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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-11-18 410 ‘0101 41011) Zoning Board of Adjustment November 18, 1976 CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment was called to order at 7:30 P. M. in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall . Members present were Messrs. Jim Banks, Lucian Holmes, Billy Owens, Alton Ray, and Don Calhoun. Also present was Recording Secretary Becky Gunter. VISITORS Visitors in attendance were Messrs. Don Pfrimmer, Jack Bullard, Frank Lindsey, Hershel Lindly, and Mayor Harold Samuels. PUBLIC HEARING - APPEAL OF THE CITY OF EULESS TO CONSTRUCT TENNIS COURTS TEN (10) FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mr. Jim Banks was appointed Acting Chairman. Mr. Banks asked for a representative to make the presentation. Mr. Lindly stated he is with the firm of Schrickel , Rollins and Associates, Inc. He stated that if the tennis courts were constructed to conform to the set back requirements, the cost would be considerable; that by moving the courts, between $2,100. and $2,300. could be saved. This decrease would be due partially to the reduction in the amount of excavation necessary. The courts would be moved five feet into the set back. (Page Two, Cinq Bohr-' of Adjustment, November 19, 1974 Mr. Lindly stated the courts would be concrete, 52 inches in depth and the foundation would be approximately 12 inches in depth. Sodium lights would be used because of electricity, and the power would be controlled within a control box. There would be a timer that would only allow the power to be turned on at certain times in one hour cycles. The courts will be within a ten foot fence with two gates; one in the Southwest corner and one in the Northeast corner. Each gate will be connected to the sidewalk with another four foot sidewalk. Mr. Banks asked if the drawing as shown is of the courts in the position requested or the position with the required set back. Mr. Lindly stated the courts in the drawing would need to be moved South five feet to be in the position requested. Mr. Banks asked if the courts would also need to be moved East. Mr. Lindly stated they would not. The variation of the ordinance is the moving of the courts five feet into the front yard which will alleviate the necessity of a retaining wall between the courts and the sidewalk next to the school at a cost of approximately $1 ,500. Mr. Banks stated an estimated savings of between $2,100. and $2,300. was given and he would like to know what the remaining $700. reduction is for. Mr. Lindly stated there would also be a reduction in the amount of sidewalk paving needed on the South side. Mr. Lindly stated the three reductions would be in the amount of excavation, sidewalk paving and the retaining wall . Mr. Holmes asked if the property is City property. Mr. Lindly stated the property is owned by the H-E-B School District and the City Council requested permission from the School Board to locate the tennis courts either in the Northeast or Northwest corner of the school property. The Northeast corner was not selected as there were some problems with that location. Mr. Holmes asked why the City Council is requesting the usage of School District property. Mr. Lindly stated it is becoming more common to have a joint ownership between a city and school district as it is the common responsibility of both to provide recreational facilities for the public and it reduces expenditures for each. Also, this allows more public facilities to be constructed as there is not a duplication of the same facility by each. (Page Threes ?oninq Li-led of Adjustment, November 19,„4111,) Mr. Holmes asked if the poles located on the property across the street were utility connections and, if so, what is the intended use of the property. Mayor Samuels stated they are utility connections and the intended use of the property is condominiums but he does not know if they will ever be built. Mr. Holmes asked why they were there. Mayor Samuels stated they were erected at the time the property was platted to prevent putting them in at a later date and having to dig under the street. Mr. Bullard stated the City has a standard agreement with the School District for the City to make these improve- ments with the understanding that the School District uses the facilities during the day and the public uses the facilities the rest of the time. He stated the City now has tennis courts at Euless Junior High and Wilshire Elementary, a ballfield at Central Junior High, and lights at a ballfield at Trinity High. Mr. Owens stated that most property near the residential sections of town are utilized and the public parks are therefore outside of the residential sections where public facilities would be needed. Mayor Samuels stated the first location considered was at Lakewood Park. However, there is an eight-to-one slope which would be quite expensive to excavate. Also, a five or six foot high retaining wall would be necessary and would be dangerous for children to play on. Mr. Holmes asked how many tennis courts the City has at this time. Mr. Lindsey stated there is one at South Euless Park, three at Midway Park, two at Euless Junior High, and two at Wilshire Elementary. Mayor Samuels stated the School Board was very positive toward the plan. Mr. Holmes stated the location of the tennis courts is off-balance. Mr. Lindsey stated these will be the first tennis courts in the far North part of town. Mr. Banks asked what the total cost of the tennis courts will be. (Page Four,Cninq B ; ' of Adjustment, November 19, la-' Mr. Lindly stated they are estimated at $36,000. However, this is an estimate and not a bid. Mayor Samuels presented a petition he received which is attached and is part of the minutes. He stated the reason for the petitions that were negative toward the tennis courts was that this is soccer season and the people wanted to use the property for a soccer field which, by moving the tennis courts, a full length soccer field will be possible. However, the City Council approved a ten foot set back to the East and a ten foot set back to the South to make it possible for the full length soccer field rather than the five foot set back to the South as requested by Mr. Lindly. Mr. Owens asked if this change would create a drainage problem. Mayor Samuels stated moving the courts five feet solved the drainage problem and the additional five feet will not change anything. Mayor Samuels stated he had talked to Ken and he had said there was no problem with moving it the additional five feet. Mr. Holmes asked who Ken is. Mr. Lindly stated Kent Beasely is the tennis court specialist at Schrickel , Rollins and Associates, Inc. Mr. Owens stated he has noticed at other tennis courts that the metal door of the electrical box has been light weight and easily damaged. He asked if stronger metal will be used for these tennis courts. Mr. Lindly stated a stronger metal will be used. It will be 4 inch steele and this will be the first time this design has been used. Mr. Calhoun stated that when the case was presented to the City Council , it was said that overhead lights pointing straight down would be used. He asked if it is still the plan to use this type. Mayor Samuels stated the lights will be similar to those at Bedford Boy's Ranch or the new Kroger store on Precinct Line Road. Mr. Lindly stated it would be a 30° angle with the light beam to the outside of the court. The light will not get across the street. (Page Five,ninq Bg-1- ' of Adjustment, November 19, 1 Mr. Banks asked what the original purpose was of the required thirty foot set back. Mr. Bullard stated that in residential areas, the set back is twenty-five feet. The tennis courts alone could be placed to the property line. The fence around the tennis courts is what is requiring the set back. This is required in residential areas to prevent a solid structure such as a wood fence from being erected which would obstruct the view of traffic. However, the fence to be placed around the tennis courts will be chain link and will be maintained by the City and the citizens can be assured that nothing will be placed on the fence such as ivy to obstruct the view. Mr. Banks asked if a wind screen could be put in at a later date which may obstruct the view. Mr. Bullard stated that no matter what the Park Department may want to erect there, it will not be allowed if it will obstruct the view. Mayor Samuels stated the possibility of a wind screen was discussed at the council meeting and it was decided that a wind screen would not be allowed within the twenty-five feet set back. A wind screen would be allowed on the East and South sides but not on the North and West sides. Mr. Banks asked if there were any other questions. There were none. Mr. Banks asked who was in favor of granting the waiver to allow the ten foot set back on the North and East. Those in favor of granting the waiver were as follows: Messrs. Holmes, Owens, Ray, Calhoun, and Banks. There were none against granting the waiver. The City of Euless was granted per- mission to construct tennis courts ten feet from the property line on the Northwest corner of Lakewood Elementary School . II . ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P. M. Approved: 1 air - J i i