BRENHAM PLANNING & ZONING RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF TEXT AMENDMENTS, 6-ACRE REZONING

  

The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday unanimously recommended approval of three text amendments to city code, as well as rezoning of a roughly 6-acre tract of land intended for residential development.

The city-initiated amendment requests relate to the placement of detached accessory structures on corner lots, the requirement that the property owner’s primary residence be either the single-family dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and alleys in townhome developments.

City staff are proposing that the regulation for detached accessory structures in residential districts state that they must be located behind the closest point to the front property line of the primary structure on both the subject property and adjacent properties, while also having a side- and rear-yard setback of no less than five feet.  This is so accessory structures are not closer to the roadway than the main structure.

The proposed amendment to ADU standards says that if the subject property’s primary use is a single-family dwelling in an R-1 single-family residential zoning district, the property owner’s primary residence must be either the single-family dwelling or the ADU.  This ensures that the property owner is living on the property in the case that either the main home or the ADU is rented out.

The city’s suggested revision for alleys is to, instead of prohibiting them in new subdivisions, encourage them in townhome developments.  The change is intended to accommodate rear garage and parking access, allowing for guest parking along the curb.  It would also allow utilities to be placed without being under driveways, or transformers being placed in narrow side yards.

The amendments will be considered by the Brenham City Council at its meeting on September 19^th.

Also on Monday, commissioners all recommended approval of the rezoning of approximately 6.09 acres of vacant property at 1320 Burleson Street, going from R-1 single-family residential to R-2 mixed residential. 

The rezoning, requested by Ernest James Nunn and Jake Carlile, would allow for the development of townhomes and potentially duplexes that are meant to introduce further mid-level priced rental/housing units.  It would also provide a buffer between single-family homes and the adjacent properties that are zoned for industrial use.

The item will be considered by the city council when it meets on September 5^th. 

In other business, the Commission:

• Approved a request from Scott Bailey for a replat of a 1.35-acre lot in the 1300 block of Hidden Creek Lane, in order to subdivide the property into two lots so that one can be sold and developed as a single-family home.
• Approved a request from Walt Edmunds for a replat of 0.49 acres in the 300 block of West Third Street.  The property owner has acquired land to bring a proposed accessory dwelling unit into compliance, so the area is being replatted to be legally combined with the subject single-family property.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.