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All right, I'm going to call to order. This is the February 12 planning and zoning commission meeting. Thank you all very much for attending today. And let's do the pledge. Cindy, do you want to lead us to the pledge for the flags?

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Thank you, Cindy.

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All right.

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So, the first item on our agenda is the approval of the minutes from our January 8,

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2026 planning and zoning commission meeting.

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Did you guys read it? Do we have any changes or modifications?

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Anything? If not?

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Move to accept the minutes.

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Do I have a second?

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All in favor?

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All right.

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Approved.

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City Council liaison report and our normal, now regular liaison.

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Jackie Georgia is out of town.

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So she asked our former liaison who we are very lucky to have back again as if you've never left.

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Brian wet.

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Yeah, you just thought you got your, y'all got really, just a couple of things I did want to,

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I think it was worth bringing up. We've had a lot going on in the city this week on Monday.

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We had a meeting with an economic development team and the purpose of that is what can we do

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as a city to encourage the right development in our downtown area? And so it was very much an

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introductory big picture meeting, but it was very interesting about things that we can think about that may not necessarily be short-term things that may be long-term.

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Today, tonight, actually at seven, we have a meeting about the library, just about what the kind of what the condition is, what the options are.

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Not really anything, deciding anything, just kind of laying the groundwork to what we should be looking at.

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And then also we're doing the the vision for the plan for the next year in terms of budget because the budget is right around the corner.

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So we're having conversations about what do we have an appetite to do and what is what is a priority and kind of getting that ready.

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So as we have the conversations amongst the come, then we'll have an idea of making a little bit easier because I think we've done a really good job the last couple of years.

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When budget time comes we've done a lot of heavy lifting before the actual budget meeting back in or in all so

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Other than that any questions for me

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Well, I do know that there's a lot going on in the city

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I don't know who was able to go to the state of the city that was presented. I think it was on February 2nd. It was great

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Our mayor stood up and talked about all the fabulous things that have gone on this year

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And I know that planning and zoning has been really, really crazy busy.

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The last year, 2025, and we are looking ahead, it's going to be very, very busy.

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And I know that you guys have been really, really, really busy in 2025

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and looking ahead also. So we have all been putting in the work.

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So we've been earning our money. Yeah.

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Sure. Yeah.

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I did want to also mention thank you just for the

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public that's listening. It is on the website. I did find that that was put up on the website.

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The whole presentation was phenomenal when you look back at it and see what has happened again

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in detail. So it was really good presentation that the mayor did. And by the way, for those of

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you that maybe didn't come, depending on where you came from, you'll may notice that the Randall

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is on being torn down as we speak. Traitor Joseph's coming, but I drove by. I was like,

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looked up like holy cow they're not going to down like right now so yeah that's super exciting.

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Yeah it was definitely a buzz on various social you know like Facebook groups and that sort of thing

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people are really excited that were that Randalls is being torn down looking at you know new

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development coming in that location which is going to be great and if everybody else doesn't know

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me as is opened in the triangle. I think also we have bistro mistral is just opened up over there as well, which is a high end French, which is I've been to their other location. It's fantastic.

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And so there's a lot going on. So it's exciting. Yeah, very exciting. So thanks Brian.

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I am. All right, so the next thing that we have are general public comments.

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Now this is not public comments related to what we are considering tonight.

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This is just every other general, you know, if you have other public comments relating

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to anything not dealing with UVT also from here on after known as Makers District, any

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other public comments.

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I'd also like to ask people who are speaking tonight too, please clearly speak into the microphone.

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State your name when you arrive to the podium and address is optional.

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But to clearly speak into the microphone, we do have people watching from the Internet

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and we'll watch the video later on as well.

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Thank you.

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Okay,

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so we're not taking any comments right now on UVT.

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This is just general anything else other than UVT.

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Okay, perfect, okay, just want to make sure.

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Thank you, sorry.

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I know this is going to be about UVT

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because I'm reading it from the UVT.

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But I mean, Danny sat in here for days after days after days

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and we haven't done anything.

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we ended up going through whole light and sound and earth and wind and fire. So, you know,

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if we want to build an economy in Bel Air, we have to let the business owners do what they're

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going to do and create something. We're going to, we just sat down the hall with workshopping,

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you know, making an economic difference, building something. But if we don't do something,

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We get nowhere, so we need to backtrack and go back to Danny Sheen's stuff and get

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that revived if he still has funding, because apparently you guys don't really

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know how stuff works.

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You don't just magically have money to make things work.

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So just want to put that out there and make sure that we're looking at it,

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addressing it and doing something.

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Is

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there any other general comments?

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I have a Billy break, but you can want to talk.

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Gotcha.

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No problem. Is there anybody else who is going to talk

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that's not about the UVT Makers District?

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Nothing else? Okay. All right, so we are here on current business,

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which is a public hearing to hear any and all

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persons desiring to be heard or in conjunction with the deletion

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of the code of ordinances of the City of Belair, Chapter 24, Planning and Zoning, Section 24-547,

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Urban, Village, Transit, Oriented Development District. We also call it UVT. We are going to,

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we have already renamed it to Makers District. They're synonymous, and the creation replacement of

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the new district, Section 24, 547, Makers District, so Monique, do you, who's doing the

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presentation?

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So we will have the presentation of the public hearing process.

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So we will first start off with the presentation by our consultant.

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So our consultant will have 15 minutes to present their request to the commission.

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The time limit can be extended by approval of the majority of the commissioners present.

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We'll then have staff findings, city staffs are present findings and conclusions of each city department and or consultant that reviewed the application.

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We'll then have public comments, so persons at the meeting who have indicated their desire to address the commission by submitting the form provided shall have three minutes each to present comments concerning the application.

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Please note that a speaker's time limit may be extended up to five minutes by the approval of the majority of the commissioners present.

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The time limit is intended to ensure all persons who have an interest in addressing the commission are able to do so in a timely manner.

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We'll then have the response of the consultant, so the consultant may respond to staff findings, public comments or make additional comments regarding the request, then followed by questions from the commission.

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So each commissioner shall have the opportunity to make inquiries of the applicant, speaker, or staff, and we'll have the closure of the public carrying them.

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All right, so I'd like to first introduce Gary Mitchell from Candid Keys Collaborative.

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He'll be actually presenting tonight for the public hearing for the Belair Makers District.

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Thank you, Monique. Good evening, everyone.

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And if we go to the next slide, just to get her, but we're into the area once again,

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this is the north end of Belair on the west side of West Loop just below West Park. So unlike a

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property owner coming to the city and requesting a rezoning, this is the city initiating this rezoning,

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so it's for a number of properties in an area. Mary, can I interrupt you just for a minute? Yes,

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ma'am. So just to kind of let everybody know, this is kind of a weird area. It's largely historically

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been somewhat underdeveloped. It's an area that I think the city has kind of been

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eyeing for a while. There was a number of years ago, there was sort of a plan with the light rail

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that, you know, and that was the reason why the zoning is the way it is now. That fell through,

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the light rail didn't happen. Not because of Belair, it was just because of more Houston and

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metro and whatever they had, they were cooking up or whatever. It didn't happen.

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So in the interim, we have this area that's largely underdeveloped. The city is looking

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at this area which honestly has some issues to it. Ingress, egress, there's really only two

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ways in the same two ways out. It's kind of a weird area that's sort of sandwiched between

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West Park and the 610 feeder. So it's kind of this weird little unique area. And so to give

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the public kind of some background on it, we've been meeting for several months talking about this

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area, trying to sort of revitalize it. And given the fact that it's such a weird little area with only

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that's really honestly quite difficult to get into and out of, it's unique. And so we're really

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trying to encourage growth in that area, but not like, you know, like we're not looking

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at growth like medical offices, buildings, kind of thing, kind of growth. That's not

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really what is necessarily sort of what is being envisioned, right? And so there is currently

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an owner in that area who came before, both P and Z and City Council, I think a long

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long while, years ago, who had a really creative, interesting thing that he wanted to do at the

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time because of the makeup of PNZ and the makeup of City Council, it did not go over.

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But I think things have changed now, and we are now sort of wanting the city is really

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looking at that area to sort of foster sort of creative, you know, development there.

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And so that is the reason why we have gone back to those folks, which is Thompson and Hanson, who also own Boxwood, Tiny Boxwoods, they own Cookies and Milk, if you have kids, you know about Cookies and Milk, because all the kids love it, and those sort of thing, it seems like he's got this very large property that he owns, that he has, like he's growing, he's sort of interested in doing kind of like a farm to table kind of idea, where he's growing herbs and vegetables,

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you know, in this area, he also, I believe, has sort of the storage area that he's wanting to sort of build out so that he can park his cars inside.

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Now, have them all over the street, not be ugly eyes sores.

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He's wanting to pull them into a larger warehouse area so they're off the streets and off the parking lots and they're out of the eye, you know, out of your eyesight.

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So that's some of the things that he was wanting to do.

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We had not spoken to him to really figure out how much he, like what exactly it was that he

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wanted to do in this area. We have since, since the last PNZ meeting, we did get an opportunity

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to speak with them to find out kind of their idea. One of the items that he, that we had gotten

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confused about, it was a miscommunication was live work units. He does not want those. They do not

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want live work units. That is not going to happen. What he was interested in doing, just

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to let you guys know, they have a similar property in Austin, very similar property.

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He's got Greg Thompson has kids who live in Austin, school or whatnot. Basically, what

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he was wanting to do is essentially have Condo's apartment too. That's it, just too. And

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And it's simply an executive apartment where people from Austin, or potentially if he has

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as a location and other areas.

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of the state, when they come into Houston to do business in Houston on their other properties,

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or other restaurants, or other, you know, their landscaping business, it's just a place

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to stay. That's it. It's not long-term. It's only for executives. It's short, kind of just

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quick stays, and they're out. It's not running out to public. It's not low income. It's not

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having a whole big apartment complex there. We are not interested in short-term rentals

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on this property. Nothing like any of that. Somehow, there's been some sort of miscommunication.

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And a lot of the public comments, well, I love public comments. They're always, always,

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always welcome. We know no multi-family. That is not what's going to be put there.

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There is not going to be short-term rental going in there. That is not going to happen.

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These are things that we're going to cap. We want to cap those. So it doesn't get out of hand.

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We want to do what you guys want, right, but we also have to balance it out with trying to have a creative sort of development in this area, which is a weird area.

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It's, again, hard to get in and hard to get out.

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So that's the vision just to let you know, no multi-family, no apartment complexes, no, you know, no apartment complexes, no condo complexes.

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At the most, there would be two small apartments or condos or townhouses.

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It would be absolutely capped, possibly maybe three at an acre.

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That's it.

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And it would be like an executive style.

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And it would only be through either an R6 or through a PD.

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That's kind of what we're sort of envisioning just to let you know.

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So it's hard because we're wanting to sort of open it up to allow for good development

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in this area that the city and all of the residents are going to really enjoy and embrace

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and really appreciate and not be angered at, but at the same time.

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So we want to open up some zoning to allow some creativity going on there, but we don't want

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to restrict it so much that people can't go in there, but at the same time we want to restrict

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that we don't get multi-family or I think there are other people who are talking about low-income housing or something like that's not what's going in there, that's not what we want in there, none of us want that.

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That was never talked about.

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And so anyway, I just wanted to open that up and make sure everybody understood because a lot of the public comments related to things that are not going to happen.

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And, you know, in terms of you guys, your concerns, we hear you, and we know we understand

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and we are absolutely appreciative of your comments, and we are going to embrace those

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things so that they do not happen in those locations.

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So just to let everybody know, and I'm sorry, Gary, that was very, very, very long-winded

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and everybody else, but I thought it was important to give some background about what's going

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on with this district if you haven't been sitting through our like six workshops that

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we've been working on in this area about like what are we going to do with this weird

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little area you know and it's like all these funky little weird old warehouses and you

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know let's get some cool stuff going on there maybe it's an artist colony or you know

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that since there's like a landscape you know with the farm to table kind of ideal maybe

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we can get some like artist you know people in there doing pottery and some of those

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little shops or, you know, something cool like that, right? That's not going to cause a lot of

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noise at night and be disruptive and all of that. So anyway, I just wanted to let everybody know that

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that's really what we're trying to see sort of going on. And so anyway, I know that there's

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a lot of concern because it's sort of this blank canvas, but we hear you. We do. So anyway, with that,

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Gary, I am now turning it over and I apologize for interrupting you. What did they say in Washington?

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and I reclaim the balance of my time.

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No, that was very helpful.

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So once again, just to orient everybody north end of the city,

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if you can picture up toward the loop in 59,

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this area in the past was zoned RDD research distribution

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development, which kind of captured what it was like

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and has been like.

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There was the proposal for light rail on West Park back in the day,

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so this area was re-zoned based on that possibility,

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more dense, more pedestrian-oriented, didn't happen, so that's where we are today.

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The conference of plan, the city adopted in 2024, put out a new vision for this area,

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so now this is the zoning that would carry that out.

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So under state law, like any zoning, planning zoning commission must recommend to the city

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council.

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That's where we are.

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So public hearing before the commission.

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So let's see.

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Next slide.

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Yeah.

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Surrounded by Houston on most sides, a portion of Bel Air single-family residential to the south

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All the next slide

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There is a discussion in the conference of plan about

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Kind of the purpose and outlook for this district talks about the potential land uses and

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What the the development might look like in this area the zoning is where we put that into specifics and

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And on the live work unit issue, I'll mention the old RDD zoning had live work units in it never happened.

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That's why it showed up in the conference of plan coming back to this area.

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It may go away tonight. It's in the current hearing draft, but we'll get to that here in a moment.

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So like any zoning district, there's typically a purpose statement.

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Just a lot of this carries straight from the conference of plan.

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So, as the chair summarized, very unique area at an edge of the city, up against the freeways,

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multiple constraints, you know, scattered ownership, some smaller, larger properties, floodplain,

220
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like other places in Bel Air, limited access even though you've got incredible traffic going

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by on freeways every day, but not an easy place to get to. It already has a mix of uses medical

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that was built along the loop in the past,

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but also lower level buildings, warehouse,

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so a mix of activities there, some open space,

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some open property.

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So the encouragement is reinvesting this area,

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but we're thinking about nearby residential

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as any part of Bill Air, possibly a greener atmosphere

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in this area than in the past,

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but as in the previous zoning, fairly wide-ranging

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possibilities for land use,

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but there is this possibility

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what's been called a destination development, we'll talk more about that and it is something

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that could be attractive because this is in a typical area that would draw retail traffic.

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It's just not the access of the profile for that.

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So on the next slide, so I'll go through the uses quickly.

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These are uses that if you have one of these uses and you meet the development standards,

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you're good to go.

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Go get a building permit.

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So as we say, there's a number of typical uses as in some other zoning districts in

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We did add, I guess it doesn't show up on this list, it's on the next list, but this is, again, very similar to what was in the zoning before the light rail oriented zoning was done on the next slide.

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These are three new definitions that would be added if this was adopted.

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We mentioned the idea of a makers district, so Artisan Workshop and the definition talks about small scale, not manufacturing, small scale equipment, indoor activity.

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The horticultural production, the nursery greenhouse type atmosphere, and it talks about

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it can be for landscaping purposes, an attractive property, but also selling the products

246
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that are grown there.

247
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And then a special event venue, including as in this image, possibly outdoor orientation

248
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as well as indoor spaces.

