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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2006 Planning Commission Special Meeting MinutesThe Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Fairhope met in a special meeting on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 1:00 PM to discuss proposed revisions to the Fairhope Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in 2000. Present: Richard Charles, Chairman; Tim Kant, Dan McCrory, Gary Moore, Jean Wilson, Lee Turner, Ed Brinson, Cecil Christenberry. Planning Director Gregg Mims, Betty Rivenbark, Secretary. Absent: Bob Clark Glen LeRoy, of Gould Evans, made a presentation to the Commission outlining the changes in the Comprehensive Plan as a result of the meeting with the Steering Committee earlier today. The changes presented are enclosed: (Changes presented to each member) After his presentation Chairman Charles opened the public hearing at 1:40 PM and the following people spoke: Arthur Frego – wanted to know if the City is trying to buy his land, he is 7 miles from Fairhope. He said since the moratorium can he sell his land or not. Mayor Kant answered that we put extra rules in the subdivision regulations to protect people who built homes around the airport and there is a two mile height restriction but no we are not trying to buy his land and he can sell it. Dot Yeager – Asked if someone builds tourist or resort commercial five miles out of the city limits do we have to accept it without them being annexed. Mayor Kant responded that we can’t discriminate that we do go outside the city limits with water/sewer. Ms. Yeager said everything we give away we lose in Fairhope. Dick Charles responded that is why we need Impact Fees. Glen LeRoy offered that as long as they meet the subdivision regulations we don’t have a basis to not accept, but if they deviate we don’t have to accept it. She asked if we adopt it how much flexibility will we have. Glenn LeRoy answered it is a tool, can be changed at any time. Nancy Carr – Regarding the Colony at the Grand John Carden – Colony at the Grand Roadway standards were talked about and Glenn LeRoy offered the City and County have different roadway rules. Sue Simmons – Asked about single family dwellings changing to say we want habitable accessory buildings. Reply was this is the trend, we need to do further study on this. The public hearing was closed at 2:10 PM The Commission members were asked if they had any specific questions. Lee Turner asked if there is a tool mechanism put in place for smaller subdivisions, larger lots, not so many homes. Glen said it could be implemented in the plan. Greenspace was talked about and Gregg explained how it is only required in Village Plan. Gary Moore asked if we were going to be asked to vote today, said he is not prepared to do so. Asked about the availability of this to the public. He was Planning & Zoning Commission Page Two – July 17, 2006 told of it being advertised as well as being on web site. Glen told of the two major community forums a year ago, input from the steering committee meeting at least four times and a series of focus groups, said this is a culmination of 1 ½ years work. The Mayor said this should have been finished last year but the hurricane and then staff changes have delayed the process. Now that we have the moratorium we need to get it finally adopted. Lee Turner said he would like to see something regarding no condos on ground floors of multi use buildings. The Mayor said he would like to see some study on number of cars using roads and improvements that would be required to handle tremendous amount of traffic. The question of “sprawl” came up again, with the comment being made we would like to grow from the inside out, not have huge subdivisions outside the corporate limits. Glen did remind them that they have don’t have any authority outside the city limits. The Mayor said he would also like to consider in the future addressing apartment rental units that turn into condo’s and demand purchasing or eviction from tenants. He said we should be able to do more to prevent this from happening. Further discussion led to a motion by Tim Kant, 2nd by Dan McCrory to table any action, bring all amendments to the August meeting and then have a special meeting possibly the middle of August for final adoption. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting was duly adjourned at 2:45 PM. ________________________ _________________________ Richard N. Charles, Chairman Betty Rivenbark, Secretary