HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2016 Planning Commission MinutesJuly 5, 2016
Planning Commission Minutes
The Planning Commission met Monday, July 5, 2016 at 5:00 PM at the City Municipal
Complex, 161 N. Section Street in the Council Chambers.
Present: Lee Turner, Chairperson; George Roberds, Vice-Chair; Tim Kant; Jennifer
Fidler; Bob Clark; Bernie Fogarty; Jay Robinson; Hollie MacKellar; Kevin Boone;
Jonathan Smith, Planning Director; and Emily Boyett, Secretary
Absent: none
Chairman Lee Turner called the meeting to order at 5 :02 PM and announced the meeting
is being recorded.
The minutes of the June 6, 2016 meeting were considered and Bernie Fogarty moved to
accept the minutes as written and was 2nd by George Roberds . The motion carried
unanimously.
ZC 16.06 Public hearing to consider the request of Colin McBrearty to rezone
property at 20 Fels Avenue from B-3a Tourist Resort Lodging District to R-2
Medium Density Single Family Residential District. The property is located on the
south side of Fels Avenue between Short Street and Freedom Street, at 20 Fels Avenue.
Mr. Smith gave the staff report saying the applicant is proposing a single family
residence on the property and the request would be reduction in the potential use for the
property. Staff recommendation is for the Planning Commission to provide a favorable
recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposed zoning change.
Mr. McBrearty addressed the Commission saying the B-3a zoning designation does not
allow accessory structures and he and his wife would like to build a home with a
detached garage.
Mr. Turner opened the public hearing. Having no one present to speak, he closed the
public hearing.
Tim Kant made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to provide a favorable
recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposed zoning change. George
Roberds 2nd the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
ZC 16.07 Public hearing to consider the request of the Fairhope Airport Authority
to rezone property from R-1 Low Density Single Family Residential District to M-1
Light Industrial District, Joe McEnerny. The property is located along County Road
32 between County Road 13 and the Airport. Mr. Smith gave the staff report saying the
request consists of 8 parcels and is to provide consistent zoning for parcels associated
with the Fairhope Airport. Staff recommendation is to approve the proposed zoning
change.
Mr. McEnerny addressed the Commission saying this request is to help clean-up the
Airport property before an expansion project.
Mr. Turner opened the public hearing. Having no one present to speak, he closed the
public hearing. Mrs. Fidler asked what type of expansion is planned and Mr. McEnerny
responded they are in the middle of a 9 million FAA grant to build out the east side of the
airport. The expansion will include taxi ways , aprons , and hangers. Mrs. Fidler stated
the City will have more control by re zoning the parcels.
1
July 5, 2016
Planning Commission Minutes
George Roberds made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to approve the
proposed zoning change. Kevin Boone 2 nd the motion and the motion carried
unanimously.
ZC 16.08 Public hearing to consider the request of the Fairhope Airport Authority
to establish initial zoning of M-1 Light Industrial District conditional upon
annexation into the City of Fairhope, Joe McEnerny. The property is located on the
south side of County Road 32, just west of County Road 13. Mr. Smith gave the staff
report saying the two parcels are currently unzoned County land and the request is part of
the Airports attempt to clean-up their property prior to the next phase of expansion. Staff
recommendation is to approve the zoning request conditional upon annexation into the
City of Fairhope.
Mr. Turner opened the public hearing. Having no one present to speak, he closed the
public hearing.
George Roberds made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to approve the zoning
request conditional upon annexation into the City of Fairhope. Bernie Fogarty 2nd the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
SD 16.15 Public hearing to consider the request of Hutchinson, Moore, and Rauch,
LLC for Preliminary Plat approval of Battles Trace, Phase IV, a 27-lot subdivision,
Scott Hutchinson. The property is located on the north side of Battles Road, north of the
Colony at the Grand. Mr. Smith gave the staff report saying the property is located in
Fairhope and is zoned TR Tourist Resort District. The property is approximately 8.6
acres and 27 lots are proposed. Staff recommendation is to approve as requested.
Mr. Hutchinson was present to answer any questions.
Mr. Turner opened the public hearing. Having no one present to speak, he closed the
public hearing.
Mrs. MacKellar asked how many more phases will be in this development and Mr.
Hutchinson responded maybe 3 but he is not sure. He stated the development is limited
to a total number of lots in the Master Plan. Mr. Turner asked if there is a commercial
component and Mr. Hutchinson responded yes.
