HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
MAY 27, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY HALL ANNEX 2:30 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS Mark A. Kilkenny, Vice Chair Susan Alleman Christopher B Amandes Keiji Asakura J.D. Bartell Sonny Garza James R. Jard Paul R. Nelson Linda Porras-Pirtle Robin Reed Richard A. Rice David Robinson Jeff Ross Algenita Scott Segars Talmadge Sharp, Sr. Blake Tart III Beth Wolff Shaukat Zakaria
The Honorable Grady Prestage, P. E. Fort Bend County The Honorable Ed Emmett Harris County The Honorable Ed Chance Montgomery County
ALTERNATE MEMBERS D. Jesse Hegemier, P. E. Fort Bend County Jackie L. Freeman, P. E. Harris County Mark J. Mooney, P.E. Montgomery County
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS Carol Lewis, Ph.D. Mike Marcotte, P.E. Dawn Ullrich Frank Wilson
SECRETARY Marlene L. Gafrick
Meeting Policies and Regulations that an issue has been sufficiently discussed and additional speakers are repetitive. Order of Agenda 11. The Commission reserves the right to stop Planning Commission may alter the order of the speakers who are unruly or abusive. agenda to consider variances first, followed by replats requiring a public hearing second and consent agenda Limitations on the Authority of the Planning last. Any contested consent item will be moved to the Commission end of the agenda. By law, the Commission is required to approve Public Participation subdivision and development plats that meet the requirements of Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances The public is encouraged to take an active interest in of the City of Houston. The Commission cannot matters that come before the Planning Commission. exercise discretion nor can it set conditions when Anyone wishing to speak before the Commission may granting approvals that are not specifically authorized do so. The Commission has adopted the following by law. If the Commission does not act upon a Sec. I procedural rules on public participation: agenda item within 30 days, the item is automatically approved. The Commission’s authority on platting 1. Anyone wishing to speak before the does not extend to land use. The Commission cannot Commission must sign-up on a designated disapprove a plat because it objects to the use of the form located at the entrance to the Council property. All plats approved by the Commission are Chamber. subject to compliance with applicable requirements, e.g., water, sewer, drainage, or other public agencies. 2. If the speaker wishes to discuss a specific item on the agenda of the Commission, it should be noted on the sign-up form. Contacting the Planning Commission Should you have materials or information that you 3. If the speaker wishes to discuss any subject would like for the Planning Commission members to not otherwise on the agenda of the have pertaining to a particular item on their agenda, Commission, time will be allowed after all contact staff at 713-837-7758. Staff can either agenda items have been completed and incorporate materials within the members Agenda “public comments” are taken. packets, or can forward to the members messages and information. 4. The applicant is given first opportunity to speak and is allowed two minutes for an opening presentation. The applicant is also Contacting the Planning Department allowed a rebuttal after all speakers have been The Planning and Development Department is located heard; two additional minutes will be allowed. at 611 Walker Street on the Sixth Floor. Code Enforcement is located at 3300 Main Street. 5. Speakers will be allowed two minutes for specially called hearing items, replats with The Departments mailing address is: notice, variances, and special exceptions. P.O. Box 1562 Houston, Texas 77251-1562 6. Speakers will be allowed 1 minute for all consent agenda items. The Departments website is: www.houstonplanning.com 7. Time limits will not apply to elected officials. E-mail us at: 8. No speaker is permitted to accumulate Planning and Development speaking time from another person. [email protected]
9. Time devoted to answering any questions DRC (Planning Commission Agenda) from the Commission is not charged against [email protected] allotted speaking time.
10. The Commission reserves the right to limit speakers if it is the Commission’s judgment Speakers Sign In Form
Instructions: 1. So that the Commission’s Chairperson can call on those wishing to address the Commission, please provide the information below. Make sure the information is legible. If you have questions about the form or a particular item while filling out this form Planning and Development Department staff members are available at the front of the room to answer any questions. Hand the completed form to a staff member prior to the meeting’s Call to Order. 2. It is important to include your “position” so that the Chairperson can group the speakers by position. 3. If you are a part of an organized group of speakers and want to address the Commission in a particular order please let a staff member know prior to the beginning of the meeting. 4. The Chairperson will call each speaker’s name when it is his or her turn to speak. The Chairperson will also call out the speaker to follow. 5. As the called speaker you should move forward to the podium, state your name for the record, and then deliver your comments. 6. If you have materials to distribute to the Commission hand them to a staff member at the beginning of your presentation. Staff will distribute the information to Commission members on both sides of the table as you begin your comments.
Agenda Item Number:
Agenda Item Name:
Your Name (speaker):
How Can We Contact You? (optional):
Your Position Regarding the Item (supportive, opposed, undecided):
Speakers Sign In Form
Instructions: 1. So that the Commission’s Chairperson can call on those wishing to address the Commission, please provide the information below. Make sure the information is legible. If you have questions about the form or a particular item while filling out this form Planning and Development Department staff members are available at the front of the room to answer any questions. Hand the completed form to a staff member prior to the meeting’s Call to Order. 2. It is important to include your “position” so that the Chairperson can group the speakers by position. 3. If you are a part of an organized group of speakers and want to address the Commission in a particular order please let a staff member know prior to the beginning of the meeting. 4. The Chairperson will call each speaker’s name when it is his or her turn to speak. The Chairperson will also call out the speaker to follow. 5. As the called speaker you should move forward to the podium, state your name for the record, and then deliver your comments. 6. If you have materials to distribute to the Commission hand them to a staff member at the beginning of your presentation. Staff will distribute the information to Commission members on both sides of the table as you begin your comments.
Agenda Item Number:
Agenda Item Name:
Your Name (speaker):
How Can We Contact You? (optional):
Your Position Regarding the Item (supportive, opposed, undecided): This online document is preliminary and not official. It may not contain all the relevant materials and information that the Planning Commission will consider at its meeting. The official agenda is posted at City Hall 72 hours prior to the Planning Commission meeting. Final detailed packets are available at the Planning Commission meeting.
Houston Planning Commission AGENDA May 27, 2010 Meeting to be held in Council Chamber, City Hall Annex 2:30 p. m.
Call to Order
Director’s Report Announcement Regarding Upcoming Activates or Schedule
Approval of the May 13, 2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
I. Election of Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair
II. Platting Activity (subdivision and development plats) a. Consent Subdivision Plats (Tenesia Mathews) b. Replats (Tenesia Mathews) c. Replats Requiring Public Hearings with Notification (Suvidha Bandi, Kimberly Bowie, Dorianne Powe-Phlegm) d. Subdivision Plats with Variance Requests (Brian Crimmins, Jesse Givens, Dipti Mathur) e. Subdivision Plats with Special Exception Requests (Dipti Mathur) f. Reconsiderations of Requirement (Dipti Mathur) g. Administrative h. Development Plats with Variance Requests i. Certificates of Compliance (Mikalla Hodges) j. Extension of Approvals and Name Changes (Mikalla Hodges)
III. Establish a public hearing date of June 24, 2010 for: a. Addicks Stone Village replat no 1 b. Meadow Creek Gardens replat no 1 c. Sugar Plaza partial replat no 1 d. Plainview Second Addition partial replat no 2
IV. Consideration of an Off-Street Parking Variance for property located at 1210 W. Clay Street (Brian Crimmins)
V. Consideration of an Off-Street Parking Variance for property located at 3115 Kirby Drive (Brian Crimmins)
VI. Public Hearing and Consideration of Landmark Designation Application initiated by the owner: Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House at 2184 Troon Road
VII. Public Hearing and Consideration of Landmark and Protected Landmark Designation Application initiated by the owner: Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station at 7301 Avenue F
VIII. Public Comment
IX. Adjournment
Minutes of the Houston Planning Commission
(A CD/DVD of the full proceedings is on file in the Planning and Development Department)
May 13, 2010 Meeting to be held in Council Chambers, Public Level, City Hall Annex 2:30 p.m.
Call to order:
Vice- Chair, Mark A. Kilkenny, called the meeting to order at 2:37 p.m. with a quorum present.
Mark A. Kilkenny, Vice- Chair Susan Alleman Christopher B. Amandes Keiji Asakura Sonny Garza Jim Jard Paul R. Nelson Absent Linda Porras-Pirtle Left at 5: 42 p.m. during item I Robin Reed Richard A. Rice David Robinson Left at 5:32 during item 57 Jeff Ross Algenita Segars Talmadge Sharp, Sr. Blake Tart III Beth Wolff Left at 5:42 p.m. during item I Shaukat Zakaria Absent Mark Mooney for The Honorable Ed Chance Arrived at 2:38 p.m. during Director’s Report; left at 4:39 p.m. during item 47 The Honorable Ed Emmett Absent The Honorable Grady Prestage Absent
EXOFFICIO MEMBERS
Carol A. Lewis Absent Mike Marcotte Absent Dawn Ullrich Absent Frank Wilson Absent
DIRECTOR’S REPORT The Director’s Report was given by Marlene L. Gafrick, Director, Planning and Development Department.
APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 29, 2010 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Commission action: Approved the April 29, 2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Motion: Sharp Second: Segars Vote: Carries Abstaining: Ross
I. REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE 10 YEAR UPDATE OF THE IMPACT FEE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND MAXIMUM IMPACT FEE CALCULATIONS The Review and Consideration of the 10 Year Update of the Impact Fee Capital Improvement Plan and Maximum Impact Fee Calculations was presented by Mark Loethen -Chief Engineer, PWE. Commission action: Accepted the Review and Consideration of the 10 Year Update of the Impact Fee Capital Improvement Plan and Maximum Impact Fee Calculations and forwarded to City Council for approval. Motion: Reed Second: Rice Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
II. PLATTING ACTIVITY (Consent items A and B, 1- 42) Items removed for separate consideration: 4, 5, 7, 10, and 30. Item 2 was changed from grant the requested variance to approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Items 21 and 22 will be taken with item 53 in the variance section.
