Planning Commission approves consent agenda and clears PUD rezoning request for Gulf Shores site on Saint Bartholomew Avenue

The Planning Commission on May 13 approved its consent agenda, including two replats and a zoning case (Z N8979) that would create a planned unit development for a Gulf Shores joint venture property at 14902 Saint Bartholomew Avenue.

Andrew Dimas of Development Services read the consent agenda and told commissioners that staff and the technical review committee had reviewed the two plats and found them in compliance with the Texas Local Government Code and the Unified Development Code. "Staff recommends approval," Dimas said.

The zoning request would change the site from CR2 with the island overlay to CR2 IPUD, allowing a mix of housing types and several deviations from the standard UDC. Dimas said the PUD would permit single-family homes — a use not normally allowed in CR2 — and would reduce the single-family minimum lot size to 4,500 square feet to mirror the RS 4.5 district. He also described requested flexibility on lot sizes and narrower roadway widths, subject to fire, traffic and solid-waste reviews.

A commissioner pressed staff on the replat lots, which are under 6,000 square feet, asking, "So are they gonna have to rezone this property, or what's the plan with that?" Dimas replied that the project is being rezoned, that it had been heard by council on first reading and received an approval recommendation, and explained that under the UDC a 6,000-square-foot site can be split into two halves so each half can be about 3,000 square feet when configured as townhomes or duplexes.

On public-safety questions, Chair Salazar Garza asked how many entry and exit points the development would have. Dimas noted that the fire code requires at least two points of access once a development crosses 50 units and added, "In this case, the development is actually providing three." He emphasized that any changes to roadway widths would still need approval from fire and traffic engineering and solid-waste services.

After no public comment on the items, a commissioner moved to approve items 2, 3 and 4 as presented by staff; the motion was seconded and the commission voted to approve the consent items.

The zoning applicant has already begun the council process: Dimas said it was heard by the City Council on first reading the previous day and had received a recommendation for approval; he said he hoped it would receive approval on second reading. The commission adjourned following the votes.