Plan Commission - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the July 2nd meeting of the City Plan Commission. My name is Lauren Hanson, chair of the commission, and I call this meeting to order at 1 35 p.m.. Same into the public.

The City Plan Commission has sole and final approval authority over subdivision maps, which is statutorily limited to an ministerial examination of the application's conformance to all applicable code provisions. The staff report for an agenda item may include conditions, exceptions, or modifications. The commission may approve the item with all staff report conditions, exceptions or modifications, including additional measures regarding the item as imposed by the commission. Otherwise, the staff report with all modifications, exceptions and conditions is approved and the applicant shall comply with all provisions of the staff report. Commissioners will consider all agenda items other than subdivision items in the form of a public hearing the normal normal process is as follows First the Commission will hear a staff report followed by a statement from the applicant Then members of the public may speak followed by any final statement from the applicant Finally the matter will be closed for further discussion or a motion among the Commission the Commission shall then make a recommendation that will be forwarded to City Council I

Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda today?

Hi, good afternoon. Luis Zamora with Planning and Inspections. Yes, ma'am. Item five and six are being requested to be heard together. Item five is PCDS 26-00014 for property located at 7345 Dewberry. Item 6 is SUSU 26-00034, technically the same property. This is for Dewberry Springs subdivision. So again, we're asking that item 5 and 6 be heard together. Furthermore, item 9 has been requested to be postponed for two weeks. This is a presentation on reasoning and process of plotting determinations. So again, the request for item 9 is to be postponed for two weeks.

Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve those changes to the agenda?

Motion to approve changes.

Second. All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Motion carries. Now we're moving on to approving the agenda. Yes, approving the agenda. Or is it called to public first?

Yeah, so you guys just, well, you approve changes to the agenda. So I believe right now is the public comment. Public comment. And then we'll continue with our consent.

All right, we'll hold public comment. Is there anybody here or on the phone that would like to speak about something that's not on the agenda? And if you're on the phone, that's star six to unmute. Again, that's star six to unmute if you want to speak about something that's not on the agenda today. Okay, public comment is closed. Now we will move on to approving the consent agenda. Do I have a motion for that?

Motion.

Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

If I might, just for clarification, consent agenda included items one, two, three, and four.

Perfect. Okay. We move on to number five and six presented together.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of the Commission. Also with our planning and inspections. So item five is a detailed site development plan request for the property at 7345 Dewberry Drive. And this is for the proposed use of single family attached dwellings. So here's just an aerial photo of the subject property showing its location. And this is located north of Trans Mountain Road and east of Ressler in West El Paso. And we're looking at approximately a little under seven acres in size of the property. So just some background information. This property was rezoned in 2025 from an R3A to the current zoning, which is a planned residential. The proposal at the time was to rezone for the proposed use of single-family attached dwellings. And as well as during the rezoning, there was no formal site plan submitted. Now the request is coming to you for approval. So again, this is the detailed site development plan. Some of the highlights of the development, there will be 11 four-unit buildings, so a total of 44 units. There will be one private open space lot, which you can see highlighted in brown. Each unit will have access from Dewberry Drive and will have its own driveway as well as a two-car garage. Setbacks for this development will be a 20-foot front setback, a rear 15-foot setback, side setbacks of five feet, zero between each unit, and 10 feet between each structure. So these are the elevations. Again, here the max height for the zoning district is 35 feet, and there is a proposed height of 32 feet for each structure. Here just the site plan overlaid over the aerial image just to give you a sense of the development itself and the orientation. And here's just a photo of the subject property. Here this photo was taken at the end of Dewberry looking towards the east of the development. So looking to the surroundings, to the north, east, and south, again, we have mostly vacant, undeveloped land. We have an area mostly zoned R3 with a couple of lots zoned C4. And to the west, we have existing single-family dwellings that are detached and zoned R3. So that'll be it for the zoning portion of the presentation. I'll hand it off to and she'll go over the subdivisions portion.

Good afternoon, chair and members of the commission, Mirna Aguilar with Planning and Inspections. Item number six on the agenda is Dewberry Springs subdivision involving a major combination application. This development is within the city of El Paso limits and it's located east of Ressler Drive and north of Trans Mountain Road. The applicant is proposing to subdivide 6.84 acres of vacant land to create 44 residential lots for town homes. Lots will range between 3,268 to 5,986 square feet in size. Primary and only access to the proposed subdivision will be from Dewberry Drive. Stormwater drainage will be managed through surface run flow in accordance to the approved master drainage plan. And this development is being reviewed under the current subdivision code. Here we have the preliminary plot. Here we have the final plot. The applicant is requesting the following exceptions from the City Plan Commission, and that is to waive the construction of one foot of planter strip along both sides of Dewberry Drive, and to waive the length requirement of 600 feet of a cul-de-sac street. Here we have the required and proposed cross-sections for Dewberry Drive. And here we have the existing conditions. The picture on the right is facing east towards the property, and the picture on the, I'm sorry, the picture on the right is facing west, which is away from the property, and it shows the exception as being consistent with what is already built on Dunbarry Drive. The exception requests the way the required improvements meet the criteria under Title 19. Here we have the site development plan and the plan for the subdivision. All standards are to be set by a site development plan, meaning the plan is dependent on the site plan to set the minimum standards for it to comply. And with that, staff recommends approval of the detailed site development plan request and approval with condition of the Berry Springs subdivision on a major combination basis and approval of the exception request. Condition being as follows. That the approved detailed site development plan be filed prior to the recordation of the final plan and the exceptions were mentioned before. And this concludes my presentation.