Staff recommendation: Approve staff’s recommendation for items 1 - 42 subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved staff’s recommendation for items 1 - 42 subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Garza Second: Wolff Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
Commissioners Alleman, Amandes, and Ross abstained and left the room.
Staff recommendation: Approve staff’s recommendation for items 4, 5, 7, 10, and 30 subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved staff’s recommendation for items 4, 5, 7, 10, and 30 subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Reed Second: Segars Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
Commissioners Alleman, Amandes, and Ross returned.
C PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item 49 was taken at this time to allow Council Member Oliver Pennington to speak.
49 WEST OAKS PLAT NO. 2 PARTIAL C3N Approve REPLAT NO. 1 Staff recommendation: Grant the requested variance and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested variance and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Reed Second: Garza Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None Speakers for item 49: Mary Lou Henry – applicant; Council Member Oliver Pennington – position not stated; David Cowan – opposed.
43 CINCO RANCH SOUTHWEST SEC. 33 PARTIAL C3N Approve REPLAT NO. 2 Staff recommendation: Approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Segars Second: Wolff Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
44 DURHAM PLACE REPLAT No. 1 C3N Approve Staff recommendation: Approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Rice Second: Sharp Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
45 FALL CREEK SEC. 11 PARTIAL REPLAT NO. 2 C3N Approve Staff recommendation: Approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Garza Second: Rice Vote: Carries Abstaining: Jard Speakers for item 45: Randy Owens and Jerry Turner – opposed; Rudy Velasquez – City of Houston Legal Department.
46 FALL CREEK SEC. 11 PARTIAL REPLAT NO. 3 C3N Approve Staff recommendation: Approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Garza Second: Rice Vote: Carries Abstaining: Jard Speakers for item 46: Sarah Kozul, Randy Owens, and Jerry Turner – opposed.
47 LANGWOOD SEC. 3 PARTIAL REPLAT NO. 1 C3N Approve Staff recommendation: Deny the requested variance for a zero foot building line, but grant a variance for a dual building line for the life of the carport structure as currently constructed and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Denied the requested variance for a zero foot building line, but granted a variance for a dual building line for the life of the carport structure as currently constructed and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Sharp Second: Segars Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
48 LANGWOOD SEC. 3 PARTIAL REPLAT NO. 2 C3N Approve Staff recommendation: Deny the requested variance for a zero foot building line, but grant a variance for a dual building line for the life of the carport structure as currently constructed and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Denied the requested variance for a zero foot building line, but granted a variance for a dual building line for the life of the carport structure as currently constructed and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Segars Second: Wolff Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
D VARIANCES
50 HAGER LABORATORY SERVICE SUBDIVISION C2R Approve REPLAT NO. 1 Staff recommendation: Grant the requested variance and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested variance and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Jard Second: Reed Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
51 LOUISIANA HADLEY CROSSING SUBDIVISION C2R Approve Staff recommendation: Grant the requested variances and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested variances and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Robinson Second: Ross Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None Speaker for item 54: Belinda King – applicant.
52 NATIONAL SPORT ZONE SUBDIVISION C2 Withdrawn
Items 21, 22, and 53 are taken together.
21 PRESERVE AT NORTHAMPTON GP GP Defer 22 PRESERVE AT NORTHAMPTON SEC. 1 C3P Defer 53 PRESERVE AT NORTHAMPTON DETENTION C3P Defer RESERVE SUBDIVISION Staff recommendation: Defer the general plan and the plats for two weeks at the applicant’s request. Commission action: Deferred the general plan and the plats for two weeks at the applicant’s request. Motion: Ross Second: Wolff Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
54 SPEEDEE MART ON ELLA SUBDIVISION C2R Approve Staff recommendation: Grant the requested variances and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested variances to include additional landscaping requirements and sign ordinance compliance and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Sharp Second: Ross Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None Speaker for item 54: Omid Sharifian – applicant.
55 SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE DELTA SEC. 1 C2 Approve Staff recommendation: Defer the plat for two weeks to allow time for the applicant to provide additional and revised information. Commission action: Granted the requested variance and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Ross Second: Robinson Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None Speaker for item 55: Charles Penland – applicant.
56 TEXAS STEEL CONVERSION HOLMES C2R Approve ROAD SUBDIVISION Staff recommendation: Grant the requested variance and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested variance and approved the plat to include 1.5” caliper trees along the public rights-of-way and subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motions: Segars Second: Robinson Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None Speaker for item 56: Belinda King – applicant.
E SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS
57 WATER HAVEN AT BRIDGELAND SEC. 5 C3P Approve Staff recommendation: Grant the requested special exception and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested special exception and approved the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Wolff Second: Sharp Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
F RECONSIDERATION OF REQUIREMENTS
58 ODUTAYOU ESTATES SUBDIVISION C2 Defer Staff recommendation: Defer the plat for two weeks to allow time for the applicant to provide a copy of drainage plan and for further review by staff. Commission action: Deferred the plat for two weeks to allow time for the applicant to provide a copy of drainage plan and for further review by staff. Motion: Wolff Second: Sharp Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
Commissioner Rice abstained and left the room.
59 TOWNE LAKE SEC. 8 C3F Approve Staff recommendation: Grant the requested reconsideration of requirements and approve the plat subject to the CPC 101 form conditions. Commission action: Granted the requested reconsideration of requirements and approved the plat subject tot the CPC 101 form conditions. Motion: Garza Second: Sharp Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
Commissioner Rice returned.
G ADMINISTRATIVE NONE
H DEVELOPMENT PLAT VARIANCES NONE
I CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE
60 Tuttle Enterprises, Inc. COC Approve 61 Edward A. Mihalov COC Approve 62 Gregorio Carrasco COC Approve 63 Sindi Martinez COC Approve 64 Ruben Gomez Centeno COC Approve Staff recommendation: Issue the Certificates of Compliance for items 60-64. Commission action: Issued the Certificates of Compliance for items 60-64. Motion: Reed Second: Garza Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
J EXTENSIONS OF APPROVAL AND NAME CHANGES
65 Aldine ISD Spears Gears Road Sec. 1 EOA Approve 66 Barkers Crossing Sec. 5 EOA Approve 67 Barkers Crossing Sec. 7 EOA Approve 68 Compass Bank Richmond Subdivision EOA Approve 69 Fannin Station Sec. 2 EOA Approve 70 Post Oak Green Subdivision EOA Approve 71 Three Oaks Subdivision EOA Approve 72 West Greens Road from Future Ella Blvd to EOA Approve Spears Gears Rd STD 73 Woodbridge Sec. 1 EOA Approve Staff recommendation: Approve staff’s recommendation for items 65 - 73. Commission action: Approved staff’s recommendation for items 65 - 73. Motion: Ross Second: Reed Vote: Carries Abstaining: Alleman on item 65 and Amandes on item 68
III. ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF JUNE 10, 2010 FOR: a. Meadow Vista Sec. 1 Partial Replat No. 1 b. Meyerland Sec. 8 Replat 1 Partial Replat No. 1 c. Windstone Colony South Sec. 1 Replat No. 1 Staff recommendation: Establish a public hearing date of June 10, 2010 for items III a-c. Commission action: Established a public hearing date of June 10, 2010 for items III a-c. Motion: Sharp Second: Garza Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
IV. CONSIDERATION OF AN OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1210 W. CLAY STREET Staff recommendation: Defer the requested variance for two weeks to allow time for the applicant to provide revised and additional information. Commission action: Deferred the requested variance for two weeks to allow time for the applicant to provide revised and additional information. Motion: Jard Second: Segars Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
V. PUBLIC COMMENT NONE
VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business brought before the Commission, Vice -Chair, Mark A. Kilkenny, adjourned the meeting at 5:48 p.m. Motion: Reed Second: Alleman Vote: Unanimous Abstaining: None
______Mark A. Kilkenny, Vice- Chair Marlene L. Gafrick, Secretary
Platting Activity Houston Planning Commission PC Date: May 27, 2010
Item No Plat Name Class Staff Recommendation
A-Consent 1 Acreage Crossing at Stone Creek GP GP 2 Braeswood Addition partial replat no 1 C3F 3 Cinco Ranch Southwest Sec 33 partial replat no 2 C3F 4 Cinco Ranch Southwest Sec 44 C3F 5 Cinco Ranch Southwest Sec 47 C3F 6 Cinco Ranch Southwest Sec 48 C3F 7 Clearview Village Sec 5 (DEF) C3F 8 Clearview Village Sec 7 (DEF) C3F 9 Copper Lakes Sec 17 C3P 10 Deerbrook Commons Subdivision C2 Deerbrook Estates Sec 1 partial replat no 1 and 11 Extension C3F 12 Dominic Gardens Subdivision (DEF) C3F 13 Fall Creek Sec 11 partial replat no 2 C3F 14 Fall Creek Sec 11 partial replat no 3 C3F 15 Food Mart at Mission Glen Subdivision C2 Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District no 50 16 Wastewater Treatment Plant C3F 17 Gleannloch Farms North GP GP 18 Hawks Landing Sec 1 C3F 19 Interwood Sec 9 C3F 20 Jasmine Heights Sec 2 C3P 21 Jasmine Heights Sec 3 C3P 22 Jorden Road GP GP 23 Kabam Square Subdivision C2 24 Lake Pointe Estates Sec 1 partial replat no 1 C3F 25 Mirtron AC and Heating Company Subdivision (DEF) C2 26 Nemec Place Subdivision (2DEF) C2 27 Northcrest Village Sec 7 partial replat no 1 C3F 28 Northlake at Gleannloch Subdivision C3P 29 Pacos Bakery Subdivision C2 30 Peaceful Refuge Subdivision (DEF) C2 31 Progressive Baptist Church Subdivision C2 32 Remington Creek Ranch Sec 2 (2DEF) C3F 33 Silver Ranch Sec 5 (DEF) C3P 34 South Drive Subdivision C2 35 Stella Link GP GP 36 Villages of Cypress Lakes Sec 23 C3F 37 Waters Edge Sec 11 (DEF) C3P 38 Werrington Park Sec 2 C3F 39 Wolf Plaza Subdivision C2 40 Woodbridge Sec 4 C3F Woodlands Carlton Woods Creekside Sec 10 In The 41 Village of Creekside Park replat no 1 C3F Woodlands Lake Woodlands East Shore Sec 2 replat 42 no 1 partial replat no 2 C3F 43 Woodlands Metro Center Sec 71 C3F 44 Woodlands Village Creekside Park Fire Station no 7 C3P Woodlands Village Of Creekside Park Sec 13 partial 45 replat no 1 C3F
Platting Activity Houston Planning Commission PC Date: May 27, 2010
B-Replats 46 Breen Square Subdivision C2R 47 Copperfield Center partial replat no 1 C2R 48 Emmett Westco replat no 1 and Extension C2R 49 Kiam Street Place Sec 2 C2R 50 Kingwood Electric Plaza Subdivison C2R 51 Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church Subdivision C2R 52 Malone Landing Sec 2 C2R 53 Robles Park Apartments Subdivision (2DEF) C2R 54 Rosslyn Gardens partial replat no 1 C2R 55 Stanford Square Subdivision C2R 56 Summerlyn Sec 3 (DEF) C3R 57 Villas Fontanella Subdivision C3R
C-Public Hearings Requiring Notification 58 Rodrigo Duplex replat no 1 (PH052710) C3N Villages of Cypress Lakes Sec 17 partial replat no 1 59 (PH052710) C3N
D-Variances 60 Carrabbas Subdivision C2R 61 Graces Restaurant Subdivision C2R 62 Hannover Commercial Park Subdivision C3P 63 Jorden Road STD C3P 64 Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church Subdivision C2R 65 Preserve at Northampton GP (DEF) GP Preserve at Northampton Detention Reserve 66 Subdivision (DEF) C3P 67 Preserve at Northampton Sec 1 (DEF) C3P
F-Reconsideration of Requirements 68 Lakemont Shores Sec 3 C3P 69 Odutayou Estates Subdivision (2DEF) C2
Platting Activity Houston Planning Commission Meeting Date: May 27, 2010
Item no. /Plat Name Type Staff Recommendation
H. DEVELOPMENT PLATS WITH VARIANCE REQUESTS 70. 4411 LEFFINGWELL STREET DPV 71. 2245 STANMORE DRIVE DPV
I. Certificates of Compliance 72. PATE ENGINEERS INC COC 73. MARTHA ANDERSON AND DAGOBERTO LEAL COC
J. Extensions of Approval and Name Changes 74. Almeda Genoa Plaza Subdivision EOA 75. Greensbrook Place Sec 4 EOA 76. Klein ISD Bernshausen Elementary School Sec 2 (formerly Klein ISD Elementary School No 28 Sec 2) NC 77. Patriots by the Lake Sec 6 EOA 78. Woodstream Acres Sec 1 EOA
Other Development Activity Houston Planning Commission Meeting Date: May 27, 2010 FILE LAMB. KEY CITY/ LOCATION NO. ZIP NO. MAP ETJ
H. DEVELOPMENT PLATS WITH VARIANCE REQUESTS
70. 4411 LEFFINGWELL STREET 10021089 77026 5459 454X City 71. 2245 STANMORE DRIVE 10040198 77019 5257 492Q City
I. Certificates of Compliance 72. PATE ENGINEERS INC 10-791 77380 5172 252W ETJ 73. MARTHA ANDERSON AND DAGOBERTO LEAL 10-792 77365 5671 296P ETJ
J. Extensions of Approval and Name Changes
74. Almeda Genoa Plaza Subdivision H EOA 2009-0351 77047 5351 572V CITY
Total acreage: 15.377 #Lots: 0 #Apt. units: 0 #Acres/reserve* 15.377 Applicant: Chesterfield Engineering Developer: A. Atiyah
75. Greensbrook Place Sec 4 H EOA 2009-0421 77044 5763 416Q ETJ
Total acreage: 7.5132 #Lots: 52 #Apt. units: 0 #Acres/reserve* 1.0 Applicant: Landev Engineering, Inc.. Developer: Woodmere Development Co., Ltd
76. Klein ISD Bernshausen Elementary School Sec 2 H NC 2010-0319 77375 4871 289K ETJ (formerly Klein ISD Elementary School no 28 Sec 2)
Total acreage: 5.1844 #Lots: 0 #Apt. units: 0 #Acres/reserve* 5.1844 Applicant: American-Lupher Land Surveyors, Inc.. Developer: Klein ISD
77. Patriots by the Lake Sec 6 H EOA 2009-0400 77044 5866 377Q CITY
Total acreage: 6.855 #Lots: 0 #Apt. units: 0 #Acres/reserve* 6.855 Applicant: LJA Engineering Developer: Harris County Housing Authority
78. Woodstream Acres Sec 1 H EOA 2009-0452 77365 5871 297P CITY
Total acreage: 5.947 #Lots: 14 #Apt. units: 0 #Acres/reserve* 0 Applicant: Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. Developer: Oticon Texas Properties, Inc.
* #acres/reserve is rounded up to whole number City of Houston Planning and Development Department, Development Services
Planning Commission CITY OF HOUSTON Meeting Date: 5/27/10 HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION ITEM: 72 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Applicant: PATE ENGINEERS INC Contact Person: RANDY ODINET File Lamb. Key City/ Location No. Zip No. Map ETJ
10-791 77380 5172 252-W ETJ WEST OF: I-45 SOUTH OF: SAWDUST.
ADDRESS: 701 Westridge Rd.
ACREAGE:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: THAT CERTAIN TRACK OF LAND CONTAINING A TOTLA OF APPROXIMATELY 2.5235 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, LOCATED IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS.
PURPOSE OF REQUEST: To water and sewer
STAFF REPORT
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Planning Commission CITY OF HOUSTON Meeting Date: 5/27/10 HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION ITEM: 73 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Applicant: MARTHA ANDERSON AND DAGOBERTO LEAL Contact Person: MARTHA ANDERSON File Lamb. Key City/ Location No. Zip No. Map ETJ
10-792 77365 5671 296-P ETJ EAST OF: LOOP 494 NORTH OF: NORTHPARK.
ADDRESS: 22123 E. Knox Dr.
ACREAGE:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT THIRTEEN (13), BLOCK ONE (1) OF OAKLAND ACRES NO. TWO, IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS, AS PER MAP OR PLAT THEREOF FILE FOR RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ND TEXAS ON THE 22 DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1958 UNDER COUNTY CLERK’S FILE NO. 121386.
PURPOSE OF REQUEST: To water and sewer
STAFF REPORT
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BASIS OF RECOMMENDATION:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
VARIANCE REQUEST APPLICATION
An applicant seeking a variance to the Parking Standards of Chapter 26 of the City of Houston’s Code of Ordinances must complete the following application and submit an electronic copy of the Microsoft Word document to [email protected] prior to 11:00am on the submittal dates adopted by the Houston Planning Commission. For complete submittal requirements, please visit the City of Houston Planning & Development Department website at www.houstonplanning.com.
APPLICANT COMPANY CONTACT PERSON PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS
TBG/Vernon Henry Mary Lou Henry,FAICP (713)439-0027 [email protected]
PROPERTY ADDRESS ZIP CODE LAMBERT KEY MAP COUNCIL DISTRICT
1210 WEST CLAY 77019 5357 493N D
HCAD ACCOUNT NUMBER(S): 0512960000009
PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LTS 9 THRU 22 & TR 27 BLK 2; HARLOW
PROPERTY OWNER OF RECORD: TRIBECA LOFTS LP
ACREAGE (SQUARE FEET): 70,000 sq.ft.
WIDTH OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY: Eberhard – 50’ West Clay – 60’ Van Buren – 50’
EXISTING PAVING SECTION(S): Eberhard – 27’ West Clay – 28’ Van Buren – 27’
OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT: CURRENT OCCUPANCIES 3 one-bedroom residences (2 are live/work) = 4 spaces Health clubs 6,001 SF @ 5/1000 SF = 30 spaces Office 23,524SF @ 2.5/1000 SF = 58 spaces Clinic 4,707 sq.ft. @ 3.5/1000 SF = 16 spaces Vacant (to be office) 9,467 sq.ft. @ 2.5/1000 SF = 24 spaces TOTAL 132 spaces
OFF-STREET PARKING PROVIDED: 28 Spaces
LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS: N/A
EXISTING STRUCTURE(S) [SQ. FT.]: Total Area 58,133 sq.ft.
PROPOSED STRUCTURE(S) [SQ. FT.]: no new structures
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
PURPOSE OF VARIANCE REQUEST: The purpose of the variance request is to allow an existing mixed use structure to satisfy its off-street parking requirements with 28 spaces, instead of the 132 spaces required by Chapter 26 standards.
