HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-07-2008 Planning Commission MinutesThe Planning & Zoning Commission met Monday, January 7, 2008
at 5:00 PM at the City Administration Building, 161 N. Section Street
in the Council Chambers
Present: Jean Wilson, Chairman; Tim Kant, Dan McCrory, Bob Clark,
Gary Moore, Dick Charles, Lee Turner, Bob Gentle. Gregg Mims, City
Planner, Jonathan Smith, Chris Gill, Attorney; and Betty Rivenbark,
Secretary.
The minutes of the December 3, 2007 meeting were considered and duly
approved with a minor correction on motion by Dick Charles, 2 nd by Bob
Gentle and unanimously carried.
Ms. Wilson noted for the minutes a conflict Gary Moore had with application
SD08-01.
ZC0B-01 Re-zone request from 8-4 (Office and Professional District) to
B-3b (Tourist Resort Commercial District) application of Herbert and
Ruth Pierce property generally located on the east side of Greeno Road
just north of Twin Beech Road. Gregg gave the staff report saying that
currently there is a single-family residence on the property and the applicant
proposes to relocate a health food store on this property. He said north and
east there is a cemetery. South is single family and there is vacant land in
the County to the west. He went on to say that due to the location and
abundance of vacant properties along Greeno Road that would allow for the
proposed use, staff is unable to support rezoning the subject property and
that the existing B-4 zoning is appropriate for this location. Recommendation
was to deny the request to rezone the property. Steve Dunnam of Arnold &
Associates spoke for the applicant saying the proposed use is to relocate a
health food store and he would appreciate consideration of request. The
public hearing was opened and closed with no one speaking. Discussion
followed and Dick Charles moved to recommend denial to the City Council
as per staff recommendation saying that there is plenty of properties along
Highway 98 already zoned to accommodate relocation without rezoning.
Motion carried unanimously.
SD0B-01 Final Plat approval of The Groves at Point Clear subdivision.
Nine lots generally located at the northwest corner of the intersection
of County Road 13 and Bishop Road. Gregg gave the staff report saying
preliminary approval was given July 2, 2007 and the plat at that time
consisted of 16 lots with three pervious drives. He said the southern half of
the property is in the city limits and zoned R-1. the northern half (Lot 1) is
unzoned. Approval was given in an effort to encourage large lot subdivisions
in rural areas of the planning jurisdiction. The new plat contains 77.78 acre
subdivision and 9 lots are proposed with lots 2-9 being 5+ acres and lot 1
being 39.3+ acres. Staff recommendation was to approve conditional upon:
Planning & Zoning Commission
January 7, 2008 -Page Two
1) Submittal of an aerial topographic overlay which includes the large 40
acre tract.
2) Approval of the Letter of Credit by the Planning Commission Attorney
and the submittal of a stamped and signed Engineer's Estimate for the
Letter of Credit.
3) Approval of fire hydrant locations by the Water and Sewer
Superintendent.
4) Submittal of deed restrictions.
5) A note shall be labeled on the plat stating "BMP, Drainage Calculations,
and O& M Plan, if required, shall be submitted prior to issuance of building
permits.
6) A note shall be labeled on the plat stating the requirement for finished
floor elevations meeting the approval of the building official and being
submitted at the time of building permit.
Ray Moore of Hutchinson Moore & Rauch spoke for the applicant also
saying that there had been a lot reduction and that the Letter of Credit had
been submitted and he is working with the Water and Sewer
Superintendent. and Chris Gill. Mrs. Wilson asked if anyone wished to
speak to this application and no one did. Dick Charles asked if all roads
would be maintained privately and he was told yes. All questions answered
Satisfactorily, Lee Turner moved to accept staff recommendation with
conditions outlined above. Dick Charles 2 nd the motion and it carried with
one abstention by Gary Moore.
IR0S-01 Informal Review of a proposed zoning change for property
located on the east side of Greeno Road just north of Volanta Avenue
Gregg gave the staff report saying the total site is approximately 3.57 acres
and the property is zoned R-4. The owner is requesting to zone the property
to a PUD. The adjacent properties are zoned R-1. This was discussed at
the October 1, 2007 meeting also as an informal review. He said at the
October meeting two options were discussed. the first included using the
property for medical and professional park facilities. The second included a
medical and professional with some low density residential development.
