Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z)

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY – SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 – 6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Liberty Hill was called to order by Wes Griffin - Chair on Monday, September 9, 2019 at NOON held in the City Hall Conference Room located at 926 Loop 332 in Liberty Hill, Texas. Invocation was given by Wes Griffin followed by Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge. Members Present: Wes Griffin, Brian Williams, Steve Messana, and Josh McGinty. Quorum was established. Cheryl New arrived following all voting items. REGULAR AGENDA Discuss and Consider recommendation to City Council from Planning & Zoning Commission for approval of the Highland Meadows 3A Final Plat located at CR 266 and State Highway 29 in the ETJ of the City of Liberty Hill. Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated this tract is approximately 21 acres with 61 single family residential lots in Orchard Grove. The plat meets all city, county, and state subdivision regulations. The plat is in a MUD on a regional wastewater system. On motion by Steve Messana and second by Josh McGinty, the Commission recommends to City Council approval of the Highland Meadows 3A Final Plat. Motion passed on vote of 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, and 0 ABSTENTIONS. Discuss and Consider recommendation to City Council from Planning & Zoning Commission for approval of the Highland Meadows 3C Final Plat located at CR 266 and State Highway 29 in the ETJ of the City of Liberty Hill. Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated this tract is approximately 7.8 acres with 39 single family residential lots in Orchard Grove. The plat meets all city, county, and state subdivision regulations. On motion by Steve Messana and second by Brian Williams, the Commission recommends to City Council approval of the Highland Meadows 3C Final Plat. Motion passed on vote of 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, and 0 ABSTENTIONS. Discuss and Consider recommendation to City Council from Planning & Zoning Commission for approval of the Highland Meadows 3D Final Plat located at CR 266 and State Highway 29 in the ETJ of the City of Liberty Hill. Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated this is approximately a 12-acre tract with 43 single family residential lots in Orchard Grove. The plat meets all city, county, and state subdivision regulations. On motion by Steve Messana and second by Josh McGinty, the Commission recommends to City Council approval of the Highland Meadows 3D Final Plat. Motion passed on vote of 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, and 0 ABSTENTIONS. Update, consideration, and possible action related to recent amendments to Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code – Subdivision Platting regarding submittals, approvals, September 9, 2019 1|P a g e Planning & Zoning Commission Special Meeting processing requirements, overall timeline revisions to include which permits, plans, plats, and/or site plans (HB3167). Update on approved increase of fees for submittal and processing permits, plans, plats, and / site plans due to increase in tasks for Planning Department. Update on additional staff for the Planning Department due to increase in tasks for new procedures related to planning. Update on additional meetings and possible alternate members of the P&Z Committee. Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated the overall processes are pretty tight already. The Commission was provided a First Review and Resubmittal process sheet. The new process involves comments for the plans going to the Planning and Zoning Commission to either approve or disapprove with option to return to developer for corrections. Different scenarios explained. City Council recently approved a revised fee schedule for permit applications which include fees for pre-development meetings and completeness reviews. Ms. McFeron stated the City will be revising the Planning and Zoning bylaws to conform with new legislation. City staff would like to set up a pool of alternate P&Z commissioners and set Planning and Zoning meetings for every other week to accommodate the new timelines. Implementation of the new legislation begins October 1, 2019. Mayor Hall stated the legislation provides for the P&Z to approve, or deny, or deny with conditions and send back to the applicant. The City has 15 days to complete the process once the applicant re-submits the application. He also stated the legislation provides for automatic approval if the City does not meet the designated timelines. There was discussion of waivers in which the law allows a city to have a waiver to developers available but which the city cannot specifically offer. The waiver provides the developer access to the City’s standard operating procedures for application submittals rather than through the legislated process. New staff will be added to the Planning Department in response to the new legislation and subsequent increase in tasks. Update on use of building products for residential or commercial property, prohibiting enforcement of certain building products (HB2439). Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated new legislation does not allow cities to mandate building materials; however, the City of Liberty Hill’s UDC does not dictate architectural standards. A City can incentivize new development coming in through programs such as are currently in place with the City’s Economic Development Corporation. Discuss and Consider the 2019 Annual Texas State Planning Conference – “BIG STATE. BIG PLANS”, on November 6th through 8th – Waco, Texas. Outcome: Sally McFeron – Director of Planning stated the conference is a great opportunity for Planning and Zoning Commissioners. They should let the City Secretary know if they plan to attend. Mayor Hall stated he is all about training and improving the knowledge base of employees and volunteers; wants to ensure that if there is not a line item in the P&Z budget for training, that a budget amendment or allowance for the conference be made and approved by Council. Upcoming on-site webinars sponsored by the City of Liberty Hill and held at City Hall for Legislative changes / updates on the following topics all on Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30 September 9, 2019 2|P a g e Planning & Zoning Commission Special Meeting AM for members of City Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Outcome: Barbara Zwernemann – City Secretary stated P&Z members would probably be interested in the webinar on annexation and possibly the one on the small cell update. ANNEXATION: WHAT’S LEFT? OCTOBER 24TH DISASTER RESPONSE: NEW LEGISLATIVE TOOLS OCTOBER 31ST OPEN MEETINGS UPDATE: WALKING QUORUM, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND MORE DECEMBER 12TH SMALL CELL UPDATE: HOW’S IT PLAYING OUT? DECEMBER 19TH ADJOURNMENT Outcome: On motion by Brian Williams and second by Steve Messana, the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was adjourned at 12:58 PM. Motion passed on vote of 4 AYES, 0 NAYS, and 0 ABSTENTIONS. /s/ Barbara Zwernemann BARBARA ZWERNEMANN City Secretary September 9, 2019 3|P a g e Planning & Zoning Commission Special Meeting