City Council - Regular Meeting

short. We probably still have more questions than answers, but uh that's life, right? That's what we do. Learn lifelong learners. So, uh again, um before we kick off the meeting, we're going to start with the pledge of allegiance uh to the US flag led by Council Member Luke Pototts. The Texas pledge will be led uh by Director of Development Services Bob Vanill. And then Dave Coington will will um give our invocation. Please rise. Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Honor flag. I aliance to one state and indivisible. Please bow with me. Father, we love you. We thank you for the beautiful weather. Uh thank you for the the grace and the privilege that we have to live here in Belton, Texas. Pray that you give us wisdom tonight as we consider the business of the city. Pray uh special blessings and protection over our uh service members who are protecting us every day and our first responders. We thank you most of all for your son Jesus in his name. Amen. Amen.

Right. this uh meeting of the city council of city of Belton uh is called to order at 5:37 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24th. Uh the first item uh is public comments. If anyone wishes to address the council uh for anything that we have any purview over, uh they may do so. I have two people that have signed up and one of them is on an agenda item and the other one is not. Uh so I'll call the one u and then also if you didn't sign up, you still have an opportunity to make public comments. So, the first one that I have signed up is Mr. Bailey. Clinton Bailey. Name and address for the record. When you get to the microphone so she knows how to do the

uh Clinton Bailey, uh 445 Bella Rose Belton.

Yeah. Uh mayor, council people. Um I'm just here to celebrate the event that we had with the CTBR uh which is Central Texas Barbecq Roundup that we had over the weekend. Uh we had brought in uh almost 15,000 people uh that either attended, competed um that attended the event. The event was free, cost the taxpayer $0. Um and then so I just want to say thank you to the city. We had a lot of city employees that um volunteered. We had the Belton Police Department, the Belton Fire Department Team, uh the Belton Education Foundation, and the Belton's Lion Club. So uh it was all day event. Uh, everybody had a good time. It was some good barbecue. And at the end of it, we got to show them what Belton was all about. Uh, family and community. So, as we continue to build this over the next 5 years, uh, we the economic impact of Belton to be positive. So, again, we just want to say thank you to the city of Belton and everyone that participated.

Thank you very much, Clinton. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yeah, that's a great event. I'm I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there, but I saw some great pictures. Uh, saw a pig on a spit with an apple to boot. it with something else. So, next year, put it on your calendar. Uh, anyone else wish to make a public comment before we go on to our agenda. All right. There being no more public comments, um, uh, we've got, uh, we, oh, we have a recognition first. So, assistant, uh, director of finance Amanda Cox for receiving her certified government financial officer designation. Mike and Sam.

Yes. Yeah. Thank you'all. Appreciate you coming up very much. Mayor and council members, thank you very much for this opportunity. It's always our pleasure to recognize um educational achievement in among our employees and today we want to recognize Amanda for an amazing accomplishment. The certified government finance officer program is sponsored by GFOA of Texas. It was established to set a threshold of knowledge for governmental finance officers. Uh to obtain the certification, the applicant must meet a 375 point requirement through a combination of academic credentials, professional experience and exam scores uh and uh just a tremendous amount of testing and uh and confirmation of their excellence in these areas. Applicants are tested over a broad range of governmental finance topics including accounting and financial reporting, budgeting and planning, cash management, debt administration and and public finance. Mike and I are very very pleased to u uh grant this award recognize Amanda for this significant achievement uh which is being utilized I will say in the budget u efforts that are underway right now. As a as a matter of fact, even today, we we had another session on some of our departments. We're really excited to award this presentation to Amanda. Uh, and I also want to add that Amanda is one of only 156 level three certified municipal court clerks in the state of Texas in addition to the financial background that she provides. So, we're excited to do this. We we really want to recognize her and give her this award. And please join me in congratulating Amanda Cox.

So this lady next to me is has done everything in the finance building. Um and and done it superbly. Um, it's being a level three municipal court clerk is quite the accomplishment on its own, but being the overachiever that Amanda is, she decided to get a CGFO as well. Um, you have a an amazing here. Um, and appreciate all that you do. in downtown.

