Planning & Zoning Meeting - Regular Meeting

Okay, here we go. Good evening. Like to call the meeting to order. Planning and zoning meeting for November 20th, 2025, City of Josephine. Okay. Thank everyone for being here. And if you uh let's see, we go through the roll call here first. Madam Secretary, all regular members are here and Alton is also here. Okay. So, if you'd like to stand and join me for the pledge of

allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Ciao would like to do the invocation. Yes. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come to you asking for your guidance, wisdom, and support. As we begin this meeting, help us to engage in meaningful discussion. Allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the bonds of community. Fill us with grace, your Lord God, as we make decisions that might affect our residents in the city of Josephine. And continue remind us all that we do here today, all that we accomplish is for the pursuit of truth of the for the greater glory of you and for the service of humanity. We ask these things in your name. Amen.

Okay. First thing I see we have a quick training overview of diligent agenda software. We're going to do that. U Mr. Miguel before the secretary. Okay. Okay. So, it's we sent an invitation to everyone's personal email that we have. Um, if you haven't accepted it, um, we'll just I went ahead and resent everyone the invitation. If you don't have it, just let me know. All you're going to do is accept the invitation and that's how you're going to get the new agendas automatically emailed when we post them. And I can even tell you what email we would send it to. I can Okay.

I left my phone in the car, but uh I understand the instructions. You'll have 72 hours to accept it or else I'll just resend it to you. Okay. Check your Okay. And then yes, check your spam, too. Wow. Did y'all get them? Thank you. So, I tried and auto password went back. Let me sign in. Reset password in. Okay. It says you're active.

Really? Yes.

It says your account is active and you're good. Yours is good, too. Um, yours. It went to the AOL email. Mhm. And then so I would try the reset password again. That would be my suggestion. If you can't figure it out, we can try to look Miss Young, Mr. Reed, to you guys on top of that email. Uh what topic that she's talking about? Okay. All right. Great. And uh Chelsea, I have yours.

Greg, were you able to get it? Good. Perfect. Let me look. Yes, you're good.

Okay. Okay. For future meetings, what we can do, I'll leave this up to y'all to decide. We can have y'all do the electronic voting. Um, our council, city council does that. We send the vote from the computer and y'all vote on there and then it displays on the TV. Um, or y'all continue to raise your right hand. Okay. They would just have to You can do it on a phone um or if you have your own computer, you can bring too whatever y'all would like to do. Okay. And it looks like I think everyone's good. Might be waiting on one more. Yeah.

Okay. Any other questions on that topic? Okay. We'll move on to the minutes, the review of the minutes for October 16th. Uh hopefully everyone has a copy. I make a motion to approve the minutes from the October 16th, 2025 regular meeting. Okay. Is there a second? All

in favor? Okay. Next item is item 3.1 open public hearing case number Z24-00002-101 uh comma 103 and 107 East Cook which is the address and this is to hold a public hearing to consider testimony and make a recommendation to the city council on a reszoning request by the applicant. Oldtown Josephine LP to amend the zoning ordinance and the zoning map of the city of Josephine each being a part of the code of ordinance from single family residents to general commercial business other than retail uh other than retail to this is written twice here okay what's written it's from single family residents to general commercial business other than retail. Okay. And there are there's three parcels of land totaling approximately uh 1.8 acres of land. Again, located at 101, 102, and 107 East Cook Street. So, at this time, is there anyone here that likes to uh speak? Honorable chairman, members of the commission, Miguel Inclan, city planner for the record. It's on, right? Okay. Um, this is a straight rezoning to commercial on three parcels on uh Can we open the PDF on this one? Yeah. Um, right here on this corner is where the house was just demolished. Um, there's three parcels of land on our map. The one at the corner where they had the house and the metal building that were just demolished.

At some point when the reasonzoning the zoning classifications were changed about three four years ago, whoever drew up the map, uh there was like a scrivener's error. So, for some reason, that property was shown as commercial, but it's never been reszoned to commercial. However, because it shows on the map, I had to add that it's being reszoned from commercial to commercial. So,

it's it's we're just ratifying something that happened by accident. Um because it's a straight resoning, there is no requirement for a concept plan. Um if you will remember last month, you u recommended approval of reszoning on the properties to the north of that. Uh Mr. Shirkhard's properties, the those were adopted by the city council uh last week. So those properties are now commercial. Um the future land use plan designates those properties under the city center typology. So, it looks at in uh encouraging uh commercial or mixed use developments befitting a downtown.

Um the hope is that there's going to be a development that, you know, becomes the uh what you call a gateway feature that's like creates a sense of arrival, something that tells you, hey, I'm in like downtown Josephine or Oldtown Josephine. Um, and the developer to my knowledge doesn't have a defined user, but again, it's any use that's allowed in the commercial district will be allowed by right here. Um, the developer is here to answer any questions you may have. Um, he's the same developer for all the three reszoning cases tonight.

