Aug 20, 2024 Planning Commission

GOOD AFTERNOON.

[1. Call Meeting To Order]

[00:00:07]

WE'VE TAKEN ATTENDANCE BY SIGNING IN, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.

ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON FOR THE APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES.

[4. Approval Of Minutes]

THIS IS A CHANCE. IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM, YOU MAY DO SO.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, COUNCIL, I MEAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM.

IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEW BUSINESS 24-029.

[6.A.1. 24P-029 (1027 Avenue K) Request For Designation As A Galveston Landmark. The Property Is Legally Described As M.B. Menard Survey, Lots 1 And 2, Block 70, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant: Alice Gaston Property Owners: First Union Baptist Church]

THIS IS A 1027 AVENUE K.

THERE WERE 44 PUBLIC NOTICES SENT.

ONE OF THOSE RETURNED, AND THAT ONE WAS IN FAVOR.

SO AS STATED, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A DESIGNATION FOR THE ABOVE ADDRESS AS A GALVESTON LANDMARK.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST UNION BAPTIST CHURCH, FOUNDED IN 1870, ORIGINALLY BY THE AMERICAN BAPTIST FREE MISSION SOCIETY OF BOSTON.

IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH CHURCH ORGANIZED IN TEXAS, WAS BORN OF A NEED TO WELCOME RECENTLY FREED SLAVES INTO CHURCH CONGREGATIONS.

CHURCH BUILDING IS NOT A RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, BUT IS RECOGNIZED AS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT.

THEY DO HAVE A SUBJECT MARKER WHICH IS INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT A OF THE STAFF REPORT.

THE FIRST PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATION WERE REVEREND BEN HOLMES AND REVEREND JOEL ROBINSON.

REVEREND J.B. HALL WAS THE THIRD PASTOR, SERVING FOR MOST OF THE TIME BETWEEN 1878 AND 1914.

REVEREND HALL IS ALSO KNOWN FOR REBUILDING THE CHURCH AFTER ITS DESTRUCTION IN THE 1900 STORM.

AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT HE DID FOR THE CHURCH CONGREGATION CHURCH WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED AT 11TH STREET AND STRAND.

THE 1880 CHURCH BUILDING WAS DESTROYED IN THE 1885 FIRE.

THE CHURCH WAS AGAIN DESTROYED IN THE 1900 STORM.

REBUILT IN 1905.

THE CURRENT BRICK CHURCH THAT IS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION TODAY WAS COMPLETED IN 1955.

THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE K AND 11TH STREET.

THE PROPERTY IS NOT LOCATED IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND WOULD NORMALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANSWER FOR THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, BUT OF COURSE, THE CHURCH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DOES NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES.

LANDMARK COMMISSION HEARD THIS REQUEST AT THE AUGUST 19TH, 2024 MEETING AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

CITY COUNCIL HAS A FINAL DECISION REGARDING THE REQUEST AS A LANDMARK DESIGNATION.

THAT REQUEST WILL BE HEARD AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024 MEETING.

STAFF LIKEWISE RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH STANDARD CONDITION ONE IN THE STAFF REPORT.

WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS HERE.

THIS IS THE 1955 CHURCH AS IT SITS TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND WE HAVE THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND WEST.

THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.

AND I WILL NOTE THAT I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, DANIEL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? YES, MA'AM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING? AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN FOR US THERE.

I'M ALICE GADSEN, AND I'M VERY.

I'M A BOY.

VERY PROUD OF THIS BUILDING.

THIS IS MY HOME CHURCH.

I GREW UP IN THIS CHURCH.

SO THIS CHURCH IS OVER 70 YEARS OLD.

BUT I BELIEVE IN RESTORATION WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK THIS IS POSSIBLE FOR OUR BUILDING.

IF WE CAN GET DESIGNATIONS, THIS WILL HELP US TO GET FUNDING FOR TO HELP WITH OUR BUILDING ALONG WITH THE CONGREGATION DONATIONS. BUT THIS WILL HELP US RESTORE OUR BUILDING.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE SEEKING A LANDMARK DESIGNATION.

WE HAVE ONE ALREADY.

AND WE WILL TRY FOR THE NEXT DESIGNATION.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE HAPPY TO APPLY AND PRAY THAT WE CAN GET THE DESIGNATION.

MY DEACON, DEACON ANDREW LAWS.

LITTLE SHY DIDN'T COME UP, BUT HE'S HERE TO SUPPORT ME.

SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE.

WOULD YOU APPROVE THIS? THANK YOU. MA'AM. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR ACTION.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE 24-029 AS WRITTEN.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.

24-029 AS PRESENTED.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL TAKE THE VOTE.

THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

24-029. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[6.B.1. 24P-031 (1201 And 1228 Harborside) Request For A Replat To Integrate Two Lots With Half Of Adjacent Alley, And Half Of 13th Street Right-Of-Way. Properties Are Legally Described As The M B Menard Survey, Lots 8 – 14, Block 732, Part Of Adjacent 12th And 13th Street Rights-Of-Way, And Part Of Adjacent Alley Adjacent To Lots 8 -14, In The City And County Of Galveston, Texas. Applicant: Robert W. Jones Property Owners: Robert W. And Mary T. Jones]

20 4-031.

[00:05:08]

THERE WERE 18 PUBLIC NOTICES SENT.

BACKGROUND ON THIS CASE.

ON MARCH 23RD, 2023, THE GALVESTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ABANDONMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 4800FT² OF THE EAST HALF OF 13TH STREET RIGHT OF WAY. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, ON THE 25TH OF JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THE ABANDONMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 3800FT² OF THE SOUTH HALF ALLEY RIGHT OF WAY ADJOINING THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES.

IN THIS CASE, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A REPLAT TO INCORPORATE THE APPROVED ABANDONED PROPERTIES WITH THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES TO CREATE ONE SINGLE PARCEL OF LAND COMPRISED OF 1.134 ACRES.

THE CURRENT USE OF ALL PROPERTIES IS CRUISE SHIP PARKING.

MINIMUM LOT STANDARDS.

THE REPLAT EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM LOT STANDARDS FOR THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

PLEASE NOTE THE PLAT APPROVAL CRITERIA ON PAGE TWO OF YOUR REPORT, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH SPECIFIC STANDARD CONDITIONS LISTED AS ONE THROUGH THREE.

AND NOW WE HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.

HERE'S AN AERIAL MAP OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES, INCLUDING THE ABANDONED PROPERTIES AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY PROPERTIES I SHOULD SAY.

NEXT SLIDE. HERE ARE THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES TO THE WEST, EAST AND SOUTH.

AND NEXT WE HAVE THE ACTUAL PROPOSED REPLAT.

THAT CONCLUDES STAFF REPORT.

THANK YOU, ADRIEL. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I HAVE I HAVE ONE JUST BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME ABANDONMENTS.

I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THEM.

SO NOW WE'RE JUST TAKING THEM ALL AND WRAPPING THEM IN BASICALLY INTO ONE.

AND IT'S THIS PARCEL JUST COINCIDENTALLY OR HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PARKING AREA ACCUMULATIVELY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, YEAH.

SO THAT'S USUALLY PART OF OUR CONDITIONS OF THE ABANDONMENT PROCESS.

YOU COME BACK LATER AND REPLAT ALL THE PROPERTIES.

OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ADRIEL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OH, ONE IT'S JUST A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY? YOU SAID THERE WAS NO REPLY BY THE PUBLIC.

HOW MANY? NOTIFICATIONS WERE GIVEN BECAUSE OF THE AREA THAT LOOKED LIKE THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY NOTIFICATIONS, EXCEPT MAYBE TWO. YEAH, WELL, WE SENT OUT 18, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

SO, 18. OKAY.

THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. I WAS WONDERING, ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT? YES, SIR. HE IS WITH COUNCIL.

MAY I APPROACH? CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS MARK HILL AND I AM HERE ON £0.24 031.

AND I'M COUNSEL FOR MR. AND MRS. ROBERT JONES, RETIRED HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

AND IT'S NOT OFTEN I COULDN'T RESIST STANDING UP AND SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE I HAVE NOBODY THAT OBJECTED AT THE CITY AND NOBODY WITH THE UTILITIES.

YOU KNOW, EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU THROW A PASS THAT'S COMPLETED.

AND THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL DAY, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE HELPING THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING TO THE CRUISE TERMINAL, HELPING FOLKS THAT ARE COMING TO CRUISE.

WE'RE PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

YOU'VE GOT JUST LIKE IN MANY DOWNTOWNS, YOU'VE GOT LITTLE STREETS AND ALLEYS THAT WERE ABANDONED.

SO WE WENT TO CITY COUNCIL AND CITY COUNCIL SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN PURCHASE THAT FROM US, WHICH WE HAVE.

