Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

Hey, hey, hey. My name is Isabella Perez, recreation leader for the city A coral. Thank you for joining today's meeting. Before the meeting begins, we would like to remind our guests to remove all hats and silence all electronic devices. No disruptive behavior or outburst will be tolerated and vi are subject to ejection and possible prosecution.

Good afternoon everybody. This is the planning and zoning commission of the city of Soro, Texas. It is April 21st uh 2026. 5:31 p.m. We call this meeting to order. Thank you. Starting with item number two, establishment of of quorum. Andrea Royos here. David Estrada here. Oswaldo Resa absent. Yolanda Rodriguez here. Rafael Caro absent. Eidro Torres here.

We have Corum with board commissioners present. Moving on to item number three. Staff is requesting to move item after item 10. Do I have a motion to approve? I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? Staff is requesting to move this item to um to move this item after item 10, the consent agenda. Yes, on the agenda. Okay, I'll make a motion. Second. Come back. I didn't I didn't catch that. Which which item number number four? Item number three. Number three. Number three. Item number three. Open for

item number 10. No, not item four. Item three. Item three to move it to the end of the agenda. Oh, yes. Okay. I'm I'm sorry. I I misunderstood. I thought it was for consenting agenda. Do we have anybody in the public who's going to do item three? I'm sorry. asked our consultant, Able City. There aren't any other speakers who have signed up to speak for open form. Okay. Then I maintain my second. Yeah. So I will make a motion to to approve second.

I have a motion made by Andrea Royos to move item number three after item number 10, second by Eidro Torres. All those in favor of the motion. I. Any naysay? Any abstain? Motion carried. Moving on to item number four, consent agenda. Do I have a motion? I make a motion. Second.

Who was first? I'm going go ahead and say Isidro Torres. I have a motion made by Andrea Royos to approve, second by Eidro Torres. All those in favor of the motion I any nays? Any abstain?

I motion carried. Moving on to item number five. Public hearing for the proposed amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of lot one block 4 Roseville subdivision located at 340 Balman Road City of Soo El Paso County Texas from C1 light commercial to R2 R1 single family residential to allow for a single family residential lot. Mr. Aoyos. Good afternoon everybody. We will open uh public hearing at 5:34.

Uh we don't have anyone. We will close public hearing at 5:34.

Thank you. Moving on to item number six. is considering take action on the proposed amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of lot one block 4 Roseville subdivision located at 340 Balman road city of Sakoro El Paso County Texas from C1 like commercial to R1 single family residential to allow for a single family residential lot. U Miss Rodriguez. Thank you. Good evening, chairman, commissioners. J Rodriguez Planet with the city of Sakoro. We'll continue with the next item on the agenda, item number six, and this is a resoning request for the property located at 340 Balman Road. We'll now proceed with general information beginning with an review. of the property. For legal description, it's a lot one block 4 Rosville subdivision. The property address is 340 Balman Road. Property owners are Ruben Munoz and Ununice Almagare who are their own u authorized representative. Lot size is 20,000 25,243 square feet. Zoning is a C1 light commercial. Current line use vacant and future line uses neighborhood commercial. Summary of the request. Applicant is requesting approval of property from C1 light commercial to R1 single family residential to allow for a single family residential lot and staff recommends approval of the resoning request.

I I'm sorry. Um we have Miss Christina Ramier. She just joined through free conference call. Do you want me to admit her? Yes, Miss Christina, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Yes, we can hear you. Are you here to uh talk on an item on on the agenda? I was here to listen. I'm going to uh talk on the one regarding the the public hearing request for proposal on on the um block 17 chart 21A block 17. Okay. Thank you. That one's later on, right?

Okay. Thank you. So let's begin with a zoning map in which the subject properates a line in blue and the pink shading denotes the C1 like commercial zoning district. Uh the surrounding zone are R1 which is in yellow and is a single family residential C2 it's a general commercial in red and uh A1 which is a agriculture and it's in green and as you can see uh with the area being mostly R1 single family residential followed by the future land use map from the Sakoro 20 240 comprehensive plan. The subject property is outlined in red within uh within the I'm sorry and the property is within the Rosville subdivision. This subdivision was recorded in October 1984 and is currently uh has 100 uh R1 single family residential lots, one R3 high density residential lot, four C1 light commercial lots, 3C2 general commercial lots, I'm sorry, pardon me. This is the future land use map. So the pink uh is shading the neighborhood commercial.

This is the subdivision subdivision map. Okay. So, the property is within the Rosville subdivision and it is outlined in red. And as I mentioned before, it currently has 143 single family residential lots, one R3 high density residential lot, four C1 light residential lots, three C2 general commercial lots, and 11 vacant lots. Now we have an aerial image. The property is outlined in blue. The site is currently vacant and located at the intersection of Balman Road and Bakersville Road and is surrounded mostly by residential uses. We have some photos. We have the first one is a view of the property from from Balman Road. The second picture it's uh from the corner of intersection of Bowman Road and Bakersfield Road. Then um the next slide present the public notice map highlighting the area within 200 feet of the property that was notified as required by law regarding the proposed uh reasonzoning and no support or opposition has been received in person by phone by mail or by via email. These are the letters, the notification letters that were mailed in both in

English and Spanish within those 200 foot around the property. And now this is the concept plan in which shows the proposed building footprints with a total area of 2,553 square ft and demonstrate compliance with the minimum setback requirements for the R1 single family residential. Summary request request is for reszoning approval of property from C1 like commercial to R1 single family residential to allow for a single family residential lot. And at this time staff and the applicants are available to answer any question you may have. Thank you.

I don't have any questions. Anybody else? So I don't I make a motion to approve. I second. I have a motion made by Andrea Royos to approve, second by Yolanda Rodriguez. All those in favor of the motion I.

Any nays? Any abstain? Motion carried. Moving on to item number seven, public hearing request for the proposed amendment to the city of Sooto's master plan and resoning of lot 6, block 5, Spanish trail edition located at 176 Lansa Lane, city of Sakoro, El Paso County, Texas from R1 single family residential to R2 medium density residential to allow for an existing triplex on the property. Mr. Aoyos. Good afternoon everybody. We will open public hearing at 5:43.

Uh we don't have um any speakers. Oh, I apologize. Um after Yes, we have one. Yes. No, but she's the applicant. She's the applicant. Oh, so Okay. She's here for any questions. Okay. So, we will close public hearing at 5:43.

Uh, thank you. Moving on to item number eight. consider and take action on the proposed amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of lot 6, block 5, Spanish trail addition located at 176 Lanca Lane, city of Sakoro, El Paso County, Texas from R1 single family residential to R2 medium density residential to allow for an existing triplex on the property. Mr. Ruiz,

thank you. Uh good evening chairman and commissioners. Diego Reese with the planner city Sakoro. Uh the next item is item number eight uh 176 Lancella Lane resoning request. We'll be moving on to the general info of the reszoning request for 176 Lancelene. Uh legal description is lot six block 5 Spanish edition. Uh the property owner and representative is Cassandra Muro. Uh lot size is 20,54.34 square feet. Uh4707 acres. The zoning is R1 single family residential. Uh the current land use is residential. Future land use map is the rural residential RR. Uh summary of the request is for approval of a resoning of a property from R1 single family residential to R2 medium density residential to allow for existing triplex on the property. Uh staff recommends approval of the reszone. Here is the zoning map uh showing the property uh outlined in red and located inside an R1 uh single family residential zone. Uh here's the subdivision map uh of the Spanish trail edition and outlined in a cyan color. The uh property is outlined in red. It was recorded in July of 1970. Um, currently has 111 R1 uh properties, four R2 properties, four R3 uh properties,

one C1 commercial, and uh one A1 with three empty lots. Here's the future land use map uh showing the uh property outlined in red and located inside a suburban residential zone. Here is the aerial image uh with the property outlined in red uh close to the intersection of Lansa and Gayon Lane. Here are the pictures of the existing property of the uh the uh side and front uh view. Here's the public notice map of the properties uh uh noticed uh around the 200 ft radius. Um, there is no support or opposition received in person by mail or by phone or via email. Here is the public notice letter sent to the uh previously mentioned properties. Here's the site plan uh depicting the uh existing dwelling um the boundaries uh boundary lines of the property and the existing uh easements. And here's the floor plan of the existing dwelling. Summary of the request is for approval of a reszoning of a property for uh R1 single family residential to R2 medium

density residential to allow for existing privlex on the property. And now we uh staff and the representative is available for any questions. Good. I just have a curious question. Excuse me. Question out of curiosity. How long has this been a triplex? The um Yeah. You can you can come up to the podium and identify yourself. Thank you. So I don't recall the exact date. Can you please state your name first? Cassandra Muro. Thank you. I don't recall the exact date, but it's been maybe about three years, maybe a little bit more.