249
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So that's something that actually isn't in Belier's current zoning ordinance, so something

250
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like a wedding reception venue has never really come up in Belier, so that's added.

251
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And part of this is that these uses could be mixed in a mixed use proposal.

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So that's why these are here as well.

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On the next slide, we go to some of the additional mixed use.

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There's the mixed use possibilities, the things on that list that could be potentially combined

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or they could be standalone.

256
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And then there's things that are accessory to a primary use.

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So ours and workshops could have secondary spaces.

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You think of a warehouse space that has an office maybe up front.

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Vehicle storage could be an activity on a property, but it can't be the only or the main activity.

260
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So things like that.

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On the next slide, we get to uses that are theoretically could work in this area,

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but they go through what's called specific use permit review.

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It comes to the planning commission and it is recommended to city council.

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And that's where you can attach site-specific conditions to help make it compatible depending on where it what's proposed and what's next work.

265
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So as in other bill area zoning districts, there's another number of uses that fall into that category and on the next slide.

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Then there's the category plan development as in all zoning districts in Belair.

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This is in typical in zoning ordinances that somebody can come forward and put a proposal out there that maybe doesn't

268
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specifically meet the standards in today's ordinance, but it meets the intent and this is where the Thompson Hanson concept has been in our discussion, but of course we have to think about all the properties in this area, this zoning would apply across this district, so it's possible that Thompson Hanson could be permitted by right if they meet the development standards, but everybody in the district would have the plan development option at the end of the day to bring something different and unique.

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Next slide is the issue of the live work units, as we went through this process, they started out as more on the permitted side of things.

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Now they're in the under the plan development category, so that means come to the commission, recommend a council, public hearings.

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It's like a site-specific zone change, and so live work units is under that category right now.

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That could change through your deliberation, but we looked at how those can be in a number of configurations.

273
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What's not on the table is something that looks like multifamily and by it being under the plan development category,

274
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you would have complete control over how it's designed.

275
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So that's where we stand in the current draft.

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This slide is what's not permitted in the district.

277
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So some things are specifically called out on this list, a standalone parking lot, for example.

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and a number of the other ones are also not permitted in other districts in

279
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Belier. On the restaurant side, no drive-through or drive-in activity as in

280
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some other districts. Manufacturing is called out because there is a light

281
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industrial district on some properties in Belier. In this district it talks about

282
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light fabrication and the definition of that kind of tones it down from

283
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manufacturing. So and then of course anything else that's not mentioned in the

284
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the ordinance as permitted is not permitted.

285
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These just happen to be called out specifically.

286
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On our next slide, now we'll get into whatever the use

287
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that's proposed on a property.

288
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These would be the development standards.

289
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So as in other districts, there's kind of levels of standards

290
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depending on the type of use.

291
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In all cases, it would go through a site plan approval process

292
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to see the actual layout of a site

293
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if it's new development or redevelopment

294
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of an existing building or site.

295
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And so that's starting, the starting point is

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how much land do you need to do certain types of use?

297
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The plan development is roughly half acre on the next slide.

298
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Then we get into lot dimensions, the width and depth,

299
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so some typical dimensions there as a starting point

300
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and some some uses of course need much more space than that,

301
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but that's a basic starting point.

302
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Lot coverage is as in all zoning districts is important

303
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for the appearance, the amount of green space landscaping,

304
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But also as flood implications the amount of property that's covered by building and pavement so so there's the percentages for some some of the uses on our next slide.

305
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Then we get into height in this proposal. It's at 40 feet, which usually works out to about three stories depending on the style of the building.

306
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40 feet is permitted by right 53 feet could only be by plan development approval. That's roughly four stories.

307
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and then with planned development approval it would be part of the whole site

308
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plan development or discussion review to see how that looks and how it fits on

309
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the site. So on our next slide finally yards which is building setbacks from

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the public street or the sidewalk so typical again as in some of our other

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districts but 15 foot in general and if it's a planned development it's decided

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through the site plan review process. As it turned out we had discussion about adding

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the idea of a front height setback plane. That's just the idea that if a building is near certain

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streets that as a building it's taller the upper parts of the building might have to be set back

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just to provide more openness along a street. As it turns out originally that was going to be in front

316
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of council for another zoning district, the quarter mix use district, before this meeting. It turns

317
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out it was postponed because of our weather a few weeks ago so that's actually happening Monday night

318
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so we didn't put it in the draft we'll see how things turn out with the other zoning district

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it could potentially be added to this district so on our next slide final slide just same as in

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the urban village downtown and the quarter mixed use district as we dealt with previously

321
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just this clarification that outdoor seating for a restaurant or other things like that can be

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be in the setback area up toward the street.

323
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So that's our final slide and I'll be back when it's discussion time.

324
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Thank you.

325
00:29:13,580 --> 00:29:14,880
Thank you very much, Gary.

326
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And like I mentioned in the beginning, I mean at least some of the things that I'm going

327
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to recommend or propose to the commission that we will obviously vote on and decide are

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are eliminating live work, allowing or prohibiting under the specific prohibitions.

329
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There was like, you know, I can't remember how he worded it, but it was like specifically

330
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not allowed uses.

331
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Short-term rentals will be under that, I think.

332
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That's one of the other things I was going to suggest to specifically exclude the ability

333
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of having short-term rentals at all whatsoever in this area.

334
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For the most part, though, there's not going to be any residential at all in that little

335
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area also in terms of

336
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This idea of apartments or anything like that, that's not going to happen. At most, what it will be, will be allowance of having two, three units per acre. And it would be under R6 or PD. And by way of reminder, under PD, PD stands for plan development. Any plan development, you can only have a plan development on a half acre or more. So it's got to be a larger property, half acre.

337
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and for PD plan development, they have to come to planning and zoning.

338
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We have to either recommend it, or we don't.

339
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If we recommend it, it then goes through City Council approval as well, and they can

340
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either recommend it or not.

341
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So on a plan development, it has to be a half acre or more, and they have to jump through

342
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the hoop of coming to PNZ and City Council.

343
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So they have to jump through two hoops of approval process in order to get a plan development

344
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through. So it's a pretty rigorous process and so anyway that that's the other thing. So there

345
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will not be multi-family, there will not be short-term rental, there is not going to be low income

346
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housing or anything like that. So just to let you know that's sort of what I was going to recommend

347
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this evening in terms of changes from what you see. The only other thing I wanted to make a mention

348
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about because it was kind of a funny word was horticulture was used. We spent a great deal of time

349
00:31:26,580 --> 00:31:33,020
just to let you all know about deciding about that originally we had thought about putting

350
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an agriculture but apparently agriculture includes livestock and we didn't want you guys who live

351
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across the street from this area or back up to it how are anywhere around it having to deal with

352
00:31:43,940 --> 00:31:51,840
roosters or cows or antelope or whatever else people have these days for livestock so we specifically

353
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looked for a word that meant growing vegetables and herbs but not livestock so

354
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that's how we landed on horticulture so we were very very very thoughtful about

355
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what you know the language that we used and uses as well so anyway I just

356
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wanted to make mention of that as well. All right so moving on then to staff

357
00:32:13,740 --> 00:32:17,880
findings. Yeah so first of findings we don't have anything additional to add just

358
00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:22,500
that we've worked with Gary in the Planning and Zoning Commission over these last five months,

359
00:32:22,860 --> 00:32:29,140
and so staff genuinely approves and recommends the approval of the Bellar makers district.

360
00:32:30,060 --> 00:32:35,780
That's about it. Okay, so then the next thing we have are public comments, and I recommend,

361
00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:41,100
I mean, I recognize fully that I've sort of thrown a large, you know, wrench into the, you know,

362
00:32:41,220 --> 00:32:46,920
into the things, because I know a lot of people wanted to talk about, you know, various items,

363
00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:56,540
And you're welcome to continue to do that if you want, but just knowing the changes that, you know, that we talked about and are envisioning.

364
00:32:56,780 --> 00:33:02,740
You're welcome to continue to speak and put your two cents in, or you are welcome also to not, whichever you want.

365
00:33:03,020 --> 00:33:09,820
So she'll call your name. And if you want to come on up, feel free. And if you don't, you're welcome to pass whatever you'd like.

366
00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:31,580
Thank you, my name is Ming Liu. I live on Saxon Street, which is just one treat removed from what the proposed zoning is happening.

367
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:36,400
Although this is my first time coming to your zoning meeting, so I'm very excited.

368
00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,420
I did, I have lived in the area for a long time.

369
00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:40,180
I grew up here.

370
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I went in Pershing.

371
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I went in Belair.

372
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Now I'm raising my three kids in Belair.

373
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And one of the things I really love about Belair, and that's what we chose to raise my kids here, is

374
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this is really a pocket of Houston, where there's actually really good zoning.

375
00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,620
So the thoughtfulness, Jamie, that you put into your comments, I really appreciate

376
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in thoughtfulness on these developments.

377
00:34:02,340 --> 00:34:08,000
And I think the reason why I love Belair on the zoning side is it provides a safe and

378
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quiet and neighborly environment, which we enjoy in attracting people to this area.

379
00:34:14,020 --> 00:34:19,700
So that said, like you said Jamie, that area has some very outdated infrastructure.

380
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We have broken asphalt, the sidewalks are uneven so much so that the kids are walking on the middle of the street

381
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in order to get to the park nearby that Joe got their park if I am pronouncing it correctly.

382
00:34:32,100 --> 00:34:36,880
And there's also a lot of poor drainage issues. So like you have open ditches which is like

383
00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:43,680
a little bit outdated and then a lot of pulling the water in the areas when it rains.

384
00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:49,320
Well why do I say that? Because I do really love the idea of developing that area.

385
00:34:49,720 --> 00:34:54,820
I think we just need to be really thoughtful in doing so. So the concern I have is like

386
00:34:55,540 --> 00:35:04,500
the possibility of adding more strain to that area and the impact due to some of the

387
00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:08,720
family infrastructure and adding additional strain to that family structure.

388
00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:14,360
So one thing that I like, the committee to perhaps consider before making a zoning change

389
00:35:14,740 --> 00:35:19,640
like this, that will possibly add more density to that area and more strain to that is perhaps

390
00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:34,500
perhaps like before making a zone change to update the infrastructure a little bit because frankly, I think that's a very common sense change because in order to attract all those nice businesses or executives, for example, to give a good impression area.

391
00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:45,460
The infrastructure has to be there like the broken asphalt and narrow streets, the low hanging wires that like sometimes commercial trucks like snag and we lose our internet or phone.

392
00:35:46,220 --> 00:35:47,580
Okay, I got it.

393
00:35:48,020 --> 00:35:49,140
It's not attractive.

394
00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:52,280
So I'm just asking the zoning committee to consider that.

395
00:35:52,540 --> 00:35:54,380
Like, for a common very common sense

396
00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:57,060
before you approve any change to zoning

397
00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,140
to maybe have the infrastructure updated.

398
00:36:01,340 --> 00:36:04,440
And I know it's not part of what your discretion

399
00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:07,180
but without the infrastructure, the zoning change

400
00:36:07,180 --> 00:36:09,880
doesn't exactly make sense to me.

401
00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:12,600
So I loved for the infrastructure to get updated

402
00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:13,620
before the zoning change.

403
00:36:13,860 --> 00:36:14,160
Thank you.

404
00:36:15,460 --> 00:36:16,160
Thank you very much.

405
00:36:20,860 --> 00:36:23,600
Next is Billy Bracey, Ridley Bracey, excuse me.

406
00:36:25,490 --> 00:36:25,710
Welcome.

407
00:36:26,390 --> 00:36:28,250
Hello, and good evening, fellow neighbors.

408
00:36:29,010 --> 00:36:31,390
Also a first-timer, I live on Mayfair,

409
00:36:31,730 --> 00:36:32,670
just right behind you, sir.

410
00:36:33,370 --> 00:36:36,130
And so I have a young family, a young son.

411
00:36:36,410 --> 00:36:38,290
We've lived there for almost four years.

412
00:36:38,750 --> 00:36:40,390
We enjoy that pocket of Bel Air.

413
00:36:40,770 --> 00:36:44,110
For many of the reasons previously stated, it is quiet.

414
00:36:44,750 --> 00:36:48,150
We don't have a through-street to the feeder or to the highway,

415
00:36:48,150 --> 00:36:51,770
which is nice and I think we'd like to keep it that way.

416
00:36:52,510 --> 00:36:54,190
I'll touch on the rooster comment.

417
00:36:54,510 --> 00:36:55,270
I appreciate that.

418
00:36:55,810 --> 00:36:58,410
I think a cow would be cool or a few of them, okay?

419
00:36:58,890 --> 00:37:01,270
But I appreciate the thoughtfulness on that.

420
00:37:01,710 --> 00:37:04,570
I was one of the concerned citizens

421
00:37:04,570 --> 00:37:06,050
about the multi-family and all that.

422
00:37:06,250 --> 00:37:07,710
So I appreciate you addressing that.

423
00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:09,170
We don't need to deep dive that.

424
00:37:09,550 --> 00:37:15,990
I think that what I will touch on is preserving that community

425
00:37:15,990 --> 00:37:30,530
which has a lot of development south of what we're talking about, new homes being built, lots being developed, that's very exciting and we want to preserve and protect and keep our property values in mind as we do this.

426
00:37:30,990 --> 00:37:43,930
In terms of a whole bunch of people living up there, you may have mentioned once early that there was one, two, or maybe three units that would be developed, but then at the end of your comments you mentioned a maximum of two or three per acre.

427
00:37:43,930 --> 00:37:51,090
There are several acres up there, so I would ask the council to be cognizant of how many

428
00:37:51,090 --> 00:37:55,370
new families are we really going to let live there and are they really going to be in

429
00:37:55,370 --> 00:37:57,650
and out over the course of a couple of days or a week?

430
00:37:58,110 --> 00:38:04,350
That needs to be pretty firm, because that could be 10 or 15 maybe units if we look at that

431
00:38:04,350 --> 00:38:06,990
entire area, just to concern there.

432
00:38:07,390 --> 00:38:11,930
In terms of piggybacking the gentleman's comment on infrastructure, remember we've got

433
00:38:11,930 --> 00:38:16,670
micro center which is a huge parking lot. We've got Walmart which is a humongous parking lot

434
00:38:16,670 --> 00:38:21,950
and then we've got these humongous highways all around that area. Okay my street floods when we

435
00:38:21,950 --> 00:38:26,750
get three inches of rain in a short amount of time. I'm on May fair I'm two streets removed from

436
00:38:26,750 --> 00:38:32,130
there. If we continue to have concrete and buildings and things like that I think the horizontal

437
00:38:32,130 --> 00:38:38,250
infrastructure is much more important than the vertical infrastructure. So if we're going to make

438
00:38:38,250 --> 00:38:44,290
this consideration for Thompson Hanson which is a big concession for them and maybe there's

439
00:38:44,290 --> 00:38:49,410
value for the residents but maybe a whole lot more weighted value for Thompson Hanson of this

440
00:38:49,410 --> 00:38:54,270
development. Let's think about the homes that are around there. We live in that I live in that

441
00:38:54,270 --> 00:38:59,090
part of Bel Air because it's not way south of here and it's not prone to flood and I don't want to be

442
00:38:59,090 --> 00:39:05,770
on 610 being rescued by a helicopter like somewhere in Hurricane Harvey. That's why my family lives in

443
00:39:05,770 --> 00:39:09,730
the portion that we do, so we don't want to create a bigger problem while lending

444
00:39:09,730 --> 00:39:15,550
a concession to frankly not even a resident of the city. Thank you for hearing me.

