Planning Methods

A Rayford
a_rayford_quantitative_methods.pptx

City of Bellaire Planning and Zoning meeting March 14, 2019
Mission Statement: City of Bellaire is dedicated to outstanding quality service and facilities to ensure an open, progressive and secure community.
     Ross Gordon, Chairman of the City of Bellaire meeting on March 14, 2019 adjourned at 6 pm with a public hearing for an amendment on the application filed for rezoning on 4301 Bellaire R-5 Residential District to a Commercial Mix Use (CMU) stand-alone 2-story office facility for an hour. The residents are concern that the CMU on the property will cause more traffic, flooding, safety, noise and lighting on site after hours. The Planning and Zoning staff asked all residents to comment within 5 minutes with respect to others who will be speaking.
     Docket #Z2019-01 spot zoning on the property of Westside Christian Church, 4301 Bellaire, stablished in 1989 has been vacant since 2012. The property site has been purchased by David Ebro, Beautiful Bellaire, LLC from Mike Livingston Realty, to build on 32,280 square feet with surface parking grounds. The planning staff member commented that Bellaire is a residential deed restriction community and could not recommend the rezoning of commercial real estate because of the comprehensive plan. The next meeting was scheduled for April 11, 2019 to recommend an application for spot/rezoning.
     There were many residents available for the rezoning meeting with 13 members commenting on the eyesore abandoned church and 85 letters sent before the first meeting on February 5, 2019 with contact of residents of 500 feet. The residents were different ages and 3 children aged 8, 9 and 13. I spoke with Jo Hall who has petition with volunteers to not rezone the property for a CMU. There was one resident who expressed approval of the rezoning to furnish jobs, beautification and recertification of the community. The other residents lived across the street or behind the church with concerns that the community will not have privacy or preservation of the bedroom style neighborhood.
     A resident’s letter from 4312 Bellaire against the CMU and the resident’s statement at 4310 Bellaire of 40 years, made a call to Mike Livingston Realty asking about the property and the cost. The respond was the property is for commercial use and the cost is $3 million. She wanted to know why the property cost that much for an abandoned church and why couldn’t it become a residential property. She was a member of the church and other friends and members had thoughts of purchasing the property. A friend who wanted the property called to inquire about the property was told the same information. The residents believe it’s a shame and scam for a commercial mix use property be placed in a residential community.
     The staff’s recommendations cannot be determined because of the City of Bellaire’s comprehensive plan will fit the land use of residential to CMU. The next rezoning public hearing will be April 11, 2019 at 6 pm approval for docket #Z2019-01 pursuant to Chapter 24, Section 24-603, application for amendment for an official zoning district map of the City of Bellaire, Texas, in order to allow for the construction of a 22,000 square foot, two-story office building with surface parking. I notice the building has reduce the square footage from March 14th meeting. The property is not structured for residential use but what is Mr. Ebro plan to build the zoning change to commercial land use.
Recommendations:
“If the property remained zoned residential with the R-5 classification, the site limitations would still have restrictions requiring variances, and Planned Development approval. The same site limitations are present if the site is rezoned to CMU, except the restrictions do not prohibit development. In fact, the site limitations are favorable for the neighborhood. While, CMU allows mixed-use developments, restaurants, and general retail, the CMU district requirements protect non-residential developments adjacent to residential neighborhoods. With the consideration of the above, the Director of Development Services recommends approval of the request to remove the property from the Bellaire Boulevard Estate Overlay District and rezoning of this property to Corridor Mixed-Used District.”

Proverbs 22:28 Do not move the ancient landmark that your father's have set.