AND THEN AS PART OF PURCHASING THAT, PUT IT TOGETHER IT'S ON THE VERY LAST PAGE WHERE WE SHOW OUR PLAT.

IF WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND THEY SAY, IF YOU'LL PUT IT TOGETHER, THEN YOU'VE GOT A CONTIGUOUS PARCEL AND WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE PORT.

WE'VE BEEN AT LEAST IT OUT AND THE OTHER AUTOMOBILES AND PEOPLE THAT COME IN.

SO THAT'S LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.

HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU DID GREAT MARK.

AND I THINK IT'S THE COAT AND THE TIE THAT'S PROBABLY GETTING YOU.

WELL, IF YOU'RE WEARING THAT TO THE MEETINGS I MEAN, IT JUST SAYS SMILE.

YEAH. WHO CAN OBJECT TO THAT? WELL. THANK YOU.

MY WIFE PICKED IT OUT. OH, NO COMMENT ON THAT ONE.

OH, YEAH. THAT'S.

LOOK, YOU DON'T THINK I COULD PULL THIS OFF? NO, NOT AT ALL.

NO. THANK YOU.

MARK. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY.

THANK YOU, MARK. THANK YOU, SIR.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS CASE.

IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING THIS BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR ACTION.

MOVE THAT. WE APPROVE. 20 4-031 AS WRITTEN.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE 24-031 AS PRESENTED.

[00:10:01]

IT'S 1202 HARBORSIDE.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NEW DESIGNATED.

BUT THE EXISTING.

THIS IS STILL EXISTING LOTS.

THE EXISTING IS 1201 AND 1228 WITH ABANDONED PROPERTIES.

BUT THE BUT THE SURVEY WILL REFLECT 1202.

THAT IS THE DUE GOING FORWARD.

BUT AS OF NOW IT IS STILL ALL THOSE PARCELS.

OKAY. JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE? THEN WE'LL TAKE THE VOTE. THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SO 24 031 IS APPROVED.

MAY WE BE EXCUSED? OH, CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[7.A. 2024 Planning Commission Awards (Staff)]

PLANNING COMMISSION AWARDS.

YEAH. WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES ABOUT THE AWARDS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S CHUGGING ALONG IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO WE'RE ON SCHEDULE.

TODAY'S AUGUST 20TH.

SO IT'S ON AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS LET ME KNOW.

I HAVE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF NOMINATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM COMMISSIONERS, SO WE WILL BE PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER.

PUBLIC NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN AND CLOSED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.

WE WILL HAVE A WORKSHOP, SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THAT ON SEPTEMBER THE 17TH.

IN ADVANCE OF THAT WORKSHOP, I'LL SEND YOU ALL THE ELECTRONIC VOTING SURVEY.

SO, YOU'LL HAVE VOTED FOR YOUR FAVORITES BY THE 17TH.

AND THEN WE'LL SHOW YOU THE RESULTS AND WE'LL KIND OF HASH IT OUT.

AND AT THE REGULAR MEETING, WE WILL FINALIZE THE SLATE, AND THE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED TO AT THE OCTOBER MEETING. AWESOME.

SO, SHE WILL BE SENDING US THE SURVEY MONKEY OR WHATEVER.

SURVEY MONKEY. OKAY, PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT. HOW LONG IS THE PROPERTY ELIGIBLE? HOW MANY YEARS? FIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? HOW IS THE NOMINATION PROCESS GOING? ARE WE GETTING A HANDFUL.

NOT A TON. BUT LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T GET ANY NOMINATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO AT LEAST IT ADVERTISED.

SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS THERE'S A PRESS RELEASE, IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER PUTS IT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

DOES THE CHAMBER SEND OUT, YOU KNOW, THEY SEND THOSE BLASTS OUT CONSTANTLY.

COULD THAT BE IN THE I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM, BUT I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

IT WAS ON THE CITY'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

YEAH. AND WE WILL HAVE A WORKSHOP NEXT.

NEXT MEETING. WELL, THE NEXT MEETING IS CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.

OKAY, SO THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS GOING TO BE ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.

OKAY. SEPTEMBER 17TH.

YEP. AND WE'LL BE STARTING AT PROBABLY 2:00.

SO WE GET A DAY OFF.

IS THAT OFF? YES. IT'S A PAID HOLIDAY.

OKAY. ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? THEN WE'LL BE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

SO GLAD I GOT IT.

BETTER GET IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.