Thank you. Any questions for staff?

I got one. So stormwater engineering noted downstream retention base was never designed to accommodate runoff from the site, which means 44 townhomes layout have to absorb the post-development stormwater surge. Was that ever looked at?

By land development, yes.

And there's plans and design to accommodate that?

And there is where the water would go to, and it was approved. Okay.

Any other questions? In the previous plans, when they were postponed from last meeting, the city was not going to accept the Greenway for Parkway because it had an easement under it. Did they decide to accept that?

Correct, that's why it's a private open space. Okay, so it'll be taken care of by NHLA, yes.

Okay, thank you. Can we hear from the applicant?

Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Commissioners. My name is Sal Masood, W Engineering, on behalf of the applicant. We do approve, I mean, we do agree with staff recommendations and conditions.

Are these gonna be individually owned?

Yes.

Okay, so that's why you're plotting each one?

Exactly.

Okay, any questions? Thank you. I have somebody wanting to speak on item number six. Okay, perfect. If you could state your name, you have three minutes to speak.

Good afternoon. I'm Jaime Castro. I work with the El Paso Fire Department, members of the CPC and Madam Chair. Our comments is for the exception number two, to waive the length requirement of 600 feet of Akula Saga Street. And then our comments or recommendation is as per code, anything exceeding the 600 feet will require fire sprinkler protection. It doesn't matter if we have fire hydrants in the area. That will be our recommendation unless CPC grants the waiver for the Springer, but even though in the plat, there will be a note that if it's exceeding the 600 feet, everything above will be a Springer. If it's because of security reasons, it's a long street, then that's our concerns. That's it, thank you.

So what is your recommendation? Because Dewberry, you're saying that not just the subdivision is 600 feet, but the Dewberry from before that is correct?

If it's exceeding the 600 feet, everything that will be above that will be Springer.

Okay. I think this is going to connect to Ressler in the future. Am I correct? Correct. Okay. Are there any plans as to when that timeline is? No.

I tried to contact CID, but there was no answer.

Okay. Are you recommending anything?

That will help in the future if they have some kind of a connection, but we don't know, we don't have that information yet.

Okay, from what I understand, the street will not get any longer. Immediately after this section, it just turns into Ressler.

It does that kind of solve your your issue is because we are we only have two point of access gonna be reser and do very But from that corner to the end of the last houses is exceeding I don't know if they can give me that information, but it's like it's about 1,500 feet That was a question

Well, the reason we are going for that exception on the 600 feet is actually because it is allowed in the design manual code under 6.1.4e. We have three conditions that we meet. One of them is the topography. Second is that there's, adjacent to it, there's a natural arroyo. And third, this is the only outlet that we have. There is no other street. The way the design constraints, that's the way it should go. Plus the fact that we do understand that Dewberry is going to continue. There's actually active projects that are going Connected with wrestler and that's that's why we asked for that exception What are the fire requirements as far as like safety walls anything like that? Is there anything that you have to do for the absolutely absolutely? You know a minimum to our fire retention wall. Yes, sir.

Okay. Thank you Did anybody else have any questions for the applicant or staff I'll take a motion and then we will open it up for discussion. Was this a public comment? It was, correct?

Motion to approve.

Before we approve.

No, it's just a regular agenda. Perfect, okay. It's not for public hearing.

We have one motion to approve. Do I have a second?

Second.

All right.

Discussion?

I'm gonna go ahead and say because there's extra firewall safety and because it is going to connect to the master transportation plan maybe in the next 10 years that's a risk that the ultimate owner is gonna have to take on whether or not they want their asset to be in danger I understand that you know there are real lives connected to that but if they're gonna put in that two-hour, four-hour firewall infrastructure, I think that that road connection is gonna come in soon-ish. Any other discussion?

Okay. If I may also, on the south of the property, it's eventually gonna get developed as well, so I don't see any issues.

