE IS A PERMITTED LAND USE ALONG THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR.
IT MEANS A BUILDING OR GROUP OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE USED FOR THE INDOOR STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OR RECORDS FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OR TENANTS, CONTROL INDIVIDUAL STORAGE SPACES. WHEN WE WERE REVIEWING LAND USES ON BROADWAY, I DON'T THINK WE TALKED ABOUT SELF STORAGE.
[00:50:05]
SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY CONSIDER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE LAND USE ON BROADWAY.SOME OPTIONS WOULD BE TO DISALLOW IT OR TO ALLOW WITH LIMITED STANDARDS.
WE HAVE LIMITED STANDARDS ALREADY FOR SELF STORAGE THAT APPLY IN THE MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL, I MEAN IN CENTRAL BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICTS AND THOSE ARE IN YOUR MEMO AND ON THE SCREEN.
SO THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF TOWN WHERE NEW SELF STORAGE FACILITIES HAVE TO MEET THESE STANDARDS, AND THEY ARE THAT THEY ARE TO BE LOCATED WITHIN AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.
WELL, THAT'S ONLY FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
SO DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN DO SELF STORAGE, BUT IT HAS TO BE IN A BUILDING THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ADOPTION OF THE LDR, WHICH WAS MARCH 5TH OF 2015. YEAH.
OKAY. SO THE SECOND LIMITED STANDARD IS MIXED USE BUILDING FOR STREET LEVEL ACTIVITY THAT THE USE IS CAN BE PERMITTED, BUT ONLY IN A MIXED USE BUILDING WITH ONE OR MORE ACTIVE USES ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE NEW SELF-STORAGE FACILITY ON STEWART, THAT IT HAS LITTLE SHOPS AND OFFICES ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND THEN THE STORAGE IS LOCATED ABOVE THAT.
SO YOU ARE STILL GETTING THAT INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC AND AN ACTIVATED FIRST STORY.
NO SELF STORAGE UNIT SHALL BE LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OR FIRST HABITABLE STORE FLOOR.
ALL SELF STORAGE UNITS SHALL BE FULLY ENCLOSED AND NOT ALLOW ANY OUTDOOR STORAGE.
MOST OF THESE PLACES HAVE ONSITE SECURITY AND EVEN ON SITE MANAGERS THAT LIVE THERE.
OF COURSE, EVERYTHING HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S NOISE REGULATIONS AND THEN SCREENING ANY OFF STREET AREAS PROVIDED FOR DROP OFF AND LOADING SHALL BE SCREENED SO AS NOT TO BE VISIBLE FROM THE ABUTTING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.
SO THE QUESTIONS HERE ARE BROADWAY.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE SELF STORAGE THERE? YES OR NO? IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THEN WE COULD DISALLOW IT.
IF THE ANSWER IS YES, WE COULD ALSO CONSIDER SOME OF THESE LIMITED STANDARDS THAT WOULD REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE HIGHER LEVEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ANYTHING NEW, SELF STORAGE.
SO CURRENTLY OUR STANDARDS, BROADWAY STANDARDS DON'T ALLOW VEHICLE RENTALS ON BROADWAY, DO THEY? NO.
SO IF A GUY OPENS UP A STORAGE PLACE, HE CAN'T GO PARK A BUNCH OF TRUCKS OUT THERE TO RENT IT.
NO. OKAY. THEN THE OTHER THING I SEE WITH THIS IS THAT'S ALREADY LIMITING IS I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO BUILD STORAGE UNITS ON GROUND LEVEL.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RAISE THAT UP, AND WHEN THEY DO, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SCREEN ALL THAT? SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS OF IT IS A LITTLE ALREADY A LITTLE BIT LIMITING.
NUMBER ONE, THEY CAN'T GO PARK A BUNCH OF VEHICLES TO RENT OUT IN FRONT, AND THEN SOME OF THIS IS WELL HOW DID THEY DO THAT OVER ON. NONE OF THESE APPLY.
THESE ARE ONLY FOR CENTRAL BUSINESS AND MULTIFAMILY.
THEY COULD APPLY. SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE ZERO ON BROADWAY.
EXCEPTION OF VEHICLE RENTAL EXCEPTION.
RIGHT. SO BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY LIMITING DEAL ON SELF STORAGE THERE.
YOU COULD BUILD A SELF STORAGE FACILITY ANYWHERE ON BROADWAY CURRENTLY.
