Planning & Zoning Commission Agendas

Meeting Minutes City of League City Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting, Monday, December 4, 2023 Council Chambers, 200 W. Walker Street, League City, TX 77573 1. Call to Order and Roll Call of Members Paul Maaz, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Paul Maaz, Jacqueline Irwin, Matthew Hyde, Matthew Propst, Chris Dodson, Pam Arnold Absent: Frank Dominguez, Ruth Morrison City Staff: Kris Carpenter, Director of Planning; Mark Linenschmidt, Planning Manager; Vince Hustead, Senior Planner; Christopher Sims, Executive Director Development Services; Matt Brown, Assistant City Engineer; Michelle Villarreal, Interim City Attorney 2. Approval of November 29, 2023, minutes Mr. Maaz asked if there were any corrections. He stated hearing none, the November 29, 2023, minutes are approved. 3. Citizen Communications None. 4. Public Hearing and Action Items A. Hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to City Council on a Zoning Change Application, MAP-23-0009, (LC4/23 Retail Center), to rezone approximately 4.0 acres from “RSF-7” (Single-Family Residential 7) to “CN” (Neighborhood Commercial), legally described as a portion of the I & G.N.R.R. Co. Survey No. 3, Abstract Number 614, generally located along the south side of League City Parkway and west of Campbell Drive. Mr. Maaz opened the public hearing at 6:02 p.m. Kris Carpenter, Planning Director, gave a presentation on behalf of the City of League City. No one spoke at the public hearing. Mr. Maaz closed the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. Mr. Dodson made a motion to recommend approval of the Zoning Change Application, MAP-23- 0009, per staff’s recommendations. Mr. Hyde seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0-0. B. Hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to City Council on Revisions to Chapter 125 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City, Article 4, entitled “Site Development Standards”, to revise regulations related to landscaping requirements. Mr. Maaz opened the public hearing at 6:12 p.m.  Kris Carpenter, Planning Director, gave a presentation on behalf of the City of League City. Mr. Dodson asked about the hardiness of palm trees in League City. Mr. Carpenter responded that any required landscaping that dies is required to be replaced. He added that the City Arborist has recommended six species of palm trees as appropriate for the climate. Ms. Irwin voiced concerns about maintenance since four of the six palm species proposed were dated palms, which could create a mess on the property. She recommended a provision of maintenance to ensure by-products of certain palm trees would not create a nuisance to the public and/or revisit the species of palms proposed. Dr. Propst read a written statement in opposition of which palm trees were not considered as shade trees. The items discussed are as follows: • Shade trees offer urban heat reduction with the larger canopies providing a more comfortable pedestrian environment, lower temperature, and less strain on electrical grid by the shading of equipment and structures. • Shade trees have a higher carbon sequestration, a larger root system, a larger biomass which has a greater effect on reducing pollution. • Shade trees support biodiversity by providing larger habitats for animals in the area. • City’s such as San Diego and West Palm Beach have rolled back ordinances involving palm trees. • Higher aesthetics of palm trees would result in higher property values and would result in higher property taxes. Ms. Arnold stated her opposition to the request to the proposed palm trees. Mr. Dodson asked what the comparable cost difference between a shade tree and a palm tree was. Mr. Carpenter indicated he did not have that information. No one spoke at the public hearing. Mr. Maaz closed the public hearing at 6:22 p.m. Mr. Dodson made a motion to recommend denial on the Revisions to Chapter 125 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City, Article 4, entitled “Site Development Standards”, to revise regulations related to landscaping requirements. Dr. Propst seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0-0. 5. New Business A. Consider and take action on a Preliminary Plat, 518 Mixed Use, PLAT-23-0036, generally located along the south side of Farm to Market Road 518 and east of St. Christopher Avenue. Kris Carpenter, Planning Director, gave a presentation on behalf of the City of League City. Mr. Dodson made a motion to approve the Preliminary Plat, 518 Mixed Use, PLAT-23-0036, per staff’s recommendations. Planning & Zoning Commission 2 December 4, 2023  Ms. Arnold seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0-0. B. Consider and take action on Preliminary Plats, Samara, Section 10, PLAT-23-0038, and Samara, Section 11, PLAT-23-0039, generally located north and south of Samara Way and west of Landing Boulevard. Kris Carpenter, Director of Planning, gave a presentation on behalf of the City of League City. Mr. Dodson made a motion to approve the Preliminary Plats, Samara, Section 10, PLAT-23-0038, and Samara, Section 11, PLAT-23-0039, per staff’s recommendations. Dr. Propst seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0-0. C. Staff Comments None. Mr. Dodson stated that he is permitted to continue serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission until such time as the election, based on information provided by the City Secretary. D. Adjournment Dr. Propst made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Dodson seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0-0. Mr. Maaz adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m. _____________________________ ______________________________ Kris Carpenter Paul Maaz Director of Planning Chair, Planning and Zoning Commission Planning & Zoning Commission 3 December 4, 2023