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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-2010 Planning Commission MinutesDecember 6, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes 1 The Planning Commission met Monday, December 6, 2010 at 5:00 PM at the City Administration Building, 161 N. Section Street in the Council Chambers. Present: Jean Wilson, Chairperson; Dick Charles, Vice-Chair; Bob Clark; Gary Moore; Lee Turner; Jennifer Fidler; and Mike Ford. Jonathan Smith, Planning and Building Director; Nancy Milford, Planner; Emily Boyett, Secretary Absent: Tim Kant Chairperson Jean Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM and announced the meeting is being recorded. The minutes of the November 1, 2010 meeting were considered and Dick Charles moved to accept the minutes as written and was 2nd by Bob Clark. Motion carried with one abstention by Jennifer Fidler. SD 08.09 Request of Chris Haley for a one (1) year extension of Preliminary Plat approval for Parker Place Subdivision, Chris Haley. The property is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Scenic Highway 98 and Parker Road, at 7220 Parker Road. Jonathan Smith gave the staff report saying the property is inside the City of Fairhope and is zoned PUD. Total site area is approximately 3.79 acres and eight (8) lots are proposed. Preliminary plat approval was granted by the Planning Commission on September 2, 2008 which is after the City of Fairhope Subdivision Regulations Amendments approval in March 2007; therefore, the site is in compliance with the City’s most recent subdivision regulations. Staff recommendation is to approve the preliminary plat extension for one (1) year. Gary Moore moved to accept the staff recommendation to approve the one (1) year extension of the preliminary plat approval. Mike Ford 2nd the motion and the motion carried unanimously. SD 10.04 Request of the Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects for Final Plat approval of Boise Lane Subdivision, a 2-lot minor division, Clay Adams. The property is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Boise Lane. Nancy Milford gave the staff report saying the property zoned R-2 Medium Density Single Family Residential and is approximately 15,332 square feet with 2 lots proposed. The property is surrounded on all sides by R-2 zoned property and both proposed lots front a public road. Ms. Milford gave a brief history of the property saying a fire destroyed the principle structure in September of 2008, and a 1500 to 2000 square foot remains on the rear of the property. On March 2, 2009 a similar subdivision was proposed and was denied by the Planning Commission. Proposed Lot 1 will conform in all respects with the zoning ordinance requirements for an R-2 lot. The applicant is requesting a waiver for proposed Lot 2. The proposed setbacks for Lot 2 are: front – 35’, rear – 11’, side – 7’. Staff recommendation is in the event the Planning Commission grants the requested waiver and approves the subdivision application the following condition be included: 1) There shall be a note placed on the plat that the existing structure located on Lot 2 is and will continue to be non-conforming. Clay Adams came forward and addressed the Commission saying he lives next door to this project and wants to help the owner, Genie McCown, find a resolution. He stated they have spoken with all of the neighbors that are required to be notified, and gone above those, and spoke with three times as many neighbors because they want this to work. Mr. Adams said they December 6, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes 2 are proposing two lots and one will be non-conforming. He stated there are 17 lots on Boise Lane that do not conform to the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Adams said he does not believe this case would be setting a precedent since the original house burned down and it is just a unique situation. He added they do not want to lose another Fairhope cottage and want to make a positive out of a tragedy. Mrs. Wilson opened the public hearing, having no one present to speak the public hearing was closed. Lee Turner said he is very familiar with this area and would like to see it protected. He stated it is hard to enforce building character, but a cottage is already there and he feels if the request is not granted then it will be lost. Lee Turner moved to approve the subdivision request with the following condition: 1) There shall be a note placed on the plat that the existing structure located on Lot 2 is and will continue to be non-conforming. Dick Charles seconded the motion. Mrs. Fidler asked how old the cottage is and Mr. Adams responded it was built in 1901 and moved to this site. Mr. Charles noted there are 22 neighbors are in support of this request. Mr. Ford asked if the existing house is going to be moved and Mr. Adams responded it would not. Mrs. Wilson stated if the existing house were to be removed then any new building would have to meet the current zoning requirements and Mr. Smith said that was correct. Mrs. Fidler thanked the staff for providing the map showing all of the surrounding neighbors that were contacted and those that expressed their support. She said there were 18 letters of support out of 43 neighbors. Mr. Moore said he asked staff to survey the surrounding area to see if there are any similar size lots and there is a 41 foot wide lot on Magnolia Avenue and a 34 foot wide lot on Magnolia Avenue near Bayview Street. He stated it is a pedestrian neighborhood and this will keep with that character. Mr. Moore said he supports infill and feels there is significant difference in this request to warrant approval. Motion carried unanimously. Old/New Business Winn Dixie Detention Pond Presentation, Trey Jinright – Jim Horner, Chairman of the Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board, said the Board has recognized the Winn Dixie Detention Pond as one of the more serious environmental issues in Fairhope. He introduced Trey Jinright saying he has some of the most state of the art stormwater management recommendations to correct the problem. Trey Jinright of Jade Consulting, LLC came forward and presented an overview of several options that could help eliminate the drainage issues associated with the Winn Dixie Detention Pond. He cited the use of bio-ponds, pervious paving for a percentage of required parking, turning wetlands into water features, and building architecture to slow down the water and make the drainage features an asset as opposed to an eyesore. Mr. Charles stated it is hard to convince the public that there is a problem. Mr. Jinright said the Commission could provide incentives to developers to use these types of stormwater management. Mrs. Fidler stated she walked through a subdivision in Bellevue, Washington that was using these types of water features, which saved the detention areas by two-thirds. She said these innovative techniques would be good in areas other than just parking lots. Mr. Turner said these features should be looked at by developers to use in subdivisions. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Smith thanked Mr. Jinright for coming and sharing this information with the Commission. Mr. Smith said Mr. Jinright used some of these techniques when he December 6, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes 3 designed his building. Mr. Smith stated staff has been looking at incorporating these designs into our regulations, but have concerns with maintenance of these facilities. Comprehensive Plan – Mr. Smith said he would like the Commission to give him feedback on the Action Items that are listed at the end of the Comp. Plan. Please let him know a particular direction they would like to go at this time or any item they feel needs to be prioritized. Having no further business, Dick Charles moved to adjourn and was 2nd by Lee Turner. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting was duly adjourned at 5:47 pm. ________________________ ________________________ Jean Wilson, Chairperson Emily Boyett, Secretary