All right. Next uh on our agenda is a consent agenda. These two items uh can be enacted by a single motion. Uh so I'll save some time and go ahead and read them and we can enact these two. The first one is adopting uh the minutes of the previous two meetings, the March 10th council work workshop and the March 10th council meeting and also appointment to the zoning board of adjust recommending Ben Bernett um as an alternate uh to fill the unexpired term of Garrett Smith and removing Martina Martina Martinez as an alternate as she has um not responded. So those items four and five can be enacted by one motion. Move we approve the consent agenda.

Second. Motion second to approve the consent agenda. Any comments or questions? All in favor say I. Those opposed. Passes unanimously. Items. Planning and zoning. Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from commercial highway to plan development commercial 2 on approximately half an acre located at 400 West Avenue O. Miss Moore.

And thank you. Good evening, council members. This property is off of Avenue O. It is on the south side of Interstate 14. Um, and you can see where Avenue O is on the map, and it's um just south of that area next to um actually it is east of Connell Road. This originally started out as a shop. However, the applicant has indicated that is no longer the case. But um tire shops are not allowed in Commercial Highway. They're permitted in commercial one. Applicant is requesting commercial two to allow for more flexibility for future tenants to move into that space. Um, however, we are requesting a condition because of outdoor and open storage. As you can see from the site, the building is located at the rear of the property and most of the storage will be in the front. So, we're requesting for street view that that be um screen as part of this PD. The future land use map showed this as a commercial retail. Water and city are provided by water and sewer are provided by the city. Property owner notices were sent out. There were no letters for or against this proposal. The plan and zoning commission heard this at their meeting on March 17th last week. Sorry, I lost time there. And they recommended approval of this zoning change. Um again with that staff is um requiring the following subject um condition. development must comply with all of the standards of the commercial too. A final subdivision plat is required should there be a new future buildings. Um screening shall be provided for open storage. Applicant is here should you have any questions for him and I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have as well.

Thank you. Um this being a public hearing, we'll close our deliberation and open the floor for anyone who wishes to comment on this item either positive or negative. Anyone who wishes to speak for or against item six may do so at this time. There being no public comments, we'll close the floor and reopen deliberations on this item. Comments or questions from the council. What type of screening do? There is an existing chainlink fence. The applicant is looking at attaching um either slats into that area or maybe another way of screening that to the existing chain link fence. chair would entertain a motion.

Move we approve item C24. Second. Motion second uh to approve the zoning change on item six. Uh all any other comments or questions? All in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed? Passes unanimously. Right. Let's take you got a couple more. Item number seven, hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from single family 3 to planned development single family 3 on approximately 35 acres located at East Avenue R east of Miller Street and known as the hidden trails subject to phase 2.

And thank you, Mr. Mayor. This request is to change the single family 3 request to allow for a minimum lot width of 45 instead of required 50. The applicant um has provided a site plan of what that would look like. Um the original proposal is for 157 lots with the reduced um width that would allow for 177 lots in this area. Addition of 20 more lots in this area. The proposed depth of the lots are 120 which are then our required 90T for single family 3. Um with that that will leave the lot size over our required 5,000. It'll be 5,400 square ft. Um what they're proposing is a typical lot. Um it is uh about 35 and 60 foot um deep for the lots with um this PD staff is recommending that they add some um some masonary standard to the front of the building a 50% requirement for that. So the view that you see up there does not have that requirement but that's a condition that we're recommending for approval. U proposed setbacks will be same as single family 3. 25 in the front yard, five along the side and 20 at the rear yard. Future land use map show this as residential. Um water and sewers provided by Belton and property owner notices were sent out. We did receive one letter of opposition for this. Um cost for that is increased traffic and um for the area. Um the planning and zoning commission heard this and they recommend an approval of this. Um this is a unique site. It's an infill project. Um we certainly don't want to entertain this for any other development, but because there are some challenges with this infill project, it's mainly drainage that they're repairing. Um staff is hesitant that we're recommending this change. Um others that will require this will also have to come before the commission and demonstrate why that is necessary. And again we are not looking

to change our single family three standards. Um any other property but because this is a unique property recommending approval. This initially started as a 40 foot wide lot. We work with the applicant to increase the width to 45. Okay. And applicant is here should you have any questions for them and I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have as well. All right. Again, this being a public hearing, we will close our deliberations and open the floor. If anyone wishes to speak for or against this item, they may do so. I do have one that that signed up, so they since they signed up, I'll let them go first. Dale Janda name and address for the

Good evening. Um, my name is Dale Yanda. Um, address 3515 HK Dodge and Loop in Temple. um just wanted to speak uh the with and and basically kind of today I I spent some time looking at um his historically what I've done. I'm with Dr. Horton. I'm I'm I'm with the home builder Dr. Horton.

