HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-2007 Planning Commission Minutes 1
The Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Fairhope met Monday,
October 1, 2007 at 5:00 PM at the City Municipal Complex, 161 N. Section
Street in the Council Chamber.
Present: Jean Wilson, Chairman; Dan McCrory, Bob Clark, Gary Moore,
Dick Charles, Lee Turner, Mike Ford. Jonathan Smith, Nancy Milford,
Emily Irby of Planning Staff. Chris Gill, Attorney and Betty Rivenbark,
Secretary. Absent: Tim Kant, Ed Brinson, Gregg Mims
The minutes of the September 4, 2007 meeting were approved on motion by
Bob Clark, 2nd by Dick Charles and unanimously carried.
ZC07-05 Chairman Wilson said this was pulled from the agenda and will not
be heard tonight. She also said Gary Moore had a conflict with SR07-07
and SD07-34 and Chris Gill had a conflict with SD07-34.
SR07-07 Site Plan Approval – HMR, LLC/Eric Craig of a Car Wash and
Vacuum Facility. Property located on the south side of Fairhope Avenue,
just west of Highway 181. Jonathan Smith gave the staff report saying the
property is zoned B2 General Business in the city and a single story car
wash and vacuum facility is proposed. Staff recommendation was to
approve. Steven Gibson was present representing the applicant and said
he would be glad to answer questions. Mrs Wilson asked if anyone wished
to speak and no one had signed up. Lee Turner moved to accept staff
recommendation, Dick Charles 2nd the motion and it passed with one
abstention by Gary Moore.
SR07-08 Site Plan Approval – Southern Development of MS, Inc/Donnie
Hendrix for Arby’s and TCBY/Rollie Pollie. Property located on the west side
of Greeno Road just north of Fairhope Avenue. Jonathan Smith gave the
staff report saying this is B-2 General Business zoned property and the total
site area is 33,937.46 square feet (.77 acre). He said the property is
bordered on all sides by B-2. Staff recommendation was to approve
contingent upon all stormwater being captured and held on-site prior to
being released into the City’s existing stormwater system. Donnie Hendrix
was present to answer questions. Mrs. Wilson asked if anyone wished to
speak, no one signed up. Dick Charles moved to approve subject to staff
recommendation and condition that all stormwater shall be captured and
held on-site prior to being released in the city’s existing stormwater system.
Lee Turner 2nd the vote and it carried unanimously.
SD07-34 Preliminary Plat approval – Founder’s Square HMR, LLC/Mike
Bernhardt. Property is located on the west side of Section Street, just west
of where Bellangee Avenue meets Section Street. Jonathan Smith gave the
staff review saying the property is zoned B-2 General Business and located
in the Central Business District. It consists of approximately .62 acres. Site
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Plan approval was given on 12/04/06 and came before the City Council on
1/22/07. Staff recommendation was to approve conditional upon the
submittal of revised construction drawings reflecting the revised manhole
location and the approval of the lighting and transformer locations by the
Electrical Superintendent. Christopher Baker of HMR represented Mr.
Bernhardt and said he has been working closely with staff and would be
glad to answer any questions. No one signed up to speak. Dick Charles
moved to approve staff recommendation and conditions as stated. Bob
Clark 2nd the motion. Dan McCrory said he wanted to be sure final approval
was contingent upon the revised drawings reflecting the revised manhole
location. Dick Charles and Bob Clark accepted this amendment to the
motion and 2nd. Motion carried with one abstention by Gary Moore and
Attorney Gill leaving the room.
IR07-13 Informal Review of proposed zoning change for property located on
the east side of Greeno Road just north of Volanta Avenue(currently a
mobile home park) Jonathan Smith gave the staff report saying this property
contains 3.57 acres and is zoned R-4 Low Density Multi Family Residential
The owner is requesting to rezone the property to a PUD. The adjacent
properties are zoned R-1 Staff recommendation was to provide insight.
Dennis Frodsham was representing the property owners, CDA, LLC,
Jonathan Carrigan, Justin Chappell and William Carrigan. Mr. Frodsham
said that two other adjacent property owners, Mr. Hayek and Mr. Verhoestra
are also interested in selling their land and seeing what might be allowed.
Mr. Wm. Carrigan interjected that anything they do will be tasteful and first
class. They are interested in seeing what commercial use would be allowed.
Dick Charles said there is a trailer park there now so it is already a non-
conforming use. They asked about a medical facility. Lee Turner
commented that we are trying to protect the downtown area and do not want
Greeno Rd to turn into Airport Blvd, don’t want junked up commercial. We
want to keep medical in Fairhope and medical would be more desirable than
bank, hold to residential and the PUD would be the right approach. Jean
Wilson offered we have already approved business/commercial out there,
do not need to add more. Gary Moore said he agrees with Lee, what is the
best fit, a professional office would be 9-5 traffic. Mike Ford said we had
turned down Fred Hayek and others in zoning requests, once we change
zoning it will definitely go all the way down. Bob Clark said the
Comprehensive Plan gives guidance, do not strip out Greeno Road. Jean
Wilson offered that apartments and townhomes are frequently seen on
highways. All agreed they would like to see a plan, not consider rezoning
without plan, remember this is the entrance to the City, might consider PUD.
Jean Wilson told them they could bring back something for informal review,
put together a sketch plan.
Old/New business – Consideration of request of Sister Julie Guillot that the
subdivision application fees be waived for the three additional houses they
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are planning to build at the end of New Era Road. Gary Moore asked does
the Planning Commission have the authority to waive these fees. Further
discussion led to Lee Turner moving to pass this request on to the City
Council. Dick Charles 2nd the motion and it carried unanimously. Bob Clark
wanted it noted that this is a 501C3 corporation. Motion passed with one
no vote by Jean Wilson.
Informal Review Discussion – Jonathan Smith said the Planning staff is
asking for guidance on how to proceed with Informal Reviews. Chris Gill
offered that in review this is not a public hearing nothing is voted on and we
need to keep the dialogue between the commission and the developer, no
public input.
At this time Chris Gill asked that the Commission go into Executive Session
under Alabama code 36-25-A7. Dick Charles moved, Mike Ford 2nd that the
Commission go into Executive Session and this was done at 5:45 PM
The Planning Commission reconvened at 6:30 PM and was duly adjourned.
__________________________ ______________________
Jean Wilson, Chairman Betty Rivenbark, Secretary