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2018 10 25 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN OCTOBER 25, 2018 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on October 25, 2018, at 5:30 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance: Laura Alvarado Council Member Charles Johnson Mayor Pro Tern Chris Presley Council Member Heather Betancourth Council Member Stephen DonCarlos Mayor Rick Davis City Manager Ignacio Ramirez City Attorney Leticia Brysch City Clerk Mayor DonCarlos convened the October 25, 2018, City Council Regular Work Session with a quorum present at 5:30 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Members Himsel and Hoskins. 1vEEF1TFTk 1, -3 ClIeK a. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding text amendments and zoning map amendments to the City's Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) that will impact the San Jacinto Boulevard area. City Manager Davis presented the item and noted that staff has put a considerable amount of work into an envisioning process of what the San Jacinto Boulevard area could or would look like, and introduced the members of the Planning Department who would present the information. Planning and Development Services Director Tiffany Foster stated that she wanted to give Council an overview of San Jacinto Boulevard and its proposed overlay district. Mrs. Foster noted that this area is a very important investment and as such, staff has tried to develop new regulations for this area, in order for it to remain a unique area that will interest private developers to come in and develop their product in this area. Mrs. Foster stated that staff is working on three different amendments to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) with the first amendment enabling an overlay district. Mrs. Foster noted that in the old code, the City had the ability to do overlay districts where it could create special districts for special areas; this did not move over into the new code in 2013. Therefore, one of the proposed texts amendments will add enabling language for an overlay district, which City Council Regular Work Session Minutes October 25, 2015 Page 2 of 5 can impact land uses, signage, parking, landscaping, and all types of other development standards that are normally in your traditional zoning code. She further noted that an overlay district can enhance, change, and alter those standards based on the area that is being considered, so it is a land use control or tool. The Council was shown an aerial video of the San Jacinto Boulevard area Mrs. Foster noted that the purpose of the San Jacinto overlay, which would be a specific overlay is to a) protect the city's investment in that area, b) encourage cohesive development in physical design, and c) allow for the integration of residential and non-residential uses. The City wants to promote high -density residential and commercial areas a few feet on the street, in order to allow for walkable place that will have lots of services. Mrs. Foster noted that the boundaries of the overlay district that is a little over 400 acres, includes all San Jacinto Boulevard Phase One, and a portion of Phase Two that has not yet been constructed. She noted that on the southern boundary, staff stopped the overlay right where Archer Road would be because it is actually a Hams County drainage ditch; John Martin is the eastern boundary with the area including existing development that already has frontage unto Garth Road; and it includes Lonestar Road, Santavy Road and a portion of Hunt Road. However, this overlay does exclude the mall, and those existing commercial uses on I-10 and Garth Road. Mrs. Foster noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission has already begun to look at different zoning districts for this area to include the potential overlay. She noted that the majority of this area will be zoned as a Livable Center, With some pieces being General Commercial (GC) because they already have some frontage and/or development along Garth Road, and a small portions being multi -family, which is already in construction. She further noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission has already made their recommendations for based zoning as a Livable Center, as well as any deeded enabling language; she further noted that these recommendations will be coming to the Council for their review and consideration in the next few months. Mrs. Foster stated that the before mentioned overlay has a few components; such as utilities. She noted that staff has created a tier system for developments with some new definitions and requirements that include access management, enhanced access management, private open space for developments, different regulations for parking, landscaping, lighting, signage, in-signage to mention a few. She noted that these items we still being discussed with the Planning and Zoning Commission and will come Council at a later date for their review and approval. Mrs. Foster noted that staff wanted to ensure that the San Jacinto Development remain clean and free from obstructions; i.e. electrical lines. She noted that staff has requested that utility lines, communication lines, telephone lines must all be underground. If there are mechanical equipment or other equipment like transformers or those kinds of things that have to be above City Council Regular Work Session Minutes October 25, 2018 Page 3 of 5 ground, that they are either be screened with landscaping or they are to match With the facade of the building. Mrs. Foster noted that as it relates to stormwater, all developers have to do something with stormwater and everyone is sensitive to this issue at this time; however, staff is asking for a regional stormwater detention plan. She noted that they have identified an area outside of this immediate area that could serve as a regional site, and staff will be working with the property owners and developers to make sure that this option is utilized. However, if this area is not utilized, then a developer would have the option to do underground storage for detention, which developers do not particularly like as it is expensive. Mrs. Foster, in response