Um I was going through some history here recently and just going over historical um information. I went through and our average sales price and this is just in the Temple Colleen Belton area. The average sales price today is right at 27 $275,000 and not in what's not included is we're buying down rates at this point to get the rates down, which is around $17,000. So without that, you're looking at a $293,000 average home price in our area. I went back to 2020. That average price was $229 on on an average square footage of 21104. The average square footage is 1,800 square ft. If you go back to 2019 before COVID, that average sales price was 216. So, I just wanted to and I can speak on my my my son. He just recently bought a house, graduated from college. Um, he he he lived with us for a year and a half to save up some money and was able to buy a house in Gerald at at $277,000. he was fortunate enough us help him in that situation, but there's a lot of people out there that do not have that uh that have that help to get them into a what I would consider a starter home. Um we paid at my personal we paid uh less than that. This was 20 years ago, but almost a 3,000 foot house. We paid less than that than what he had to pay for a 1400 foot house. My point is, um, anything we can do to help the workforce

that would not normally be able to afford what used to be a a starter home, now we're having to look at ways to reduce cost for these folks. And uh my ask is that you would consider these 45 ft lots cuz that would what our our average sales price we could get to 224 which I think is more attainable for uh the people we're talking about. We're talking about police, teachers, those those folks that couldn't afford otherwise. So that's the goal that we want to achieve for the folks here locally. And I I appreciate you taking that into consideration and I appreciate your time this evening. Anyone else wish to speak in favor or in opposition? Again, name and address for the record.

Name is Larry Winterch. Uh 13980 Settlements Road, Slato, Texas. Uh I'm with First Texas Brokerage uh real estate in Slato. Uh, I've been a realtor, wellve been in real estate one form or another since 1978 in the Bell County area since about 2010. Want to address the same issue, affordability. These it it's just getting harder and harder for first-time home buyers and what I like to call last time home buyers, folks that are downsizing, looking to buy that house. So that'll be the last house. The cost is getting out of hand. And so anything I would just like to see any effort that could be made to help bring down that cost, lot size, the the lot size can reduce that price to some degree as he addressed. And so I'm just speaking from the standpoint of a real a local realtor.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak in favor or in opposition to

uh I'm with Belin Engineering addresses for 10 North Main Street, Belton, Texas. So I just want to speak to some of the challenges that we've had with this and and Phil uh development. Um, I want to list the items that we've done so far, which is we had to extend uh sewer on site for more than we had to get an off-site easement and extend sewer um for about 240 ft and um about 1,000 ft of that had to be dug at 8 at 16 16 to 18 ft deep in in rock. So, which made it somewhat challenging. We had to do an offsite street improvements uh for more than for close to 300 feet for Avenue W and Avenue S. Um due to drainage existing drainage issues within Liberty Hill and the undersized coververts under Liberty Hill Drive, we have two major drainage channels within this development. One of them is 1,300 ft long that crosses the entire property from east to west and is 50 ft wide. Another that's 600 ft uh long on the east side behind Liberty Hill uh that is 25 ft wide as well. Um so with phase and if you are able to consider this and help us um move forward with this we will also be uh building um improving uh Olita Street for about 200 more than 240 ft of Olita Street will be improved. We are also looking at building a sidewalk that goes

from Avenue S all the way to the splash park and um we think that this is reasonable request for that infill area that's been somewhat challenging to to to develop and improve. And I also wanted to talk about that the roads. So we have six roads proposed within phase two and if you look at the totalities it adds between two two to four driveways per street. So that's the increase we have. Um and I will to answer any questions if you have any.

Thank you. All right. Anyone else wish to speak in favor or in opposition to this item? Right. There being no more public comments, we will close the floor and reconvene the council comments, questions or motion.