Um, we recommend approval and if you have any questions for me, I'm more than happy to answer. And just for the record, uh members that um far as the letters going out in support or opposition, none have been received for any of the three cases. We have no letters. Okay. None to my knowledge right now. Okay. This point we're close to public hearing. Uh gentlemen, you have any comments, questions concerning this item? Make that at the parking lot eventually. an overflow that part at this particular land. Yeah, I thought that's what I heard.

No, we I don't think anything has been presented to it's us about the future. It's privately owned and the developer can answer that question. Or are you talking about the city owned property? This the one right here, right? Oh, that's that's Mr. Pots's property. I don't think he's got any intention. So, we might be confusing. We have the other corner right here building it. Okay. We could use some parking there, but

I was hoping to put like a restaurant or something. That's We've looked at some really cool designs a couple developers who looked at the site and might want to partner with us to do something yet. I remember they talked about this one over here, the one where they just took the house down that that was eventually going to be like a grocery store could possibly close so they can hear you. Go ahead. Yeah, Randy Pototts with Oldtown Josephine obviously, but um

yeah, I think they were talking about like this over here being a a potential grocery store. I think that's why we talked about it a while back and they took a bunch of those houses down and bought that land in the corner. And that's over here uh going right out of Josephine, the house that they just recently at Sebastian. Yeah. So, um and I think that comes up here in a minute. It's a that'll be discussed in the next case. Okay. All right. Okay. But we don't have plans yet. We'd like to do something unique and something the city would be proud of and make a statement that would be, you know, something nice. So,

yeah, because we're already making a good statement with the the fire station or whatever next door. It looks good. Yeah. This this this little pocket's turning into something really special. Yep. Great. Cool. Thank you. And we do have so we do have this land across the street. And so for us, we've had different um groups talk to us, but we've been particular about who we want to put in on our first deal because this our front door, that one and the other side across the street on the south southwest corner both. So that adds any comfort or makes a difference, but yeah,

we're looking Nice. Okay.

And just for uh most of the members may know, but just for everyone to know, you know, normally the process is reszoning land. People can reszone land and it can sit there for 10 years or they can sell it and they don't necessarily have to have a plan on what they're going to do. They have a plan. They just keep it to themselves until they really get ready to do something. But that's just for your information. So, uh, a lot of times we may have an item and people come in as citizens and they want to know what they're going to do with the land and they're against what they think they they're going to do with the land and at this stage it's just, you know, you can reszone your land and can stay that way forever. So, uh, we can't vote on what may happen in the future. We just have to vote on what's going on today. So, at this point, is there a motion for item 3.1? Okay. So, I make a motion.

Well, here. Are we waiting on that? Go ahead. Go ahead. Yeah. I'm I move to recommend approval of case number 725-00002 as presented. All in favor? I'm sorry. Is there a second? Yeah, I second that motion.

Okay. All in favor. All right. Outstanding. Item 3.2, open the public hearing, case number Z24 003. And this concerning the land at 913 West Cook. And this is to hold a public hearing to consider testimony and make recommendations to the city council on reszoning requests by the applicant Oldtown Josephine LP to amend the zoning ordinance and zoning map of the city of Josephine. Uh each being a part of the code of ordinance from single family residents to general commercial business other than retail. And this is 2.4 49 point uh 496 acres of land and again located at 113 West Cook. And Mr. Miguel, do you have any comments? Um Mr. Chairman, members of the commission, um again, just a straight resoning. I understand that the property owner owns an adjacent parcel. So you always want to have reszonings to create, you know, assemble tracks and reszone them to a common uh common zoning category. Um no defined user at this time, but um with the outer loop um alignment being close to finalized, there's there's already interest from commercial developers that want to be close to that outer loop. So there's an expectation that in the hopefully over the next year you'll start seeing site plans for commercial development or even mixed use along this corridor.

Okay. And again for the record uh no letters were returned. No letters. We recommend approval. No no opposition or support. Right. Members have any questions, comments? Nope. Okay. Uh close. Did I close the public hearing? Okay, you got me closed. Okay. Do we have a motion on that item then?

I make a motion to approve uh case number Z2 4- 0 0003 as presented. Is there a second? Second. Okay. And all in favor? Okay.

And our next item, open public hearing for case number Z24-00004. Uh the land is located at 603 West Cook. And again, this is to hold a public hearing to consider the testimony and make a recommendations to the city council on reszoning requests. A resoning request by the applicant Oldtown Josephine LP to amend the zoning ordinance and zoning map of the city of Josephine. each being a part of the code of ordinance from single family retail to general commercial business other than retail on approximately 438 acres of land. Any comments? Uh Mr. Miguel,

uh Mr. Chairman, same thing. It's just a straight reszoning to commercial and u if you have questions the developer here no opposition it uh fits within the future land use plan and we recommend approval. Okay. Okay. We are close to public hearing and for the uh committee to discuss and consider an act and to recommend approval on this uh item. Any comments or questions? Yeah, just most of that is I I think there's like five or six properties right there that are already commercial, so makes sense.

Okay. Okay. Is there a motion on this item?