445
00:39:15,970 --> 00:39:17,030
Thank you very much.

446
00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:21,440
Tim Sullivan?

447
00:39:28,720 --> 00:39:31,340
Tim Sullivan, 4816 Belair. Welcome.

448
00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:37,940
So I'm going to continue my conversation about no living in the area.

449
00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:41,420
I don't, I mean there's a neighborhood right next to it.

450
00:39:41,420 --> 00:39:47,340
If you want to build something, build something in the neighborhood next to it and go that route.

451
00:39:48,500 --> 00:39:53,360
It seems, you know, looking at the uses and non-uses, it seems like

452
00:39:54,100 --> 00:39:57,620
Thomson and Hanson can do most everything that they want.

453
00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:06,520
Maybe some limit on parking lot, but I would think that parking lot would already be handled

454
00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:21,560
because of just general use in the area. We've had the plenty of businesses there that you know the landscaping business. There's lots of lots of space that trucks have to park to pick stuff up.

455
00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:30,860
There's the old sandwich manufacturer that you know had to park trucks and whatnot. So that's still the same unless I'm missing something there.

456
00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:42,420
So, I just want to reiterate the fact that we don't need living, it's going to change the whole vibe of the space.

457
00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:53,300
You know, we all know what happens when mom and dad say, oh, you can go down to the apartment and Houston and use it.

458
00:40:53,300 --> 00:41:00,220
Oh, well, so now you got a 21-year-old taking up space and they have a party and, you know,

459
00:41:00,260 --> 00:41:06,820
we see it happening all over town. I don't see why we desire that. That's not going to make

460
00:41:06,820 --> 00:41:16,440
a creative space. We talked about creativity and artists. I don't know if you've heard the word

461
00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:22,180
starving artists you know when we have artists colonies around the city today

462
00:41:22,180 --> 00:41:29,640
they're all in lower market places so that the artists can afford them so we're

463
00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:34,520
not going to get some artists colony up there unless somebody buys it for them

464
00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:42,620
and wills it to them so just reiterating the fact no living in that property thank

465
00:41:42,620 --> 00:41:42,900
Thank you.

466
00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:58,660
Does anybody else want to speak?

467
00:42:04,170 --> 00:42:07,470
And if you could just say your name, because my name

468
00:42:07,470 --> 00:42:08,350
is Mahesh Desai.

469
00:42:08,630 --> 00:42:10,630
And I live on Saxon Street.

470
00:42:11,610 --> 00:42:15,250
And to echo the comment made by the previous gentleman,

471
00:42:15,710 --> 00:42:19,490
I strongly recommend that commission should not

472
00:42:19,490 --> 00:42:22,130
consider leaving the reason of leaving,

473
00:42:22,410 --> 00:42:27,210
because leaving, once you open up the scope of leaving,

474
00:42:27,210 --> 00:42:34,110
it goes beyond 1 or 2 or 3 as the previous gentleman said there are so many

475
00:42:34,110 --> 00:42:42,550
acres so that's one. Number two, I saw a club and some other businesses that

476
00:42:42,550 --> 00:42:48,030
I think it's not a good idea I mean it's not it's not a good idea to invite

477
00:42:48,030 --> 00:42:53,010
in the residential area and the third thing is that right now if you drive

478
00:42:53,010 --> 00:43:00,590
down on Lehigh, you will see so many cars and trucks parked on Lehigh, making it very difficult

479
00:43:00,590 --> 00:43:09,870
some time to cross the incoming and outgoing cars simultaneously. So if you have a very strong

480
00:43:09,870 --> 00:43:16,090
development there and if you don't consider the traffic issue, I think it's going to have a more

481
00:43:17,090 --> 00:43:25,590
like a problematic area. So I would say and and the last one is that before you consider any

482
00:43:26,310 --> 00:43:34,150
planned development, would you make it available for the residents to look at it or whether we will

483
00:43:34,150 --> 00:43:40,010
have a chance to make a comment or it's just like once you've once this hearing is done, we are going

484
00:43:40,010 --> 00:43:42,670
to consider and approve and then you go to the next step.

485
00:43:45,050 --> 00:43:48,050
That is a question. Are we

486
00:43:48,070 --> 00:43:56,070
voting on this we're not doing because since we're changing things are we going to do the final vote next month or is it today so we

487
00:43:56,070 --> 00:44:03,290
had planned we have it on the agenda to vote consider and vote tonight okay um I think

488
00:44:04,590 --> 00:44:09,430
obviously the commission can you know make their appropriate motions and that sort of thing but perhaps we

489
00:44:09,430 --> 00:44:15,510
could do a small tweak since we're going to be making some changes maybe we could put the postponement of

490
00:44:15,510 --> 00:44:18,730
of the actual final vote until next month of that

491
00:44:18,730 --> 00:44:21,030
is without be possible with a vote,

492
00:44:21,050 --> 00:44:22,110
obviously a motion.

493
00:44:22,390 --> 00:44:25,430
So, and to be clear, City Council will have a hearing

494
00:44:25,430 --> 00:44:28,590
as well once a recommendation is made to City Council.

495
00:44:28,910 --> 00:44:31,210
So then City Council, there will be another opportunity

496
00:44:31,210 --> 00:44:33,510
for public comment at City Council.

497
00:44:34,070 --> 00:44:36,330
Yeah, because we're just an advisory board.

498
00:44:36,430 --> 00:44:39,090
We actually don't make any final decisions

499
00:44:39,620 --> 00:44:40,510
planning zoning down.

500
00:44:40,650 --> 00:44:42,530
So we make recommendations and then it goes

501
00:44:42,530 --> 00:44:44,930
before City Council with the same process

502
00:44:44,930 --> 00:44:53,490
So all over again with city council just to let you know thank you very much. Yeah. Thank you very much. Can I get the date of the next meeting.

503
00:44:56,520 --> 00:44:59,700
The next planning and zoning meeting. March.

504
00:45:00,140 --> 00:45:02,720
March 12th.

505
00:45:04,930 --> 00:45:06,490
Anybody else want to speak?

506
00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:21,260
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did. Yeah, so yeah, so we're, let's, let's hold off on, I guess, unless, what did we talk about?

507
00:45:26,720 --> 00:45:31,040
I thought we did talk about it. It was either a week after, I thought it was a week after, wasn't it?

508
00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:41,240
Yeah, it's that week. I thought we had either said, I can't remember. I thought we had said it was a week afterwards that we had decided.

509
00:45:41,240 --> 00:45:41,380
We did.

510
00:45:41,620 --> 00:45:42,600
Todd, do you remember?

511
00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:45,900
We had discussed it as-

512
00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:46,600
Is it the week before?

513
00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:49,120
I think it was the week before.

514
00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:49,640
Before.

515
00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:50,060
Okay.

516
00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:52,280
I was going to check my calendar here real quick too.

517
00:45:53,100 --> 00:45:53,360
Okay.

518
00:45:53,580 --> 00:45:54,280
So it's the week before.

519
00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:55,360
Which is what date?

520
00:45:56,100 --> 00:45:56,320
Okay.

521
00:45:56,440 --> 00:45:57,940
So it's March 6th then.

522
00:45:58,340 --> 00:45:58,540
Okay.

523
00:45:58,860 --> 00:46:00,340
March 6th.

524
00:46:01,940 --> 00:46:03,280
March 5th.

525
00:46:03,320 --> 00:46:04,160
March 5th.

526
00:46:04,260 --> 00:46:05,000
March 5th.

527
00:46:05,100 --> 00:46:10,740
The next P and Z meeting that we will vote on this, the final vote will be March 5th.

528
00:46:10,740 --> 00:46:19,000
So um and typically the agenda is posted the Friday before the meeting this March 5th is a

529
00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:23,100
Thursday so typically the agenda will be posted I think on right on the website on

530
00:46:23,100 --> 00:46:28,740
Yes the Friday before the Friday right before so that's when you would be able to see

531
00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:35,080
what the plan would be on on the Friday before March 5th. Okay so um

532
00:46:36,620 --> 00:46:42,700
Okay, so what you're saying is we're going to have the next meeting, not on our regular

533
00:46:42,700 --> 00:46:48,260
scheduled date on the 12th, but on the previous Thursday, which is March 5th.

534
00:46:48,260 --> 00:46:56,700
And then the agenda would be due that Friday, January 30th, actually the day that we would

535
00:46:56,700 --> 00:46:58,960
No, no.

536
00:47:01,360 --> 00:47:07,680
My apologies, I am okay. So March 12th, and it will now be moved to March 5th.

537
00:47:07,740 --> 00:47:16,560
And the agenda will be due on the 27th. I'm so sorry about that.

538
00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:17,160
Okay.

539
00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:24,960
And Monday, I want to make sure to that there were no other meetings at same night in the same space.

540
00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:26,720
I didn't remember that there were,

541
00:47:27,500 --> 00:47:28,780
according to the calendar,

542
00:47:29,060 --> 00:47:30,020
but I wanted to make sure

543
00:47:30,020 --> 00:47:32,780
that one of the other commissions

544
00:47:32,780 --> 00:47:34,600
didn't have their meeting on that same line.

545
00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:37,260
So, so far, no, there's not another meeting

546
00:47:37,260 --> 00:47:40,400
on Thursday, March 5th.

547
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:40,560
Okay.

548
00:47:41,140 --> 00:47:41,460
All right.

549
00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:41,740
Great.

550
00:47:42,380 --> 00:47:43,220
All right.

551
00:47:43,580 --> 00:47:43,760
So,

552
00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:47,300
what else am I have here?

553
00:47:51,010 --> 00:47:51,190
All right.

554
00:47:51,370 --> 00:47:52,730
So, we did the response to the city.

555
00:47:52,730 --> 00:47:54,410
We did the questions from the quiz.

556
00:47:54,530 --> 00:47:54,730
Okay.

557
00:47:54,910 --> 00:47:55,550
So, do we,

558
00:47:55,890 --> 00:47:58,710
can we clarify that there are no further public comments?

559
00:47:58,710 --> 00:48:01,270
Yes, are there any further public comments?

560
00:48:02,690 --> 00:48:07,810
And we did receive a few written comments since they will be included in the agenda

561
00:48:07,810 --> 00:48:08,270
packet.

562
00:48:08,510 --> 00:48:14,030
I will not read some word for word, but just giving you a list of the comments that we

563
00:48:14,030 --> 00:48:14,730
did receive.

564
00:48:15,070 --> 00:48:18,770
We received a written comment from Marine Brunetti.

565
00:48:19,390 --> 00:48:26,170
She discussed the STR ordinance, so short-term rentals and was against that.

566
00:48:26,170 --> 00:48:32,890
we did receive a written comment from Billy Bray just stating that they don't

567
00:48:32,890 --> 00:48:40,530
want any type of housing in the Bel Air makers district. We also received a

568
00:48:40,530 --> 00:48:46,790
written comment from Brooke Bray again seconding that you know they don't want

569
00:48:46,790 --> 00:48:53,090
any type of live work units or they they actually don't want Thompson

570
00:48:53,090 --> 00:48:58,190
and Hanson to house their workers in the district.

571
00:48:59,330 --> 00:49:03,670
So the next written comment that we received

572
00:49:04,090 --> 00:49:11,130
is from Hugh Lou, and he says they are formally writing

573
00:49:11,130 --> 00:49:13,210
to express their strong opposition

574
00:49:13,510 --> 00:49:19,010
to any type of live in development in the district,

575
00:49:19,010 --> 00:49:29,690
and they're wanting to not have such intense developments and citing traffic and safety concerns,

576
00:49:30,350 --> 00:49:37,890
parking overflow and the neighborhood impact. They also raise concerns over infrastructure and drainage concerns

577
00:49:37,890 --> 00:49:42,610
and then income ballability with the neighborhood as well.

578
00:49:42,610 --> 00:49:49,230
So they also don't want any precedent zoning creep that would creep into any

579
00:49:49,230 --> 00:49:57,550
neighboring residential neighborhoods. We received a written comment from Ming

580
00:49:57,550 --> 00:50:04,590
Lu. Again there are they have strong opposition to any type of live work or

581
00:50:04,590 --> 00:50:11,490
residential development in the district. They would like first the outdated and

582
00:50:11,490 --> 00:50:19,210
infrastructure to be updated before any zoning changes occur, just citing the failing

583
00:50:19,210 --> 00:50:25,590
street conditions, citing pedestrian safety as well in the residential neighborhood to

584
00:50:25,590 --> 00:50:27,370
the south of the Bel Airmakers District.

585
00:50:28,790 --> 00:50:38,470
We received a written comment from myLongVS, again in opposition to Thompson and Hanson having

586
00:50:38,470 --> 00:50:44,690
having any type of workers living in the district, they say that they frequently collect

587
00:50:44,690 --> 00:50:50,550
litter left by the employees of the Thompson and Hanson team, which is both embarrassing

588
00:50:50,550 --> 00:50:56,710
and distressing, so they are against any type of live-in units.

589
00:50:59,070 --> 00:51:06,250
We had a written comment just asking for additional information on the Thompson and Hanson proposal,

590
00:51:06,250 --> 00:51:14,350
Again, just to reiterate, Thomson and Hanson, they have not submitted a formal proposal to us in the recent year.

591
00:51:14,830 --> 00:51:23,110
The last time they submitted a proposal just for inquiry was back in 2022, so we don't have a current proposal, but

592
00:51:23,110 --> 00:51:29,130
that is what their public comment is written on regarding the fire they received at their property.

593
00:51:29,130 --> 00:51:32,870
That concludes the written comments that we've received so far.

594
00:51:33,970 --> 00:51:43,910
Since we are now moving the deliberation consideration and final vote to the March meeting

595
00:51:43,910 --> 00:51:55,470
our next deadline for written comment is Wednesday, February 25th.

596
00:51:55,470 --> 00:51:58,370
That is the deadline for additional written comment.

597
00:51:58,370 --> 00:51:59,250
Thank

598
00:52:04,850 --> 00:52:13,570
you very much money. Okay and now we can have questions from the commission to staff or are

599
00:52:13,570 --> 00:52:20,970
consulted? Gary Mitchell? Anybody have any questions? I think we're going to talk about this a little bit

600
00:52:20,970 --> 00:52:26,730
more probably at the beginning of the workshop, but you know in terms of changes and that sort of

601
00:52:26,730 --> 00:52:33,050
thing so. So if you guys have any questions that you want clarified tonight, you can ask those any type

602
00:52:33,050 --> 00:52:39,530
deliberation that you would want tonight, you know, we aren't voting until the March meeting, but if there's anything you wish to discuss.

603
00:52:40,990 --> 00:52:46,950
I the only thing I was curious about again just is what does the current.

604
00:52:48,010 --> 00:52:53,350
Didn't City Council vote on a short-term rental ordinance that changed what is that?

605
00:52:54,370 --> 00:52:58,650
Again, so that we all know what is the current residential right?

606
00:52:59,510 --> 00:53:04,290
Well, it prohibits it in residential districts and it regulates it in commercial districts.

607
00:53:04,910 --> 00:53:11,790
So there's permit and registration, revocation, appeal procedures in commercial districts and

608
00:53:11,790 --> 00:53:13,330
it's not allowed in residential at all.

