The Levelland City Council met Monday in a regular meeting to discuss several agenda items including the readings of multiple ordinances. The second and final reading of Ordinance NO. 1063 amending zoning regulations as they apply to carports in the SF-2, Multi-2, Multi-3, Multi-4, B-1 and B-2.
Several communities’ members were in attendance to address the council during the public comment section regarding car ports. The commission members unanimously approved the amended ordinance and will take affect 10 days after it is passed.
In past regular meetings, community members have voiced their opinions about allowing carports within Levelland. Council Members felt that the rules and regulations for SF-1 needed to be revisited as there were too many things to address for those homes in those certain locations. The City of Levelland zoning map can be found at golevelland.com/zoning-map-1.
When looking at those areas that fall under SF-1, those include houses within the Country Club, Kauffman subdivision, the Ridgecrest addition east of the Levelland High School. The Hickory Square, Holly Heights Addition, Breshears addition, Lea and Brown addition, Cactus Square addition, Wills addition and Cherry addition surrounding the south and west sides of the high school are included. Additional areas include the Western Meadows addition located west of the City Park The board unanimously approved the option one ordinance for all zoning district except for SF-1. City Council sendt the SF-1 portion of the ordinance back to the P&Z board. City Manager Anderson explained that the issue with allowing the SF-1 districts to be included in the ordinance presents problems as it covers a large portion of the zoning map in Levelland. Options to remedy the situation haven’t been discussed, but the possibility of restricted and unrestricted areas may be suggested along with the requirement of neighbor approval.
Anderson and the City Council are hopeful the guidelines will be sorted out soon and SF-1 owners will be understanding of the process the ordinance must undergo to suit the entire community. “The Planning & Zoning Commission is having a workshop Tuesday evening to discuss and see what the Council is recommending,” explained City Manager Anderson. “Ultimately, we have resources that will help us pinpoint the neighborhoods that should be considered in a different manner regarding SF-1.”
The amendment for carport construction within the city of Levelland are in included below.
Before beginning construction, the property owner must obtain a building permit. In addition, the owner must submit building plans and a material list with the application for a building permit that must be approved by the building inspector. The purpose, design and utilization of the carport must be used solely for parking, storing, or protecting automobiles or vehicles. The location of any carport in a Single Family 2 or additional district excluding SF-1 must be in the front yard and the sides of the carport must run parallel to the front and side yards of the property. There will be no minimum front setback for the carport. The carport must have a minimum setback of five feet from the side of the property line. This includes measuring the side setback, the roof edge, overhang, and vertical supports of the carport.
At least three sides of the carport shall be open and unencumbered except for vertical structural supports if necessary. A side of a carport is considered opened when no more than 15% percent of the sides of the carport can be obscured. That includes any materials that could be used to cover the sides of the carport.
The height of the carport, which can be measured from the finishing surface to the highest point of the roofline cannot exceed the height of the first story of the main residential building on the lot. The vertical structural supports of the carport must be set in concrete 24” deep along with the support holes having the diameter double the circumference of the support post. Carports must be built on an improved surface that will be the finished surface. The carport cannot be built over grass, dirt, or any other unimproved surface. There are four options for the finished surface that can be considered within the ordinance.
Only one carport can be built per lot.
Property owners are responsible for following any deed restrictions which may be applied to the building of the carport.
Carports cannot be built or placed on any lot where the vision of a driver in the vehicle within 30 feet of an intersection can be obstructed.
Any built carport cannot be greater than 500 square feet. For anyone within any zoning district including SF-1 that already has a carport established on their property, those structures are considered grandfathered into the ordinance. Council had their first reading of Ordinance No. 1064 which sets the utility rates and credit card fees. For garbage rates, residential garbage rates within the city received several changes. For one family resident homes, the rate is increased to $28.49from$27.53.
Apartments and apartment houses up to 16 units increased $28.49 from $27.53 for first unit and to $20.92 from $20.21 each additional unit. Manufactured home parks or subdivisions located on one meter increased to $28.49 from $27.53 for each unit. Manufactured homes located behind residences and on same meters increased to $28.49 from $27.53. Manufactured homes located on separate meters whether on one lot or in manufactured park or subdivision now sit at $28.49 instead of $27.53. Churches also made the jump to $28.49 compared to the $27.53. For mercantile, professional, and business garbage rates within the city limits, the monthly charge for service will be $62.80 per container per number of pickups per week. Special service charges which include each extra pickup will be $41.99 per container. For wastewater rates within the city, residential customers will pay a wastewater service fee of $17.29 per month. Wastewater service availability fee for apartments per unit is $17.29 per month. The usage charge consists of $0.12 per 1,000 gallons for the first 10,000 gallons of metered water. Wastewater system improvement fee per unit increased to $9.62. For commercial customers, wastewater service availability fee is $11.77. The usage charge for commercial wastewater is $1.24 per 1,000 gallons of commercial wastewater for the first 59 percent of all metered water usage.
The improvement system fee for commercial customers is set at $9.62 compared to $3.69.
For wastewater rates outside the city, the service availability fee is $25.93, the apartment fee is $25.93 per month. The usage charge of $.18 per 1,000 for the first 10,000 gallons of metered water.
City Manager Anderson presented the next agenda item regarding the procedures and timeliness associated with the appointment, reappointment of the municipal court judge.
Presented as a discussion item only, Anderson explained that the Levelland Municipal Court Judge Norma Garza has served at the position of an excess of 20 years.
He explained that it is the duty of the Council by the charter and state statute to appointment that position every two years.
City Manager’s recommendation to the council was to sit down with the current municipal judge during the executive session of the next regularly scheduled meeting on September 26.
Also brought to the Council was the approving and authorizing publication and posting notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation.
City Manager Anderson explained that this step was the trigger to point to move in the direction of bond debt in regards to process of getting the new wastewater treatment plant going.
“With this action made last night during the meeting, we will post this notice on our website and in the newspaper,” said City Manager Anderson. “There will be a waiting period for the public to take the opportunity to sound off on that or get back with the council.”
Looking through the process, Anderson doesn’t believe there is a requirement for a public hearing, he explained that the bond agency the city has gone with will be guiding them through this process.
“This is no small endeavor, and it is a large sum of money the city is looking to committing along with the community,” said Anderson. “Certainly, we don’t take that lightly. This is still the first step into getting this process going. The earliest we could move forward is November 7.”
As the current fiscal year comes to a close at the end of September, the City Council has struggled to find a mutual agreement for Ordinance No. 1062 the 2022 Tax Rate.
Anderson explained that if the Tax Rate for the upcoming fiscal year cannot not be decided on during the last regularly scheduled meeting on September 26, the No New Revenue Tax Rate will be automatically adopted.
Due to the lack of funds generated in the previous fiscal year, Anderson recommended the board follow the Voter Approved Rate which would allow the city to cover maintenance costs such as seal coats and other items. The Council has continued to be split on tax rates as setting the tax rate ceiling was a split decision that was broken by Mayor Barbra Pinner. Deciding on the final tax rate has become a lengthy process as the item has been tabled multiple times throughout budgeting season due to the lack of a full council. “We still have to do our jobs and we still have to set a tax rate and that needs an action,” said Anderson. “It is one of the most important things our Council Members do, and they set the tax rate along with the budget. It’s important we get that done in a manner that is feasible to serve the needs of the city. City Manager Anderson is aware of the history of the city gravitating toward the No New Tax Rate but is hopeful the council will consider the voter approval rate as a means to helping the general fund.