DO WE WANT THAT YES OR NO, BUT WE COULD PICK WHERE ON BROADWAY WE MIGHT PERMIT IT.
SURE, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY WOULD WANT TO SEE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
THIS COMES THIS ALSO COMES BACK TO THE WHOLE CHARGE FROM CITY COUNCIL ABOUT BROADWAY BEAUTIFICATION.
LOOKING AT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU ENTER GALVESTON, THAT WHOLE THING.
SO I THINK COMING AT IT FROM MAYBE A LIMITED USE MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO LOOK AT IT AS FAR INSTEAD OF AN OUTRIGHT PROHIBITION FOR BROADWAY.
SO THAT WHOLE FIRST LEVEL IS BASICALLY EMPTY, LIKE IT'S PARKING, RIGHT? WOULD THAT APPLY TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON BROADWAY? WOULD THE WHOLE FIRST LEVEL HAVE TO BE JUST BASICALLY EMPTY, OR COULD IT BE OFFICES? IT COULD BE. IT COULD BE OFFICES, OR IT COULD BE RETAIL OR STORAGE OR STORAGE, PARKING.
[00:55:05]
STORAGE. OKAY. IT WOULD BECOME LIKE THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD PUT THEIR OUTDOOR STORAGE.I KIND OF LIKE THE IDEA OF BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST PERMITTED OUTRIGHT.
YOU KNOW, AND I WILL SAY THIS, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE STORAGE STRUCTURES.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN IDEA THAT THEY'RE SOME OF THEM ARE DONE, SOME ARE DONE VERY WELL.
WHEN DO WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS? IT'S NOT PRESSING. ALSO IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT SOME THAT THIS WOULD BE, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF, THERE'S A PROJECT IN THE WORKS OR A PROJECT THAT THIS, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO SOMETHING THAT TO A CERTAIN PROJECT THAT IS ON ITS.
IN THE BOOK, BUT ONCE THE PERMIT, IF THERE'S ALREADY A PERMIT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STARTED, YES, FOR A PROJECT OR DEVELOPMENT, THEN MORE THAN LIKELY THERE'S A VESTED RIGHT BUT I DON'T KNOW OF THAT OFFHAND.
I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW OF A PARTICULAR PERMIT FROM THE CITY.
I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH.
I DON'T KNOW OF A I'M JUST THERE'S A REGULATION, THERE IS A STATUTORY REGULATION.
THAT IS SOMETHING HAS ALREADY STARTED WHERE THERE'S A PERMIT THAT'S TECHNICALLY ALREADY IN PLACE STATUTORILY IT'S CONSIDERED A VESTED RIGHT FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT TO CONTINUE ACCORDING TO WHATEVER PERMIT WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED.
OKAY, BUT YOU'RE SAYING A PERMIT FROM THE CITY? YES. LIKE A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
SO LET'S HERE'S I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE PRESSED FOR TIME.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME LIMITATIONS ON WHERE.
OKAY, LET'S LET'S PICK SOME STREETS BETWEEN HERE AND HERE IS PERMITTED.
WE DON'T WE DON'T WANT IT IN HISTORICAL DISTRICT AND WE DON'T WANT IT, YOU KNOW, AT OUR GATEWAY.
SO MAYBE CAN YOU GUYS WORK ON ARE YOU GUYS FOLLOWING ME ON THIS? YES. LET'S SEE WHAT STAFF COMES BACK WITH BECAUSE IF WE SHOULD HAVE WE NEED TO FIX THIS.
YEAH, THERE NEED TO BE SOME STANDARDS AROUND THE WAY IT'S GOING TO LOOK.
IS THAT GOOD, CATHERINE? CAN YOU GUYS BRING US SOMETHING BACK? WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING? WE WOULD NEED A WORKSHOP OR WAS IT SOMETHING? WE CAN PUT IT BACK. WE CAN BRING IT.
WE COULD DO BOTH. IT COULD BE A DISCUSSION ITEM AND A CASE.
OR WE COULD JUST PUT IT ON AS A CASE AND DISCUSS IT.
I'D PREFER TO DO IT AS A CASE AND DISCUSS IT.
OKAY. IS THAT GOOD? ALL RIGHT. ARE WE DONE? WE'RE DONE. ALL RIGHT, THEN, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK TO START THE REGULAR MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.