609
00:53:13,930 --> 00:53:20,010
So if we were to create it as a not allowed use, it's not really addressed in the zoning

610
00:53:20,010 --> 00:53:20,330
ordinance.

611
00:53:20,450 --> 00:53:23,290
It's a separate ordinance in the code of ordinance as it's in a different chapter.

612
00:53:23,710 --> 00:53:28,090
So if it was something that we want to state that we want to prohibit in this district, we

613
00:53:28,090 --> 00:53:29,710
we would probably just refer to that definition.

614
00:53:30,590 --> 00:53:32,850
And I mean, you can state it's not an allowed use

615
00:53:33,670 --> 00:53:37,070
and of a short-term rental as defined in chapter,

616
00:53:37,610 --> 00:53:39,210
whatever chapter it was that we put it in.

617
00:53:41,200 --> 00:53:42,840
Thank you, Charles, that's what I wanted to.

618
00:53:43,180 --> 00:53:44,140
Great, thank you.

619
00:53:45,700 --> 00:53:46,740
Any other questions?

620
00:53:50,720 --> 00:53:53,300
Yeah, we're gonna workshop it a little bit more.

621
00:53:53,540 --> 00:53:56,160
Well, it's on the regular agenda, not the workshop,

622
00:53:56,800 --> 00:53:58,860
but we're still in the public hearing process,

623
00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:00,800
so we need to close out the public.

624
00:54:00,820 --> 00:54:01,040
Okay.

625
00:54:01,040 --> 00:54:08,500
process. All right so madam chairwoman if I could speak because there's the part about responding to comments I just

626
00:54:08,500 --> 00:54:14,480
wanted to touch on one item the infrastructure part that was mentioned and I understand the sentiment about

627
00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:21,800
before you rezone deal with infrastructure I just want to mention today zoning the UVT is much more intensive

628
00:54:21,800 --> 00:54:27,640
zoning it allows taller buildings more density so that's what was on the table because the light rail

629
00:54:27,640 --> 00:54:34,440
went away, the zoning needed to change, so if you don't rezone to something else, the current

630
00:54:34,440 --> 00:54:38,440
zoning is much more intensive. Nobody's built to that, but that's what's on the books today,

631
00:54:38,580 --> 00:54:43,480
so that would put more strain on infrastructure. Yeah, just to clarify a little bit, just to

632
00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:49,600
DevTell and what Gary just mentioned. So before our prior zoning, which we are changing, had much

633
00:54:49,600 --> 00:54:56,260
taller buildings allowed in this district. What we have done is we've brought those buildings

634
00:54:56,260 --> 00:55:02,380
way lower. They're shorter because we kind of collectively anyway are advising you know we're

635
00:55:02,380 --> 00:55:07,680
making a recommendation that we don't want really big buildings over there because of exactly

636
00:55:07,680 --> 00:55:14,880
that it's going to be too congested. The two little ingress and egress into this area just wouldn't

637
00:55:14,880 --> 00:55:23,280
allow for having like a whole basically you know skyscraper area or even you know not maybe not

638
00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:29,960
skyscraper, but like, you know, 10, 15 story buildings over there lined up, it just wouldn't work.

639
00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:35,520
So that's why we brought the buildings down. The height came down in this area. That's part

640
00:55:35,520 --> 00:55:43,740
of our new proposal for the zoning. And it's, you know, it's providing a lot more restrictions than

641
00:55:43,740 --> 00:55:50,240
it was. We're making it more livable for those residences around it.

642
00:55:53,350 --> 00:55:53,950
Anything else?

643
00:55:53,950 --> 00:56:02,150
All right well at this point I think are you ready to close yeah yeah do I have a motion to close the public hearing

644
00:56:02,690 --> 00:56:04,630
Move to close the public hearing

645
00:56:05,330 --> 00:56:06,550
All right all in favor

646
00:56:07,530 --> 00:56:14,730
Okay, we are adjourned. Thank you all very very much and again just the hearing we still have the other items on the

647
00:56:14,730 --> 00:56:19,630
We do yeah, but just if people want to if you guys want to leave now you're welcome to it

648
00:56:19,630 --> 00:56:21,790
We just are gonna go through the last remaining bits

649
00:56:21,790 --> 00:56:27,390
But you're welcome to step out now and just again by reminder March 5th is when we'll do final deliberations on this

650
00:56:27,390 --> 00:56:33,050
But we're going to tighten it up tonight. Yes, it's still on the agenda for deliberation so y'all can still discuss

651
00:56:33,610 --> 00:56:41,970
deliberation on the proposed zoning right discuss it more. Okay, so that was the thing I was gonna say because as the public was leaving so we have to

652
00:56:42,570 --> 00:56:43,530
move to

653
00:56:44,210 --> 00:56:44,690
Yes

654
00:56:45,490 --> 00:56:48,470
To table items two and three first

655
00:56:48,470 --> 00:56:54,730
That way it's like most of the public is left I think right? We that's what we would agree do you want to discuss it or

656
00:56:54,730 --> 00:57:00,130
Do you not want to discuss it further if you're tabling it then we're not talking about this

657
00:57:00,130 --> 00:57:08,110
Makers district for the rest of the night. No, I so we want to talk about it and then at the end we want to then move to table, right?

658
00:57:08,310 --> 00:57:12,750
Yeah, you're postponed. Yeah, table there's a theoretical table when you go to the untable

659
00:57:14,390 --> 00:57:19,590
Okay, so we want to what we then might that would be after discussion.

660
00:57:19,910 --> 00:57:28,110
Okay, so I need done to make a motion about you have to make a couple motions.

661
00:57:28,970 --> 00:57:36,690
So the first motion is that we're going to discuss further, right?

662
00:57:36,690 --> 00:57:52,710
Well, before we get into that, item 72, did what I had heard was wanting to potentially move up the closed meeting in executive.

663
00:57:52,870 --> 00:58:04,090
That's what I was going to do. Yes. So that was the true motion. I was going to make. I just wanted to clarify that I didn't, we didn't need to do the other one. The public had left that there's nothing that we needed to do since room.

664
00:58:04,090 --> 00:58:08,970
So, is there a motion to reorder the agenda to move up the executive and close session?

665
00:58:08,970 --> 00:58:11,010
Yes, I'm going to make a motion.

666
00:58:11,170 --> 00:58:11,730
Yes.

667
00:58:12,170 --> 00:58:25,050
I want to make a motion to move up the item under close meeting up in front of 7-2 in order

668
00:58:25,050 --> 00:58:30,610
to be able to allow that quick discussion and then come back in the regular session back

669
00:58:30,610 --> 00:58:32,590
to where the agenda item was.

670
00:58:32,590 --> 00:58:34,430
Okay. Is there a second?

671
00:58:35,170 --> 00:58:35,590
Second.

672
00:58:36,490 --> 00:58:37,490
All in favor.

673
00:58:38,450 --> 00:58:38,710
Aye.

674
00:58:39,130 --> 00:58:39,810
And it passes.

675
00:58:40,510 --> 00:58:41,150
Okay.

676
00:58:43,360 --> 00:58:43,640
Okay.

677
00:58:43,980 --> 00:58:45,900
So we're on the, we're on the closed meeting portion.

678
00:58:46,220 --> 00:58:48,740
So is there a motion to go to retire into closed session?

679
00:58:48,820 --> 00:58:50,600
Yes. So we're going to have, yes.

680
00:58:51,240 --> 00:59:03,940
To discuss and consult with attorney client privilege matters regarding legal advice concerning attorney client privilege matters and pending litigation regarding zoning matters.

681
00:59:03,940 --> 00:59:11,260
Resumant to Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.071.

682
00:59:12,280 --> 00:59:12,840
Yes.

683
00:59:12,960 --> 00:59:13,380
So moved.

684
00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:14,800
Seconded.

685
00:59:15,100 --> 00:59:15,580
Thank you.

686
00:59:15,660 --> 00:59:16,140
All in favor?

687
00:59:16,860 --> 00:59:17,020
Aye.

688
00:59:17,580 --> 00:59:17,760
Okay.

689
00:59:17,940 --> 00:59:21,140
So we'll go on to executive session and there and then.

690
00:59:21,600 --> 00:59:25,840
And then we'll come back out and here it'll be maybe ten minutes that we're going to step in

691
00:59:25,840 --> 00:59:26,480
if that's okay.

692
00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:31,600
Consulting with the attorney regarding attorney client privilege matters, depending litigation.

693
00:59:31,940 --> 00:59:32,160
Okay.

694
00:59:32,160 --> 00:59:40,920
So we'll be in there having a meeting really briefly for about 10 minutes, and then we'll be back, and we'll discuss more the remainder of what we have on our agenda.

695
00:59:42,120 --> 00:59:42,820
Thank you.

696
00:59:42,940 --> 00:59:43,700
All right. Thank you.

697
00:59:44,420 --> 00:59:44,960
That's all right.

698
00:59:47,500 --> 00:59:49,360
All right, so we are back.

699
00:59:50,080 --> 00:59:51,240
Zach sent me straight.

700
00:59:51,500 --> 00:59:52,880
She's run into the restroom.

701
00:59:52,880 --> 00:59:59,680
So set me straight, we're back on the regular agenda, or we, this whole thing's been so.

702
01:00:01,100 --> 01:00:29,740
Wobbled around. What do we, when she, when Laura gets back from the restroom, what are we hitting next? Yes. Yes. To clarify, nothing was voted on during the closed session, and there's no action to be taken by the commission. We currently do not have a quorum, so we'll wait for Lord to get back so that we have a quorum and can discuss the next business item. Which is, which is item 72. Okay, so we're on 72. Okay, thank you.

703
01:00:29,740 --> 01:00:31,700
Yeah, okay. All right.

704
01:00:39,880 --> 01:00:42,300
Do we want to take a general two-minute break?

705
01:00:42,500 --> 01:00:44,960
Yeah, yeah, no, we knew she was going to go to the restroom.

706
01:02:18,050 --> 01:02:21,870
No, it is not on the workshop agenda. It's on the general regular agenda.

707
01:02:24,150 --> 01:02:28,670
Yeah, so that's the next agenda item is to finish the maker's discussion.

708
01:02:58,950 --> 01:03:03,130
Now we have a quorum back. Are we ready to resume the regular meeting?

709
01:03:03,170 --> 01:03:06,950
Yes, we are resuming the regular meeting. We're back on session. We have a quorum.

710
01:03:06,950 --> 01:03:15,750
and we are going to be addressing on the agenda item 7, number 2, consideration, deliberation,

711
01:03:15,830 --> 01:03:21,530
and possible action on the deletion of the code of ordinances of the city of Belair, Chapter 24,

712
01:03:21,750 --> 01:03:25,550
Planning and Zoning Section 24, 547 UVT.

713
01:03:26,410 --> 01:03:31,150
In creation and replacement of the new district, Belair make a district.

714
01:03:31,150 --> 01:03:38,810
All right. Yes. And the creation and replacement of a new district, section five, 24, 547, Baker, Bellaire,

715
01:03:39,070 --> 01:03:45,910
Baker district, I can't even imagine I should have just let me love to read it. It's too late in the day.

716
01:03:46,210 --> 01:03:54,790
I can't read. Okay. So we're back. We're going to talk about now the changes that we referenced

717
01:03:54,790 --> 01:03:58,170
during the public hearing then, some of the kind of things.

718
01:03:59,230 --> 01:04:05,230
So as I mentioned, we just like a couple folks, like me,

719
01:04:05,650 --> 01:04:07,910
and just two other people on the city council,

720
01:04:08,110 --> 01:04:11,710
got an opportunity chat a little bit more with Greg Thompson

721
01:04:12,130 --> 01:04:16,530
about some of sort of the thoughts is basically the deal.

722
01:04:17,410 --> 01:04:19,430
Live work is not what he wants.

723
01:04:19,830 --> 01:04:24,130
We do, he does not want live work, and obviously the residents

724
01:04:24,130 --> 01:04:29,730
don't want live work. And the commission, we all struggled with live work. So, live work,

725
01:04:29,830 --> 01:04:35,090
we don't have to mess with anymore. We can change that. And as I mentioned before,

726
01:04:35,390 --> 01:04:41,690
what he had envisioned, and again, he did say it is not a deal breaker. It is not a deal breaker.

727
01:04:42,170 --> 01:04:51,990
So, if we all decide, no, on these executive apartment idea, it's fine. But if it's not that big of a

728
01:04:51,990 --> 01:04:53,870
the deal, he said it would be great.

729
01:04:54,150 --> 01:04:59,270
But basically, the deal is that he's got the same sort of situation up in Austin.

730
01:04:59,430 --> 01:05:02,730
He's got some kids, I think, maybe that lived there or go to school there.

731
01:05:02,830 --> 01:05:06,450
Whatever his deal is, but they have the property, they have the business up in Austin.

732
01:05:06,930 --> 01:05:10,610
And his idea is basically corporate apartment, no more than two.

733
01:05:11,130 --> 01:05:11,690
That's it.

734
01:05:12,010 --> 01:05:13,330
It's really simple.

735
01:05:13,530 --> 01:05:19,650
It's not a situation where it'd be employees per se living there.

736
01:05:19,650 --> 01:05:25,150
it'd be like Greg Thompson and whatever, and Hanson, whatever his first name is, you know,

737
01:05:25,330 --> 01:05:30,610
when they, or whomever, like, because he said that they've got this woman apparently in Austin

738
01:05:30,610 --> 01:05:35,630
who's got kids and green kids that live in Houston. And so she is one of the ones that he was

739
01:05:35,630 --> 01:05:41,730
actually thinking about. She's older. And so he said that when she comes to town, it would be great

740
01:05:41,730 --> 01:05:48,170
that, you know, she could, you know, work there, but then also stay there, you know, kind of like

741
01:05:48,170 --> 01:05:52,470
an executive apartment kind of thing. She's been with their company for decades and decades

742
01:05:52,470 --> 01:05:57,190
and she's still there and she's older and and that's the idea that he envisioned just to let

743
01:05:57,190 --> 01:06:05,270
you guys understand and know. So I know that I'm not understanding. I mean I've done I've pulled

744
01:06:05,270 --> 01:06:13,410
all nighters at my office before. I mean I didn't need an apartment to do that so I mean what would

745
01:06:13,410 --> 01:06:14,470
You're a warrior, though.

746
01:06:15,070 --> 01:06:17,050
Lawyers are badasses, right?

747
01:06:17,390 --> 01:06:19,430
Like, we don't have to sleep, right?

748
01:06:21,570 --> 01:06:25,010
These are like, landscape or restaurant people.

749
01:06:27,030 --> 01:06:29,810
What would prevent this person, you know,

750
01:06:29,930 --> 01:06:33,170
if there was a, you know, what do you call

751
01:06:33,170 --> 01:06:38,950
of those ones that come down from the wall, Murphy bed?

752
01:06:39,750 --> 01:06:42,830
What would prevent, you know, in a space

753
01:06:42,830 --> 01:06:50,490
from them doing that without having to change the zoning where somebody could be

754
01:06:50,490 --> 01:06:57,050
creative and we don't understand and we have it figured out how they would

755
01:06:57,050 --> 01:07:03,970
finagle and if they did that as opposed to and he did it in his business

756
01:07:03,970 --> 01:07:12,310
location and as opposed to saying because you can't just go well Greg Thompson

757
01:07:12,310 --> 01:07:20,330
and can do it. And then it's really only two or three when the speaker brought up two or

758
01:07:20,330 --> 01:07:26,570
three per acre ends up being a lot more than just two or three because there's a greater area.