Thank you. I was just curious. So So just the reason is so that she can be in compliance, right? I It's already there. Correct. Did Did you purchase asis or did you build it? No, we built it. You built it.

Um, did you I'm I'm I see a floor plan and so I guess my question would be did you pull a a permit to build it? So that would be a question for my dad and my exartner. But it is my understanding that there was a permit. However, it wasn't for a triplex. It was for just a single family home. It was later turned into a three I guess a triplex. Okay. So it was originally a single family unit. Yes. So, so there was a a permit issued from the city of Sakoro for a single family family home,

but a triplex was built. Well, was converted into a triplex. It was converted into a triplex. I guess it was without permits. Without permit. So, so the original permit was closed out and there was a I guess a certificate of occupancy issued. Correct. under the original permit for a single family and then it was converted to a a triplex. Yes, that's correct.

Okay. I I don't I don't have any questions. I think um um was it like um we add another room and add another room as you your dad kept going. So yeah. So yeah, we thought so we were actually going to live there and then we thought maybe we can kept more money out of it and so we decided to convert it but we should have gone through the process and if I would have known there was a process to I guess to go about I would have done it. Okay. So yeah I apologize for that.

I I don't I don't have any more questions. So, how was um how was it that this came out? Did you guys bring come forward or did the did the city go and investigate or how did it There was actually How did it end up here? Yes, sir. There was actually a letter that I received in the mail. Okay. Okay. So, someone a neighbor called in or something or what? No, just a notice of a notice of violation. There was a notice of violation that was issued from the city to the homeowner.

Okay. So, will she have to um um do any improvements so that it it's allowed as a triplex like any parking lot or or will it just stay as is and just get reszoned? It would just get resoned. There aren't any need for any other improvements to the property. Okay. Um but Okay. So like so following following up with your question, are there any inspections that get done on the on the triplex? Like for example, to issue to issue a new certificate of occupancy,

well to make sure that that it's in compliance. And so like the biggest issue would be like I guess firewalls, right? Do are are are they needed as per code in something of this size? It's less than five, less than four. Um, are they separate meters right now or is there one light meter, one water meter, and one gas meter? There's one. Yes, just one. One light meter. Yes. The way Yes, one. One for the entire building. The way we charge is all utilities are included. We don't have separate meters for for that. Okay.

And there's nothing that can come back to the city as far as to if if it is used as a triplex or whatnot. And good point that Mr. Estrada brought up as it having firewalls there's ever an emergency or whatnot and it was approved without having any firewalls and there's an accident. Is there anything that can come back and

we could go ahead and issue that as a condition to go back and do the uh inspection and um affidavit affidavit um to show that it's it is in compliance. So, if a new applicant comes in on vacant land and submits a permit for a triplex or duplex or anything larger than that, they got to comply with ponding, parking, landscaping in the near future. And so, this triplex, they didn't go through any of that. And so when a new applicant comes in and they got to provide, for example, engineering for for on-site ponding, it's very expensive. And the permitting process and blueprints is very expensive. And so this particular one is flying under the radar and with a slap on the wrist, it seems like. So, I don't think it's fair to new applicants coming in and submitting, you know, um just to submit a permit to get it approved, it's it's a lot of money. And so, this one got done. I I understand what happened, but well, great, you know, reszoned and then that's it. And you move on to the next one. But there's no repercussion. There's no Are there any fines involved or anything to the from the city to the applicant?

No, they are going working through the process of correcting the issue. Uh the other option would be to deny their request so that they can continue on as a single family home. Uh they did not go through the process to go to court to get fined. They are trying to work with the city to get this resolved. C

can I ask you a quick question to the applicant? Would you guys be willing at least again like Dave says it gets pretty expensive to start now, right? Because it's already built. I guess a question is would you guys be willing to at least look into firewalls which is like a big part of when you build duplexes or triplexes or quadlexes keep maybe the uh just to a minimum or whatn not on the expenses. Um I know you purchased it that way or what not but is is there something where we can just add to at least maybe she can come in compliance into just at least with firewalls?

No no it would be uh Mr. Estrada is pointing out it would be appropriate to adhere to all of the requirements that one would place on a triplex. Um those staff can review again the codes for u the building and um the ponding. Um I'm sorry. So right now we're unaware if this is compliance in compliance with the current code. No, it has not been um inspected

and the staff recommendation is to is for approval. Can can you give us your reasoning behind the approval? Like why you why why are you recommending approval?

Trying to work with the to assist them in coming forward and trying to address the the um non-conformance issue.

Okay. So, I'm I'm aware of a lot of these properties that I'm frequently driving through and they I mean it's the same situation, right? They were built for whatever reason. I checked the zoning. it's in they're not zone for multif family and so on. Um and so I I appreciate I guess your response and yeah we're trying to fix these issues as they're coming up. And so my biggest one is the well the the the fire walls are one thing the safety but then the the second part is it's the the expense that other applicants have to incur but when they're when they do it the right way and so that's right

so I have a question so you said maybe three years ago are you pretty sure about that date it wasn't 10 years ago it wasn't I This wasn't 10 years ago. This was three years ago when more or less. And was And was this built by your dad or was it built by a contractor? No, it was my dad and other Yeah. other family members. So, we didn't Okay. Right. Okay.

So, I I guess my question is I understand the again I understand how what an awkward difficult position this is, Miss Mono, but my question would be Could we not make sure we do an inspection first and do check compliance and then reszone? I understand the reasoning for approving resoning with condition, but I'm just worried that for whatever reason there is no compliance to code, that condition isn't met and we're still in a position where it's it just isn't because then we we've reszoneed with a condition, then we'd have to go back reszone back to a single family unit. No, but with the condition uh being that they meet all the code requirements and that we would need to issue certificates of occupancy in order for them to continue occupying the building.

Are they all rented currently?

Uh yes. I do want to add that we do have fire alarms for uh the three units and one unit is completely like there's a hallway so it's separate. It's not attached. So, I don't know that there would be a need for a firewall, but it is separate. So, can we make a motion to um um stipulate that a either building inspector go and do an inspection and then if it qualifies or it meets uh the criteria then we can come back and say okay I totally understand the compliance part of it and I I I mean it's a good thing that um that we do this but We also have to like Mr. Estrada said is to make sure that the safety issue part of your building code is there. Okay. And so I think we all have parents that uh built something and we all know how that goes sometimes. So I think it's important. So, could we uh make a motion to um stipulate that there is a building inspector that goes in and uh make sure that the building is uh up to code?

