HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2019 Planning Commission Special Meeting MinutesSeptember I 0, 20 I 9
Planning Commission Minutes -Special Meeting
The Planning Commission held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at
5:00 PM at the City Municipal Complex, 161 N. Section Street in the Council Chambers.
Present: Lee Turner, Chairperson; Art Dyas; Rebecca Bryant; Harry Kohler; Hollie
MacKellar; Richard Peterson; Clarice Hall-Black; and Robert Brown, Council Liaison;
Buford King, Development Services Manager; Hunter Simmons, Planning and Zoning
Manager; Mike Jeffries, Planning Technician; Emily Boyett, Secretary; and Ken Watson,
City Attorney
Absent: none.
Chairman Turner called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM and announced the meeting is
being recorded.
ZC 19.08 Public participation for Greeno Road Corridor (GRC) Overlay Districts,
Hunter Simmons -Mr. Turner stated this meeting is to allow the residents to speak
regarding the proposed Greeno Road Corridor (GRC) Overlay Districts. He said the
Commission and City Council have not been comfortable rezoning property along
Greeno Road because there is very little guidance in the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Ordinance as to what it should be. Mr. Simmons gave a presentation and overview of the
related documents on the City's website and he went through the Frequently Asked
Questions. Mr. Dyas a sked what this proposal will do to the underlying zoning for
parcels in the GRC overlay and Mr. Simmons responded it will not change the underlying
zoning but provide design guidelines if a property is developed. Mr. Simmons explained
a zoning change or a variance can be requested by a property owner if desired.
Mr. Turner opened the public participation.
Richard Thompson -He said this proposal will ruin property values for property inside
city limits.
Paul Nathan -He asked if existing businesses will be able to rebuild if destroyed by an
act of nature and Mr. King responded the current regulations set a timeframe for non-
conforming structures and uses to be rebuilt.
Kip Dye -He asked how this will affect unzoned property and Mr. Turner stated it will
not apply to property outside city limits.
Cliff Street -He clarified this overlay will not affect unzoned property and Mr. Turner
responded as long as the property is outside city limits the GRC will not apply.
Kristy Street -She asked if the city will be annexing more properties after the
Comprehensive Plan is redone. Mr. Turner explained the Comprehensive Plan is a
steering document and the city does not have plans to annex any property.
Cecil Christenberry -He asked if existing uses will be allowed to continue and Mr.
Turner said yes.
Mr. King explained the allowances for existing non-conforming uses are already
accounted for in the cunent ordinance. Mr. Turner asked if a prope1ty is vacant for more
than 180-days would it be required to be torn down if non-conforming. Mr. Simmons
stated that is not the intent, but the wording can be modified to confirm.
Gary Wolfe -He said if all this is already in place why the change. He said the affect
will not be now but in 10-15 years when the current property owners are trying to sell.
He said none of the property owners were allowed to give input on the proposed
amendments.
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September 10 , 2019
Planning Commission Minutes -Special Meeting
Mr. Turner said this meeting is so the property owners can give input and 660 letters
were mailed to invite all the property owners to attend. Mrs. Bryant asked if the revisions
will be available for review and Mr. King responded yes, they will be posted to the
website.
Bob Griffn -He said this seems to be more restrictive than what is currently allowed for
some locations.
Gene Tillman -He asked how many Commissioners or Council members own property
on Greeno Road. Mr. Peterson said he lives a block off of Greeno Road and understands
the concerns, but he hasn't heard any complaints about what is trying to be accomplished
with this overlay district in terms of making Greeno Road more attractive, user friendly,
and appealing.
Dan Blackburn -He stated he was representing approximately 75 to 100 people as their
spokesperson. He noted concerns with non-conforming use versus non-conforming
structures and the potential impact on property values and financial burden for property
owners. He said there are 56 provisions in the proposal that could cause a structure to be
non-conforming. He stated concerns with applicability of the proposal and what would
constitute a site having to come into conformity. He suggested the Commission start
over or forward to the Council with an unfavorable recommendation.
John Vanclak-He asked if the document will be available for review once changes are
made and prior to the Commission voting and Mr. Turner responded yes , it will be posted
on-line and a public hearing will be advertised.
Valerie Conner -She asked if this will apply to the City's greenspace at Greeno Road
and Edwards A venue and residential houses on Greeno Road. Mr. King responded the
GRC overlay will not apply to residential zoned property. He said it won't change the
City property unless it is developed.
Gary Gover-He suggested the City add the Fly Creek Watershed Restoration Project,
Volanta Gully Watershed Management Plan, and the Weeks Bay Watershed Management
Plan as documents to be used as references in planning and development matters.
Judy Thompson -She said a change of use can trigger the overlay district requirements
and asked if the Commission was aware of that statement.
Having no further business, Richard Peterson made a motion to adjourn. The meeting
~~ ·29PM.
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