759
01:07:26,870 --> 01:07:35,390
And what if then somebody else said, oh, I want some, you know, for mine. And then, you know, these pop-up

760
01:07:37,950 --> 01:07:42,090
almost caretaker apartment type. And I hate to call it an apartment because I understand

761
01:07:42,090 --> 01:07:50,130
it's not an apartment, corporate housing, you know, executive, executive, I mean whatever, you know,

762
01:07:50,210 --> 01:08:01,470
because, you know, I mean, I had thought, well, what if his best employee ends up in a bad position

763
01:08:02,000 --> 01:08:09,950
and their apartment has burned down and they need a place to stay temporarily, while they get

764
01:08:09,950 --> 01:08:16,070
back up on their feet? I mean, can it be used for that? And how do we regulate it? How do we say no?

765
01:08:16,710 --> 01:08:25,590
How would we even know? I mean, if, you know, if all you're doing is almost, you know,

766
01:08:25,590 --> 01:08:31,110
corporate housing, if all you're doing is, hey, instead of spending, you know,

767
01:08:39,930 --> 01:08:39,930
two to $500

768
01:08:39,930 --> 01:08:47,070
need it to let my grandchildren come spend the night with me, then what is it that we're doing here?

769
01:08:47,550 --> 01:08:56,830
I mean, it seems like you could accomplish the same goal of, you know, just pushing a table

770
01:08:56,830 --> 01:09:05,050
out of the way and, you know, unless he wants to make it a home away from home for a particular

771
01:09:05,050 --> 01:09:06,450
person that works for him.

772
01:09:09,740 --> 01:09:12,560
I don't see any reason to put residential

773
01:09:12,560 --> 01:09:17,640
anything on that property for exactly the reasons you just enumerated but we

774
01:09:17,640 --> 01:09:22,560
kind of talked about it before is these guys they have a vision of what they

775
01:09:22,560 --> 01:09:27,400
want and we want to try to accommodate them because it's very nice and unique and

776
01:09:27,400 --> 01:09:31,540
it accomplishes developing that part of the city which has been

777
01:09:31,540 --> 01:09:33,660
and fallow for quite some time.

778
01:09:34,440 --> 01:09:40,600
But the control after is not gonna be able to be accomplished.

779
01:09:42,320 --> 01:09:46,500
It's like he, you know, he said that in Austin

780
01:09:46,500 --> 01:09:48,440
he's got his kids living there.

781
01:09:48,960 --> 01:09:52,900
And what he envisioned for this place was some older lady

782
01:09:52,900 --> 01:09:56,340
that works for him, that when she comes over here.

783
01:09:56,800 --> 01:09:59,840
So now we not only have accommodated them,

784
01:09:59,840 --> 01:10:07,100
but we've we're now not one off but we're two off with these and if he said that it's

785
01:10:07,100 --> 01:10:13,920
not a deal breaker there's no reason to open the can of worms because you have just let

786
01:10:13,920 --> 01:10:20,760
that it's out and now you're never going to get it back. Yeah whoever else owns an acre they

787
01:10:20,760 --> 01:10:26,260
can put it three more. The next acre can put it three more so you have all these little disjointed

788
01:10:26,260 --> 01:10:35,480
places that people can stay in for some undetermined amount of time, they're not going to be short term

789
01:10:35,480 --> 01:10:35,800
riddles.

790
01:10:38,160 --> 01:10:46,220
It just seems to me that we're creating problems for ourselves that will be fighting forever.

791
01:10:46,220 --> 01:10:55,800
So I don't think we should have anything, any way shape or form to live in that area.

792
01:11:01,040 --> 01:11:03,100
I'm not agreeing or disagreeing.

793
01:11:03,160 --> 01:11:06,640
I just, I know one of the things that came up was the R6.

794
01:11:08,400 --> 01:11:11,900
What is exactly the R6 definition?

795
01:11:13,160 --> 01:11:18,820
I just wanted to make sure I understood it to just, to that had been brought up.

796
01:11:18,820 --> 01:11:27,440
So R6 is a small lot residential attach district and it's an upper medium density residential area.

797
01:11:28,620 --> 01:11:38,340
So, you know, the minimum dwelling unit for a townhouse dwelling is 1,625 square feet.

798
01:11:38,900 --> 01:11:47,580
So, if we were to add R6 zoning ordinances to Bel Airmakers District, you know, we do have specific limitations.

799
01:11:47,580 --> 01:11:51,800
But the minimum, I'm sorry, that was the minimum lot area.

800
01:11:52,180 --> 01:11:56,360
The minimum dwelling unit is, I believe it's 1100 square feet.

801
01:11:58,180 --> 01:12:00,000
So that would be the minimum they can build.

802
01:12:00,200 --> 01:12:04,820
You know, I don't know if they need that much, but I say they, I mean the entire district,

803
01:12:04,820 --> 01:12:09,980
not just Thompson and Hanson, the entire district, you know, the minimum if they wanted to create

804
01:12:09,980 --> 01:12:14,160
a townhouse, the minimum dwelling unit would be 1100 square feet.

805
01:12:14,160 --> 01:12:21,340
So you'll recall that what's in front of council right now with the quarter mixed use right you can have townhouse

806
01:12:21,340 --> 01:12:24,100
But it can only be part of mixed use can't be standalone

807
01:12:24,100 --> 01:12:30,960
So what you did was put the r6 standards for town homes on those town homes in CMU

808
01:12:31,740 --> 01:12:36,440
So it would be the same idea here if you went down that path town homes might be allowed

809
01:12:37,380 --> 01:12:39,860
Subjects of the r6 dimensional standards

810
01:12:39,860 --> 01:12:41,900
And then it would be yeah

811
01:12:41,900 --> 01:12:43,860
The idea was also conceptually.

812
01:12:43,980 --> 01:12:48,860
It was also not only just R6, but it would also be capped, right?

813
01:12:49,440 --> 01:12:58,060
And the capping has caused some questions because really it's capping it like two units

814
01:12:58,060 --> 01:13:01,540
an acre, potentially, I guess, is come of the thought.

815
01:13:01,940 --> 01:13:07,040
But so my two cents on this is we need to be talking about the entire district, not a particular

816
01:13:07,040 --> 01:13:08,020
property or owner.

817
01:13:08,020 --> 01:13:21,420
This would be available to anyone if you're talking about limiting to a particular site that would be more planned development situation where you're or specific use permit that you have to get some additional approval.

818
01:13:22,060 --> 01:13:26,280
But right now there isn't a residential in the current draft.

819
01:13:26,780 --> 01:13:31,460
There's no residential use except for live work which sounds like it's certainly going away.

820
01:13:32,940 --> 01:13:40,260
there's nothing right now for residential in the currently okay that's right and that's

821
01:13:40,260 --> 01:13:46,060
inclusive of whether or not somebody would try to come up with a PD and they came before us

822
01:13:46,060 --> 01:13:51,880
and said hey we want to do a PD and makers so it would need to be in the district provisions

823
01:13:51,880 --> 01:13:58,280
that townhouse is an allowance for a planned development proposal subject to approval but that would

824
01:13:58,280 --> 01:14:01,460
be available to anybody, not just a particular property.

825
01:14:04,620 --> 01:14:07,480
So they could do a PD in this area or no?

826
01:14:07,820 --> 01:14:08,120
Oh, yes.

827
01:14:08,260 --> 01:14:12,620
You can do, right now, you can do a planned development, but it's all non-residential

828
01:14:12,620 --> 01:14:12,920
uses.

829
01:14:13,640 --> 01:14:13,780
Okay.

830
01:14:13,900 --> 01:14:19,320
So they could not come before us and say we want to do a PD with two executive apartments.

831
01:14:19,660 --> 01:14:19,840
Okay.

832
01:14:20,060 --> 01:14:20,280
Okay.

833
01:14:20,600 --> 01:14:20,800
All right.

834
01:14:20,920 --> 01:14:23,260
That was my question is whether they could do that or not.

835
01:14:23,460 --> 01:14:26,200
And what I was saying is if you add that, that needs to be opened to anybody.

836
01:14:26,500 --> 01:14:26,740
Right.

837
01:14:27,120 --> 01:14:27,180
Right.

838
01:14:27,360 --> 01:14:27,540
Yeah.

839
01:14:27,540 --> 01:14:33,660
or that they, right now, it doesn't say you can come in with a PD in that in R6 style.

840
01:14:34,120 --> 01:14:34,200
Right.

841
01:14:34,760 --> 01:14:42,320
So right now, the current zoning doesn't have residential outside the live working it.

842
01:14:42,360 --> 01:14:51,540
We just were out again that there's no other option currently in the zoning that allows for residential.

843
01:14:51,540 --> 01:14:57,260
Now, theoretically, somebody can buy a couple of properties in this zoning district and say

844
01:14:57,260 --> 01:14:58,520
I want to re-zone them to R6.

845
01:14:58,900 --> 01:14:59,720
They could propose that.

846
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:26,460
They could propose that, but right now, you could propose a rezoning of any proper. Correct. Right. Are you going to get it? That's right. So right now, there's nothing in the rigs for that. So if we were trying to do something, it would be that we'd be adding that we could certainly take out. We're going to take out the live working. It's a good thing. Yeah, that's, I think, I think that's definitely. Definitely taking that out. We're taking that out. Right. Right. Right now, though, there's no other options. Right.

847
01:15:26,460 --> 01:15:34,000
In the current zoning that allows for any residential even as part of a PD that's what I wanted and you know

848
01:15:34,000 --> 01:15:40,460
I'll tell you guys I am so torn on this. I mean I really am because it's like you know on one side

849
01:15:40,460 --> 01:15:46,880
It's like you got Thompson and Hans and they've got this great little vision that they have in this area that really is kind of wood

850
01:15:48,300 --> 01:15:52,760
Theoretically be kind of the anchor right the draw to this area to bring

851
01:15:53,360 --> 01:15:57,620
different new creative type businesses to this area because you know Thompson

852
01:15:57,620 --> 01:16:01,220
and Hanson are there and they've got this little garden action you know and

853
01:16:01,220 --> 01:16:05,120
maybe they'll open a cookies and milk when she and his property ever comes

854
01:16:05,120 --> 01:16:08,700
online or not or whatever's going on with that one you know kind of thing

855
01:16:08,700 --> 01:16:12,240
whatever they or they may have like a little boxwood over there you know a little

856
01:16:12,240 --> 01:16:17,360
restaurant or who knows form to table with their little garden action you know so

857
01:16:17,360 --> 01:16:22,340
we want to give them some concessions obviously which I think we have right

858
01:16:22,340 --> 01:16:29,880
And so that's what I'm kind of torn about right because but the problem is is if we do open the door to even two units like you said

859
01:16:29,880 --> 01:16:33,020
It's opening it to the everybody and that's something that

860
01:16:34,080 --> 01:16:39,540
Personally, I'm not so sure I'm super excited about opening it up to like

861
01:16:39,540 --> 01:16:44,800
Let's say new property owner whoever you know buying up

862
01:16:44,800 --> 01:16:51,500
You know an acre in this area and all of a sudden wanting to put in two units that are weird

863
01:16:52,340 --> 01:16:58,420
By right and that like maybe that's not what anybody at all wants and so that causes me heartburn

864
01:16:58,420 --> 01:17:05,360
To open it up to everybody else. You know, and that's why it so I'm personally just kind of letting you guys know

865
01:17:05,360 --> 01:17:11,400
I'm just so torn about that but even with them and again if he hadn't just told you

866
01:17:11,400 --> 01:17:15,940
It's not a deal breaker. Maybe it should have more more weight

867
01:17:15,940 --> 01:17:21,920
But he said it's not a deal breaker had to take the man it is word. Yes. We want to accommodate him

868
01:17:21,920 --> 01:17:28,700
He's not going to own that property forever. There will be somebody after him and then any

869
01:17:29,300 --> 01:17:31,380
concessions, any agreements, any

870
01:17:32,160 --> 01:17:35,400
arrangements that you have with him are gone and

871
01:17:36,160 --> 01:17:44,560
The new owner might not feel that way. He might not be the same kind of guy and then you have a problem something

872
01:17:44,560 --> 01:17:51,160
It's just out of control. Yeah. Yeah. I have a question. How big is that area?

873
01:17:52,580 --> 01:18:00,180
I believe we always say it's about 30 acres for the total district, okay, so, so,

874
01:18:03,310 --> 01:18:05,250
so 30 acres.

875
01:18:05,510 --> 01:18:10,910
If somebody had enough money, they could conceivably come in and buy up the entire district

876
01:18:11,610 --> 01:18:19,970
and redevelop it, I mean, she did that with that much bigger area that was the Chevron property.

877
01:18:19,970 --> 01:18:30,770
and so 30 acres times 3 equals 90. The place that shall not be named has about 90.

878
01:18:37,160 --> 01:18:52,160
So we've, there is the potential that something like that could happen which is exactly what all the residents have said. No. I mean, the, the MF.

879
01:18:52,160 --> 01:18:57,740
I know our goal is to what is for the best benefit of Bel Air.

880
01:18:59,300 --> 01:19:06,420
And I know that definitely the multi-family in this area is not what the residents and

881
01:19:06,420 --> 01:19:12,280
I agree on that was always been the concern is ingress and egress.

882
01:19:12,820 --> 01:19:14,900
So how do you minimize that?

883
01:19:15,380 --> 01:19:18,800
How do you maximize the benefit to the city?

884
01:19:18,800 --> 01:19:23,520
and again as we all know that that's what we're trying to do. I think we've got, we've

885
01:19:23,520 --> 01:19:29,680
got some flexibility in there now. I think it's the resident, any residential is probably

886
01:19:29,680 --> 01:19:37,420
not what the residents want, probably not in the best benefit of the city, I think.

887
01:19:38,800 --> 01:19:46,860
I mean, it's conceivably they turn it into a gated community where, you know, one entrance,

888
01:19:48,700 --> 01:20:01,680
I mean, I don't think they could do that with our six, I don't think they can do it with the city street, they'd have to yeah, you'd have to go through the public carries to close down the streets in the back.

889
01:20:01,900 --> 01:20:07,540
What is that? I was looking at it earlier Anderson. I think and I even can't even remember Anderson.

890
01:20:09,380 --> 01:20:13,400
Lehigh is in the terminal right, but those are internal.

891
01:20:13,680 --> 01:20:20,660
It's the access, Anderson's the access and is Anderson, a city of Belair road, or is that a city of Houston road?

892
01:20:24,180 --> 01:20:32,120
I think it's a city of Belair road, but the residential development adjacent to it is a city of Houston.

893
01:20:32,120 --> 01:20:45,580
And so again, City of Houston has access off of the City of Bel Air Street, much like the what do you call it, the nursery that's also there.

894
01:20:45,640 --> 01:20:48,180
I mean, that's what we've talked about as a concern of mine.

895
01:20:48,280 --> 01:20:52,360
What if they, I don't want them to go and put a residential, see they, they could.

896
01:20:52,520 --> 01:21:00,440
What if somebody put a residential, put a 300 unit thing there, how would their access do we have the right?