Yes. Would you request that we table this item for two weeks to have that information for you? Yes. Before making a decision? I think what do you do do we agree that two weeks is enough time to your building inspector time to do that? Yes. Well, my my question is as to the what was recommended is if it's done if it's if we reszone with conditions it's so they meet the conditions and it's reszoned. Otherwise, if they don't, it's not reszoned. Yeah. Or it wouldn't have to be tabled anymore. Right. I think I prefer I prefer that if we do it with condition and it would go it would go quicker if the building inspector

approves the the condition of the building and not come back and say okay. So if we stipulate today that we make a motion to approve with the condition that the uh city of Sakoro building inspector will go in and and uh do the inspection and make sure that the building is sound and up to code. Yeah. I also just gonna add you could do it either way which is either table it or do it the way you suggested which was approve it conditionally but there's an inspection and it meets all the requirements so you can do it either way but it probably easier to do it that way versus tableabling it because you still get to

it's just going to coming back right okay okay all right so motion yeah you can make okay so I make a motion to approve approve under the condition that the city of Sakoro building inspector will go and do an inspection and make sure that the property building is up to code. I apologize. What What does that mean for me? What do I have to do? So, I mean, basically, it'll be they go out and make sure if it's up to code. If it's not, then I'm sure the staff would provide recommendations to bring it up to code.

Okay. So that means So I heard you guys talking about firewalls. So do I need to do that before the inspector goes out or? Well, the we'll go out and meet with you up front to take a look at everything and then determine what's needed at that point. Got it. Okay. So you are giving me the opportunity to fix the firewall situation and then I come back and then we talk about it again. Right. Well, essentially right now after we after this is approved with those conditions, it'll be then you and the staff to meet those conditions so that it can be reszoned. The approval of the reasonzoning can be done

in final and this is and this is also just uh this is a recommendation from the planning and zoning commission would still also need to take this to city council for their approval. But in the meantime, we could probably have those inspections and see what's what is needed. And we don't al also don't want to discourage you on firewalls. I know a lot of people listen to firewalls and stuff and it I can tell you that it there's ways different ways of accomplishing firewalls. Okay. So there's options. Okay. This motion just allows this next process to go with you having to come back to this commission.

So that way you can work with the staff so that it goes to its final step with council. Okay. And so I have a question. So is this like the first time you guys have this type of situation where it's non compliant and then you No, it's not. I just want to like was this a pres so was this requested is like is there a president I guess for this? Like was there a similar case where you guys requested this or was it just approved? I'm just trying to figure out in the time I've been here this is the first time these items have been brought to our attention but they are worth uh investigating further. because they are uh they are um safety risks,

right? And and I do understand that, but I am aware of other people who have gone through the process and they've been approved without all of these requests. So, I'm just wondering if there is a president and if there isn't, why is it that I I I guess I'm being targeted. Um I I agree with you because it's a Sakoro and a lot of these do exist, right? And so how this one came to the attention of the city, I don't I don't know. I would like to know, right? But in in an effort to clean up stuff like this, right? Not I'm not saying the property is bad, right? I'm just saying in an effort to to put everything in compliance,

it's a matter of people calling in and and making the city aware of what's going on and then the city goes out and issues their citations and so on. So there's it's a lot it's a lot out there. this one. And for in my opinion, it's it was it was more of a almost say blatant. It was just, you know, it was you pulled a permit for a single family and then decided along the way to build a triplex without the permit. Right. And I I understand that. But with Miss Perez mentioning that others have been approved without going through this entire process,

why is it that I'm being it feels like I'm being targeted for some reason? I would say send in the addresses to the city of El Paso to the city of Sakoro. Send what? I'm sorry. The addresses make the city of Sakoro aware of the properties that you know of that are not in compliance. No, not not not in compliance that they've been through the process and they've been approved without these recommendations. But I understand the the whole safety situation and that's some recommendation that you may call comply, but it just I guess it doesn't seem fair with with you guys actually mentioning that others have been approved without going through the process,

right? And it was brought by you, not by me. Well, I think um Our defense I think is we don't want you to be discouraged and we don't want anybody out there in the city of Sakoro to be discouraged because they have to come in here and come up to par into being in compliance because we do have some that I mean there are some that have gone through the ringer because they were not in compliance. So, uh we don't want you to be discouraged. we're giving you an opportunity to uh to get approved

uh so that the city inspector can just go in and make sure and he will give you either an A or a yes and and then you can fix those issues and then you don't have to come back to us anymore. It'll go back to the city council and and they will either approve or not approve, right? So, yeah. Okay. No, thank you for the opportunity, but it's hard not to feel discouraged when others have been approved without going through this entire process.

I I mean, I think I think bottom line is that everybody the goal is that, you know, residents and buildings and have to be in compliance. And so, this is the work right now we're doing to make sure that your properties in compliance for the safety of yourself, your your tenants, and just for any future tenants. Um, just generally for the city of Absolutely. I understand. Thank you. Thank you. Is there um do you have um a rental insurance policy or an insurance policy for rental property? Yes. Unless it's it's existing. Yes, it's in place.

And I honestly thought for the longest time that we were in compliance because um we receive our tax document bills us separately for the three properties. tax documents you said. Yes. Yeah. The central appraisal district uh has a different the central appraisal district has different zoning and it doesn't coincide with the city of Sakoro zone. Yeah. And so when I got that letter and I called that's when I was informed, oh no, you have to go through the whole process with the city of Sakuro. So I would have done it sooner if I would have. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you. I have a motion made by Yolanda Rodriguez to approve with the condition that the city of Soous inspector makes an inspection uh to the building that meets building code and second by Isidro Torres. All those in favor of the motion.

Any nays? Any abstain? Motion carried. Moving on to item number nine, public hearing request for the proposed amendment to the city of Sooto's master plan and reszoning of track 21A block 17 grand located at 10199 Sooo Road, city of Sakoro, El Paso County, Texas from R1 single family residential to C1 like commercial to allow for commercial development. Mr. Royos. Good afternoon everybody. We will open public hearing at 6:10.

We have uh currently two speakers. Um Mr. Aruro Sanchez. If you can please state your name for the record. I my name is Aruro Danielle Sanchez. Um I live two houses away from the property in question. Um I I'm 37 years old. I I grew up I went to school with I know the whole area. Uh my father and family own businesses around that area and right now I have like direct information that they say that they want to open up a liquor store and that's doesn't go with like the the theme of the area that's going on right now. We have a Sakuro mission. We have uh you know different businesses that are opening up and it's starting to look nice there. And I think that a liquor store would alter that. you know, it would it wouldn't go uh in with everything that's growing in in that little neck of the woods there. And um so I I also heard that maybe you guys could do like a a resoning with the with you know qualifications and maybe they could make it commercial, but I would like to to know that they're not going to make a liquor store, you know, a strip club, you know, something like that because I'm two houses away and we have businesses uh of my family that are all around that area, including a serenity ranch where they, you know, uh tend to autism kids and let them pet horses and and you know, It's just growing real beautifully there and I just don't want to take away from that anymore or or just take away from that by bringing another different type of person around that area that I know that liquor stores usually might bring. So that's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Now we have Ruven Perea. If you can state your name for the record. You have three minutes.

Good afternoon. My name is Ruben Miguel Pereira. Thank you all commission for being here and allowing us to speak on our community. I'm a proud fourth generation Sakoro resident. Um that's why I'm we're here. Um I own a business right next to the proposed location. I already spoke to the applicant today which was a good opportunity to let my feelings be heard. I'm again under direct knowledge. There might be a liquor store or some type of that business in the future, which again I would be against. I also live down the street on Buford Road and the stigma that is associated with liquor stores is not very positive. So, I'm not against the reszoning it to commercial because again, I'm a business owner right next to the proposed location. So, I am for everybody having a business if they have that opportunity because I am blessed. So, I'm not against reszoning it from residential to commercial. I would just like maybe a condition of a certain type of business that would be allowed in the proposed location. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We don't have anyone else. Okay. So, we will close public hearing at 6:13. Thank you. Moving on to item number 10. Consider and take action on the proposed amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of track 21A block 17 Sakoro grant located at 10199 Sakoro Road City of Sakoro El Paso County, Texas from R1 single family residential to C1 like commercial to allow for commercial development. Miss Rodriguez.