I just I appreciate your input. Uh speaking of realities, uh I totally understand. Um when we talk about realities though, the narrower the front of the lot gets is less room to people park cars on the street. We know it's going to happen. It's reality. We're talking about realities. We also know garages get full. So my concern with narrow lots, most of these streets meander, so they're not straight, cars are straight, curves are not. Is there any desire to potentially make the the setback 25 from 25? Cuz I know the the plans that I've seen, the preliminaries, they're not on the building line, but I know when we get to it, there might be a house on the building line. Is there a potential to make those a setback farther so you can fit more cars in a driveway would be my question to council members slash but

I think you know so I think what we'll do is we'll we'll have our debate because I I don't want to have discussion from Florida here. Oh yeah. Yeah. So yeah, so let let's we'll do that and if there if we come up to it with a consensus council staff on this part.

So that's my like is there a precedent here cuz like we've heard realities and we know this is a reality like my lot is I think a 60oot lot. I can fit two cars on the street on one side of the driveway and one on the other. You're not necessarily going to get that here on a 25 foot driveway if if they're set on the building line. One one maybe two if they're small cars. Um just trying to really picture what's going to happen because I know with cost of housing um family size, teenagers, people living in homes longer um with parents is all reality type stuff. So

I spoke to the applicant earlier today um asked about whether or not there was a willingness to that. She also mentioned that those rightway is not fully developed 31 foot of pavement curve and gutter for the rideway. So there is additional area that there was improvements on that people can park on with what is available with the 25 and the rideway area. um two vehicles um backto-back vehicles can be parked there um to fit some of you that concern, but usually the problem is someone has to go to work earlier and then they need to be able to back up. So there's still on street parking that will likely occur, but there is accommodation to fit four vehicles in the driveway.

If I'm not mistaken, there's HOA regulations as well that won't allow for on street parking. That is correct. There are HOA regulations in this area. Okay. Parking on the street. I just wanted to ensure there's enough space to think that it's allowed either way. So, in theory, I'm guessing it's a twocar garage, so you can have six cars off of the road. Yeah, I guess I guess I So, the 25 is from the property line. The the solid line. The property line. Correct. Okay. How wide is the that easement between curb and 10?

About 9 10 ft.

Okay. 10. You know, I say I to go to a different topic. Um, I I'm going to say on that topic, I I do feel like if you can fit six cars there and there's an HOA regulation that you can't park on the street, I I would say what they have seemed reasonable. Um, but also I I do appreciate the fact when it comes to affordable housing, you know, ever I feel like ever since I've been plugged in to council way back when, uh, ever since I started on ZBA 13 years ago, uh, we hear so many people say we need to work on affordable housing. It, you know, what are we going to do for affordable housing? and and this, you know, in this infield, you know, small infield project, I feel like it's a a great thing to be able to do that and an action we can take for uh actually take an action on that issue. So,

we're we're not we don't it's not a public hearing anymore. Yeah. So, I'm sorry. We'll if we have any positions, we'll end the discussion. Yeah. So, that's what

I'll just tag team on that. I think um you know again to the it's nove talked many times about affordable housing in our in our community and the lack thereof the housing crisis our whole state is facing. Um so the to see a development come into a challenging area and it be an infill with local developers that have invest in our community before. um and the quality of of the project. I'm pretty excited to see an opportunity come that that may actually give us some of that need for for our community that struggle to to buy a home.

So, I'm I think the parking was a good, you know, a good concern and question. And I think the fact that we understand there's HOA regulations that don't allow the on street parking and there's room for six cars and I know the parking in front and behind each other is a challenge, but that's really not up to us to decide on that. Um I I really like the quality of the project and I drove through the area, looked at it. Um I think it's think it's a big need for our community. I'm a little concerned over the the narrower lots and increased density. I just know that uh that has in the past created some problems in some areas. We haven't allowed that before. Um our maximum is 50 ft and going down to 45 and increasing the density in that area. Uh I think this just may be some difficulty. We're sure that the h the HOA will not allow on street parking. Is that right? That's a that's a plus for you.

All right. Joey, for example, is no overnight parking just for reference. So, I think we also need to remember we've got a state legislature that's working really hard to uh make it where we don't have a choice on lot sizes. We're not there yet.

No, we're not. But I think being flexible and meeting de need and demand of our community and um getting creative with housing which we have talked and talked and talked about when you have something quality like this come about asking for so little that I'm just it's just my my two cents there that I think we need to take advantage of those when they come along and be a little flexible so that our community can afford to live here. I very much agree with that. Is it I'd like to make a motion that we approve Z26 Z 2601 that is presented.