Oh, is it my turn? All right. Cool. Uh, I'll make a motion to uh approve the uh case number Z24-00004. Um, as uh as stated. It's a second. I second. And all in favor? All righty. Uh, the next item, item 3.4. We're going to revisit this item from last month. Uh, it's a continual public hearing case number CL CA25 00002A from October 16th uh meeting. Uh, okay. Mr. Miguel is going to provide uh information concerning this case.

Mr. Chairman, members of the commission, this was the uh code amendment that I have proposed to allow for preliminary engineering to be accepted at the time of preliminary plot for all types of development. Um there was a concern about trying to break that up between residential and non-residential development. Um after consulting with our engineer and um with the upcoming work to create a a entirely new development code we feel this issue is better addressed at that time and it's just duplication of efforts. I'm trying to just make better use of the time. So uh with that said we we um ask that we uh that you approve the withdrawal of this item from the agenda

and close the public hearing. So, a withdrawal is re what you recommend, sir. Okay. We're close to a public hearing for the uh planning and zoning to uh committee to discuss and consider this item. Okay. Any questions for Mr. Miguel? When's the new planning zoning stuff going to be ready?

The UDC. So, we have a kickoff meeting or re- kickoff because um the project was on pause when I started. Um that meeting is going to be held the first week of December. Um our goal is going to try to get this wrapped up by March when the consultant that's assigned to this project is retiring. Um so, we're going to fasttrack this to bring you something uh for review ideally January. we may uh if not I don't know February might be too late in the game. So um we'll determine whether we might have a special meeting.

At the very least I expect this to be published online for review. So you might have an opportunity to provide comments and we can go back and forth with the consultant rather than waiting for a full meeting for discussion. But ideally this is um an entirely new process and based on the direction received from you all at the last meeting um I think we might follow the example from McKini in terms of breaking apart the development process into residential and non-residential um and following best practices across the state as well. So, I'm not just looking at North Texas. I'm looking at central Texas, South Texas. Um, for cities that developers constantly uh you hear about saying this is make it this is easy to develop because that's really the biggest challenge when uh trying to recruit prospects for economic development. That's one of the first questions they ask is how easy is the process and how clear is the process? And right now our process um is written geared mostly for residential development not so as much for not like commercial. So we want to make sure that we can um bring development and make it easy to develop but maintaining high standards of quality and design because I think the city uh since it's a blank canvas we can um and we have a lot of opportunities coming in terms of outer loop and and the widening of FM6. this is the opportunity to set our standards and and and really stick to them to make sure we get quality development that stands out compared to the other, you know, what's what's I think this is like the sixth ring of development now in in DFW. So, um, we're in the transition from rural to suburban, but I feel this can become the model for development for North Texas.

Okay. So I guess in the in the meantime any other projects that come on board are we just going to tailor them and wait till this thing's finished or we have different avenues? Anything that happens at this time will develop under current current standards. So for example the uh Exxon Sonic site plan that's under review. I I think they're on track to be uh up for approval at the next month at the next meeting. And and this would be planning and zoning approval. that doesn't go to city council. So those those are being um reviewed under current regulations. So it won't affect anything ongoing.

It will not stop anything ongoing. Anything that is submitted up until the date council adopts a new code falls under the old codes. They're vested under law. So yeah, nothing stops really. But but we want to make sure that whatever comes in in the future, we would rather have a higher standard of quality than right now. Okay. Okay. Is there a a motion to withdraw this item is what the recommendation is? Uh I make a motion to withdraw case number CA25-00002A.

Okay, it's a second. Let me I second. And all in favor? Did anyone vote using their cell phone? It's going to be hard to bring this group up to the way the young people do it on the council, but we're good. Uh yeah. Okay. Let me point out something for our members for next month. There there's going to be agenda. It's going to be a planning and zoning next month. And in the past sometime we don't have any items but I just want to let you know now but we'll still let you know in a you know couple weeks out.

Yeah. Uh without getting too much you know into into that but we expect to have at least three plats potentially that Exxon Sonic site plan and potentially one or two zoning cases for next month. So, it'll be a busy month and the plats, they have to be acted on at that meeting to meet our deadline. Otherwise, they're automatically approved.

To refresh my memory, Mr. McGee, did you go over at not the last meeting, a meeting before the situation with the Exxon and I'm not trying to discuss that because it's not on and and the reason I'm asking you that because maybe there's a members that wasn't here. they may not understand. That was on my monthly report for city council a couple months ago, but I believe I sent you all an email about two months ago about it. And some of some commissioners asked questions and then I distributed them my answers to everybody and and I look forward to doing more of that to

to allow for more um u broad communication. Yeah, then that may be great because I I can say we may anticipate a lot of people that at that next meeting. So, if we can review that and understand where we at, I can provide a briefing on this subject as an agenda item prior to the site plan if

you like. Okay. Is there anything else members? Mr. Reed, Miss Young. Okay. Thank you for being here. And just for the record, I just mentioned that name. I said everyone was here, but I wanted to specifically mention the alternates name for the record, too. So, if there's nothing else, thank everyone for coming, you know, and have a safe Thanksgiving. Don't overeat and we'll see you next month. Hopefully, the meeting the journey. All right. All right. All right.