Thank you, Yadira. Good evening, chairman, commissioners. Once again, Judah Rodriguez, planner with the city of Sakoro. We'll continue with the next item on the agenda, item number 10, and this is a resoning request for the property located at 10199 Sakoro Road. We proceed with general information beginning with the legal description. is track 21A block 17 Soro Grant. Property address is 10199 Sooo Road. Property owner is Jose Alexandro Loausano who is acting as their own representative. Lot size is 8,585.676 square ft. It is zone C1 like commercial. The zoning it's a number one single family residential current land use is residential and future land use is neighborhood commercial. Summary of this request the applicant is requesting approval of reszoning of property from R1 single family residential to C1 light commercial to allow for commercial development and staff recommends denial of this resoning request. First we have the zoning map where the subject property is outlined in red. Uh the yellow shading indicates uh the R1 single family residential sunny district. The surrounding zone includes an R1 um suning single family residential C1 like commercial and A1 agriculture. followed by the future land use map.

So the future land use map uh the subject property it's um neighborhood commercial NC zoning district surrounded by suburban residential. Then we have an aerial image of the property outlining rail located in the intersection of Soro Road and Buer Road. The site currently uh contains a residential structure and is surrounded by the mix of residential and commercial uses and it is also located in the historic district along Sakor Road. These are some photos of of the property from different angles. The first one is a view of the property frontage along from Sakoro Road. Then we had a view of the property right side from Buer Road. View of the rear area of the property. On the right side we have view of the property from the intersection of Sakora Road and Buford Road. And at the bottom of the right side, it's a view of the property's left side from Sakoro Road. Next, I present the public notice map highlighting the area within 200 feet of the property that was notified as required by law u regarding the proposed reasonzoning and no support or opposition uh has been received in person, by mail, by phone or via email, followed by the public notice letters. the word mail in both English and Spanish to property owners within 200 feet around of the subject property.

Then we have the site plan submitted by the applicant. It shows uh conversion to C2 but the application is a request to C1. The front uh also shows the front set back uh 22 feet inches I'm sorry 22 feet 6 in and so quarter road is classified as a minor arterial and the minimum required front setback is 55 ft. Also, the the site plan uh shows nine proposed parking spaces, five located along Buford Road, three situated at the rear of the property and one position on the front left side of the property. And it also indicates three existing driveways, two along Buford Road and one at the front uh facing Sakoro Road. Another point uh to consider is that we're also awaiting uh confirmation from text dot regarding a proposed project for the construction of two roundabouts from Bufort Road to Ben Road with an estimated letting date of January 2028 is still pending for confirmation. So staff decision is based on concerns regarding the limited site size and configuration for the proposed commercial use as well as the potential impacts related to access circulation and safety along Sakoro Road. Okay. Summary requests request is for approval of reszoning approval of property from

R1 single family residential to C1 light commercial to allow for commercial development and a design staff and the applicant Mr. Lousano available to answer any question you may have. Thank I have a quick question. So I if it's if it's approved as a C1 which opens up that they can do very different variety of uh businesses we cannot dictate as to what is installed there. Correct. if it passes to a C1. Correct.

Okay. And then second, I think that part of the denial from the city was because it it might be changing with text dot on the width of the Buford Road and it might impact Yes. their business. Yes. Okay. So what guarantee do we have from the city of Sakoro that Texot is actually going to go in and work on that road by 2028. That is what we were trying to confirm with tech. So there is the project

the project ID number. Uh they met with staff. Um I'm drawing a blank on sorry when it was that we met uh but we reached out to text button just asking for confirmation. Okay. And so is the applicant um did he just purchase this property? Yes he did. Mr. Losano is the applicant and he can answer any questions that you would like to come up to the podium.

Good afternoon. I'm Jose Alejandro Losano. Uh thank you for uh accepting my application here. Uh first of all, let me uh let me start with text dot and I was aware of of the u of the runabout that they wanted to do on that corner and I met uh with the um construction inspector uh manager from text, Mr. Michael Poras. I met with him about a month ago. As you all know, they have just completed the curbs on that section of Sakoro Road. Right. Sir, can you just make sure to speak into the mic, please?

As you know, uh they just completed the construction of all the curbs in Sakoro Road from the mission all the way to to uh what's windown where the windown restaurant is. They just finished all that.

Uh he informed me that that they have scrapped the runabout because uh big semi-trailers could not go around. It's it's only a one lane highway. a big semi cannot go around the roundabout. It'll be disastrous. They can't. So, they scrapped it. I don't know why the city of Soo, they still believe that they can do it. I was told and I called Text and they said that it was scrapped because, you know, they they decided just to do the the curbs. They just finished. So, how can they have a plan if they already just finished the all the curb sites? They're done. Now, uh that's that's the text update.

And did you just purchase this property? Yes, we purchased it um uh on um let me tell the exact date. We purchased it uh in Jan in um January of u of this year. Okay.

January. is uh as as you were as they mentioned in that area the the next next to my property is the cement company which is doesn't show in in the map as a commercial property. It's CNR commercial CNR concrete services. It's a commercial property across the street is commercial property. Uh AC across Sakoro Road there's a farm road. It's it's a farm commercial property. Uh well Harat Tacos is there, Coca-Cola is there. The following house it's it's uh three uh three breweries.

Yes. Liquor store. I mean a wine beer distributor. Um and all around I believe that Sakuro Road should be a tourist attraction for the city of Sakoro. We should bring we should be honor and bringing more commerce to our district being touristly inclined. I believe very much in in tourism and one of my purpose to buying this property is to make something pretty out of that house. This property has been vacant for 20 years or more. It's abandoned. It was open. It was depleted. It was falling apart. Um and I got the pictures to show you.

Well, I actually saw that property and it's It's actually been a relief to see that somebody is actually going in and cleaning it up. Yeah. Well, thank you very much. and working on it. I think um uh you you you are aware then that there is a historical No, no. Um you know, I don't know where this coming from. I'm just getting this property remodel to rent. Who? Whoever I don't know who's going to rent it. I've been approached by a bakery by um He she does uh fruit cakes. I've been approached by an attorney. Uh in fact, I've been approached by an attorney that does illegal immigration.

I think I've been approached by just to clarify her question. I think her question was you do understand that Sakura Road is a historical road and you'll have to meet additional codes to of the building facade to be on right to be in compliance. Right now we're we're in the process of going into the uh into the uh what do you call it the uh so okay so this is actually an agenda item I believe for tomorrow. Yes. There's a special meeting for the Harris Landmark Commission. These are the plans that I submitted to the historical commission

and so I'm I'm going to ask that he allow us to see the elevation plans. I know we're not voting on the elevation plan, but I think it gives insight to the artistic value, the the the investor in with with the applicant uh what he's trying to do. I think just by looking at the elevations that he's presenting um will help us decide. Can I I can I ask an additional question of staff? Yes.

So, you did mention that this is we've seen a site plan for C2 But are is staff saying that the property does not meet the site plan would not meet compliance for a C1 for the parking and the access and and how far it is from the it's just an indication on the top it says uh proposed re residential converted into commercial C2 2, but it's actually it's for C1,

but but the site plan as it is, does it meet the code? Would it meet the code for C1? So, okay. So, follow following up and Okay. So, so up there it says C2, right? But it's not for C2, but it's for C2. It's for C1,

but it's for C1. But whether it's for C1 or C2, this this size a lot, it's 8,500 square foot. For an investor to come in and purchase and renovate and do everything that he needs to do at a profit for this size lot, it's it's very difficult uh to be able to do that with the existing ordinances for C1 or C2 because of the size of the law. It's way too small. And so there there there needs to be a variance in there in what you're when you request for permitting and the variance comes through zoning board and through city council. But for from our perspective, if those variances aren't allowed, then the investor can't come in and renovate a property like this at a profit. Unless you have a lot of money and you want to do it because because you want to be nice to the city of Sakoro, right? But yeah, the lot the lot size is really small. This property has been vacant

forever. It's in a historical area, a a great commerce area for Sakoro tourist tourist area. Yes. And so we have an applicant, an investor who's who's doing it the right way, doing the the coming through the process. But can I So my question still remains is does this meet the ordinances for C1? No is the answer. No. No. And and it's it's not that the question is it's not and it's it's impossible without a variance

because you can't meet your parking. You can't meet your ponding. You can't meet you have to remove the building and start over basically. But what then what could what can you build on 8,500 square feet and still have your your parking, your ponding, your landscaping? You can't you can't do it. It's not feasible. It's not profitable. And so we need to approach it from, hey, there's someone coming in here, an applicant doing it the right way as opposed to the previous item, right? And there's an applicant who's willing to come in. You purchased in January. You said you're putting in the money. You're coming through the process. And we need to approach it in a in a way of how can we help number one by giving variances to the existing ordinances under C1 or C2 or whatever it is that you're asking for. I think it's show.