I'll second just so you can go on with discussion. Yeah. So motion a second to approve uh the zoning change uh tested. Uh any more discussion comments before we vote? I'm also concerned about the decrease in the lot sizes. I think just to echo what John said that you you you come up with a number of problems, parking, policing, trash pickup. Um it there a way that we can no street parking with the plat?

Yes, sir. We can add that as a condition on the plat. But again, it's enforcement of that is really hard. I gotta say to say no parking um but it certainly can be added on the plat in development

added to the plat it could be added to the uh h making sure it's in the HOA and also could be signed developer could be responsible for signing it there's no parking on the street as well again parking uh enforcement is a challenge it always will be but sign signage would certainly And I I think in the plat would be a good a a good um addition as well. And I'm have a feeling it'll still remain in the HOA. So you get more policing on something like that than you would normally on with plat restriction only. I don't know. I don't know if police can enforce HOA.

No, I'm just saying they may have double Sure. double time going on with an HOA and a a flat restriction. I don't I don't I don't know if this is going to pass or not. Um I think if it does, it's very important to re-emphasize the point that this is not what I personally feel like we should move our standards to. Um, everything that we do up here has the potential to set a precedent. And I want to be very clear that if this passes, I hope that that is not what happens.

I have a quick I have a quick question. Um, on other infield developments, what kind of changes have or or exceptions have we made? Because I know we have. So what some other infill developments, what kind of exceptions have we made because of the the difference of that being an infill and the challenges that may be unique to an infill project versus a I'm sorry there's only one project that comes to mind and that is on Avenue R. We reduced the front yard setback. We also reduced the depth of the lot. They weren't able to meet um the 100 so it was like 90 feet for the depth of the lots in that area. Um also some reduction in the rear yard setbacks for that as well. Wow.

The challenging one uh developer as as Tina mentioned originally proposed 40 foot lot width that really concerned us. uh the applicant was willing to reduce that to 45 and uh again recognizing the situation in the in the area. We uh again reluctantly felt like that was acceptable. Again, the depth of the lots allow with 120 ft them to meet the 5,000 square foot lot minimum of the SF3 district. So the area of the lot is there. It's just the five foot short of the 50- foot minimum lot width. And so again, it's a it's a compromise. as it's a it's certainly something to be carefully evaluated. We as well as a staff are concerned about precedent for a 45 foot lot generally but the uh HOA commitment elevation which we cannot do under zoning typically uh and then some of the other conditions that that they've agreed to uh again approach something that perhaps may be acceptable through a PD. And so again, it's a judgment call, but they certainly have gone um substantially toward um trying to provide some neighborhood character things that we could not do normally under under the traditional zoning. So I I'll I'll there's there's always tension in in not always but there usually where where there's where there's planning and zoning and neighbors and opinions there there comes tension. I think uh generally speaking most people would say we'd love to have the highest and best use which is what one of the things that with zoning and highest and best use would be three acre lots with $4 million homes. That's highest and best use. uh the reality is your community would not look like the community it is and we wouldn't have what we have today. And so I think that when we sit there and look at the

balance between highest and best use 4 million homes on acres of lots versus infill development where it's affordable for people to work and live there becomes a tension. Um with that is parking with that is storage lack of storage and where the storage goes uh on street. I think be is a perfect example of uh some a place where we probably didn't have enough regulation and now we've got near a railroad track fairly narrow and everything's in the yard and on the I think that's where the tension lies with us as we debate this is what what does the development look like not tomorrow but in 20 years. Um, that being said, we do need affordable homes and affordable homes don't have as much space to park the stuff and to have the stuff. And in many cases, you end up having multiple families living in a single house in order to afford it, which requires more cars um than than normal. And so, we try to manage that tension where, hey, if we can make it affordable for a single home, then you actually have maybe less. And so and and the last part of the tension is uh the way we do council. We don't get to call each other and talk about issues. We you get to see it in front of the public. So this is not a public meeting in the sense that we meet with the public. This is a public meeting where we get to meet amongst the public and you guys get to witness us try to make a consensus or a decision. And and part of that is because of open meetings and regulations. We have a public portion and then we have a council portion. So there's not a debate and so I know it always feels if you've not been to council lead it's always so I just want to acknowledge that and and we're not doing it for anything other than this is the way that we're regulated. Uh that that being said I think there are concerns about uh the parking in this area. I think more than just the I mean multiple exits out there are once they get out of this subdivision there are

ways that they can way find around the community. Um and uh it's infill is always better for the community because uh services don't have to be extended. Uh so is there uh would there be willingness I guess generally that consensus is there willingness I don't know if it would be passed that you would be okay with parking restrictions to to allow that to be part of the plat or not? I think that's the general consensus. I don't know.