Bernie Fogarty made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to approve as
requested. Bob Clark 2 nd the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
IR 16.01 Request of McElmurry Homes, LLC for an Informal Review of the
proposed 6-Iot subdivision of the Pecan Avenue Property, Mike McElmurry. The
property is located on the north side of Pecan A venue and the west side of Section Street.
Mr. Smith gave the staff report saying the property is zoned R-3 Medium Density Single
Family Residential District and is located at 406 S. Section Street, which is the current
site of the W ABF radio station. The property is approximately 2.44 acres and 6 lots are
proposed. Mr. Smith stated there is a great deal of drainage that move through the
property and could possibly require a large investment to assess the drainage. Staff
recommendation is for the Planning Commission to provide insight and comments
regarding the proposed subdivision.
Mr. McElmurry was present to answer any questions.
Mr. Clark stated he owned this property for 15 years. He asked if the site is large enough
for 6 lots to meet all of the requirements and Mr. Smith responded detail plans have not
been submitted but all lot standards and requirements will have to be met. Mr.
2
July 5, 2016
Planning Commission Minutes
McElmurry stated the proposed lots exceed the minimum lot requirements. Mr. Clark
said he knows a lot of water moves through the property and it will be a challenge to
handle it. Mr. McElmurry said he has spoken with HMR, LLC regarding the drainage
design. Mr. Turner asked if the common area shown will be a stormwater holding pond
and Mr. Hutchinson explained approximately 50 acres drain to this property and a pond
will work better for the design and no public improvements are proposed. Mayor Kant
stated drainage is a huge problem and lots of water comes across this property . He asked
if the oak tree will be saved and Mr. McElmurry stated he would save the tree. Mr. Clark
stated the site worked will for the radio tower because of the amount of water and the
copper lines for the tower work best with the water in the soil.
Mr. Turner opened the floor to public comments.
Abby Dunlap of 401 Pecan Avenue -She provided a list of concerns signed by
surrounding neighbors which consisted of the following: safety-added driveways and
vehicles, drainage and runoff -area is prone to flooding, noise, open space, mature trees,
density, and building height. She stated people stop at the large oak tree daily to take
pictures. She suggested only 3 house be built instead of 6 to increase the long term
quality and stability of the neighborhood.
UR 16.09 Request of AT&T for an 11.52.11 Utility Review and approval of the
proposed installation of approximately 2,453 linear feet of conduit in the City of
Fairhope right-of-way, Jeff Hadley. The project will run throughout Montrose Woods
and Rock Creek subdivision. The method of installation will be directional boring and
trenching with a vibratory plow. No open trenches shall be allowed. Staff
recommendation is to approve conditional upon the following:
1. The applicant shall follow the general comments related to utility work, as stated
in the Staff Report.
2. Any mechanical equipment shall be painted munsell green.
Mrs. Fidler said the plans stated the project will be bored so it needs to be bored.
Jennifer Fidler made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to approve conditional
upon the following:
1. The applicant shall follow the general comments related to utility work, as stated
in the Staff Report.
2. Any mechanical equipment shall be painted munsell green.
Hollie MacKellar 2nd the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Lee Turner turned the meeting over to the Vice-Chair, George Roberds. Mr. Turner
recused himself and left the room.
UR 16.11 Request of Fairhope Single Tax Corporation for 11.52.11 Utility Review
and approval of the proposed Fairhope Library Parking Lot. The project will be
located on the north side of the Fairhope Public Library between N . Bancroft Street and
N. School Street. Mr. Smith gave the staff report saying 51 total spaces are proposed
consisting of 2 handicap , 28 standard , and 21 compact spaces . Staff recommendation is
to approve as requested. Mrs. Fidler stated she has been working with Troy Strunk of
WAS Design. She said Mr. Strunk has designed the parking lot to have a park-like feel
and has maximized tree preservation. Mrs . Fidler explained it will be a one-way drive
aisle of pervious pavement and the Farmer 's Market will still have room to operate.
3
July 5, 2016
Planning Commission Minutes
Mayor Kant stated the City Council has agreed to work with Fairhope Single Tax on this
project.
Mr. Roberds opened the floor to public comments. No one was present to speak.
Bernie Fogarty made a motion to accept the staff recommendation to approve as
requested. Bob Clark 2nd the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Having no further business , Bernie Fogarty made a motion to adjourn . Kevin Boone 2nd
the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 5:42 PM.
z:kb--~13 d-
Lee Turner, Chairman
4