CHAPTER 26 REFERENCE(S):
26.-492 Parking Spaces for certain types of occupancies Class 1 Office a. Office 2.5 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of GFA Class 3 Health Care Facilities d. Clinic (medical or dental) 3.5 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of GFA Class 6 Recreation and Entertainment f. Sports club/health spa 5.0 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of GFA 26-499 Shared parking requirements (a)Notwithstanding any other parking requirements of this article, hen any parcel of land is proposed to be used for tow or more of the distinguishable purposes listed below (i.e. mixed use development), the adjustment of the minimum number of parking spaces required to serve the combination of all occupancies shall be determined in accordance with the following formula: (1) Determine the minimum amount of parking required for each occupancy as though it were a separate use. (2) Multiply each such amount by the corresponding percentage for each applicable time period showing in the following schedule:
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
APPLICANT STATEMENT OF FACTS
SUMMARY OF VARIANCE CONDITIONS (BE AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE): The purpose of the variance request is to allow continued occupancy of this National Register historic structure for a variety of uses, including offices, with the available parking of 28 spaces on-site and 20 leased from a use that is not listed as being allowed to share parking under the current Parking Credit Schedule. 6 additional spaces have an agreement with a use across Van Buren Street but that use is industrial and therefore falls in the same category as office use, making those spaces also ineligible to be “shared” under the Schedule. Total available parking is 54 spaces. To allow 48% of the spaces provided to be off-site and 11% to be more than 250’ from a door used by the public when measured along a qualified pedestrian path.
The building was constructed in 1936 for Clark & Coats Printers. It was purchased and restored by Randall Davis Company in 1992 and converted to lofts. The restoration won much acclaim and many awards for its adaptive reuse and preservation of the building; the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. All but two of the spaces created in the restoration were approximately 2,000 sq. ft. each and were marketed to tenants from the beginning as commercial and/or residential spaces (see copy of marketing brochure attached). The building permit for the restoration treated the spaces as “live/work”, which are regarded as residential apartments. The restoration divided the building into 22 individual spaces with a common central hallway; in addition, each space has an exterior entrance off the street. The initial occupancy permit(s) under the building code was residential with the exception of the leasing office. There is no classification called “live/work” despite the fact that a number of other projects have been called that during construction and/or marketing. Over the years, building code interpretations have varied with respect to such projects. TriBeCa has 22 spaces, which, if called 1-bedroom apartments, would have required 29 parking spaces. (There are 28 spaces in the gated garage that is part of the building and another 4 head-in spaces that are partially on the site and partially in the West Clay right-of-way) Most initial tenants included residential use but many also included office use by the resident (and were considered “live/work”). Over the years, the use of the spaces has gradually transitioned so that today only three of the spaces include residential use. Four are presently vacant; one of the 4 has been leased and the potential tenant wants to use it as an office... The remainder are used for a variety of offices, health and fitness facilities, a photographer’s studio/office, and a treatment clinic for breast cancer survivors and at-risk children. The spaces are leased to tenants “as is”; any interior changes or improvements are up to the tenants. The loft-style spaces have minimal interior walls, making their use flexible. Few non-decorative changes have been made since the building was restored. Although most tenants are unaware of it, the building code makes the tenant responsible for securing the occupancy permit. If there is no construction, no building permit is issued and there is nothing to trigger the tenant’s need for an occupancy permit. Even when some remodeling is undertaken by the tenants, most interior remodeling permits are not sent to the Planning Desk in the Permit Office for review of the proposed use... Consequently, review of the parking requirements was not made as the uses changed. A recent site inspection by the Building Permit Section of Public Works disclosed the changed usage, including a parking deficiency according to the requirements of Chapter 26. The required parking for the current uses is listed by use at the beginning of this application and is a total of 130 spaces. Since the spaces are flexible, in the future the owner will have the leasing agent include in leases a requirement that the tenant secure and provide them with a copy of the tenant’s occupancy permit. The leasing agent will maintain a schedule showing parking required and parking available. Spaces will not be leased to uses for which there is less parking than authorized by the Commission.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
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APPLICANT’S STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant must clearly identify how the requested variance meets the criteria in ALL items (1) through (5); and, if applicable, the sixth (6) condition. The information provided will be used to evaluate the merits of the request. An electronic copy of any supporting documentation reference within the “Applicant’s Statement of Facts” should be emailed to the Planning Department at [email protected].
(1) The imposition of the terms, rules, conditions, policies and standards of this article would deprive the owner or applicant of the property of reasonable use of the land or building; This is a National Register historic building in a fully developed urban neighborhood. There is no vacant land in the vicinity available for additional parking for this building. Other uses in the immediate vicinity are willing to share their unused parking during the normal operating hours (8-5 M-F) of the business tenants in this building. The number of people in each of the business spaces in this building is relatively low; they do not use all of the parking already supplied. Additional parking, if it were to be available, would not be used by the tenants. The long, linear building abuts three public streets where curbside parking is available. Many tenants choose to park along the street for convenience. Without a variance, many of the existing tenants will be required to move out of the building, which would be a severe hardship for many of them as well as for the building owner. . It is also quire possible that the owner might be forced to demolish all or part of the building in order to construct a viable use or to provide additional parking.
(2) That the circumstances supporting the granting of the variance are not the result of a hardship imposed or created by the applicant and that in granting the variance the general purposes of this article are being observed and maintained; The building was constructed in 1936 when car ownership was much more limited and Houston was much smaller in area. Only a small amount of parking was needed. The building covers most of the site area and the site is too small to accommodate the parking required under the ordinance passed 52 years after the building was constructed.
(3) The intent of this article is preserved; The intent of the article is to insure that a particular land use has sufficient parking on site to accommodate the needs of that use. The on-site spaces in the gated garage are all assigned and used regularly although they are rarely 100% occupied. The schedule provided as an attachment to this request shows the use of the leased lot across Eberhard Ave. from the site. It is never fully utilized because there are few occupants in most of the spaces because of the nature of the tenants attracted to this historic building. The actual use of the parking lots is further diminished because many people prefer to use the on-street parking because of its locational convenience. (4) The parking provided will be sufficient to serve the use for which it is intended;
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
The attachment referred to above and attached to this request indicates that the off-site parking provided Is poorly utilized because it is not needed and because people prefer to park in legal street locations.
(5) The granting of such a variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety or welfare; and
The public welfare is protected by the preservation and adaptive re-use of historic buildings, such as this one, to conserve our natural resources, promote sustainable development and provide a tie to our heritage.
(6) For a development that is subject to the requirements of article VII, chapter 33, of this Code, the granting of the variance is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to article VII, chapter 33, of this Code.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
STANDARDS FOR VARIANCES
(a) The commission is authorized to consider and grant variances from the provisions of this article by majority vote of those members present and voting, when the commission determines that the first five of the following conditions exist, and if applicable, the sixth condition, exists:
(1) The imposition of the terms, rules, conditions, policies and standards of this article would deprive the owner or applicant of the property of reasonable use of the land or building;
(2) That the circumstances supporting the granting of the variance are not the result of a hardship imposed or created by the applicant and that in granting the variance the general purposes of this article are being observed and maintained;
(3) The intent of this article is preserved;
(4) The parking provided will be sufficient to serve the use for which it is intended;
(5) The granting of such a variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety or welfare; and
(6) For a development that is subject to the requirements of article VII, chapter 33, of this Code, the granting of the variance is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to article VII, chapter 33, of this Code.
(b) In addition, if the variance involves an off-site parking facility, the commission must determine that a proposed off-site parking facility will be located so that it will adequately serve the use for which it is intended. In making this determination, the following factors, among other things, shall be considered:
(1) The location of the proposed building and the proposed off-site parking facility.
(2) Existing and potential parking demand created by other occupancies in the vicinity.
(3) The characteristics of the occupancy, including employee and customer parking demand, hours of operation, and projected convenience and frequency of use of the off-site parking.
(4) Adequacy, convenience, and safety of pedestrian access between off-site parking and the occupancy.
(5) Traffic patterns on adjacent streets, and proposed access to the off-site parking.
(6) The report and recommendation of the director and the traffic engineer.
Any variance granted under the provisions of this section will apply only to the specific property and use upon which the commission was requested to grant a variance by the applicant and shall not constitute a change of this article or any part hereof. All variances as granted shall be in writing shall be signed by the secretary of the commission and maintained as a permanent record of the commission.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: IV Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
VARIANCE REQUEST APPLICATION
An applicant seeking a variance to the Parking Standards of Chapter 26 of the City of Houston’s Code of Ordinances must complete the following application and submit an electronic copy of the Microsoft Word document to [email protected] prior to 11:00am on the submittal dates adopted by the Houston Planning Commission. For complete submittal requirements, please visit the City of Houston Planning & Development Department website at www.houstonplanning.com.
APPLICANT COMPANY CONTACT PERSON PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS
TBG/ Vernon Henry Mary Lou Henry, FAICP (713)439-0027 [email protected]
PROPERTY ADDRESS ZIP CODE LAMBERT KEY MAP COUNCIL DISTRICT
3115 Kirby Drive 77098 5256 492U C
HCAD ACCOUNT NUMBER(S): 0121380060002
PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1-4 of Tract No. 1 of the George Rich Subdivision (Vol.25, Pg.25 H.C.M.R.); and Lots 1-6 of Block F of the Dozier Addition (Vol. 302, Pg. 300 H.C.D.R.)
PROPERTY OWNER OF RECORD: Carrabba, Inc.
ACREAGE (SQUARE FEET): 0.9241 ac. (40,254 sq.ft.)
WIDTH OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY: Kirby Drive – 100’; Branard Street – 50’; West Main Street – 50’
EXISTING PAVING SECTION(S): Kirby Drive - ; Branard Street – 28’; West Main Street -28’
OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT: Existing building (7400 sq.ft. @8/1000) 59 spaces Future building (10,650 sq.ft. @8/1000) 85 spaces
OFF-STREET PARKING PROVIDED: Existing building during construction of future building (79 surface 275 garage) 354 spaces Future Building will have 39 spaces on site and will share 275 garage spaces and 79 surface spaces with two other restaurants. The other restaurants will have 10 surface spaces also, to be used for handicap and take-out parking.
LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS: 7 street trees to be preserved on Kirby; Branard will require 9 new trees and West Main will require 7 new trees; The parking lot will require 4 new trees. Shrubs will also be required. (The site plan illustrates 19 new street trees and 25 parking lot trees but is conceptual only, not a specific landscape plan, which will be submitted with the building permit application).
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission ITEM: V City of Houston Planning and Development Department Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
EXISTING STRUCTURE(S) [SQ. FT.]: apx. 7400 square feet
PROPOSED STRUCTURE(S) [SQ. FT.]: apx. 10,650 square feet
PURPOSE OF VARIANCE REQUEST: #1 To allow all off-street parking during construction of the new restaurant building to be located off-site and at a distance of more than 250’ from the public door. #2 To allow more than 25% of the required parking for the new restaurant building to be located off-site at a distance of more than 250’ from the public doors
CHAPTER 26 REFERENCE(S): 26-498 Off-Site parking (A)………. At least 75% of the parking facilities required by this article are located on the site. Provided, however, that all or any portion of the parking facilities required by this article may be located off the site for which the permit is sought if those parking facilities are located no more than 250 feet from a public entrance and that 250 feet is on a clearly delineated pedestrian path or walkway.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
APPLICANT STATEMENT OF FACTS
SUMMARY OF VARIANCE CONDITIONS(BE AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE): The existing Carrabba’s restaurant is to be rebuilt on the parking lot south of the existing building. While the new building is under construction, the restaurant will remain in operation but all parking will be off-site in a new parking garage (to be constructed first) across the Branard Street and in an existing open parking lot on the east side of Argonne Street. Both are more than 250’ from the existing restaurant door. When the new Carrabba’s restaurant building opens and the old building is demolished, a new parking lot will be constructed on the same block as the restaurant. However, this parking lot will only provide 39 spaces (49% of what is required); the remainder will be across Branard Street in the new garage and across Argonne in the existing open parking lot. Both the garage and the lot will be shared with two new restaurants to be constructed adjacent to Kirby on the block west of Argonne. One of the new restaurants will have 9,340 sq. ft., requiring 75 parking spaces. The second will have 3115 sq. ft., requiring 25 spaces, plus office space of 2700 sq. ft., requiring 7 spaces. The block north of Branard will have 10 open parking spaces and a garage for approximately 275 spaces. All three new buildings together will require 192 spaces. A total of 405 spaces are being provided on the three blocks.
APPLICANT’S STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant must clearly identify how the requested variance meets the criteria in ALL items (1) through (5); and, if applicable, the sixth (6) condition. The information provided will be used to evaluate the merits of the request. An electronic copy of any supporting documentation reference within the “Applicant’s Statement of Facts” should be emailed to the Planning Department at [email protected].
(1) The imposition of the terms, rules, conditions, policies and standards of this article would deprive the owner or applicant of the property of reasonable use of the land or building; Block dimensions in this older area of Houston are relatively small and land availability is limited. In order to build a new restaurant on the available land while the popular existing one remains in operation, all the parking must be provided off-site across the street during construction. Even through the garage to be constructed is immediately across the street, if a pedestrian follows the sidewalk and crosses the street at the corner, the distance is greater than 250’ both from the door of the current building and from the new building. Because of the size of the parcels, the parking demand cannot be satisfied on-site without garage parking. If the parking were to be constructed under the buildings, it would not be possible to create the pedestrian environment sought for the transit streets. (2) That the circumstances supporting the granting of the variance are not the result of a hardship imposed or created by the applicant and that in granting the variance the general purposes of this article are being observed and maintained; The distance standard for off-site parking was established in an era when it was thought that people were not willing to walk and when most new development was occurring in the suburbs on large tracts of land. (3) The intent of this article is preserved;
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
The intent of the article is to insure that a particular land use has sufficient parking on site to accommodate the needs of that use. These three restaurants, with their shared parking, will greatly exceed the number of spaces required. Their parking has been sized to meet their anticipated demand.
(4) The parking provided will be sufficient to serve the use for which it is intended;
Parking being provided is far in excess of parking required; it has been determined by the owner’s estimates of actual demand at the current restaurant and anticipated demand at the new restaurants.
(5) The granting of such a variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety or welfare; and
Walking a distance greater than 250’ will actually contribute to the public health.
(6) For a development that is subject to the requirements of article VII, chapter 33, of this Code, the granting of the variance is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to article VII, chapter 33, of this Code.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
STANDARDS FOR VARIANCES
(a) The commission is authorized to consider and grant variances from the provisions of this article by majority vote of those members present and voting, when the commission determines that the first five of the following conditions exist, and if applicable, the sixth condition exists:
(1) The imposition of the terms, rules, conditions, policies and standards of this article would deprive the owner or applicant of the property of reasonable use of the land or building;
(2) That the circumstances supporting the granting of the variance are not the result of a hardship imposed or created by the applicant and that in granting the variance the general purposes of this article are being observed and maintained;
(3) The intent of this article is preserved;
(4) The parking provided will be sufficient to serve the use for which it is intended;
(5) The granting of such a variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety or welfare; and
(6) For a development that is subject to the requirements of article VII, chapter 33, of this Code, the granting of the variance is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a certificate of appropriateness issued pursuant to article VII, chapter 33, of this Code.
(b) In addition, if the variance involves an off-site parking facility, the commission must determine that a proposed off-site parking facility will be located so that it will adequately serve the use for which it is intended. In making this determination, the following factors, among other things, shall be considered:
(1) The location of the proposed building and the proposed off-site parking facility.
(2) Existing and potential parking demand created by other occupancies in the vicinity.
(3) The characteristics of the occupancy, including employee and customer parking demand, hours of operation, and projected convenience and frequency of use of the off-site parking.
(4) Adequacy, convenience, and safety of pedestrian access between off-site parking and the occupancy.
(5) Traffic patterns on adjacent streets, and proposed access to the off-site parking.
(6) The report and recommendation of the director and the traffic engineer.
Any variance granted under the provisions of this section will apply only to the specific property and use upon which the commission was requested to grant a variance by the applicant and shall not constitute a change of this article or any part hereof. All variances as granted shall be in writing shall be signed by the secretary of the commission and maintained as a permanent record of the commission.
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
Houston Planning Commission City of Houston Planning and Development Department ITEM: V Meeting Date: 05/27/2010
SITE PLAN
OFF-STREET PARKING VARIANCE
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT
LANDMARK NAME: Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House AGENDA ITEM: VI OWNERS: Jenny Chang and Wei T. Yang HPO FILE NO: 10L227 APPLICANTS: Same DATE ACCEPTED: Feb-25-10 LOCATION: 2184 Troon Road HAHC HEARING: May-20-10 30-DAY HEARING NOTICE: N/A PC HEARING: May-27-2010
SITE INFORMATION Lot 19, Block 53, River Oaks Section 3, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas. The site includes a two-story, wood framed, brick veneer, single family residence, and detached garage.
TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUESTED: Landmark Designation
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE SUMMARY: The Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House at 2184 Troon Road is an excellent example of the Colonial Revival style. The house was built circa 1938 by contractor Ivan Greer for Dean and Rosa E. Strickland. The house is located in River Oaks, which is Houston’s highest status residential neighborhood and is known nation-wide as a symbol of Houston. The most prominent resident was Lera Thomas, who was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the State of Texas. Lera was also a consultant for the U.S. State Department Agency for International Development, a member of the Houston League of Women Voters, and creator of Millard's Crossing Historic Village, which preserves some of Nacogdoches County’s most important historic structures. Lera’s husband was the legislator, Albert Thomas. Mr. Thomas served as attorney of Nacogdoches County and later as Assistant United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. He was also elected to the House of Representatives to represent the Eighth District in the United States, which comprised all of Harris County, including the city of Houston. Albert Thomas served the people of Harris County for 29 years.
The Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House meets Criteria 1, 3, and 4 for Landmark designation.
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE:
Ownership History
The home at 2184 Troon Road was built by contractor Ivan Greer circa 1938 for Dean and Rosa E. Strickland. The original plans exist which show that the home was built for the Stricklands; however, no architect is mentioned on the plans. Dean Strickland was employed as a sales manager for Houston Gas and Fuel, a division of United Gas Corporation, where he remained with the company until his death in 1953. After Dean Strickland’s death, his widow Rosa remained in the home until 1963 when it was sold to Edward A. and Ann Lasater, the daughter and son-in-law of Albert and Lera Thomas. Edward and Ann Lasater lived in the home until 1967, after which time the City Directory lists Lera Thomas, the widow of Congressman Albert CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
Thomas, as occupying the home. Lera Thomas lived in the home until 1968 when she returned to her hometown of Nacogdoches. At this time, the house passed back to Ann and Edward Lasater who remained there until 1992.
River Oaks
When Will C. Hogg, Mike Hogg, and Hugh Potter began the development of River Oaks in 1923, it was with the intention of making it into a demonstration of the highest standards of modern community planning, a role model for the rest of Houston to follow. Will Hogg’s ambitiousness and Hugh Potter’s skillful management of River Oaks during its first thirty years made the community known nation-wide as a symbol of Houston. Encouraging home-owners to retain the most talented architects in Houston (as well as several architects of national reputation) to design new houses, they succeeded in creating a large, professionally-administered residential community that demonstrated the potential for beauty in a raw and often raucous city. During the 1920s and 1930s, River Oaks was constantly published in national news, real estate, and design media, highlighting its planning standards, its residential architecture, and its landscape design. Since the 1970s, River Oaks has also been the focus of scholarly analysis, in recognition of its significant contributions to the history of Houston and twentieth-century American elite suburban community development.