Yeah. You Yeah, if you don't mind. Yeah. So I I think with what would be easier to control would be maybe like overnight um um parking because yeah HOA will the the idea of having HOA in that community is to keep the aesthetic of that community for 20 years from now not not just while homes are getting built. But we can we can definitely work with staff on uh plant flat comments uh to come before you for approval as well. So okay addition the addition of a condition of no overnight parking is that what

I think uh yeah I think that's the no on street where you're going but overnight yeah no on street. Yeah. Well, and and she said she's willing to work with staff. So, that means um we would have to if we chose to do that, we would have to fail this motion and then uh move uh to table it, sorry, to postpone it to a future meeting so she can meet with you guys on those kind of comments. Is that something that I have? I I raised the concerns about parking. Yeah. But it's also a pretty big precedent if we start doing this. Yeah.

And I don't know, personally, I don't know that that's where I want to go. Yeah. I think it's a valid a valid option, but I don't think I don't know that we've ever done that um in the past. And I I mean personally and then and then to to density. I mean, yes, they are asking for 45, but I think size is 5,400 square feet, which is 400 more than our current minimum requirement of 5,000. And so, I think as as much as I do have concerns about it, there's I think there's it's a pretty big give. They could have found ways to squeeze them tighter, but um it's personally how I feel.

All right, we have a motion, a second to approve this item as is. Uh the chair would entertain either motion uh or we will vote. Oh, I mean as a PD uh it does feel like we should add something about parking and I don't know if that's overnight parking or all parking. What I think based on the lawyer's comments, Mr. is I think it's it would have it would be prohibited or or either strictly prohibited or it would just fall under the HOA whatever those overnight right

and then I just had a quote Tina you did say we have in the past changed lot sizes but it was it was this way not this way. Um, I would like to amend my motion to add a regulation for no on street parking. Second that. A second to motion to um to restrict on street parking. Any comments or question about on street parking? All in favor for amending the motion to require a restriction on on street parking say I. I. I. I those opposed I.

All right. So that is one four to two that approved the amending of the motion. So now the motion that sits before us is to approve the um the zoning request for the plan development with the addition of a restriction of on street parking as part of the PD. Any other comments or questions before we vote on that motion? There being none, all in favor of that motion say I. I. I. Those opposed? Uh all right that passes 51. So plan development with restriction and on street parking and everything else that was there right. Yes sir. Thank you. Thank you.

Sausage making that's what they call government hot jalapeno. All right. Item eight. hold a public hearing and consider a zone change from agriculture to commercial 2 on approximately 1 acres located at 704 East Loop 121. Miss Tina, actually this has been postponed indefinitely. It bailed to pass for the planning and zoning commission and the applicant decided not to appeal the decision. You need action?

Yes, please make a motion to postpone indefinitely. Second motion to second to postpone indefinitely. All in favor say I. I. Those opposed make pens 6. Item nine, consider a final plat for the for Bernardet edition phase two comprising.9919 acres located on North Bernett Street, south of Greenway and north of West Fifth Avenue.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This property is located off of Bernett. It is on the west side of Bernett Drive, north of Greenway and south of West Fifth Avenue. Um it is close by the Harris Community Center. Here's the Harris Community Center on the map and it's just a stone throw away from here. Um the applicant has approximately 1 acre and they are looking to develop to meet the requirements for the new Imagine Belt and standards. This property in the transition zoning. Um however, the applicant wants to build um single family um town homes that will look like duplexes. They are allowed but must adhere to the neighborhood standard in the Magin Belton district. Um city water and everywhere servicesed um streets. Um Bernett is a local street requires 50 ft of rideway. There's currently 40. The applicant will be dedicating 5 foot of rightway to make up for that lag. Um access. There's one access that will go into that alley that will service the area. Here's a site plan that shows what the applicant is looking at doing. Again, this is 14 lots and it also has a track A that is a hammerhead for firet truck and heavy vehicles to turn around in that area. Um there is a 20 foot easement and actually that whole area is actually 30 foot because right of um utilities are located in that area to service the homes. Um actually one more thing uh that came up during this review. The applicant um as you can see they have a large rare yard. The imagine belt and standards require five foot um square yard setback, but they're willing to modify that to 20 to allow for some privacy for the adjacent neighbors. Here's what the duplexes will look like. And with that, the planning and zoning commission heard the meeting on the 17th and recommended approval of this um with the following conditions. um approval of