to comments about options for developers that cannot meet some of the listed requirements for this area, noted that she was not planning on going over this item in detail during this presentation, but commented that staff is working on options similar to a variance process in the PUD process for potential developers in this area. If someone comes in with "X" amount of acres, they can request a PUD, where they can kind of create their own code over and above that is different and more unique than what staff has put together. Mrs. Foster presented a chart of the different uses for this area that me to be included and/or excluded; some of the proposed things to be excluded include: drive -through establishments in general, gas stations, car washes, storage facilities, among others. Mrs. Foster noted that staff envisions a high density retail center with different types of developments that have been broken up into two tiers: Tier One: are areas at intersections that are about 700 feet wide or in diameter. This area will be more of an urban walkable space with buildings being closer to the road, and allowing for people to go from building to building to building and the majority of the puking spaces behind the buildings and not in front as you typically see with big retail stores, similar to what is currently along Garth Road. Tier Two: has areas that are more traditional shopping spaces; however, staff has language in the proposed code that restricts the amount of parking in the front of the buildings and encourages the use of shared parking facilities, in order to still have the ability to park to get somewhere, but then still feel encouraged to get out and walk. This area will also have trails in order to go from business to business. Mrs. Foster showed various visual examples of landscaping, building styles, signage, structures, trails, connectivity, etc. The Council discussed options to restrict the look, size and landscaping of business signage to make them aesthetically pleasing and functional. Mrs. Foster noted that the proposed code also has architectural articulation and glazing requirements so that the look of a physical building is really sharp and attractive. She noted that there is also masonry requirements listed in the proposed overlay that will help with the look and feel of the developments in this area. City Council Regular Work Session Minutes October 25, 2018 Page 4 of 5 Mrs. Foster stated that the last topic of her presentation related to residential uses in this area. She noted that different types of housing would be successful in this mixed -use space such as duplexes, patio homes, townhomes, etc. Staff is requiring potential developers to come in with a general plan that will show the type of residential development that they are proposing; and how it will integrate with the other commercial uses; said plan must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission before the development can begin. She noted that this process is similar to the City's code for PUDs; however, this new process would not go to the Council, but instead the general plan would only go to Planning and Zoning Commission one time in order for this group to get an idea of what are the underlining requirements of the zoning district, as well as, those of the overlay district to look at how the design will integrate with the adjacent uses. The Council briefly discussed multi -level parking areas; traditional apartment complexes; and mixed use housing options. Mrs. Foster noted that these code changes were not ready to come forward to the Council as they were still being discussed at the Planning and Zoning Commission level, but noted that staff would continue to work diligently to bring this item to the Council for consideration sometime in the near future. b. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda for October 25, 2018, which is attached below. Council Member Presley commented his concerns regarding the approval of the Towing and Vehicle Storage Facility Contract for regular nonconsent tows. City Manager Davis noted that this item will be taken into executive session prior to taking action on the item and asked that all questions be held until such time, in order to allow the City's attorney an opportunity to outline their legal advice. Council Member Presley also outlined his concerns in hiring another public affairs position considering that the City had recently hired Ms. Natasha Barrett as the City's new Strategic Communications Manager. City Manager Davis noted that the additional position of Public Affairs Director is very different from that of the Strategic Communications Manager, which is more of a public information officer. He noted that the last 24 hours have really demonstrated the need for this kind of proactive type of program that has already paid oodles of dividends for the organization. City Manager Davis also noted that the new director will guide the City in the creation of a new department that will include communication, citizen engagement, neighbor coordination, along with our Tourism and marketing endeavors. The new Public Affairs Director will bring a very different set of expertise than Natasha and will provide for better coordination to all of these different divisions, and will ultimately allow the City to be more pro- active in its communication and marketing, in order to pump information out to the community and telling the City's story before somebody else does. City Manager Davis also noted that this type of strategic communication was one of the prime directives of the strategic plan, which was prioritized as a high priority by the council, placed into the implementation plan, put forward through the budget process and now, staff has City Council Regular Work Session Minutes October 25, 2018 Page 5 of 5 executed that directive and made an offer to somebody that can come in and put this plan into action. He strongly recommended moving forward with the appointment of the new Public Affairs Director. 2. ADJOURN With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the October 25, 2018, City Council Regular Work Session at 6:37 P.M. x. eticia Brysch, City Clerk'` City of Baytowns,rt ,A