Okay, all in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Motion carries for number five and number six, thank you. We have number seven, Montana Market.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of the Commission. Blanca Perez with Planning and Inspections. Item members, CU Drive and Asia Way. Here is a proposed development superimposed over the aerial map. The applicant is proposing to subdivide eleven point sixty acres of land to create four commercial lots ranging in size from point sixty two to nine point twenty six acres. Stormwater drainage will be managed by surface flow to a regional pond. This application is being reviewed under the current subdivision code. Here is a preliminary plot and here's the final plot. The applicant is requesting the following exceptions pursuant to the El Paso City Code. To waive the dedication of eight and a half feet of additional right-of-way along Airport Road. To waive the construction of two and a half feet of driving lane along Airport Road. To waive the dedication of five and a half feet of additional right-of-way along Sioux Street. And to waive the construction of one and a half feet of planter strip along Ishaway. Here we have the portion of airport road and again the applicant is requesting to waive the dedication of eight and a half feet of additional right of way and the construction of two and a half feet of driving lane. And here we have the existing conditions for airport road. Here we have the portion of Sioux Street and the applicant is requesting to waive the dedication of five and a half feet of additional right of way. And here we have the existing conditions. And here's a portion for issue way and this is to waive the construction of one and a half feet of planter strip. And here we have the existing conditions for issue way and just as a note that the exception request is to match the existing conditions around the neighboring developments. The exception request meets the criteria under the El Paso City code title 19. And with that, staff recommends approval of Montana Market on a major combination basis with a condition for the rezoning request to be approved by city council prior to the recordation of the plaque. And staff also recommends approval of the exceptions requested from the applicant. And that concludes my presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for staff?

Thank you. Can we hear from the applicant?

Good afternoon, George Hulu with SLI Engineering. We agree with all staff comments.

Any questions? Thank you. Okay. Do I have a motion?

Motion to approve.

Second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Motion carries, thank you. Thank you. We move on to number eight, which is lots 24 and through 28 in Vista Commercial Park.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of the Commission. Blanca Perez with Planning and Inspections. Item number eight on the agenda is a special permit application for the subject property located at 12 to 30 Pine Springs Drive. The applicant is requesting a special permit to allow for a heli-stop and approval of a detailed site development plan at the existing El Paso Fire Station number 35. The subject property is approximately 2.87 acres in size. It is currently zoned C4 commercial and it's located west of Joe Battle Boulevard and north of Rojas Drive. The Detail Site Development Plan indicates that the existing main building consisting of approximately 8,737 square feet will remain on site. The proposed heli stop is located in the southwestern portion of the property and will be approximately 2,500 square feet. The development complies with the minimum parking requirements by providing 24 parking spaces and three bicycle spaces and access to the site is provided via Pine Springs Drive. Here are the existing building elevations. Here you can see the proposed site plan superimposed on the aerial map for context. This is the existing condition of the site as viewed from Pine Springs Drive. Properties to the north are sown C4 commercial and is developed with a governmental facility. Properties to the southeast and west are all sown C4SC commercial with a special contract, and they all include a contractor equipment rental business, an automotive repair garage, metal product manufacturing operations, and a motor carrier terminal. The applicant notified the Ranchos del Sol Neighborhood Association. Notices were also made to property owners within 300 feet on June 18, 2026. And to date, the planning division has not received any communications in support or opposition to the request. There were 14 notices sent to 14 properties. And with that, staff recommends approval of the special permit and the Detail Site Development Plan request. And that concludes my presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for staff?

Thank you. Can we hear from the applicant, please?

Thank you.

Jared Harris with air methods. We're the air operators of the helicopter that are proposing and requesting the permit to operate our medical helicopter with the partnership with the city of El Paso Fire Department. We're currently operating at the airport right now that we are requesting to build and construct a helistop at the fire station for quicker response times and centralized locations for sick and injured patients.

Just out of curiosity, what makes it a better location?

I can look at it several different ways of where the call volumes actually come from outside of the city versus where an ambulance would be sufficient versus a medical helicopter being faster to the medical facilities.

Okay. Any questions for the applicant?

So you're not going to be at the airport anymore and you're going to move it to this location?

Yes, ma'am.

And do you agree with all staff comments?

I'm sorry?

Do you agree with all staff comments?

Yes, ma'am.

Perfect. All right. Thank you. This is a public hearing. Is there anybody here right now or on the phone that would like to speak on this matter? That's star six to unmute if you're on the phone. Again, this is a public hearing. Anybody who would like to speak on the hella stop? All right. We're closing public hearing. Do I have a motion among the commission?

Motion to approve.

Second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed?

Motion carries. Thank you.

OK. So we deleted item number nine. Is there anything else before we adjourn today?

At least tomorrow we're planning inspections. No, it's really all of it except which is when I wish you all a happy 4th of July. Be safe out there. Just to make sure the community, if they're watching, everyone, please be safe out there. Don't do crazy stuff. Yeah, just everyone be careful. And obviously enjoy the Independence Day. That's all for today.

Thank you so much. Y'all have a great afternoon.

Sorry, do I have a motion to adjourn?

Motion to adjourn. Second. Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. You all have a great afternoon.