Yes. Yes. Go ahead. This is the the landscaping. This is the pictures of the the front. The first one is the front. The second one is the side coming from the mission. The third one is looking at this one. This is what it used to be. Oh, yeah. I saw that one. This is not going to be a big business. I mean, I don't think it's going to be a big business.

I'm sorry. You could speak into the mic, please.

This is not a big business. Like I said, uh my view is is having something like this more or less. Uh at the end of the day, something like this, like PBLO style, it's a small business. It's not a big business. You uh you have about 12 parking spaces. I'm not going to rent it to a big restaurant. No, I'm I'm not going to rent it to It's a small shop. Pop operations. I don't know who's going to rent it. I'm not going to run it. I'm just going to build it. My passion is to make a beautiful an old building beautiful. And if it's ever rented, it's fine. If it's not rented, I'm okay with it. Okay, I'll leave there. But it it's it's such a such a nice corner. I just love the idea that having Sakoto Road. Have you seen over the past week all the people are coming and and and walking around there? text. I just put a a walk a walk pass right in front of us. So you can turn a light and you can go over I mean pass from one build building business to another. This will complement the whole neighborhood. This is not I'm not thinking about a liquor store. I mean a guy wanted to open up a liquor store. That's not my problem. That's his problem. If he wants to open up a liquor store, he has to come to city council. And if he's allowed to open up a a liquor store, that's that's his business. That's not my business. My business is to just remodel this building, make it beautiful. Uh it is the last thing I'll do. I'm 80 years old. I've been in business for 60 years. And tourism is my main attraction. I do tourism maps for the city of El Paso, for many, many, many, many other cities. And when I saw this property, I was looking for a property in Sakoro. I'm from El Paso. I just moved to Sakoro three years ago. Bought a house in Sakoro on Pen.

I bought it through text sale because it was abandoned. It was deflated almost like this one. Almost as bad as this one. And we remodeled it. It looks like a brand new house. It came from a $42,000 house to a $200,000 house. So the tax the tax you're incurring is is quite quite a difference. Same thing with this house. This is a $40,000 $42,000. Very inexpensive. The house was in totally did the repair. We have to do all the electrical. We have to do, you know, the all the construction, all the all the uptake uh upgrades. Now, of course, we're going to the permits. We already have a permit for the roof because it was already fallen. We're going to do that, but we're waiting until tomorrow that they allow me the fascia of the outside. This will connect the roof. Otherwise, I can't do the roof without the fascia. So, the outside is going to be finished first and then we do the roof. So, once I get the permit from the historical commission to proceed, I will proceed. Now, if if this council approves the C1, I'm grateful. uh will continue. Obviously, we need small shops in Sakura. We don't need uh they just opened up a general store, a general, what is it?

Another general. Dollar General.

I mean, a huge monster. To me, that's not Tokoro, but let it be. I would like to see little shops, mom and pop operations, people that come from El Paso, from Lasclus, from everywhere. and forget me. Let's go to Sakoro. Let's go to Sanelli and chaperon and walk around and and see these beautiful buildings. And I'm part of that. I want to be part of that. Part of making Sakoro a nice tourist attraction, little town, if you can call it like because where is downtown Sakoro? Where is downtown Sakoro? Where's the Soro um Avenue? This is it. Let me tell you, this little strip could be it in the future if we get all the neighbors, all the property owners to fix their properties, remove the shingling fences, get grants to rebuild walls, nice nice fences, not just shingling fence, you know, plant more trees, you know, beautify Sakoro road. Textile has already did a great job doing that. What about us? It's up to us to fix our properties. Now, with your help, with your assistance, with the city assistance, we can accomplish all this and more. So, you know, I I hope that uh that you approve a commercial light zone. Now, the business, that's another thing. If if that business owner comes and applies for a permit, he has to comply. If there's not not enough parking for his business, then he's denied. Which is one, let's say, a barber shop or or or a bakery. They don't need a lot of parking spaces or an attorney. I'm just looking at the facade of the building.

Whoever rents is a different story. Thank you. I have a final question for staff. Why are we under the impression that Tech Stop might still continue with their project? We haven't received word otherwise. The Mr. Losano is the one who brought that to our attention and we're just wanted to confirm that that was the case. So we have not received any word from DEXA that that project has been cancelled. Understood? Yes. Uh we're waiting and uh confirmation from Martin Sautello. He is the uh design engineer. Thank you.

And so uh for city staff, I have a question. Um, since the property size does not qualify for a C1, what is the minimum requirement for a C1?

Yeah, I'm sorry. Good question. And if it doesn't meet it, is there a way to like they would say get a variance for it to conform with it? Yes. Uh the minimum lot area it is a 5,000 square feet with public ponding and 10,000 square feet without public ponding. Okay. So 10,000 square feet without public ponding. So this is this requires on-site ponding which but is this for a new building or for an existing building? Okay. So this is existing.

Yes. And so this it doesn't clarify the ordinance doesn't clarify for new or vacant land or existing buildings. It just it makes a clarification between public ponding like you typically what you see in new subdivisions

and then on-site ponding which this lot would be on-site ponding right and so that's where I believe the variances come in and as a as a zoning board and as the for city council and then staff I think we really need to look at these from the investor point of view that it needs to be profitable and feasible. If not, so Coral will end up looking at these properties just sitting there for forever because you can't do anything else with that property at a profit other than a single family home, right? And who would want to do that? Yeah. That corner is not a very nice

speaking. It's highly congested. Perfect for business. But yes, um Okay. And I think so this the staff is recommending denial because of tech. But assuming let's assume that this passes and it passes city council and it's C1 and everything's good and five years down the road it becomes an issue with text dot it's an applicant owner issue not a Sakoro issue. Correct. Correct. And and you're aware of that. So if tech stock comes in and says, "Hey, I need to take a third of your corner." But you know, but but realistically, sorry, can you please speak into the mic?

Sorry. Realistically, if you if you really if you know a little bit of traffic, a two-lane highway cannot have a successful runabout. You would need a four lane to make it a big The fire trucks, the big truck, the rigs cannot go around. run a runabout. They cannot they would have to need they would have to have more lanes, not just one lane. It's only one lane, right? And I think we all understand that and I think what Mr. Strada is pretty much asking is we understand all that.

But you understand that if it does pass in the future, if Tex is willing to do all these changes or whatnot, then that would affect you. They can they can they'll buy it and they'll do a runabout. Right. Okay. I'll sell it. You know, but just to clarify, staff's not denying this request solely for confirmation of text. Thank you. Uh no, it wasn't just that reason. It's not meeting the minimum requirements for this C1 and the parking the way it's laid out. The access on the side of the building, it says 13 13 ft. It's just doesn't service adequate circulation for the vehicles. Thank you.

And that's just design, right? So if if he were to work on the design and it were to come in compliance with C1, then yes. So as to back to Mr. Estrada's uh point about the variances if we want to would we need to introduce those variances would we if we wanted to introduce those variance requests um would we need to repost the item and bring the item back?