staff comment letters that stated um February 20th and also I've added that addition of the 20 foot rear yard setback for each of the lots. Um applicant is here should you have any questions and I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have as well. All right, this is not a public hearing so um comments or questions from council. Tina, can you go back to the site plan? Sure thing. For clarity, can you describe to us what As we're looking at this, what's the front yard and what's the rear yard? Yes, sir. So, the front yard, um, the property line is right in the middle of this access road. The laser pointers.

Okay. The property line I had a pen is in the middle of the access road. So, the front yard is where the driveway spaces are that you can see. That would be the front yard. The rear yard is the back of the property. Um, on the other side of where that driveway space is. Actually, I apologize. That's reversed.

The applicant plans on the parking in the rear yard or is that correct? the parking in the front yard, but pedestrian access is in front of the rear yard. Um, apologize. So, pedestrian access to the homes will be coming in from the bottom side, but the front yard setbacks are from here to here. So, so there's a street facing front door basically because the front doors will be facing the opposite side if I am correctly. What are the little you drew? Huh? Trees. Trees. You drew drew drew a line saying pedestrians would enter there. What? Just

sidewalks for pedestrian access from what I've seen before. And I apologize. I'm looking at the applicant to confirm. Is that correct? Got up, please. Yes. Curtis, 510 Creekide Drive. the uh the town homes would be facing the road. The they will have garages and you'll have driveways. Uh you'll be coming in off of that street. Okay. All right. So, the driveway and so the picture that was shown that does not show a garage would not be that's the that is an a different type of duplex we build. Gotcha.

That's the wrong picture. Understood. Apologize. The sweet was provided. Thank you. So that shows 30 feet from center of the alley but 20 ft from the back of curb.

So front yeah but this is all neighborhood or imagine belt and stuff. So it's kind of kind of as is. So the rear yard setback that I was referring to is from the back of the property. Um, again, there are adjacent neighbors and we just want these are two-story um, town homes. We just want to provide them a little bit of privacy.

And that's not on the plat that's in our packet. That is not on the plat that will be added tonight. Yes, sir. And back on since this is Imagine Belton the zoning what they're doing is allowed by right but platting is something that's still required. Yes sir. Any other comments or questions? Chair would entertain a motion.

I think the the I'm sorry I do have one more question. So I wasn't clear on where the front door is. Is there is there a door on both sides of these duplexes or is it on the bottom and up that are facing the road? It's facing the road and not the alley. No, those are facing houses. There's houses on three sides. Oh, yeah. There's an aerial map. There's a front door by the driveways and there's a rear door in the backs. Okay. of each town. Okay. Thank you.

I'm sorry. You asked for an area of views that

chairman entertain a motion. I'll move to approve this item uh as presented including the 20 foot rear setback for each lot. Second.

Motion a second to approve uh the plat on the North Bernett Street subdivision with a 20 year 20 foot rear setback. Any other comments or questions before we vote? All in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Passes unanimously. All right. Item 10. Consider a final plant for Riverplace Estates phase 10 comprising approximately 57 acres located generally west of North Main Street and south of the Leyon River.

Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Um, this lot proposes 63 single family residential homes to be owned and maintain. Oh, wait. Apologize. There are a couple lots. There are about two of them that are You can see where they are. They're the landscape islands. um those will be owned and maintained by the HOA. Um the plat also includes a drainage and wildlife passage easement to be owned by the property owner. Um this property has entered into a chapter 380 development agreement with the city to provide sewer services in this area. Um with that there were some obligations that needed to be met. Um, one of those restrictions were limitation of the lots to 214 lots and also need for a private park in a green belt area um as well. So, this is one of three subdivisions that would come before you um for the approved preliminary plot. Here is a look at some of the utilities in this area. Water and sewer are provided by the city of Belton. Sewer will be coming from across the street on Maine from the Mystic River and extending Mystic River subdivision and extending to this phase to provide service. Water will be coming from the existing phases of river um place to provide services in this area. All streets in this area are proposed our local street. There is a 50ft rideway. However, because of the density that's proposed, they are proposing a 28 ft pavement. Um the subdivision ordinance does allow for developers with a wider area um larger density to do a reduced pavement area. Um access is limited in this area due to um constraints from the layout. Um so the access will connect to the existing river place subdivision in that area. Um overall the

which in which area that it's going to access? Which road is the um from Sabine and also from Quell Run? I can't can't see it. Is it? So um Okay. So there's those two that are shown are the ingress egress for that subdivision. Correct. So there's two. Okay. Thank you. I I didn't know if they were hypothetical or if they were actual. Okay. They're actual. Thank you.