He said the latest draft plan calls for the project to be composed of four
single story office buildings with a "Fairhope" look. Staff recommendation
was to provide insight and comment but also the staff has concerns relative
to changing the existing R-4 zoning and the timing of such request, that it is
now residential Gayfer to Hwy 104 and this is a critical stretch of land in that
if this is approved as commercial surely the rest will soon follow as
commercial. Jonathan Carrigan and Justin Chappell addressed the
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Planning & Zoning Commission
January 3, 2008 -Page Three
commission Bob Gentle commented that we should get an overlay, what we
envision as the front door to Fairhope, stop and look at all of the property
on Greeno coming into town. Bob Clark said he would have to go with the
staff recommendation, Jean Wilson said she would to. It has been the
consensus of citizens that they don't want Greeno Road to look like Daphne
and Mobile, have consistently said no to commercial, and it has taken since
1983 getting to the point of what has developed on Greeno Road now.
The Mayor commented that construction has "stopped" and that we
turned down a similar request just up the road. Gary Moore said historically
we have cut off anything not conforming. Dick Charles said they should
consider the highest and best use. Lee Turner said he would love to see
residential " in a perfect world" that whatever is done is sure to have domino
effect. Both Justin and Jonathan said they were Fairhope natives and
wanted to develop right. They thanked the commission for their comments
and input.
Chris Gill addressed the members and presented the following Resolution
for their consideration:
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9ZI
Planning & Zoning Commission
January 3, 2008 -Page Four
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO THE ACCEPTANCE
OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF FAIRHOPE
WHEREAS, the City of Fairhope Planning Commission (the "Planning Commission") adopted
the current Subdivision Regulations for the City of Fairhope, Alabama on March 8, 2007 (the
"Subdivision Regulations");
WHEREAS, the Subdivision Regulations allow subdivision applicants ("Developers") to post a
bond with a sw:ety in order to obtain final plat approval prior to completion of certain required
infrastructure improvements, and Developers often post maintenance bonds for the maintenance
of infrastructure improvements for a period of two years as a condition to the City ofFairhope's
acceptance of such infrastructure improvements for maintenance;
WHEREAS, historically Developers have had the appropriate bond be provided by the
Developer's contractor and not by the Developer; and
·WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City of Fairhope that Developers be required to
obtain bonds in their name and not the name of their contractors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF FAJR.HOPE, ALABAMA, AS FOLLOWS:
I. The Planning Department of the City of Fairhope is hereby instructed to accept bonds
only from Developers with the Developer shown as the "principal" under the bond, and
from and after the date hereof the Planning Department of the City of Fairhope shall not
accept any bonds from a Developer where any party other than the Developer is named as
the principal under such bond without a waiver granted by the Planning Commission.
2. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Resolution, or its
application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid--for any•-reason, or should anr.:portion of this ordinance be pre-empted by-state or·
federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-exemption shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or
circumstances. •
3. Ibis Resolution shall be effective from and after its adoption by the Planning
Commission.
Adopted at a properly called meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of
Fairhope, Alabama this 7th day of January, 2008.
Bond Resolution.doc
Discussion led to a motion by Lee Turner moved to accept as presented,
Dick Charles 2nd the motion and it-carried unanimously.
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A RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO THE ACCEPTANCE
OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF FAIRHOPE
WHEREAS, the City of Fairhope Planning Commission (the "Planning Commission") adopted
the current Subdivision Regulations for the City of Fairhope, Alabama on March 8, 2007 (the
"Subdivision Regulations");
WHEREAS, the Subdivision Regulations allow subdivision applicants ("Developers") to post a
bond with a surety in order to obtain final plat approval prior to completion of certain required
infrastructure improvements, and Developers often post maintenance bonds for the maintenance
of infrastructure improvements for a period of two years as a condition to the City of Fairhope' s
acceptance of such infrastructure improvements for maintenance;
WHEREAS, historically Developers have had the appropriate bond be provided by the
Developer's contractor and not by the Developer; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City of Fairhope that Developers be required to
obtain bonds in their name and not the name of their contractors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Planning Department of the City of Fairhope is hereby instructed to accept bonds
only from Developers with the Developer shown as the "principal" under the bond, and
from and after the date hereof the Planning Department of the City of Fairhope shall not
accept any bonds from a Developer where any party other than the Developer is named as
the principal under such bond without a waiver granted by the Planning Commission.
2. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Resolution, or its
application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be pre-empted by state or
federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-exemption shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or
circumstances.
3. This Resolution shall be effective from and after its adoption by the Planning
Commission.
Adopted at a properly called meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of
Fairhope, Alabama this ih day of January, 2008.
NEWJMANAGEMOB _693997 _I
Planning & Zoning Commission
January 3, 2008 -Page Five
Gregg discussed briefly sign ordinance section dealing with A-frame signs
and their use in downtown and said something would be forthcoming on the
next agenda. He also said they are working on addressing environmental
concerns.
There being nothing further to come before the meeting it was duly
adjourned at 5:55 PM.