The creation of this type of subdivision was unique for Houston in many respects. The subdivision was laid out at what was then the far western edge of Houston. Prior to 1923, the majority of Houston’s residential developments had occurred in a tight girdle around the downtown business district. As the sheer size of Houston increased, the demand for more neighborhoods grew along with it. Beginning in the early 20th century, the development followed a generally westerly and southwesterly expansion. The newer, more fashionable neighborhoods, such as Westmoreland (1902), Avondale (1907), Montrose (1911), Audubon Place (1906), Cherryhurst (1908), Binz, Southmore (1914), and Courtland Place (1906), developed along the Main Street corridor and to the southwest of downtown. River Oaks, however, was situated at the western city limits far away from other developments.
In addition, the developers broke with convention by laying out an organic pattern of roadways which lent a sense of spaciousness to the neighborhood, which was very different from the traditional Houston neighborhoods that followed a more rigid approach to development. These traditional neighborhoods used street grids which carved the land up into predictable square or rectangular blocks. According to the Texas State History Association’s Handbook of Texas:
“River Oaks is by Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park in west central Houston. The residential garden suburb, which comprises 1,100 acres, was developed in the 1920s by Michael Hogg and attorney Hugh Potter, who in 1923 obtained an option to purchase 200 acres surrounding the River Oaks Country Club. In 1924 Hogg organized Country Club Estates to promote the development. The two developers retained Kansas City landscape architects Hare and Hare to provide a master plan that would protect the environmental integrity and natural beauty of the area. They also hired J. C. Nichols, who built one of the first major shopping centers in the United States, to serve as a design consultant. The master plan included homesites, a fifteen-acre campus for River Oaks Elementary CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
School, two shopping centers, and esplanades planted with flowers. It called for underground utility lines, eliminated alleys, allowed only three intersecting streets, provided rigid building codes, and eventually banned all commercial traffic. Deed restrictions and centralized community control assured exclusivity; approval of house designs by a panel of architects and citizens and a purchase price of at least $7,000 were required. A "gentleman's agreement" excluded blacks, Jews, and other minorities. The first home in the area, built by Will and Sue Clayton, is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Among the other notable houses is Ima Hogg's family home Bayou Bend [City of Houston Landmark], designed by John F. Staub and Birdsall P. Briscoe. In the late 1920s the development lost money, but by the late 1930s developers had invested $3 million in the project, and the community had begun to influence development patterns downtown. In the 1990s River Oaks was at the geographic center of Houston. The community operated independently for three years, after which it was annexed by the city of Houston.”
The creation and implementation of the River Oaks plan went far beyond the layout of the neighborhood itself. The developers also needed to devise a clever way of drawing prospective buyers away from the more traditional neighborhoods located closer to the downtown business district. This was achieved in two ways. The first was to insure that proper roads connected River Oaks with downtown Houston. The second was to bring the amenities to the residents.
Beginning in 1925, work began in earnest on Buffalo Bayou Drive, which would later become Allen Parkway. Buffalo Bayou Drive was designed by the Kansas City architectural landscape firm of Hare and Hare. The thoroughfare, atypical for its time, was built to provide a reliable route by which River Oaks residents could get to their jobs in downtown Houston while simultaneously providing a pleasant driving experience. The street was designed to follow the meanders of nearby Buffalo Bayou and originated at the north entry to the River Oaks neighborhood. The entry was marked by grand entry gates designed by Houston architect John F. Staub in 1926.
The plan for the scenic drive began more than a decade before its implementation with the Arthur Comey Plan for Houston in 1912. The Comey Plan was a progressive and ambitious plan to guide the future of Houston’s development, with quality of life issues as a major component. Parts of the Comey plan called for the creation of scenic drives, considerable park space, and linear parks along the city’s bayous. Ultimately, only a small proportion of the components of Comey’s plan came to fruition. Among these realized elements were the layout of South Main at Hermann Park with its prominent traffic circles, and Allen Parkway Drive with its adjacent linear park space situated between the drive and Buffalo Bayou.
Lera Thomas
Lera Thomas was born Lera Millard on August 3, 1900 in Nacogdoches, Texas. She graduated from Nacogdoches High School and attended Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia, for two years and then attended the University of Alabama. In 1922, during the middle of her senior year at the University of Alabama, she left college to marry Albert Thomas. Lera and Albert had three children, firstborn Jim Nelson Thomas (who died in childhood in 1934), Ann Thomas Lasater CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
and Lera Thomas. Lera was employed at a bank while husband Albert attended the University of Texas Law School.
Lera Thomas was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the State of Texas. She was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Albert Thomas. (Later, Barbara Jordan became the first Texas woman elected to Congress in her own right). She served as congresswoman from March 26, 1966 until January 3, 1967. She was not a candidate for reelection.
Women have historically been outsiders in politics, legally barred from voting until the twentieth century and subsequently handicapped in running for office by lack of campaign funds and exclusion from the inner sancta of political parties. As outsiders, women have often become involved in politics to promote causes, especially those relating to family and community welfare, rather than to build careers. Although the female politician did not emerge until the twentieth century, a long political tradition of advocacy and activism predated women's admission to formal electoral politics. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries middle- class women used their voluntary associations to voice opinions on public policy and seek legislative remedies for social problems. In the process they pioneered pressure-group politics: promoting an issue before the public, mounting petition and letter-writing campaigns to state legislators, urging male voters not to reelect uncooperative incumbents.
Lera traveled to Vietnam in December of 1966 to January 1967 as an accredited representative of the Houston Chronicle. Her words were broadcast on the Times Square Caterpillar sign. Lera also served as a consultant for the U.S. State Department Agency for International Development (AID) where she helped select civilians to work in Vietnam.
In 1968, Lera returned to Nacogdoches and established Millard's Crossing Historic Village with the goal of saving some of Nacogdoches County’s most important historic structures. Millard's Crossing also became a place to house her extensive antique collection. The mission of Millard's Crossing Historic Village is to preserve and maintain the historic 19th century buildings which have been moved from various sites in Nacogdoches County and to educate visitors about the history of East Texas settlement. Millard's Crossing Historic Village has become an important tourist attraction and was even voted Best Attraction/Museum Guide by the Texas Travel Industry Association in 2002.
Lera died in Nacogdoches on July 23, 1993. Upon her death, an article appeared in the Chronicle with the headline, “Lera Thomas, Texas’ first woman in Congress, dies.” The article described her later work as a consultant for the U.S. State Department Agency for International Development, her membership in the Houston League of Women Voters, and her work with Millard’s Crossing. In the article, Lera was recognized for her many contributions to Texas. Lera is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches.
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
Albert Thomas
Lera Thomas’s husband was the legislator Albert Thomas. Albert was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, on April 12, 1898 to James and Lonnie (Langston) Thomas. He attended public schools in Nacogdoches and worked in his father's store. During World War I he served as a second lieutenant in the army. He graduated from Rice University in 1920 and from the University of Texas at Austin law school in 1926. After admittance to the bar in 1927, he returned to Nacogdoches to practice law. In 1927, Albert won election as county attorney of Nacogdoches County and served this post until 1930.
In 1930, Albert moved to Houston to become Assistant United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. He held that position until 1936. Beginning January 3, 1937 he represented the Eighth District in the United States House of Representatives. At the time, the Eight District comprised all of Harris County, including the city of Houston. He held that position until his death in 1966; he served the people of Harris County for 29 years.
While serving in the House Representatives, Thomas was a member of numerous committees including, Irrigation and Reclamations, Pensions, Labor, Elections, Appropriations, the Independent Offices Subcommittee, Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. Albert dedicated approximately five years to the successful placement of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center (later the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center) in Houston. In 1949, he became chairman of the House Subcommittee on Independent Office Appropriations. He was elected chairman of the Texas House delegation in 1950, and, in 1964, was named chairman of the House Democratic caucus. At the time of his death in 1966, Thomas had risen to eleventh in seniority in the House of Representatives.
In 1963, Albert began contemplating retiring from office because of failing health. President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson traveled to Houston to attend a testimonial dinner on November 21, 1963, in Thomas's honor to urge that he remain in Congress. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas the following day. Lera Thomas sat with President Kennedy at the testimonial dinner described above on the night before he was assassinated. Albert Thomas was in the motorcade when Kennedy was assassinated. According to an oral history with Mrs. Thomas, Albert Thomas suggested that the swearing in be conducted before flying back to Washington. Thomas returned to Washington on the President's plane and witnessed the swearing in of President Johnson on Air Force One. The photograph in which he appears as a witness to Johnson's oath of office is one of the most memorable pictures from that historic time.
According to Lera’s oral history, Albert was instrumental in the deepening and widening of the ship channels; the Houston post office construction; acquiring appropriations for the Houston federal building; the Federal Aid to Airport Act; and the development of San Felipe Courts (Listed in the National Register of Historic Places). As a result of these achievements, the downtown Convention and Exhibition Center, located in the hub of the Theater District and Buffalo Bayou redevelopment, was named in his honor. The original configuration of the Albert Thomas Convention and Exhibition Center had 127,500 square feet of exhibition space, 40,000 square feet of meeting rooms and parking for 2,000 cars. It served as a complete, flexible meeting place for the nation's business leaders, as well as a showplace for the products of various CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
industries. It was also the home of the National Space Hall of Fame. With the assistance of Central Houston, the City of Houston redeveloped the Albert Thomas Convention Center to accommodate a 155,000 square foot retail and entertainment center. The Albert Thomas Convention and Exhibition Center reopened as Bayou Place on New Year's Eve, 1997 featuring a sports bar, a country and western dance hall, a beach club, restaurants, and dance clubs.
Albert died in Washington D.C. on February 15, 1966 and is buried in Houston National Cemetery.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND RESTORATION HISTORY: The Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House is an excellent example of the Colonial Revival, a style popular in the United States between 1890 and 1935. The Colonial Revival style resulted from a rejection of the Queen Anne Revival style, and a desire to return to a more “traditional” American building type. The style took on added popularity with the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in the 1920s. This style draws from the simple building forms typical of early American colonial structures, and elements of classical or Georgian architecture. It is closely related to the Neoclassical Revival and Georgian Revival styles. Colonial Revival residential structures are typically one or two stories, with hipped or gabled roofs and symmetrical facades. The entryway or porch is the primary focus, often highlighted with a decorative crown or pediment.
The Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House at 2184 Troon Road was built circa 1938. Its most prominent Colonial Revival details include symmetrical façade; symmetrically balanced rectangular windows with 6/6 glass lights, flanked by shutters; hipped roof; and an accentuated front door. The house is of wood frame construction with brick veneer on all facades and features an asymmetrical plan. The house features a hipped, normally sloped roof with slight eave overhang and boxed eaves. The front entrance is centered on the south elevation. The front door is wood paneled and is flanked by original sidelights and capped by a fan light. On the front elevation are two segmental dormers featuring double hung windows with 6/6 glass lights. The first floor of the front elevation features two bay windows capped with copper clad roofs. The second floor of the front elevation features rectangular, double hung windows with 6/6 glass lights. The windows are flanked by louvered shutters. A brick chimney is prominently featured on the east eave wall. The portico over the entry door was a later addition, which is reversible.
The current owners are preparing to renovate the house. The renovation will not change the façade of the home and the plans include:
updating all bathrooms; updating the kitchen; connecting the house to the garage by way of an enclosed solarium; adding a new master bath and closet space above the existing den; adding an en suite bathroom to the back bedroom.
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
The information and sources provided by the applicant for this application have been reviewed, verified, edited and supplemented with additional research and sources by Diana DuCroz and Courtney Spillane, Planning and Development Department, City of Houston.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
Millard’s Crossing Historic Village http://www.millardscrossing.com/founding.htm
U.S. Social Security Death Index, Dean Strickland.
City Directories, 1925 – present.
LBJ Library Oral History Collection, Interview of Lera Millard Thomas conducted on 10/11/69 by David G. McComb.
Houston Chronicle, Lera Thomas, Texas’ first woman in Congress, dies, July 24, 1993, page A29.
Wikipedia, Lera Millard Thomas, accessed on February 10, 2010.
Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/fth4.html (accessed February 11, 2010).
APPROVAL CRITERIA FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION
Sec. 33-224. Criteria for designation of a Landmark.
(a) The HAHC and the commission, in making recommendations with respect to designation, and the city council, in making a designation, shall consider one or more of the following criteria, as appropriate for the type of designation:
S NA S - satisfies D - does not satisfy NA - not applicable (1) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area possesses character, interest or value as a visible reminder of the development, heritage, and cultural and ethnic diversity of the city, state, or nation;
(2) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is the location of a significant local, state or national event;
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
(3) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is identified with a person who, or group or event that, contributed significantly to the cultural or historical development of the city, state, or nation;
(4) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area exemplify a particular architectural style or building type important to the city;
(5) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area are the best remaining examples of an architectural style or building type in a neighborhood;
(6) Whether the building, structure, object or site or the buildings, structures, objects or sites within the area are identified as the work of a person or group whose work has influenced the heritage of the city, state, or nation;
(7) Whether specific evidence exists that unique archaeological resources are present;
(8) Whether the building, structure, object or site has value as a significant element of community sentiment or public pride.
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
EXHIBIT A
Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House 2184 Troon Road
CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
EXHIBIT B SITE LOCATION MAP
Strickland-Lasater-Thomas House 2184 Troon Road
NOT TO SCALE
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PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT
LANDMARK NAME: Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station AGENDA ITEM: VII OWNERS: City of Houston HPO FILE NO: 10PL89 APPLICANTS: Same DATE ACCEPTED: Apr-23-2010 LOCATION: 7301 Avenue F HAHC HEARING: May-20-2010 30-DAY HEARING NOTICE: N/A PC HEARING: May-27-2010
SITE INFORMATION Reserve B, Block 1, City of Houston Canal Street, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas. The site includes a two-story, concrete and brick municipal building.
TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUESTED: Landmark and Protected Landmark Designation
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE SUMMARY
The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station building located at 7301 Avenue F is the only extant municipal structure for the now dissolved City of Magnolia Park, one of Houston's oldest Hispanic neighborhoods. The City of Magnolia Park existed from 1890 until its annexation to the City of Houston in 1926. The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station building was constructed in 1923. The architectural firm of McLelland & Fink designed the building in a simple classical revival style that was popular during the early 20th century. McLelland & Fink contracted Charley Dahl to construct the building. On July 1, 1923, the new city hall building was dedicated in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of Magnolia Park’s incorporation as a municipality. The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station building is architecturally significant as a type of municipal building popular in Texas towns during the 1920s: the combined city hall-and-fire station. It is also a standing reminder of the unique history of one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods.
The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station meets Criteria 1, 4, 6, and 8 and is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) - all considerations for Protected Landmark designation.
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE
Brief History of the City of Magnolia Park
Originally designed in 1890 as an excursion park containing 1,374 acres, the community of Magnolia Park is located seven miles southeast of downtown Houston.1 Magnolia Park was redeveloped into a residential community starting in 1909 and became an incorporated municipality
1 Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. “Magnolia Park, Texas,” http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/hvm6.html (accessed January 24, 2008).
Page 1 of 10 CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department on June 29, 1913.2 During its brief existence as a municipality in the early 20th century, the City of Magnolia Park went through three temporary City Hall facilities before moving into a permanent building in the early 1920s. The first of these temporary City Hall facilities was located at 7917 Harrisburg Road by 1915. A second City Hall building was located at 7617 Harrisburg Road by 1917. The third City Hall building was located at 7401 Harrisburg Road by 1919.3
Magnolia Park also had a Fire Department which had a more stable history. The City of Magnolia Park’s Fire Department had two fire stations by 1925. Built before 1917, the Central Fire Station was addressed at 7301 Avenue F. Meanwhile, Fire Station #2 was located at 7821 Harrisburg Road.4 By the start of the 1920s, city administrators of Magnolia Park decided to move the city hall facility to a city-owned, more centrally located property.
The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station
The Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station building located at 7301 Avenue F is the only extant municipal structure of the now dissolved City of Magnolia Park. The building is a brick and concrete two-level structure designed in a simple classic revival style that was popular during the early 20th century. It has four bay doors to house fire trucks and vehicles. On the top left face corner of the building, the inscription, “City Hall” can be seen. Attached to the outside of the building is a 12 x 12 calaboose which was designated as the Magnolia Park city jail. The building was situated next to the Magnolia Park water and natural gas plants.5
The architectural firm of McLelland & Fink contracted Charley Dahl to construct the building.6 Dahl was a local building contractor who resided in Magnolia Park. The firm of McLelland & Fink would also design the historic courthouse for the county of Polk, Texas in 1923.7 Perhaps the only
2 Dallas Morning News newspaper, “Magnolia Park Incorporates,” June 30, 1913, page 12. Houston Post newspaper, “Vision of J. R. Cheek Has Turned Acres of Wooded Land into Modern City,” December 9, 1923, pages 54-55. Dallas Morning News newspaper, “New Texas Charters,” January 31, 1909, page 3.
3 City of Houston telephone directories of 1915-1919 archived in Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
4 1917 City of Houston telephone directory archived in Houston Metropolitan Research Center lists original fire station at 7301 Avenue F. 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 646.
5 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 637 shows water and gas plants next to city hall building.
6 Dedication plague of building shows McLelland & Fink as architects that contracted C. Dahl. Plague is located in current Fire Station #20 at 6902 Navigation Boulevard.
7 1920 census records for City of Magnolia Park, precinct #2, enumeration district 108, page 5 shows Charley Dahl employed as a foreman in construction. Texas Historical Commission marker #402 shows county courthouse for Polk County, Texas was built in 1923 by the firm of McLelland & Fink, http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-county.htm.
Page 2 of 10 CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department one of its kind in Houston, this building was uniquely designed to office a city hall administration, a fire station and a jail facility.
From 1916 to the early 1920s, the site at 7301 Avenue F was occupied by the original fire station for Magnolia Park. This building was demolished to build a new structure which would consolidate the city hall and fire department administrations.
On July 1, 1923, the new city hall building was dedicated in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of Magnolia Park’s incorporation as a municipality. The administration of Mayor Frederick A. Baldinger,8 opened the building. Along with providing the administrative offices for the mayor, city aldermen and city jail, the building continued to serve as the central fire station for Magnolia Park. Fire Station #2 remained at 7821 Harrisburg Boulevard.9
The building had only been in existence for two years when efforts were being made by the nearby expanding City of Houston to annex the City of Magnolia Park. The historic decision from Magnolia Park administrators to accept a proposition for annexation into Houston most likely was made in this new building. Then on October 16, 1926, Magnolia Park and Houston voters approved the proposition to annex Magnolia Park.10 The City of Houston now became owner of the Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station building.
Following the annexation of Magnolia Park, the building no longer served as a city hall but continued as a City of Houston edifice. The Houston Fire Department acquired the building and designated it as Fire Station #20.11 In 1926, the Houston Fire Department divided the area of Houston into four regions with a battalion fire station assigned to each region. Shortly after annexation, Fire Station #20 was designated as a battalion station which would serve as a headquarters for the fire stations in the southeast region of Houston. A battalion fire chief was assigned to Fire Station #20.12
Being in close proximity to the Houston Ship Channel, Fire Station #20 was also uniquely equipped to handle hazards such as chemical spills and fires along the seaport. Over the years, Fire Station
8 Houston Post newspaper, “Vision of J. R. Cheek Has Turned Acres of Wooded Land into Modern City,” December 9, 1923, pages 54-55. Dedication plague of building shows Frederick Baldinger as mayor of Magnolia Park when building was dedicated in July, 1923. Plague is located in current Fire Station #20 at 6902 Navigation Boulevard.