897
01:21:00,440 --> 01:21:06,160
That's why no, we were taught how do we stop that also because that's been the worry of mine is

898
01:21:06,160 --> 01:21:11,320
What do they do with the nursery and do we have the right to block back because if that becomes a

899
01:21:12,660 --> 01:21:14,220
If that becomes something

900
01:21:14,680 --> 01:21:19,840
Then you're back to the same thing is you don't have the ability to go in for the ingress and egress

901
01:21:19,840 --> 01:21:25,520
I guess that's how we would the city of better would stop it would be through your traffic

902
01:21:25,520 --> 01:21:26,980
You know doing the announcement

903
01:21:27,600 --> 01:21:32,540
You're right, a single lane road on where Glenmont is, can't handle much more in terms

904
01:21:32,540 --> 01:21:33,740
of a big residential.

905
01:21:36,220 --> 01:21:39,220
So, Zach, I have a question for you about this.

906
01:21:39,460 --> 01:21:48,060
Let's say, just theoretically, PNZ turns down the idea of R6, PD, kind of anything residential

907
01:21:48,060 --> 01:21:48,720
there, okay?

908
01:21:48,960 --> 01:21:53,340
Let's just say PNZ, like at this point on this deal, we're like, yeah, no, we're not going

909
01:21:53,340 --> 01:21:53,660
to do that.

910
01:21:54,240 --> 01:21:58,580
And it goes out to council. Can council resurrect it if they so desire?

911
01:22:00,860 --> 01:22:06,800
Yes. So you only make recommendation. Even if you recommended no zoning change, council could still.

912
01:22:07,000 --> 01:22:08,860
They could bring it back up. Make a zoning change.

913
01:22:08,960 --> 01:22:10,560
All right.

914
01:22:10,560 --> 01:22:19,400
Your yours is just or even if, you know, for any plan development or anything, if y'all recommend denial, it still can go to council and they can recommend approve or they can approve it.

915
01:22:19,400 --> 01:22:26,580
Okay, well with that then, you know, I mean, are we voting on this today? Do we know?

916
01:22:27,200 --> 01:22:30,960
No, you've been in an announcement that we were pushing the vote to mark.

917
01:22:31,440 --> 01:22:36,680
Okay, so then, I know this isn't a workshop, but I'm just going to let y'all know kind

918
01:22:36,680 --> 01:22:43,020
of then we're on thinking. I don't know where you are, I know where you are, where I am

919
01:22:43,020 --> 01:22:52,360
At this point, if City Council can resurrect it, if we say no, since I have legitimately been on the fence about this, I agree.

920
01:22:52,700 --> 01:23:03,740
I think it opens up a can of worms having even just two units per acre, and for all of the reasons that you both have said, because, you know,

921
01:23:03,740 --> 01:23:09,000
So, Thomson and Hanson may be great neighbors and good with their two units, but that's not

922
01:23:09,000 --> 01:23:16,840
to say some other landowner or business owner over there will be as kind and considerate.

923
01:23:17,020 --> 01:23:23,980
So, because of all of those reasons that you all brought up, I am also leaning towards

924
01:23:23,980 --> 01:23:31,140
then not allowing any residential in makers, and again, if City Council determines otherwise

925
01:23:31,140 --> 01:23:35,740
and resurrects it. That's obviously up to them, but I think that's where my head is.

926
01:23:45,520 --> 01:23:46,620
Yeah, take

927
01:23:46,620 --> 01:23:50,260
out live work and that's it. I think that's it, right?

928
01:23:53,160 --> 01:23:53,240
Yeah.

929
01:24:03,610 --> 01:24:05,290
Yeah, can we? Can I reverse it?

930
01:24:08,070 --> 01:24:12,150
Is it too sticky? I would recommend that we just go ahead and do it on March 6th.

931
01:24:13,310 --> 01:24:17,810
If we kind of made an informal announcement already, that would seem to be appropriate.

932
01:24:17,810 --> 01:24:23,770
Yeah, yeah, because we did we we really did stress the final you know comments and the whole thing

933
01:24:23,770 --> 01:24:25,050
That's why I've asked earlier about

934
01:24:25,730 --> 01:24:30,110
All right, so but but again Gary you are not needed on the 5th

935
01:24:34,210 --> 01:24:36,790
Yes, sir. Are we good with everything else you guys?

936
01:24:37,070 --> 01:24:43,650
A height limit story, plot size, setback, the whole thing, everything else looks good?

937
01:24:43,730 --> 01:24:46,590
The the one that says pending

938
01:24:46,590 --> 01:24:55,630
I think Council's vote on CMU, that was kind of like a question mark, a placeholder,

939
01:24:55,830 --> 01:24:59,790
a question mark, and since they didn't vote on it, how are we going to,

940
01:25:12,380 --> 01:25:13,660
so

941
01:25:34,710 --> 01:25:35,110
we don't

942
01:25:35,110 --> 01:25:39,750
just say, whatever they decide, go ahead and insert it, it still comes back through us.

943
01:25:43,630 --> 01:25:47,950
And we should get some clarity on that on February 16th, which is sooner than I just said,

944
01:25:48,090 --> 01:25:51,110
that's this coming Monday, so CMU is going to Council on Monday.

945
01:25:51,110 --> 01:26:02,070
So then we should be good to go on March 5th. So actually postponing had may work to had to kill two birds once thing. Yes, ma'am.

946
01:26:02,170 --> 01:26:07,890
I agree. Anderson is in the city limits. Anderson.

947
01:26:08,170 --> 01:26:12,850
Yeah, that's how to look it up. So bell air city limits. That's okay, but well.

948
01:26:13,890 --> 01:26:18,570
It's just good to know and then same thing with Glenmont. Glenmont is in the city limits

949
01:26:18,570 --> 01:26:23,510
of Bel Air. That's your axis points on that south side.

950
01:26:24,170 --> 01:26:28,710
Well, it depends, though, which Glenmont, because there's a Glenmont right on the adjacent

951
01:26:28,710 --> 01:26:35,270
street to us on Sunburst, right, behind where Pinoc, that Glenmont is in Houston.

952
01:26:36,490 --> 01:26:38,490
Yes, portions of Glenmont are in Houston.

953
01:26:38,490 --> 01:26:48,530
That's inside the loop inside the loop yeah inside the loop right it's again the development on the north side is city of Houston

954
01:26:49,050 --> 01:26:54,150
On the south side it is Bel air the houses the street is owned by

955
01:26:54,770 --> 01:26:56,110
City of Bel air

956
01:26:56,110 --> 01:26:57,430
Anderson is

957
01:26:57,430 --> 01:27:04,850
Norse Anderson, North South Glenmont east west is not I already closed the map

958
01:27:08,490 --> 01:27:10,510
I was only told I was only asked about Anderson.

959
01:27:10,610 --> 01:27:11,930
I know, I thank you.

960
01:27:12,230 --> 01:27:15,950
I'll look after this, it's not germane anymore.

961
01:27:18,390 --> 01:27:20,630
All right, are we good?

962
01:27:21,210 --> 01:27:25,310
So we would need a motion to postpone item 7-2

963
01:27:25,310 --> 01:27:29,390
and save 7-3, because 7-3 was the recommendation

964
01:27:29,390 --> 01:27:34,150
that are to a special meeting scheduled for March 5th

965
01:27:34,150 --> 01:27:35,510
in lieu of the regular meeting due

966
01:27:35,510 --> 01:27:38,890
to the spring break holiday on the regular meeting date.

967
01:27:39,590 --> 01:27:43,190
If you need motions for all of that, that can all be one motion.

968
01:27:43,630 --> 01:27:46,090
Todd, you're my motion.

969
01:27:46,150 --> 01:27:47,110
I make that motion.

970
01:27:50,160 --> 01:27:51,240
All in favor.

971
01:27:52,000 --> 01:27:52,660
All right.

972
01:27:53,020 --> 01:27:54,180
OK, it passes.

973
01:27:58,280 --> 01:28:01,300
So that concludes that committee reports.

974
01:28:01,480 --> 01:28:02,920
We have no committees, correspondence.

975
01:28:03,200 --> 01:28:04,300
We have no correspondence.

976
01:28:04,500 --> 01:28:05,380
Do we have any new business?

977
01:28:05,860 --> 01:28:06,600
Anybody new business?

978
01:28:07,240 --> 01:28:08,580
No, new business.

979
01:28:14,000 --> 01:28:23,580
I just want to announce that we did get a specific use permit from the Belair high school slash Belair little link for their,

980
01:28:23,580 --> 01:28:31,600
I guess, request to use the Belair high school field at this and then an avenue B.

981
01:28:31,600 --> 01:28:37,300
And so that specific use permit will have a public hearing scheduled in April.

982
01:28:38,020 --> 01:28:41,960
Staff will work to make sure that one, they have a complete application, two, will start

983
01:28:41,960 --> 01:28:50,020
figuring out our declines for noticing in the paper, sending mailouts out, and also ensuring

984
01:28:50,020 --> 01:28:56,040
that Belair Little League posts their notice of public hearing signage on the property.

985
01:28:56,040 --> 01:29:01,300
so again we did receive an application and that is scheduled for our April

986
01:29:01,300 --> 01:29:05,860
regular session. And that would be an amendment to the existing SUP for that

987
01:29:05,860 --> 01:29:11,420
property. Yes and essentially it would just not show just allow little league

988
01:29:11,420 --> 01:29:15,860
beller little league to practice on the beller high school fields on forness and

989
01:29:15,860 --> 01:29:19,740
doesn't that correct and extend the hours of play as well I think those are the

990
01:29:19,740 --> 01:29:25,220
two highlights I have. Okay can we get a copy of the application sooner like

991
01:29:29,260 --> 01:29:34,720
I'm not sure about tomorrow, but I can review it once we have the complete application.

992
01:29:34,860 --> 01:29:36,640
I'll send it over to you guys.

993
01:29:36,880 --> 01:29:41,100
Does that mean you have to wait for them to do their public hearing notices?

994
01:29:41,660 --> 01:29:42,120
No, ma'am.

995
01:29:42,200 --> 01:29:46,820
It just means I have to actually review the entire application before I want to send it out

996
01:29:46,820 --> 01:29:47,260
to you guys.

997
01:29:47,500 --> 01:29:51,180
So I'm still in the very preliminary stages of our staff review first.

998
01:29:51,180 --> 01:29:55,160
So once I may have missed something and then you're going to send them back and they'll

999
01:29:55,160 --> 01:29:55,820
kick it out.

1000
01:29:56,060 --> 01:29:56,160
Yes.

1001
01:29:56,580 --> 01:29:59,640
So once we have the complete application, I'll send it over to the commission.

1002
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:05,060
Thank you. All right. I think that is everything we've got.

1003
01:30:08,410 --> 01:30:25,450
Do I have a motion to adjourn, motion to adjourn, second, all in favor. And we're adjourned. Thanks you guys. I apologize. You have a workshop on the, you have a workshop with the parking workshop. Yeah, we do have a parking workshop, which of course will be gripping.

1004
01:30:27,790 --> 01:30:28,150
Yay.

1005
01:30:33,730 --> 01:30:38,010
You said 10 minutes. I can do this in 10 minutes. Okay. Call the workshop.

1006
01:30:38,010 --> 01:30:42,370
to order. Call the workshop to order. Thank you, Zach. Exactly. I don't know what I would

1007
01:30:42,370 --> 01:30:48,030
do without you. Thank you. Monique, if you have that last slide with the, so in the packet,

1008
01:30:48,030 --> 01:30:53,670
there were probably eight pages of information about share parking. And last meeting, I did something

1009
01:30:53,670 --> 01:31:00,130
similar on offsite parking. It's just to show partly, there's a lot of considerations when you start

1010
01:31:00,130 --> 01:31:05,510
looking at parking regulations. And also, we did some comparisons just to know what some of the other

1011
01:31:05,510 --> 01:31:17,930
So these are doing on this, but the reason I'm focusing on these is Belair's basic parking requirements are not that unusual how many parking spaces for a restaurant or office they're pretty typical requirements.

1012
01:31:18,450 --> 01:31:26,890
So it's these other flexibility mechanisms that could make a difference in providing some potential relief to some of the smaller sites.

1013
01:31:26,890 --> 01:31:40,210
So last time we talked about offsite parking, so the distinction I want to make is offsite is you're still having to meet your usual parking requirement, but you're being allowed to satisfy that off of your property.

1014
01:31:41,310 --> 01:31:48,610
Shared parking on a single site, think of a shopping center. You got a bunch of, you know, you may have a grocery store, whatever.

1015
01:31:49,190 --> 01:32:01,730
There's different uses that have different parking requirements, so shared parking on one site, you can kind of mix the parking because some uses have parking needs at different times.

1016
01:32:02,470 --> 01:32:04,210
So the typical example is church.

1017
01:32:04,710 --> 01:32:11,350
Church has their heavy parking on the weekend, maybe on a weeknight, office buildings, typically during the day, restaurant, busier at night.

1018
01:32:11,350 --> 01:32:16,130
So you start to get these opportunities to share parking and it ends up taking less

1019
01:32:16,130 --> 01:32:18,770
less land for parking if you can share.

1020
01:32:19,310 --> 01:32:25,550
So boil down on this slide is on the one hand, Belair has more options than some cities

1021
01:32:26,160 --> 01:32:28,170
in the zoning ordinance for sharing parking.

1022
01:32:28,570 --> 01:32:32,450
You can share among the uses on a site like a shopping center.

1023
01:32:32,970 --> 01:32:37,010
You can share parking across two properties that are next to each other.

1024
01:32:37,750 --> 01:32:39,570
And there are some requirements to go with that.

1025
01:32:39,570 --> 01:32:51,150
If you're wanting to share parking, there's a table and a method in the ordinance that you just do a calculation and it tells you this is how much reduction in your parking you can get by sharing.

1026
01:32:51,870 --> 01:33:06,230
There also has the option which a lot of cities do that you can do a site specific study you can bring in a parking specialist and demonstrate to the city that I don't need as much parking as you typically require and they do comparisons, etc.

1027
01:33:06,230 --> 01:33:23,750
not all cities have these options. On the other hand, billiers, more restrictive like we talked about last time, it's this distance requirement. There's a very low distance of how far away your parking can be from the use that it's serving. Other cities have much larger distances.

1028
01:33:24,630 --> 01:33:34,890
There's some limits on that automatic calculation method for figuring out your shared parking. That's something specifically that Travis and Monique brought up early on is they'd like to have more flexibility there.

1029
01:33:34,890 --> 01:33:41,950
Do the calculation, and then almost like a fudge factor, there's some discretion, and you can look at the specific situation.

1030
01:33:42,710 --> 01:33:46,190
I think what the model is going to be is like a lot of things in zoning.

1031
01:33:46,630 --> 01:33:50,250
Staff has certain discretion to provide some flexibility.

1032
01:33:50,750 --> 01:33:56,190
Beyond some point, it would come to you, so it's more of a public and a recommendation process.

1033
01:33:56,730 --> 01:34:01,750
It doesn't have to go to council, but planning zoning commission would then make that decision.

1034
01:34:01,750 --> 01:34:08,370
And then just some of the provisions themselves need some cleanup, they're not clear in some

1035
01:34:08,370 --> 01:34:11,030
ways of what is required.

1036
01:34:11,550 --> 01:34:15,850
So on the right-hand side, this is a preview where I'm kind of winding down.

1037
01:34:16,190 --> 01:34:21,570
This is my last focus is the parking potential amendments, and then y'all and staff can

1038
01:34:21,570 --> 01:34:22,170
run with that.

1039
01:34:22,530 --> 01:34:27,670
But updates to that automatic calculation method of how you calculate how much shared parking

1040
01:34:27,670 --> 01:34:29,330
reduction you can get.