Um drainage plans have been reviewed by staff and has um is almost ready for approval. There's a couple comments. Um, there is a 2 acre park that is proposed in a future phase, phase 11. Um, that will meet our parking land requirements and also comply with the agreement with her with a chapter 380 agreement. Um, another positive note for this is um, no heritage trees will be removed in the subdivision. The applicant has gone above and beyond to try to save all the trees in this area. Um with that staff is recommending approval of the Riverplace phase 10 final plat with the condition staff comment letter dated um 227. Um and I don't know why I have that there but the planet zoning did vote to approve um to recommend approval of this final plat. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Thank you. Again, no public hearing on this one. Any comments or questions from council? I just had one question from a homeowner. Is the construction all going to be through the existing streets or will there be a separate construction access? Do you know? Because of the tobos in this area, it will have to come from the streets. That was just a question I got from somebody. I know this project has been work in the works for months. Um the sewer access was such a major uh partnership project uh with the city and developer. I'm glad we're moving forward and look forward to uh I think it's 10, 11, and 12 for this. So any other discussion, I'd like to make a motion to approve it. Second.

We have a motion, a second to approve item 10. Any other comments or questions? Again, it's been a great project. Uh look looking forward to it. It's uh it's been uh Riverplace is one of the developments that's really helped shape the character of who Belton is. And so we appreciate your partnership. It's been great to see it grow up as we have grown up. So, I'd like to add one thing. I know back whenever this came to us as a zoning item a year or more ago, there was concern from neighbors place that

the current subdivision only has two outlets onto 439. And this 63 lot subdivision would be into that. Um, it's interesting because it's a continuation of a development that's been in the works for 40 years. Um, and I I want to commend the developer for uh committing to uh joining this to Trinity Drive with what's going to end up being a pretty expensive section section of road there uh in phase 12. And so um just if there's if there's anybody who's paying attention to lives in the neighborhood that that's coming and we'll help to accommodate a lot of the traffic there. So, I appreciate um what y'all have done to to plan for that for the future.

All in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed? Passes unanimously. Unanimously. Item 11, consider a final plat for River Farms phase 1B comprising approximately 24 acres located east of Tollbridge Road.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So this is 1B1 and 1B2. Um here are the different they are connected to each other and also connected to 1A. Of course this isn't a Belton um extr territorial jurisdiction. So there are no zoning in this area but we do have a mud agreement that has certain restrictions um that um needs to be met. All of the lots in this area are proposed for 45 feet wide with a depth of 120 and it meets our area requirements that we have set apart um set aside in that development agreement. Water and sewer are provided by the city of Belton. An 8 in line is proposed and 8 in sewer lines proposed to serve this area. All streets in this area are also 50 foot of rightway. 31 ft of pavement um in this area. Access will be provided from and I apologize I forgot 1A 1B1 comprises of 15 acres. It has five blocks, 84 residential lots and two lots to be owned and maintained by the HOA. And this is 1B that's 7.65 acres. Three blocks, one residential lots and two lots owned by the HOA. Um access will be from the existing access off of um this roadway is called White Sage that comes into the neighborhood. White Sage and also Red Thistle that will be on the south side of this area will be the main access roads for this parkland dedication. Um at full buildout river farm will have two private parks open space that total 67 acres of open space. Um staff recommends approval of this flat pendant on staff comments dated um February 27th. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have and also the applicant is here should you have any questions for them.

Comments, questions or a motion. Just rolling on. I'll make a motion to approve as is. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve the final plat for the river farm phase 1 B1 1B2. Any other comments or questions? All in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed. Passes 6. All right. We will be adjourning into executive session. But as far um as the public meeting uh we stand adjourned uh 6:31. I'm going to go ahead and read the executive sessions language into the records.