Park and sidewalk a hiccup for 22-unit complex
At the Thursday, Nov. 18, meeting, Planning and Zoning denied the preliminary site plan application submitted by K2C Investments, LLC for a 22-unit apartment complex at the corner of Durden and Courtney Street. According to Planning Development Director Lupe Diosdado, the requirements for sidewalks and park land per he subdivision ordinance “have not been resolved.”
Developer Karen Hughes explained that the proposed complex backs up to a new welding business on Spur 515 at Courtney and since the welding company chose not to build a sidewalk, her sidewalk would “just end” and not connect to another sidewalk. It was also noted the detention pond was the only green space available on the property for park development.
When the option to pay the fee-in-lieu of for both the sidewalk and park land was pointed out, Hughes said, “I just can’t keep paying $15,000 here and $15,000 there because it all adds up. This is a multimillion dollar project if I do it. I may seem like $30,000 is nothing but it is. I can either provide a park, or I can provide apartments, but I can’t do both. I have to make my numbers work.”
Hughes’ engineer Cesar Barron questioned if an apartment complex actually qualified as a subdivision. Diosdado confirmed that according to a thorough review of the subdivision ordinance, an apartment complex does qualify as “a development, per the standards.”
Commissioner Todd Wisner took issue with the park land ordinance saying, “The amount of reserve space for park land per unit is too big. Every time we have a project come, they can’t build the park space because they can’t put six units in and then they can’t make their numbers. Right now, we’re stuck with the ordinance until it gets changed. There’s something inherently problematic with an ordinance that we can’t utilize ever when we have people coming in and building 130 units.”
Before voting, it was clarified that a denial did not mean the complex was a dead issue, and that the City would continue to work with the developer on the sidewalk and park land issues.
In a separate agenda item, commissioners approved K2C Investments, LLC’s request to replat the three lots in question to one lot per City requirement.
Mount Calvary moves forward
Commissioners approved the final site plan application submitted by Mount Calvary Baptist Church for construction of a new worship facility at 508 Peeples Street.
Mount Calvary’s conditional use permit request for the R-3 residential district property was approved by P&Z Oct. 28 with the stipulation that landscaping be added as well as additional grading to aid drainage.
With those conditions met, City Council approved the conditional use permit Nov. 8 but required demolition of existing 106-year old structure within one year from completion of the new facility.
Responding to questions raised at the Oct. 28 meeting about drainage on or near Peeples Street, Diosdado confirmed that Peeples Street is included in the City’s long-range Capital Improvement Plan to improve grading which will address standing water.
Other business
Before adjourning, commissioners approved the Oct. 28 meeting minutes. Present were commissioners Dia Copeland, Debbie Hancock, James Harris, Carolyn Katkoski, Chairman Randy Peters, Todd Wisner and Dr. John Walla.
P&Z meets the second and fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. in city council chambers at 200 E. McAlpine Street. Meetings may be viewed at https://www.navasotatx.gov/planning-zoning-commission/pages/2021-plannin....