1041
01:34:29,950 --> 01:34:34,050
Expand the special study option right now that's only available to single sites.

1042
01:34:34,370 --> 01:34:39,130
It's not available to multiple properties that want to share parking, so that could be expanded.

1043
01:34:40,050 --> 01:34:44,150
In the current ordinance, you can only share up to 25.

1044
01:34:44,530 --> 01:34:50,330
Let me reword the reduction in your parking can only be up to 25%.

1045
01:34:51,050 --> 01:34:56,530
In other ordinances, it either doesn't set a limit or that limit is much higher.

1046
01:34:56,530 --> 01:35:24,230
So that's a potential relief mechanism, the distance item, as I mentioned, the, and you recall when we talked about offside parking last time, we talked about how different ordinances, different cities measure it different ways from the entrance of the building to the parking, from the edge of the property to another property offsite where the parking is where I'm probably going is just a simple radius, just at the edge of your property within X feet.

1047
01:35:25,010 --> 01:35:30,530
draw a circle. Your parking has to be somewhere within that area. Make it simpler for everybody.

1048
01:35:32,030 --> 01:35:39,730
As in other places, there's a provision right now in Belair that if you were allowed to reduce your

1049
01:35:39,730 --> 01:35:48,310
parking even more than the 25%, you may be required to set aside some land on your property. So worst case,

1050
01:35:48,830 --> 01:35:53,990
if no, it turns out you do need more parking. There's not enough parking. It's overflowing into the

1051
01:35:53,990 --> 01:35:58,310
neighborhood, whatever that reserve comes back and you have to provide more parking.

1052
01:35:59,570 --> 01:36:06,030
I think in the areas that we're looking at, along Vissonette, the city center area here,

1053
01:36:06,750 --> 01:36:12,430
these properties don't have extra space in many cases to set aside some land for a reserve.

1054
01:36:12,750 --> 01:36:17,330
So I'm not sure how realistic that is in Belir. There's other ways to deal with that.

1055
01:36:17,630 --> 01:36:22,530
Then requiring people to set aside land. They're already having to deal with drainage and everything else.

1056
01:36:23,130 --> 01:36:28,350
The point about linking the off site and the shared parking is it's clear in some other

1057
01:36:28,350 --> 01:36:33,930
ordinances that, okay, say, say a couple of adjacent properties want to share their parking.

1058
01:36:34,790 --> 01:36:38,690
So you work out those numbers, how much parking they're going to share between them.

1059
01:36:39,170 --> 01:36:43,750
But in some other ordinances, then some of that amount could also be off site.

1060
01:36:44,070 --> 01:36:48,670
So you're kind of combining what we talked about last meeting that parking can be off site.

1061
01:36:48,670 --> 01:36:58,230
but on the particular properties, you're also allowing them to have less parking, you're reducing that so you can kind of combine these different tools and make them work together.

1062
01:36:59,030 --> 01:37:11,950
And then there's other types of credits, if you think along spruce where the streetscape was done with the parking, there's, you can do credits that a property next to that can get credit that there's on street parking in front of their business.

1063
01:37:12,590 --> 01:37:18,490
There's other ways to reduce one thing that's happening in some cities is with all the Uber and Lyft activity.

1064
01:37:19,270 --> 01:37:22,350
If you've got too much parking on your property, it never gets used.

1065
01:37:22,870 --> 01:37:26,250
You could say you could designate that as a rideshare waiting area.

1066
01:37:26,570 --> 01:37:30,070
You know, instead of those folks driving around, they wait in an area to go pick up people.

1067
01:37:30,570 --> 01:37:37,170
You could get a credit against that and reduce your parking because your parking is being used for another public purpose.

1068
01:37:37,170 --> 01:37:50,050
So we had some discussion, Travis and I and our staff that some cities and actually all the comparisons we did, they have a standard parking standard for shopping center.

1069
01:37:50,690 --> 01:37:54,190
So think about any of our shopping centers around here that have multiple businesses.

1070
01:37:55,010 --> 01:38:00,910
Some ordinances have for that shopping center for every thousand square feet, you have to have four parking spaces.

1071
01:38:02,190 --> 01:38:05,570
Just like that's a typical standard for retail store or just standalone.

1072
01:38:05,570 --> 01:38:10,850
alone. We talked about that. We've not seen that work well in a lot of places.

1073
01:38:11,410 --> 01:38:14,430
Early in my career, I worked in a place where there was a shopping center, where

1074
01:38:14,430 --> 01:38:18,210
tenants were coming and going every month. You know, a new restaurant would

1075
01:38:18,210 --> 01:38:21,230
come in, a business would leave, and then you had to go back to the parking

1076
01:38:21,230 --> 01:38:25,150
calculations and figure out do they have enough parking. So it can be a headache.

1077
01:38:26,370 --> 01:38:30,410
But on the other hand, Bel Air's ordinance right now says take one of our

1078
01:38:30,410 --> 01:38:33,510
shopping centers that has eight businesses in it right now. The Bel Air

1079
01:38:33,510 --> 01:38:37,730
ordinances, each of those has to figure out their parking requirement and add them up.

1080
01:38:38,650 --> 01:38:41,990
Well, in reality, they could probably share some of that parking.

1081
01:38:42,190 --> 01:38:44,090
They all don't need to have their individual parking.

1082
01:38:44,670 --> 01:38:50,290
That's what share parking allows you to do is everybody benefits and you can reduce the overall

1083
01:38:50,290 --> 01:38:56,310
parking. At the end of the day, like I said earlier, ideally you'd like to give staff more discretion

1084
01:38:56,830 --> 01:39:02,190
to just work case by case and try and provide some relief to property owners within a limit

1085
01:39:02,190 --> 01:39:19,270
But when it's getting to some point, yeah, it should come to a body like this and be more of a public process and so so that's kind of the thinking of where we're going with this not so much changing the parking requirements, but providing other types of flexibility. So so I'll leave it there.

1086
01:39:20,790 --> 01:39:23,890
Where do we go after this on parking?

1087
01:39:23,890 --> 01:39:39,750
It I'll come back with specific amendments just like we've done everything we've been doing to this point was zoning districts and the provisions for those this will now be going into the parking section of chapter 24 and changing potentially changing language adding language.

1088
01:39:39,750 --> 01:39:47,810
And that section is good for all districts then, okay, for commercial districts, okay.

1089
01:39:47,970 --> 01:39:52,970
There's a few provisions that were like, it's actually the UBT district that's going away.

1090
01:39:53,230 --> 01:39:57,210
It had some things tied specifically to it, but most of it is across the board.

1091
01:39:57,810 --> 01:39:58,010
Okay.

1092
01:39:59,250 --> 01:40:03,030
So in terms of this workshop then, what do you need from us?

1093
01:40:03,110 --> 01:40:09,430
Do you need some, do you want us to kind of, you know, talk about chat about kind of thoughts

1094
01:40:09,430 --> 01:40:17,250
that we have or on the next workshop you're going to come with suggested changes

1095
01:40:17,250 --> 01:40:21,610
that I take it. Exactly. We're going to dig into the text and look at specific changes.

1096
01:40:22,050 --> 01:40:32,350
Okay. Because I'm really interested in honestly what y'all have to say in terms of what you guys

1097
01:40:34,510 --> 01:40:40,730
would envision being better. You know what I'm saying? Like because you guys are

1098
01:40:40,730 --> 01:40:48,750
really staff and just for the record I'm talking to the staff. You know this

1099
01:40:48,750 --> 01:40:53,270
is a lot more sort of I mean it's obviously going to be a bigger battle for you

1100
01:40:53,270 --> 01:40:58,190
guys because you guys and businesses obviously but and you're up against a lot

1101
01:40:58,190 --> 01:41:06,430
more restrictive stuff with parking, and so I agree, I think the parking is very restrictive,

1102
01:41:06,430 --> 01:41:13,450
and I like a lot of these thoughts that you have, Gary, that he's posed to us, but you know,

1103
01:41:13,890 --> 01:41:19,850
your input is obviously crucial for parking. At this point, kind of our feedback is what we

1104
01:41:19,850 --> 01:41:24,290
think, and we need to unlock things a little bit, not drastically, but there's a few things we can

1105
01:41:24,290 --> 01:41:27,890
tweak that would improve it. And that's also the feedback we're getting from our economic development

1106
01:41:27,890 --> 01:41:34,110
consultant. Good. That's a key consideration on some of these tight sites in town to really help

1107
01:41:34,110 --> 01:41:40,710
them develop and redevelop. Okay. We'll come forward with some recommendations. Good. Yeah,

1108
01:41:40,730 --> 01:41:54,270
that's great. I mean, like in terms of, you know, the shared and all of this, like, I don't know,

1109
01:41:54,270 --> 01:41:59,750
like such a restrictive radius or you know you have to only you can only share to a business

1110
01:41:59,750 --> 01:42:05,310
away you know like who cares like if like the Wendy's is gonna let them share let it you know

1111
01:42:05,310 --> 01:42:11,430
wherever on business you know I mean like who you know like that's just my thought obviously you

1112
01:42:11,430 --> 01:42:17,950
all have a lot more insight on it but like stuff like that like I agree I think it's very restrictive

1113
01:42:17,950 --> 01:42:24,250
but of course we do live in a significant driving city and so everybody's got cars nobody's

1114
01:42:24,250 --> 01:42:26,670
is really not in a car, so.

1115
01:42:26,870 --> 01:42:28,550
And it's so hard to hit the nail on the head anyway,

1116
01:42:28,630 --> 01:42:29,770
because you can have all these ratios

1117
01:42:29,770 --> 01:42:30,970
for all these business types.

1118
01:42:31,270 --> 01:42:33,110
And it really depends on the success

1119
01:42:33,110 --> 01:42:35,270
of that particular business, you know.

1120
01:42:35,690 --> 01:42:37,150
Some restaurants are going to require

1121
01:42:37,150 --> 01:42:38,550
half the parking of others.

1122
01:42:39,510 --> 01:42:40,830
So there's a lot of variability.

1123
01:42:41,630 --> 01:42:43,630
Yeah, and certainly I'm not suggesting,

1124
01:42:43,750 --> 01:42:45,390
because I know Gary at one point you were like,

1125
01:42:45,390 --> 01:42:48,490
some cities just do it with any kind of parking restrictions

1126
01:42:48,490 --> 01:42:49,630
at all, it's a free-fuel.

1127
01:42:50,190 --> 01:42:52,570
Obviously, I think that that would be madness in our city,

1128
01:42:52,570 --> 01:42:58,810
but I was just going to say you're coming about shared parking to take it that's what that's kind

1129
01:42:58,810 --> 01:43:02,830
of what's happening when you remove parking they got to figure it out they share they use on

1130
01:43:02,830 --> 01:43:10,670
street they use valet yeah so I think the guardrail in a billier situation is don't overflow into

1131
01:43:10,670 --> 01:43:15,590
neighborhoods yeah that's that's exactly what I was going to say is that if you just open it up

1132
01:43:15,590 --> 01:43:20,010
complete that's what I was referring to in terms of if we just opened it up and had no parking

1133
01:43:20,010 --> 01:43:23,890
restriction the madness would be really because it would everybody would flood

1134
01:43:23,890 --> 01:43:29,010
the neighborhoods and our residences you know obviously you know we don't

1135
01:43:29,010 --> 01:43:34,890
want that obviously so that's I think the biggest issue. So the approaches we're

1136
01:43:34,890 --> 01:43:38,770
talking about is kind of a middle ground between Wild West and some guard

1137
01:43:38,770 --> 01:43:42,930
rail some parameters property owners still gonna be responsible to provide

1138
01:43:42,930 --> 01:43:49,610
parking for their businesses so yeah but they have different ways to do that yeah

1139
01:43:51,130 --> 01:43:56,470
I think we all agree on that as, again, economic development, protect the neighborhoods.

1140
01:43:56,670 --> 01:43:57,570
I know that's kind of a goal.

1141
01:43:57,830 --> 01:43:57,910
Yeah.

1142
01:43:58,390 --> 01:44:03,410
Is there any other cities that you're kind of looking at that are similar?

1143
01:44:03,410 --> 01:44:05,430
It would be a similar situation.

1144
01:44:05,430 --> 01:44:11,150
I know that you, a lot of times you're trying to get best practices from other cities and you do a lot of work.

1145
01:44:11,290 --> 01:44:14,910
What other kind of a city would you imagine that you're trying to live for?

1146
01:44:15,370 --> 01:44:16,770
I don't have a single answer.

1147
01:44:16,770 --> 01:44:21,850
It's it just looking at the collection of cities. You know, we looked at Westview. We looked at what Houston does

1148
01:44:21,850 --> 01:44:28,050
You know low-regulation Houston has all kinds of provisions to micromanage if you have valet

1149
01:44:28,050 --> 01:44:34,270
I think the attitude here is like with enateca's if it's working go for it

1150
01:44:34,270 --> 01:44:42,130
You've got to provide for your parking, but do we care if the valet is the cars are going a thousand feet who know?

1151
01:44:42,310 --> 01:44:46,470
You know or even like a like I was thinking about it the other like across the street. There's that

1152
01:44:46,770 --> 01:44:59,070
Um, more to wear your whatever. I mean, like, obviously, they're not in that parking lot at night. I mean, they could easily park cars over there. But I think that the problem was it was too restrictive and they weren't able to run across the street or whatever.

1153
01:45:05,720 --> 01:45:29,880
The other thing that I think might be, just, this is just a thought. I know that you had said that businesses, like, for example, if there's a business that's on a small lot, and we have a number, and let's just say it's a dog grooming place or a pet grooming, like just throwing it out there, right? And so like, they literally need, like, maybe a space or two.

1154
01:45:29,880 --> 01:45:35,620
kind of thing. You drop your dog off, you go pick your dog up kind of thing. Just an easy way that

1155
01:45:35,620 --> 01:45:41,100
they can appeal it. Like obviously the business owners know their business is best. If we were able

1156
01:45:41,100 --> 01:45:48,440
to have a situation like just a pretty basic easy appeal system where you know if you had a smaller

1157
01:45:48,440 --> 01:45:53,460
business whatever number we came up with right that a business has to have so many parking spaces.

1158
01:45:54,520 --> 01:45:58,920
And then it ends up that the business is like yeah we really don't need this many can you know if

1159
01:45:58,920 --> 01:46:06,460
It could be kind of a more simplistic kind of process to allow them to appeal it to you know decrease the number of parking

1160
01:46:06,460 --> 01:46:11,280
I think that that also may kind of loosen things up a little bit just throwing this out as a thought

1161
01:46:11,280 --> 01:46:17,880
I don't know if that's even a possibility but that they can come you know business and come and say like I really don't need five spaces

1162
01:46:17,880 --> 01:46:20,900
I only need two you know kind of thing maybe maybe yeah

1163
01:46:20,900 --> 01:46:25,200
Yeah, that would go well the if you would like a change to the parking requirements

1164
01:46:25,200 --> 01:46:27,560
The property owner can go to the board of adjustment.

1165
01:46:27,920 --> 01:46:33,160
Now the board of adjustment or the code does provide that they can go through a special exception for

1166
01:46:33,160 --> 01:46:38,460
a specifically parking, which has a lower standard than a hardship, which has a much higher standard.

1167
01:46:39,380 --> 01:46:45,000
The hardship, I mean, the standard for a special exception looks more at, does it impact negatively?