Yeah. So if you if you want certain variances yes it needs to go back reposted come back again. Um there's possibly another way to do it is if you do it, you can do a conditional approval perhaps and maybe mandate that the applicant submit a conforming site plan that fits the the variance or the fits the requirements, but it sounds like he may need additional room anyway because he's not going to fit the requirements. The third option is if you approve it without any variances, then you'll have to go go to board of adjustments later to get those variances as well. So, so we're looking at reszoning, right, only but without the variances. And that's why you're asking, do we need to repost it and add the variances? Okay. But he like if it gets reszoned right now, you would need to come in with a full set of plans for permitting the whole thing. At that point, it's not going to meet ordinance and at that point it would come in for any variances. But but the reasoning's been could be taken care of right now as is. But when you submit for permitting your site plan, everything needs to be conforming with ordinances with the to meet existing ordinances or it needs to come in through a variance. Could we not take care of it at that point?

Yeah, it could be done that way as well. Yeah, that's another way of doing it. If you're just looking at the reszoning by itself, you just reszoning and then later as he's developing the site plan and as he figures out what he needs for parking or the the final plans, at that point he might need a variance and at that point might have a better idea of who the occupant is and might help in developing the site. Okay. So, I have a question. I'm going to jump off uh to the opposite side of the corner. There is already a business there and it is a small business

and it's been in existence. Uh we can research that property but it's I don't believe that it's Yeah. And I'm sorry they are the owners of that business. So they can tell you how long that business has been the owner. Okay. So they're the owners. Okay. Can you come up to the uh podium please? Okay. My question is what size is this? Yeah. Again, my name is Ruen Miguel Perea and it's it's a coro shamrock. I have my humble insurance in there. My uncle Fernando Sanchez owns it. Okay. And yeah, it's been there since 1932. Okay. Can Can we pull that up on the area? Yeah. Yeah. Like like this one? We can pull that up. So, is that a C1?

Yes, ma'am. I believe it is in the C1. And do you know the size of your lot? No. But again, those that's legal non-conforming that's been in existence for a very long time. I don't know what that has. This is a a it's not a new building, but it is a new use. And uh if you go over a certain u percentage of improvements on a property, you then have to bring it up to that code. Yeah. I don't know what our business has to do with this. Okay.

No, no. She just asked a question about the property across the street. such as and that and that's a good point. That that's a good point. But if I'm not opening up the previous item, but I'll point out that the previous item had 20,500 square ft. And they're ask and that and that one went to R2 and the minimum for a duplex on R2 is 10,000 foot. Uh oh, yeah, my bad. Never mind. Yeah, because it's 20,000. So, yeah. So, you you can't bid a triplex a triplex on 20,000 feet. Okay.

So, I do just have another question. Stop. I'm sorry. So, the possibility is we're reszoning unless there's a possibility that the site plan as is was going to hit a roadblock in the future anyways. But they can address that at that time by going to the board of adjustments for a variance. Cool. Okay. So, I I agree with Mr. is for us to um move forward and um and approve the reasonzoning to a C1 and then I guess down the road we can uh look at it or it'll go to the board of adjustments for a variance.

Is that a motion? Is that a motion? Yes, I make a motion. Thank you. I second. I have a motion made by Yolanda Rodriguez to approve, second by Andrea Royos. All those in favor of the motion I I. Any nays? Any abstain? Motion carried. Now move going back to item number three. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

You can have a question as staff after the meeting.

Going back to item number three, open forum. We do have currently Miss uh Victoria Chavez with Able City. We inadvertently left a couple of items off of this agenda. Uh we did have a bit of uh technical difficulties with our our uh computing system last week. So we do apologize, but we did not want to miss providing the presentation that we had mentioned uh at our last meeting. So thankfully Victoria Chavez with Able City is here to go over the unified development code with a little more detail and graphic to assist in uh us processing the information. With that, I'll I'll pass the podium over to Victoria.

Perfect. All righty. So good to see you guys all again. Um I'm hoping you had a little bit more time to review the UDC. Um, in this presentation, I really wanted us to kind of hone in on some of the specific changes that have happened and ways that we can move forward and discuss a little bit further. So, you're going to see what we have on the agenda today. So, quick introduction, um, project overview and timeline, the background, our approaches, the key changes, and then open it up for questions. So, I'm going to kind of skim through this. Again, you know who we are. We're Able City. We really integrate the approach of economic development, architecture, urban planning and uh community engagement in any of the projects that we do and these are the foundations and pillars that we use when we create for our projects especially when it comes to UDC's. Uh looking back at who all our team is you have seen majority of these spaces throughout the whole process of this project and a quick project overview. It's really to uh it started back in January of 2024 and the main source and goal for this UDC is to modernize and consolidate uh what the city's development regulations are. The UDC needs to be served that is as a primary uh tool to guide the growth. Um we want to improve the development processes. We want to improve the implementations for the city as a long-term uh vision. So looking at the schedule uh what we have here again we started back in 2024 where we looked at branding uh looking at data collection analysis we did a workshop then and then we uh created a co- diagnostics. Uh from this we came back in the winter of 2025 where we

hosted stakeholder meetings, community engagement, and then we started drafting the UDC in the spring of 2025. And along that with the drafts, we've been submitting them to city staff to review, come back with comment, and then we'll make those edits and revisions and send it back back and forth. Uh as you can tell, this was a very long process. there's a lot of information and details that goes into the UDC that just needs to ensure that there's consistency. Uh now in the spring we are hosting our stakeholder meeting tomorrow uh afternoon. We have had some responses of a few people coming. So we're looking forward to interaction and talking with the stakeholders about the UDC on that and also posting on the public review and having uh more interaction from the public. We are going into the adoption process with PNZ and then uh going into city council. Just to look back at some of the community engagement and the work that we have done back in the project kickoff, we started off with some stakeholder meetings hosting uh this uh way to open up the conversation and what is the code and how ways it really implements and uh creates regulations and develops the community. Uh some of you were also here for the city council workshop where hosted by David King and Carlos Kinad where we explained about how this really uh plays a big part and kind of teaching the ins and outs of uh development codes. We had community engagement back in the January of 2025 where we hosted a open house in a sense that was for the public to come in and we had posters about urban design. We had posters about talking about zoning and how this plays a part for Sakoto. We also we implemented a little game loaria that we got to play and it was specifically designed about community

development and it was a fun game. It interacted and opened the conversation a bit about all the uh staff that plays a part in making a city and the regulations that play. Again, we had stakeholder meetings. So um in the top uh picture you can really see the various uh stakeholders that came in from different departments tech stock. It wasn't just here in Sakuro but around the region as well. Uh we really wanted to implement uh an open dialogue of what are other communities doing what are the uh gas and electric and electric companies uh helping out on and how we can really connect with all those. So, we're going to move on to the background of the UDC. So, what it really is is it regulates uh creates these rules and these guidelines on how Sakoto should be built. It looks into what um the development design can be, how it functions, how it can be built, it directly affects um what can and cannot be built in Sakoto and how the development should be reviewed. So what we really need to look at and the reason why we need a UDC is because usually when we develop a code it's nice and pretty and makes sense at the time but as time moves on there's amendments that happen and we start to lose the consistency over time and these changes and you can kind of see the example here of this really pretty quilt and then it goes into kind of this all this uh different stuff happening and it makes it kind of hard to inform force and really use for not only for the public but also for you here at the staff. So here's the approach we really need to review and reflect on what is the current goals and policies of what your

