HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-03-2012 Planning Commission MinutesI
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January 3, 2012
Planning Commission Minutes
The Planning Commission met Tuesday, January 3rd
, 2012 at 5:00 PM at the City
Administration Building, 161 N. Section Street in the Council Chambers.
Present: Lee Turner, Chairperson; George Roberds, Vice-Chair; Bob Clark: Dick
Charles: Jean Wilson; and Debbie Quinn. Jonathan Smith, Planning and Building
Director: and Emily Boyett, Secretary
Absent: Tim Kant, Jennifer Fidler, and Gary Moore
Chairperson Lee Turner called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM and announced the
meeting is being recorded. The minutes of the December 51\ 2011 meeting were
considered and Dick Charles moved to accept the minutes as vvritten and was 2nd by Jean
Wilson. Motion carried unanimously.
UR 12.01 Request of Thompson Engineering, Inc. for an 11.52.11 utility review and
approval of the proposed network of sidewalks along multiple streets around the
Fairhope Elementary School using Safe Routes to School (SRTS), Tom Harjung.
Jonathan Smith gave the staff report saying Thompson Engineering has been working
with the City's Public Works Department, ALDOT, and the Planning and Building
Department to design a network of sidewalks around the Fairhope Elementary School
within City right-of-ways. He stated this project will be funded by the SRTS grant.
Extensive attention has been given to trees within the project area and ADA compliance
regarding the proposed 5' wide sidewalks. Staff recommendation is to approve the
11.52-11 review of the proposed SRTS sidewalk project around the Fairhope Elementary
School. Mr. Smith said there will be more staff reviews for this project and it will be in
compliance with all City of Fairhope regulations relating to sidewalks and pedestrian
connections. Mr. Charles asked how likely it is that this project will be done and Mr.
Smith stated the process has already began and it will be built if the Commission
approves it. Dick Charles moved to accept the staff recommendation to approve the
proposed SRTS sidewalk project around the Fairhope Elementary School. Bob Clark 2nd
the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dick Charles moved to have a consent agenda for Items Band C. Bob Clark 2 nd the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
UR 12.02 Request of AT&T for an 11.52.11 utility review and approval of the
proposed installation of approximately 600 linear feet of cable along the west side of
Owl's Nest Place in Watershed Subdivision.
UR 12.03 Request of AT&T for an 11.52.11 utility review and approval of the
proposed installation of approximately 541 linear feet of cable along the south side
of Bay Pointe Court in Bay Pointe Subdivision.
Nancy Milford gave the staff reports saying the cable \Vill be installed by directional
boring in Watershed Subdivision and in Bay Pointe Subdivision the cable will be run
through existing PVC pipe. Staff recommendation is to approve conditional upon the
applicant following the general comments related to utility \Vork as stated in the staff
reports. Mr. Charles asked if the installation would cause issues with pet containment
fences. Mrs. Quinn stated this work will be in the right-of-way and pet containment
January 3. 2012
Planning Commission Minutes
systems should not be in the right-of-way. Jean Wilson moved to accept the staff
recommendation to approve conditional upon the applicant following the general
comments related to utility work as stated in the staff reports. George Roberds the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Old/New Business
Pedestrian and Bike Trails Committee Debbie Quinn said she would like to reinstate
this committee and she asked if any Commissioners would like to be on it She stated
Jennifer Fidler is on it but she would like to see an additional Commissioner on it Mr.
Smith stated he would send an e-mail to the Commissioners to see if anyone is interested.
Mr. Smith stated he participated in walk-around meetings with Dan Burden, an expert in
Complete Streets and pedestrian connectivity. He invited the Commissioners to a
meeting at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 4th with Mr. Burden and he announced a
public meeting will be held at 3:30 PM for any public comments. Both meetings will be
held in the Delchamps Room.
Mr. Smith stated Jennifer Fidler would like to more aggressively focus on low impact
development for our right-of-ways and maybe come up with a policy similar to our
Complete Streets Policy, which would encourage more bio-retention means of storm
water control as opposed to typical piping systems. Mr. Smith stated he supports Mrs.
Fidler and thinks it will benefit the City in the long run.
Having no further business, Dick Charles moved to adjourn and was 2nd by Jean Wilson.
Motion passed unanimously and the meeting was duly adjourned at 5: 11 PM.
Lee Turner, Chairperson