9 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 646.
10 Dallas Morning News newspaper, “Merge Magnolia Park with City of Houston,” October 18, 1926, page 3. Houston Chronicle newspaper, “Merger Voted; Salary Hike Beaten: All Bond Issues Approved; Union Wins in Suburb,” October 17, 1926 pages 1 & 14.
11 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of Houston, volume 6, sheet 637.
12 McRae, Max “Fire Company 20,” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm. 1930 census records for City of Houston, precinct #2, enumeration district 101-125, page 28 show William I. Peabody as battalion fire chief and residing in Magnolia Park.
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#20 was called the “Foam Station,” for it stored special liquid foams and discharging equipment to extinguish chemical fires.13 The small jail attached to the exterior of the building was utilized by the police department as the location was designated as a substation for Precinct #1 of the Houston Police Department.14 The building continued to serve as a fire station for fifty years until 1973 when Fire Station #20 was moved to a new facility at 6902 Navigation and Marcario Garcia Boulevard.15
With the removal of Fire Station #20, the building no longer served as a fire station. But the structure continued to serve the community. It would be utilized for decades as the Harris County voting precinct #64 for voters in the Magnolia Park area. In time though, voting precinct #64 would be moved from here to the local YWCA facility located at 7300 Navigation Boulevard.16
Still owned by the City of Houston, this historic building has entered the twenty-first century to office community service programs for residents of Magnolia Park.17
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND RESTORATION HISTORY
The Magnolia Park City Hall and Fire Station is architecturally significant as a type of municipal building popular in Texas towns during the 1920s: the combined city hall-and-fire station. As early as 1915, when the town of Houston Heights, Texas, built a two-story brick building that consolidated the offices of the city government, located on the second floor, above the ground-floor garage stalls of the city's fleet of fire-fighting equipment, the combined city hall-fire station was established as a public building type that enabled smaller Texan towns to provide city services in an efficient and economical manner. During the 1920s, such architecturally notable examples of this type as the two-story Mercedes (TX) City Hall and Fire Station of 1927, the Weslaco (TX) City Hall and Fire Station of 1928, and the one-story Rosenberg (TX) City Hall and Fire Station of 1930 were built. The architecturally distinguished University Park (TX) City Hall and Fire Station of 1937 demonstrated the appeal of this building type for suburban towns as well. Magnolia Park's City Hall and Fire Station was representative of examples built in the first half of the 1920s decade, such as the Corsicana (TX) City Hall and Fire Station of 1925, which were not as architecturally ambitious as those built in the second half of the 1920s decade. Architecturally, the Magnolia Park City Hall and Fire Station is much more like a two-story downtown commercial building of the 1920s than a civic building. It was built up to the sidewalk line on Avenue F rather than set back
13 McRae, Max “Fire Company 20,” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm.
14 1932 City of Houston telephone directory shows address as police substation for precinct #1. 1929 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of Houston, volume 6, sheet 637 shows Police Dept. at location.
15 McRae, Max “Fire Company 20” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm. Houston Fire Department, “Fire Station #20,” http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station20.html.
16 Compiled by Union y Progreso, Inc. “Magnolia Park City Hall,” unpublished manuscript archived in vertical files of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
17 Harris County Appraisal District records online show that City of Houston is owner of property at 7301 Avenue F. Brochure of Parnell Intermediary Services Inc. shows address at 7301 Avenue F.
Page 4 of 10 CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department from the street (although the Avenue F front is framed by 73rd Street, which dead-ends at its intersection with Avenue F). The east two-thirds of the city hall and fire station were originally faced with the bi-fold wood doors of the three fire truck garage stalls. The narrower westernmost bay of the Avenue F elevation contained the entrance door to the stair leading up to the city offices, which was protected by a suspended canopy, and ganged double-hung wood windows, like those used to light second-floor spaces. The parapet atop the wall of the western bay contains a centered scalloped pediment framing a cast stone panel inscribed "City Hall." The parapet is outlined with cast stone coping Vertical piers faced with recessed panels divide the east bay from the west bay and bracket the ends of the street elevation. The piers have cast stone bases and circular cast stone caps. Like Corsicana's City Hall-Fire Station, Magnolia Park's civic building is faced on its street front with dark red brick. Its west and east side elevations as well as the north-facing rear elevation are faced with buff brick. Magnolia Park was a working class community. The location of the City Hall and Fire Station on the grounds of the Magnolia Park Gas Plant and Water Works, flanked by the Houston Belt & Terminal Railway tracks to the west and the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway tracks to the east attested to the industrial economy of Magnolia Park. The Magnolia Park City Hall and Fire Station has been expanded to the east. All windows and doors facing Avenue F have been replaced, although the sizes of the original openings have been preserved.
After Magnolia Park waived its charter of incorporation to be annexed by the City of Houston, the building became the City of Houston's Magnolia Park Police Station and Fire Station No. 20. In 1973, Fire Station No. 20 was moved to a new facility at 6902 Navigation and Marcario Garcia Boulevard. The building at 7301 Avenue F was utilized for decades as the Harris County voting precinct #64 for voters in the Magnolia Park area. In time, voting precinct #64 was moved to the local YWCA facility located at 7300 Navigation Boulevard.18 Still owned by the City of Houston, this historic City Hall and Central Fire Station has entered the twenty-first century to office community service programs for residents of Magnolia Park.19
The information and sources provided by the applicant for this application have been reviewed, verified, edited and supplemented with additional research and sources by Diana DuCroz and Courtney Spillane, Planning and Development Department, City of Houston.
18 Compiled by Union y Progreso, Inc. “Magnolia Park City Hall,” unpublished manuscript archived in vertical files of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
19 Harris County Appraisal District records online show that City of Houston is owner of property at 7301 Avenue F. Brochure of Parnell Intermediary Services Inc. shows address at 7301 Avenue F.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. “Magnolia Park, Texas,” http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/hvm6.html (accessed January 24, 2008).
Dallas Morning News newspaper, “Magnolia Park Incorporates,” June 30, 1913, page 12.
Houston Post newspaper, “Vision of J. R. Cheek Has Turned Acres of Wooded Land into Modern City,” December 9, 1923, pages 54-55.
Dallas Morning News newspaper, “New Texas Charters,” January 31, 1909, page 3.
City of Houston telephone directories of 1915-1919 archived in Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
1917 City of Houston telephone directory archived in Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 646.
1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 637.
1920 census records for City of Magnolia Park, precinct #2, enumeration district 108, page 5.
Texas Historical Commission marker #402, http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-county.htm.
Houston Post newspaper, “Vision of J. R. Cheek Has Turned Acres of Wooded Land into Modern City,” December 9, 1923, pages 54-55.
1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Houston, volume 6, sheet 646.
Dallas Morning News newspaper, “Merge Magnolia Park with City of Houston,” October 18, 1926, page 3.
Houston Chronicle newspaper, “Merger Voted; Salary Hike Beaten: All Bond Issues Approved; Union Wins in Suburb,” October 17, 1926 pages 1 & 14.
1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of Houston, volume 6, sheet 637.
McRae, Max “Fire Company 20,” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm.
1930 census records for City of Houston, precinct #2, enumeration district 101-125, page 28.
McRae, Max “Fire Company 20,” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm.
1932 City of Houston telephone directory.
Page 6 of 10 CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
1929 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of Houston, volume 6, sheet 637.
McRae, Max “Fire Company 20” http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm.
Houston Fire Department, “Fire Station #20,” http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/station20.html.
Compiled by Union y Progreso, Inc. “Magnolia Park City Hall,” unpublished manuscript archived in vertical files of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center.
Brochure of Parnell Intermediary Services Inc.
APPROVAL CRITERIA FOR PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION The HAHC shall review each application for designation of a protected landmark that is included in an application for designation of a landmark at the same time and in the same manner as it reviews and considers the application for a landmark. The HAHC and the Planning Commission, in making recommendations with respect to a protected landmark designation, and the City Council, in making a designation, shall consider whether the building, structure, site, or area meets at least three of the criteria in Section 33-224, or one of the criteria in Section 33-229, as follows:
S NA S - satisfies D - does not satisfy NA - not applicable Meets at least three of the following (Sec. 33-229(a)(1): (1) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area possesses character, interest or value as a visible reminder of the development, heritage, and cultural and ethnic diversity of the city, state, or nation;
(2) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is the location of a significant local, state or national event;
(3) Whether the building, structure, object, site or area is identified with a person who, or group or event that, contributed significantly to the cultural or historical development of the city, state, or nation;
(4) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area exemplify a particular architectural style or building type important to the city;
(5) Whether the building or structure or the buildings or structures within the area are the best remaining examples of an architectural style or building type in a neighborhood;
(6) Whether the building, structure, object or site or the buildings, structures, objects or sites within the area are identified as the work of a person or group whose work has influenced the heritage of the city, state, or nation;
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(7) Whether specific evidence exists that unique archaeological resources are present;
(8) Whether the building, structure, object or site has value as a significant element of community sentiment or public pride. AND (9) If less than 50 years old, or proposed historic district containing a majority of buildings, structures, or objects that are less than 50 years old, whether the building, structure, object, site, or area is of extraordinary importance to the city, state or nation for reasons not based on age (Sec. 33-224(b). OR The property was constructed before 1905 (Sec. 33-229(a)(2); OR The property is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as a “contributing structure” in an historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places (Sec. 33-229(a)(3); OR The property is recognized by the State of Texas as a Recorded State Historical Landmark (Sec. 33-229(a)(4).
Page 8 of 10 CITY OF HOUSTON Archaeological & Historical Commission Planning and Development Department
EXHIBIT A
Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station 7301 Avenue F
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EXHIBIT B
SITE LOCATION MAP
Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station 7301 Avenue F
NOT TO SCALE
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