comp plan had out. um we wanted to make the reason why for this UDC the comp plan had uh various uh recommendations either from goals or policies and this UDC is here to actually support that and lift that up. So like I mentioned earlier we conducted those various meetings the workshops the engagements this all plays a part in creating a more cohesive UDC. Again, the main uh foundation of looking at it is having consistent terminology, consolidating uh the direct purpose and statements. Uh we wanted to make sure the dimensional standards and there's related graphics that uh support these. We want to make it very consistent with any graphic themes, clarify any writing styles, uh more regulation of specific uses in their own articles, so separating them. sometimes they're clumped together and it doesn't really make sense. So, we look at that and then also just making sure it is arranged logically. So we're looking at your certain code in the specific chapters that we were assigned in the UDC. And if the order is making sense, we ch we kind of rearranged it to make it seem more interesting and more commonly used parts in the beginning and then afterwards following as you can even tell in the appendix we have definitions and then also any applications. So those final things being at the bottom. So main thing we have to look at that a UDC does is consolidation, clarity and usability. Uh main focus on visual standards and modernization. This is some aspects I wanted to showcase is in this UDC we try to include some flowcharts, tables to really make it easy of like okay these are the responsibilities of city authority and it's right there in plain sight. Yes, it's written out in the text as well, but having a visual sometimes

makes it a little bit easier for everyone to just pinpoint exactly who's in charge and what uh departments or officials they should be talking to or what their role is. So, this is just an example of what's in your existing code of ordinance and then how the proposed UDC is looking like. You can tell here that uh you have your existing uh chapters. They're all uh spread out. There's multiple of them. There's certain articles that I had to identify. I got cut off a little bit in here. I do apologize. Uh that last one is for preservation uh for supplemental uh regulation districts. So what we really did and I'm going to showcase in the next few slides is how it's consolidated either in any of these new UDC chapters or it's how it's created into its own chapter. So looking at this first one here, you can see how chapter 1 and two are put together into that chapter one of authority, jurisdiction, and effective dates. Chapter 2 zoning district really combined a lot of this information that we had. So chapter 1, chapter 26, chapter 46 and the articles that follow uh through that as well as uh for chapter 3 development designs is also combined some of the information that was in uh chapter 14 36 and 46 and the articles in there and so forth. So chapter 4 combining uh what was in chapter 46. So the big thing in your existing code you saw chapter 46 is a big chapter. it had a lot of information and at times it was kind of hard to find certain stuff and you had to go back and forth. So we thought it would be best to kind of separate these especially the topics that were talked about a lot. So when it came to accessory use and accessory structure standards when it came to um the development design standards we wanted

to create their own chapters that really uh created an own its own section. Uh this right here you can see a little bit more. Again, another example for chapter 46 being broken up is chapter 9 for nonconformities. Uh we'll go a little bit more into detail about that as well because I know some people have concerns about nonconformities and how this plays a part with the UDC. All righty. And just looking more into it, we have enforcement permits and procedures. And then also chapter 13, historic landmarks and mission trail historic district. I'll talk a little bit more. This isn't a fully complete chapter as you guys are working right now to expand on it and we did leave with the language to uh create that openness to once this changes and implementation happens. All righty. So, we're going to kind of go through certain goals and policies that were talked about in the comprehensive plan and look at your existing code and then how that has been changed into the UDC. So, for historic preservation and mission trail districts, the main thing is the UDC wanted to organize the city's approach for historic preservation into a clear framework. So looking at goal uh three it's de new developments support the historic assets and rural and agricultural character of Sakoro. So in your existing code you are limited into structure historic pro uh provisions exist but not but are pretty limited and they're not fully integrated into your development or review and kind of lack a clear procedures of consistency. So what we really tried to do was we redefined your historic overlay districts. We uh created a certificate of appropriateness kind of going into more detail about how that entangles with the historic uh

preservation and even defined the review structure of how uh oh caught it one should go about and then uh the foundation for the future ordinance of having when you guys uh expand on this uh topic. Uh, another one looking at your zoning and modernization. This is from your goal one from the comp plan. The unified development code is aligned with the future land use map and comprehensive plan. So, you can kind of see here, this is from your existing code. These are your existing uh zoning districts. And then on your right hand side is the proposed UDC codes. For the most part, they do line up with one another. We also wanted it to support the future land use map as you can see here. And you do see uh new for agriculture and open space and parks. And then just to look right here, as you can see in the comprehensive plan, how uh these support what is being said over here. Another big thing I wanted to point out is how the permitted use is going to be used and looked at. In your current code, you just have it written out in each zoning district. Uh sometimes people get a little confused. So we decided to put it all in a table together and separate them by use. And each column is the zoning district so you know which one is what. It's easily accessible. It's easy to read and um quick to go to other than trying to find what zoning district would permit what. Another thing we're looking at is expanding the housing options. So looking at policy uh 5A which is from uh your comp plan it encourages a range of residential housing types uh housing sizes and lot sizes and density. So looking at your existing code of limited housing types you just have single

family medium density and then mobile homes which was R RM1 and RM2. So there wasn't any real clear path of those middle missing middle housing. What the UDC does now is looking at these single family homes. We are expanding the types of homes that are allowed in here. Um, I do just want to explain that I know I have RE and R1 in there. I don't believe RE actually allows for duplexes and triplexes. I just uh was typing really fast. So it's more uh going into but we go into uh explaining how these uses isn't just in a a single zoning district. It is separated and broken down in the code. So it really introduces what is that missing mill u middle housing options and providing for residents that they aren't restricted to only having a large single family in these large acre lots. Another one is agriculture and open space preservation. So in one of your policies in the comp plan, it's update the unified development code to include passive and active open spaces requirements to preserve agriculture areas with focus on retaining connections between agriculture use. So in your existing code, you had limited tools like no dedicated agriculture district, open uh space addressed indirectly. It wasn't so much uh clear language on that aspect. and then development can occur without structured preservation or any requirements on those aspects. So in the UDC we introduced the new uh code for agricultural district. This is really to support your farming in rural land uses as well as the open space and parks. Um main reason to protect the natural and recreational areas. We also really introduce cluster development options. So it concentrates development while preserving still the farmland in the

area. The main key idea is it's supposed to allow growth while also preserving your agriculture and rural character of Sakoto. A next one is development standards and compatibility of design. So one of the policies in the comp is establish a UDC code uh standards to improve the buffering and transition of higher intensity land use to lower intensity residential land uses. So in the existing code you have very minimal buffering uh between uses. The setbacks aren't always aligned with the context. It's limited to landscaping and screening requirements and compatibility. Sometimes it's between the uses aren't really clearly addressed. So in the UDC we really try to emphasize a stronger and clearer standards like buffering and screening. Uh you can really see that in the development and design uh chapter 3. This uh separates incompatible uses residential and commercial. Uh this is also shown in chapter 2 of the zoning uh context sensitivity setbacks that reflects the type of development landscaping requirements and then compatibility standards. And this is just an example of how it looks in your existing code. As of right now, just written out. Whereas in the UDC, we do have it written out, but also with the visual of how it could look. Um, looking at the uh, it's really hard to see on here, but you have the A, B, C, and it matches up to what aspect the developers should be looking at as they read through the development regulation standards of the table. Another example we just wanted to show in your existing code about fencing again written out but no real visual to explain what's happening here. So in the UDC there's uh various examples as you can see uh that explains and visually shows what we are

talking about and how the code standard matches these. Another one is off- streetet parking. We're looking at how it just like how your permitted table it's written out but again uh having that table separated uh with the uses and then looking at what type of uh parking ratio should be uh permitted for those. Another thing is our signage. Signage can get a little tricky. There's always uh not everyone understands what sign is what. So, we really try to break it down with descriptions, uh, the type of regulations, and then also images that support this type of signage, so it's very clear of what this code is representing. The next one we'll talk about is the subdivision and infrastructure improvements. So in the comp plan, one of the policies is to include the creation of the city's uh UDC for parkland dedications and requirements, the development and dedication of new parks and development that occurs within the community. In your existing ordinance, there's there's some gaps in the coordination and design. So there's limited requirements for street connectivity. Subdivision and zoning is not fully aligned. Um infrastructure planning can be fragmented. And then parkland and open spaces are not consistently addressed. So again in the UDC we really try to address these with a stronger and more coordinated approach like improving the street connectivity. This really encourages connected street networks and reduces dead ends. We wanted subdivision and zoning to really align. So this ensures that uh a lot layouts are matching what the zoning standards are set out in the chapter and then parkland dedication requirements is included. So that's like imp uh providing open spaces and uh when development occurs also infrastructure coordination. So we looked at and we talked with the key stakeholders that supported this with utilities, drainage