1168
01:46:45,220 --> 01:46:51,020
The neighboring properties versus the hardship looks at, is there something particularly about this property?

1169
01:46:51,020 --> 01:46:59,520
Yeah, that is different from all of the properties that impacts the development, which is a much higher standard than just this is negatively impacting surrounding

1170
01:46:59,520 --> 01:47:03,920
Yeah, I think I was talking more special exception kind of thing. I think that that would fall into that. Yeah

1171
01:47:03,920 --> 01:47:11,880
So I the current code does provide that a parking or a I guess a non-conformity related solely to parking

1172
01:47:11,880 --> 01:47:18,460
So if you if they comply with everything of the code except for parking they can apply for a special exception to the point of adjustment

1173
01:47:18,460 --> 01:47:22,200
Is it a pain in the neck to do? Is it a pretty easy process to do that?

1174
01:47:22,700 --> 01:47:27,140
It takes about six weeks from the date of application to the date of the public hearing.

1175
01:47:27,400 --> 01:47:34,920
So it would be a public hearing process, just like a variance appeal, but just the standards for getting approval is just much lower.

1176
01:47:35,220 --> 01:47:39,860
Do we get many of those? Have we had a lot of those? I mean, do businesses don't know about that?

1177
01:47:40,560 --> 01:48:01,560
parking. I want to say it's maybe come up once or twice in 10 years. Do you think it's because it's not it's not something that's really either not really necessary because businesses are pretty right on about the number of parking spaces or do you think it's a situation that people just don't really know about it. I don't know that would be a staff question.

1178
01:48:02,200 --> 01:48:08,760
I would say partly they don't really know about it, you know, the questions that we get

1179
01:48:08,760 --> 01:48:13,660
is just like, hey, if I wanted to build this or develop here, how many parking spaces

1180
01:48:13,660 --> 01:48:17,320
can I use or, you know, so it never really gets to that point.

1181
01:48:18,180 --> 01:48:18,280
Okay.

1182
01:48:19,600 --> 01:48:20,120
Roger.

1183
01:48:20,920 --> 01:48:26,980
As a quick example, the current ordinance, the director can, through the shared parking

1184
01:48:26,980 --> 01:48:32,620
method reduce, allow the parking to come down up to 25%, the quarter of your parking

1185
01:48:32,620 --> 01:48:38,220
could be reduced just at a staff level. In Houston, there's some language that the director

1186
01:48:38,220 --> 01:48:44,000
can go an additional 10%. If they demonstrate that it won't overflow into neighborhoods,

1187
01:48:44,580 --> 01:48:50,360
and it won't affect neighboring properties. Now, a little fuzzy, maybe, but it gives some

1188
01:48:50,360 --> 01:48:55,940
flexibility. And then, you know, the whole idea is at some point you're stretching the

1189
01:48:55,940 --> 01:49:00,080
standards are ordered in so much that you need to go through more of a process like special

1190
01:49:00,560 --> 01:49:02,960
exception, ZBA, or come to planning commission.

1191
01:49:05,340 --> 01:49:08,180
So it's how far, how much tolerance there

1192
01:49:08,180 --> 01:49:13,220
is for administrative flexibility until you come to a more formal process.

1193
01:49:13,760 --> 01:49:19,340
Okay. Well, that's, I'm sorry. The point of putting those words on paper is that gives the

1194
01:49:19,340 --> 01:49:23,560
director an enforcement basis to say, well, nope, it didn't work. You're overflowing into

1195
01:49:23,560 --> 01:49:28,900
neighborhood, you've got to provide that extra parking. Yeah. So we can kind of draft a relief mechanism

1196
01:49:28,900 --> 01:49:33,680
into the ordinance to a point to a certain point that we feel comfortable with. Okay. And I've

1197
01:49:33,680 --> 01:49:37,980
seen that in other city's ordinances as well. Okay. That's great. And then also just pay attention

1198
01:49:37,980 --> 01:49:44,060
also when you guys are drafting up some proposed language on that 25% reduction for sharing parking

1199
01:49:44,060 --> 01:49:51,660
because it seems to me like just to me and not having any sort of any experience like you guys do

1200
01:49:51,660 --> 01:49:55,820
or knowledge like y'all do, but maybe we could drop that more,

1201
01:49:56,500 --> 01:49:59,120
like have more of a reduction for them.

1202
01:49:59,200 --> 01:50:01,580
I want to say the last city I worked in had shared parking

1203
01:50:01,580 --> 01:50:05,320
and it didn't have a cap on how much you could reduce it.

1204
01:50:05,940 --> 01:50:08,280
It either worked or it didn't according to the businesses

1205
01:50:08,280 --> 01:50:10,980
and their traffic hours and so forth.

1206
01:50:11,280 --> 01:50:13,380
Yeah, and then again, like you said,

1207
01:50:13,640 --> 01:50:16,020
the enforcement kind of thing like, you know,

1208
01:50:16,120 --> 01:50:18,680
if somebody like, for example, if we went with the shared

1209
01:50:18,680 --> 01:50:21,020
and we didn't like, let's just say it ended up

1210
01:50:21,020 --> 01:50:25,380
that we didn't have that they had to have a certain number of parking spaces if they'd went

1211
01:50:25,380 --> 01:50:31,000
to share it like later on. It ended up, nope, this isn't working. At least, you know, staff could

1212
01:50:31,000 --> 01:50:34,200
go back and be like, yeah, yeah, we got to redo this because this isn't working because you guys

1213
01:50:34,200 --> 01:50:38,520
are spilling over in the neighborhoods and on the streets. Like, parking is clogging up bisonette

1214
01:50:38,520 --> 01:50:43,020
or whatever's going on. Like, just an ability that we can come back and review and I think would be

1215
01:50:43,020 --> 01:50:51,000
also be really good. Maybe. So, anyway, those are just kind of my thoughts. But I had a question

1216
01:50:51,000 --> 01:50:56,400
question. Travis, you made mention of the economic development consultant. Who is that?

1217
01:50:56,900 --> 01:51:03,660
It's HR and A. So we budgeted the city budgeted for an economic development consultant to

1218
01:51:03,660 --> 01:51:07,580
begin looking at things that we can do to improve development of our commercial areas instead

1219
01:51:07,580 --> 01:51:12,020
of just waiting for proposals to come and denying them or approving them kind of being in the

1220
01:51:12,020 --> 01:51:17,300
driver's seat as to what we want and then trying to get what we want. So we budgeted for that

1221
01:51:17,300 --> 01:51:24,280
project we went through an RFP and interviews and hired HRNA back in August to do it. So we've

1222
01:51:24,280 --> 01:51:29,620
been working with them. They came down here. They did stakeholder interviews with business stakeholders.

1223
01:51:30,480 --> 01:51:35,220
Did a tour of the city. They did a market analysis of the city. So now they're coming up with

1224
01:51:35,220 --> 01:51:40,740
recommendations. And one of the things that they have mentioned is parking and other things like

1225
01:51:40,740 --> 01:51:44,660
that. Because there's so many challenges here already with the zoning and floodplain

1226
01:51:45,560 --> 01:51:53,520
issues in Bel Air. They're trying to think outside the box that other things we can do to help get the best utilization of commercial properties in Bel Air.

1227
01:51:54,040 --> 01:52:00,640
So that's kind of what they're doing and they had a workshop with City Council on Monday night, really just to share that information.

1228
01:52:01,900 --> 01:52:04,660
And they'll be finalizing their report in the coming weeks.

1229
01:52:05,900 --> 01:52:10,020
So the the workshop with city council was that in council chambers?

1230
01:52:10,060 --> 01:52:11,460
No, it was in the B life room.

1231
01:52:11,660 --> 01:52:15,440
That's where the workshops generally are these days because it was an informal discussion.

1232
01:52:16,140 --> 01:52:18,460
They're basically providing information to council.

1233
01:52:18,660 --> 01:52:22,720
There was no deliberate or there was no, you know, decisions made or anything like that.

1234
01:52:22,840 --> 01:52:26,920
It's not like this won't be an ordinance or a plan that gets approved by council.

1235
01:52:27,560 --> 01:52:32,780
It's we're contracting with them to provide this report and strategies and it was really kind of a menu.

1236
01:52:32,780 --> 01:52:36,680
you, you know, they give us a dozen things, or they'll be giving us a dozen things, give

1237
01:52:36,680 --> 01:52:41,740
or take that we can do, and as I told Council on Monday, you know, we might decide to

1238
01:52:41,740 --> 01:52:47,840
do three of them, or 12 of them, or seven. It's kind of up to the city to what, it's kind

1239
01:52:47,840 --> 01:52:52,020
of a legislative decision, how much we invest into the strategies, but they're giving us

1240
01:52:52,020 --> 01:52:53,580
the tools to hopefully be able to do it.

1241
01:52:53,580 --> 01:52:55,820
H-R-N-A.

1242
01:52:56,020 --> 01:52:57,220
H-R-N-A.

1243
01:52:59,060 --> 01:53:05,100
And the contract is for, like, a set period?

1244
01:53:06,100 --> 01:53:12,140
Yes, it's just for, it expires during this fiscal year, but they really are pretty

1245
01:53:12,140 --> 01:53:13,120
close to the finish line.

1246
01:53:15,500 --> 01:53:15,880
Okay.

1247
01:53:16,460 --> 01:53:17,800
I guess I can talk to him more about it.

1248
01:53:17,940 --> 01:53:18,100
Sure.

1249
01:53:18,380 --> 01:53:20,640
Offline that I just picked my interest.

1250
01:53:20,640 --> 01:53:27,080
Yeah, Laura, I was there on Monday and I'd mad because y'all will probably have like minutes or

1251
01:53:27,600 --> 01:53:35,120
You'll have minutes so it could you provide that to the PNZ when it does come out that way because again

1252
01:53:35,120 --> 01:53:37,140
Yes, y'all are trying to guide

1253
01:53:37,760 --> 01:53:38,780
things that

1254
01:53:39,900 --> 01:53:46,260
PNZ probably needs to know and I thought it was really good. It really was a good meeting and

1255
01:53:46,260 --> 01:53:56,520
And I want to try and help make sure that that's the desire for the city and those are the recommendations that PNC knows kind of what some of those things are.

1256
01:53:56,840 --> 01:54:04,960
And it is a good meeting. The minutes are really that we had a healthy discussion back and forth, you know, with the consultant providing information and getting feedback from council.

1257
01:54:05,300 --> 01:54:14,820
The really the best information to look at is that agenda packet from Monday night. So their presentation is in there as well as like the detailed market analysis and other information.

1258
01:54:14,820 --> 01:54:23,960
So, I mean, it's a lot of information, but it's good, and they also, they're portions of it where they really kind of summarize the main points, which is good for people like me.

1259
01:54:24,980 --> 01:54:30,880
So, you're the development director, but what else is in your title or within your scope?

1260
01:54:32,520 --> 01:54:33,760
Other duties as assigned.

1261
01:54:34,500 --> 01:54:43,580
Okay. So, um, development director, do you go out and recruit businesses to come to the city?

1262
01:54:43,940 --> 01:54:45,060
That's not any job description.

1263
01:54:46,180 --> 01:54:49,380
You know, regulate new development. That's the, that's our main job description.

1264
01:54:49,720 --> 01:54:55,800
So, we oversee permits, inspections, plan reviews, code enforcement, planning and zoning.

1265
01:54:57,080 --> 01:55:04,040
But the city has not historically invested in an economic development director or department or program or coordinator, whatever.

1266
01:55:04,840 --> 01:55:14,640
And so I was asked or I, you know, we agreed I'd be in charge of sort of handling this consultant project and then deciding what the next steps would be after that.

1267
01:55:15,280 --> 01:55:23,380
If the city needs to look long term at investing more and every other city I've worked at has a department and economic development department.

1268
01:55:23,380 --> 01:55:34,180
However, there's different circumstances that, you know, here we have Metro situation and so the city doesn't retain the maximum, you know, sales tax allocation compared to other cities.

1269
01:55:34,500 --> 01:55:37,200
I know Missouri City is similar to us. So it just depends on where you are.

1270
01:55:37,640 --> 01:55:42,500
So I've worked in different kinds of cities in the past where economic development is more of a program or department.

1271
01:55:43,020 --> 01:55:46,140
They have an economic development corporation or 4B as it's called.

1272
01:55:47,020 --> 01:55:52,380
We're not doing that here yet, but it could be something that's the city wants to try to do five years from now.

1273
01:55:52,380 --> 01:56:04,520
I don't know, that's really not up to me, but we're trying to position ourselves to do whatever the city wants to do from an economic development perspective, if there's other possibilities out there in the future, because we haven't really restart full potential on that.

1274
01:56:05,540 --> 01:56:07,880
And honestly, because we're predominantly residential.

1275
01:56:08,980 --> 01:56:14,920
So that's a big part of it too, but we do have commercial areas that we're trying to get the best utilization out of.

1276
01:56:16,360 --> 01:56:22,500
Okay, make a plug for the comp plan that a number of you worked on, there's basically

1277
01:56:22,500 --> 01:56:26,780
a language in the comp plan that says, go get what you want in your city, don't just

1278
01:56:26,780 --> 01:56:28,460
swat away, things you don't want.

1279
01:56:29,220 --> 01:56:30,720
So this is following through on that.

1280
01:56:30,920 --> 01:56:35,820
How can Bill Erick be more proactive to bring restaurants and types of retail you'd like

1281
01:56:35,820 --> 01:56:36,120
to see?

1282
01:56:36,660 --> 01:56:43,460
So I know Paralleland actually has an economic development position and I think the person

1283
01:56:43,460 --> 01:56:45,480
that have been here went there to do that.

1284
01:56:45,880 --> 01:56:48,060
They probably have five people doing that in parent land,

1285
01:56:48,060 --> 01:56:48,580
as my guess.

1286
01:56:48,820 --> 01:56:51,340
Because there's so much bigger than we are.

1287
01:56:51,700 --> 01:56:51,840
Yeah.

1288
01:56:52,500 --> 01:56:55,520
The city I came from had four or five people in that capacity.

1289
01:56:55,800 --> 01:56:58,320
The city I was in before that had two or three.

1290
01:56:59,940 --> 01:57:03,080
Yeah, so it can be kind of a thing in a lot of these cities

1291
01:57:03,080 --> 01:57:03,780
around here.

1292
01:57:07,290 --> 01:57:07,710
Thanks.

1293
01:57:07,990 --> 01:57:10,270
I have heard really good things about them.

1294
01:57:11,330 --> 01:57:14,070
This consult, this economic development consultant

1295
01:57:14,070 --> 01:57:20,130
great ideas I've heard and things have been going well are they yeah yeah they're

1296
01:57:20,130 --> 01:57:22,750
good and they're honest with us too you know they're they's I mean not that

1297
01:57:22,750 --> 01:57:27,030
anyone else isn't but they're just like you know these are ideas but you're

1298
01:57:27,030 --> 01:57:32,050
gonna have to go do this you know yeah so well good yeah that's great that's good

1299
01:57:32,050 --> 01:57:37,190
to hear so all right anything else do we have anything else for the workshop

1300
01:57:37,190 --> 01:57:45,250
up are we good? Do you have a motion? Motion to adjourn. All in favor? Aye aye.

1301
01:57:45,850 --> 01:57:49,270
We're adjourned. Thanks you guys. Sorry for such a long one tonight.