Planning commission approves minor replat at 500 North Station Street with condition on nonconforming structures

The Port Aransas Planning & Zoning Commission approved a minor replat for property at 500 North Station Street on June 29, allowing the division of existing lots into 11R and 12R despite a variance from the city’s post-2021 50-foot lot-width requirement.

Planning staff told the commission the lots remain larger than 5,000 square feet and that city utilities and the city engineer reviewed and recommended the plat. Staff also flagged the replat would create a nonconforming side-setback condition and recommended adding standard language that would require structures damaged more than 50% to be rebuilt to current code. "Staff has no heartburn," a staff member said, while advising the commission to add the 50% damage clause to the plat.

Commissioners discussed utility easements and a concrete driveway allocation tied to the lot line change, and staff agreed to clarify the easement extents and add required plat language confirming that any structure beneath an easement would not be permitted. Commissioner Richard K. moved to approve the replat contingent on adding the 50% damage/rebuild language; Commissioner Felicia Foster seconded the motion. The commission recorded an affirmative voice vote and the motion carried.

The approval permits the property owner or future buyer to sell or use the two newly platted parcels, subject to the clarified plat notes. The action does not change existing structures or immediately authorize demolition; any reconstruction that would exceed the 50% damage threshold must comply with current setbacks and building codes.

The replat and its revised final plat language will be filed in the map records as required by city procedure and will be forwarded to the City Council as part of the variance/plat approval process if additional approvals are required.