At a City of Angleton public hearing, the commission approved a variance to allow temporary overflow staff parking for Hope Animal Hospital on an adjacent vacant lot at 41360 State Highway 288, provided the lot be surfaced with asphalt and the applicant obtain required permits and meet the stated conditions.

City planning staff described the request as a parking-surface variance to allow an interim, compacted surface for overflow staff parking while the hospital plans a later expansion. Staff noted the applicant would need to obtain a permit, that property owners within 200 feet were notified, and that full compliance with on-site parking and detention requirements would be required when the hospital proceeds with a formal expansion.

A hospital representative told the commission the clinic has been open "for a little over 5 years, growing rapidly," and that on most days the parking lot is ‘‘completely full’’ with staff and client parking. "We're now having to park in the grass. Clients are having to park in the grass. We're just walking their dogs a long way," the representative said, adding that the site is on State Highway 288 "which is a very busy freeway" and that the grass parking raises safety concerns.

The applicant said the overflow lot is owned by the hospital and they proposed a crushed-asphalt ("crush chat") surface for a portion of the vacant lot, with a walkway and a bridge over existing drainage ditches to connect staff parking to the hospital. The applicant also said drainage would not be an issue for the small parking area and that signage limiting use to staff would be provided. The applicant stated the expansion is planned "hopefully at some point next year," at which time the hospital will meet full parking and detention requirements.

Commissioners asked about drainage; a member said drainage is a major concern and the applicant replied drainage would not change from the current condition. Staff noted the city typically requires paving up to the right of way to limit dirt and mud on the road and that the permit would include conditions. On a motion finding the criteria of section 28-23(f) of the Code of Ordinances were met, the commission granted a variance to section 28-101.1 regarding parking-lot paving requirements to allow interim overflow parking, then modified the motion on the record to require an asphalt surface rather than crushed chat. The motion was seconded, members voted in favor, and the motion carried.

The record includes staff conditions such as obtaining required permits and not parking in the right of way; staff also noted that when the hospital proceeds with expansion, it must comply with all on-site parking and detention requirements. The applicant will be responsible for implementing the walkway and signage described on the record.

The commission closed the hearing after taking action and adjourned the meeting.