and how street plan designs work together. Another this is just an image I wanted to show about subdivision block measurements. Uh other than just writing it, we have that visual that really breaks down and shows what is the expectation and regulations for subdivisions. The next one, environmental uh and resilient standards. So in the comp plan of the policy, it's to establish landscape and tree preservation standards uh that promote expansive tree canopies and shading, ensuring compatibility and storm water infrastructure and water resilience. Again, in your current code, it was kind of limited in the environmental in integration. So there was environmental standards that addressed separately and it wasn't really consistent drainage and storm water not fully integrated in the development design and limited requirements for the sustainable and drought tolerant plants and practices. So in the UDC we wanted the storm water and drainage management to be integrated into the site and subdivision designs. We had low impact development practices included in the UDC and also tree preservation and landscaping that supports the shading uh cooling and environmental quality. We even provided some images and graphics for those as well. And then draw uh drought tolerant planning standards that really reflects the regional climate for utilities and infrastructure. uh one of the goals was redundant power sources supporting regional and community utility systems that exist minimizing services and disruptions. So it kind of represents in your existing codes utility requirements are addressing from multiple sections there the coordination with developments not always there and you don't get a clear answer when uh an applicant comes in they hear one thing from one department and then go uh to

the city and they understand something else. So we wanted to make sure there was a clear understanding there. Also the timing for infrastructure improvements were a little bit inconsistent. So in the UDC we wanted to integrate utility requirements. Again this is where talking with those stakeholders really uh played a part and the emphasis for this chapter here. So developing that uh uh development that's driven in infrastructure. It ensures that the services are available for the development to occur. we have clear standards and responsibilities defined. So we know if you're going to be doing uh this type of project, these are the uh people the departments the people and companies that you should be reaching out to to get your information from in this order. And also we wanted to improve long-term planning. So making sure that it's efficient and that we're providing a service with growth management as we move through these uh uh projects. So nonconformities. Now the common concern that we hear with nonconformities is once we adopt this UDC does this mean that I'm not permitted or I can't my uh current property is now illegal. That is not true. So we hear are the you guys non-compliant? Is the property owners required to make the ch the changes that are uh part of the UDC and will their uses be forced upon them to close? So in the UDC existing uses may continue. So they become legal non-conforming uses and they're allowed to remain. No immediate changes are required. Properties do not need to require any retrofit to these standards and then applies to structures and uses that cover buildings lots and uses that are established uh legally. So when changes are triggered for compliance is when there's new developments or major changes to the current uh standards or

the current uses that are happening here. So again uh what are nonconformities? They refer to uses buildings and structures that were legally established but no longer comply to the current regulations. So they're referred to as nonconformities and they can continue and they're lawful to be a use be since the existing um before this UDC and uh continue to go on that is that I'm sorry that's kind of like what we went through with today right where that triplex to where she can continue to operate and um

no no right so that was something that was not legal non-conforming. So some of the other might have been something that was in existence before the city incorporated in ' 86.

So I don't know, you'd have to go back to look at some of the other cases to say, well, they they they had no proof that they were legal non-conforming that they had been that way um since prior to ' 86 or '89 when zoning rules were established. So today's was a little is very different than some of the others I think we've had. Uh one pops into my head. He he inherited that property from his parents. Um wouldn't have any information about when that all happened, but was trying to uh correct something that um needed to be corrected. Thank you. Sorry.

And no, of course. And of course, even if the use or the structure itself was, let's say, damaged by any environmental or uh fire or anything like that, they are permitted to put up the exact same use. Again, it doesn't have to be conformed to fit what the UDC says there. Let's say they do sell the business though and there's a new owner, that's where it becomes like triggers the new UDC. Correct? If If then and I don't think so right unless they're changing it some way or major improvements.

All righty. So I know even that as the highlights is a lot. Um just looking at your guys's role here. Uh the reason why we're having these review sessions and moving on to the adoption. We really need your guys' input about how the proposed UDC is going to work, especially since you'll be using it. We want to evaluate any of the policy updates and development standards. Is this realistic? Does this really support or solve or does this create some more issues that we didn't uh perceive? And then so providing any feedback or identifying any of those concerns would be really helpful. and then we can move on on making those recommendations for city council as those upcoming meetings are coming up. So just again reviewing the timeline and the scheduling like I said tomorrow we have our stakeholder meeting. We are meeting again into in your next meeting session. Uh that will be technically your intro to the UDC and then following that the final Interesting.

It's a bird, I think. See it? I think it's stuck. That's fine. We'll just And then from there, our final uh recommendation of approval to city council and we'll move on for the introduction for there. So, I'd like to open up the floor for any comments, questions, or concerns that we can talk about. Just one question in your previous slide. Uh we're in phase we're in that last phase. We're in the final draft phase

on um April June that section where the box inside the box. Go ahead. And we've already done a campaign to let the the draft has already been presented to the public. Yes, it is online and we do have uh flyers available advertising it um sent out. We just need to get it printed and posted everywhere. But it is available online and ready for public and we're going to go ahead and post on like socials and stuff. Exactly. And we want to do it especially before you get into your intro. Thank you. Yes, of course. Any others? I don't a lot of information

it is. I know. I don't know if you guys wanted to see some of the images again. Um, if you were curious. So, what we the two weeks ago or the last meeting that we had, we received the packet, right? And so is that are we going coming back to review that or what what are we doing with that information? Like do is there any input that's needed from from you all? Yes. If you could please read through the

and then we're supposed to come and send it to you, but it wasn't going to be like a special meeting or we weren't No, not a joint meeting like we had in the previous Yeah. It's not going to be like the diagnostics in a sense or even what we were doing on Fridays. um kind of now since it is this final do uh draft not final draft but it's a completed draft having your final reviews and any comments so we could create those revisions uh before we officially start the adoption process. Uh hence why we wanted to meet with you guys with these two sessions before uh just so we give you guys the opportunity to provide that is the goal next meeting to make that recommendation to council

to the introduction to the planning and zoning commission. Um we'll provide any feedback and any changes that are different from the final d the draft that we've submitted to you all uh two weeks ago uh highlighted here in this presentation. we can share this presentation as well and then the meeting after that will be your official action and recommendation to take to city council. So the offer is still open to anybody who would like to sit and review any parts of that ahead of our next meeting. Um yes,

we could also share the input that was provided by the stakeholders and any input that we received from the public uh via the online website prior to the introduction draft. I would personally I would love to see that. Okay. Yeah. Perfect. So I'm sorry I didn't you said the offer is still open for a sitting. Yeah. with us. I at the last but the previous meeting before that if anybody wanted to schedule some time to just review anything, have individual questions, wanted some oneonone more information. Um and this right here was uh right now we saw is not was not on the package or

no it wasn't but we can share that with you and put put post it on the public website as well. So Miriam print out a book for me. So everything was in there. Okay. Just not this presentation. Exactly. Yeah. So we can send that presentation and then um I'll let uh Lorine know and she can let you all know when we uh send out the flyers and what I'll get updates of if there's any comments or anything like that and we can have that presented beforehand. and then um read the address.

I haven't seen it. I haven't seen it on social media. We'll take a look. Yeah, I haven't seen follow up with that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you, Miss Victoria. Now, moving on to item 11. Consider and take action on the adjournment of this meeting. Do I have a motion? I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. I have a motion made by Andrew Aoyos to adjurnn, second by Eido Torres. All those in favor of the motion. I Any naysay? Any obsain? Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:20. Thank you all for coming.