HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-2021 Planning Commission MinutesJuly 8, 2021
Planning Commission Minutes
The Planning Commission met Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 5:00 PM at the City Municipal
Complex, 161 N. Section Street in the Council Chambers.
Present: Lee Turner, Chairperson; Art Dyas; Hollie MacKellar; Jimmy Conyers; Harry
Kohler; John Worsham; Hunter Simmons, Planning and Zoning Manager; Mike Jeffries,
Planner; Samara Walley, Planner; Allie Knutson, Secretary; and Chris Williams, City
Attorney.
Absent: Rebecca Bryant; Clarice Hall; Jason Langley, Water and Sewer Director.
Chairman Turner called the meeting to order at 5 :03 PM.
Minutes from June 7, 2021, meeting:
Art Dyas made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted.
Harry Kohler seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the
following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and
Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
UR21.02 Request of AT&T for an 11.52.11 Utility Review and approval of the proposed
underground installation
Summary:
Planning and Zoning Manager, Hunter Simmons, presented case summary:
The proposed installation would be approximately 7,137 linear foot of Buried Cable and Conduit,
as well as 3,219 linear foot of Over Lashed Aerial Cable. The project will run primarily through
N. Summit Street between Fairhope A venue and North A venue, falling within the City's Corporate
Limits. The project is to be phased at a maximum 750 linear foot per phase and applicant must
contact Alabama One to locate all existing utilities. Line locates will be called in no less than 72
hours prior to commencing work and no new road cuts will be allowed unless coordinated with
Public Works and subject to additional permit costs. No work shall begin until a right-of-way
permit is issued. The site shall comply with all State, Federal, and local requirements as well as
City of Fairhope Ordinances (Wetland Ordinance, Red Soil and Clay Ordinance, and Erosion and
Sediment Ordinance).
Recommendation:
Staff recommends APPROVAL of UR 21.02, subject to the following conditions:
1. Consultation with the City's horticulturalist, to determine if the required depth
of bore must be increased so that no trees are impacted by the project. The
contractor is responsible for any damaged trees.
2. At all street crossing locations, conduct potholing to determine exact location and
elevation of existing utilities. Reflect the exact elevation of utilities and GPS
coordinates of the pothole locations on a set of as-built drawings.
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a. An additional right-of-way permit may be required for the
potholing procedures.
3. Follow-up activities below required by staff and the applicant:
a. Upon satisfactory review and approval by ROW Construction
Inspector, as-builts will be submitted to the mapping technician for
inclusion in GIS utility maps as needed.
4. Provide draft door hanger for approval at time of pre-construction.
An AT&T Representative was not present, and no further comments were made.
Motion:
Jimmy Conyers made a motion to approve Case UR 21.02, subject to staff
recommendations.
John Worsham seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the
following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, Jason
Langley, Rebecca Bryant, Clarice Hall, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
SD 21.29 Public hearing to consider the request for plat approval of Windmill Professional Park.
Property Owner/Applicant: FST Provision Investments, LLC
General Location: Northwest comer of the intersection of State Highway 181 and Windmill Road
Project Type: 2-lot minor subdivision
Project Acreage: 1.48 acres
Zoning District: B-4 Business and Professional District
PPIN Number: 77607
Engineer of record: S.E Civil
School District: Fairhope Elementary, Fairhope Middle, and Fairhope High School
Report prepared by: Samara Walley (City Planner)
Recommendation: Approval
Summary:
City Planner, Samara Walley, presented case summary:
The Planning Commission voted to approve a Multiple Occupancy Project (MOP) at this location at the
June 7, 2021, Planning Commission meeting. The MOP will include four office buildings and a parking
lot. Water, sewer, and gas will be provided by the City of Fairhope, electrical service shall be provided
by Baldwin EMC. A fire hydrant is located at the comer of Windmill Road and Highway 181. A 5-foot
sidewalk has been illustrated along both street frontages.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends APPROVAL of SD 21.29, Windmill Professional Park Subdivision, subject to the
following conditions:
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1. The lot access note shall be revised to state the following: "Access for lots shall be restricted to
Windmill Road or a private easement to Windmill Road There shall be no ingress/egress to Highway
181."
There were no additional questions from the Commissioners, and no one was present on behalf of the
developer.
Chairman Turner opened the public hearing, no one spoke, the public hearing was closed.
Motion:
Art Dyas made a motion to approve Case SD 21.29 Windmill Professional Park, subject to staff
recommendations.
Jimmy Conyers seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
SD 21.31 Public hearing to consider the request of FST Ron and Melanie Johnson for plat
approval of Melanies Place.
Property Owner/Applicant: Ron and Melanie Johnson
General Location: Southwest comer of the intersection of Fairhope Avenue and Mershon Street
Project Type: 4-lot minor subdivision
Project Acreage: 1.07 acres
Zoning District: R-2
PPIN Number: 15312
Surveyor of record: Seth Moore
School District: Fairhope West Elementary, Middle and High Schools
Report prepared by: Mike Jeffries (City Planner)
Recommendation: Approval
Summary:
City Planner, Mike Jeffries presented the case summary:
Existing drainage flow patterns will not change, a traffic study was not triggered, and the subdivision
does not include installation of infrastructure or any improvements, so a street plan, landscape plan, and
tree protection plan are not required. Fairhope Avenue has a streetside setback of20-feet so Lot 1 could
have a driveway on either Mershon or Johnson, Fairhope A venue will not be another access point.
Sidewalks are required to be built along Mershon Street and Johnson Avenue. Water, Sewer, Gas, and
Electrical Utilities are provided by the City of Fairhope.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends APPROVAL of SD 21.31, Melanies Place, subject to the following conditions:
1. Inspection and approval of completed sidewalks along Mershon St. and Johnson Ave by City of
Fairhope Building Department.
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2. Extension of recording the Final Plat from 60 days to 180 days to allow for completion of sidewalk.
Surveyor, Seth Moore, spoke and stated that they have received approval from the Right of Way
Inspector, Fairhope Avenue is too steep for an access point. They will also be adding street trees.
Chairman Turner opened the public hearing.
Phillip Strniste, 570 Johnson Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532:
Mr. Strniste stated that he lives across from the proposed subdivision and that traffic has increased
significantly in the last few years. He did not think that an ingress on Mershon for Lot 4 made a lot of
sense because of all of the traffic that is already on Mershon. Mr. Strniste also called the Planning
Department prior to the July 8 Planning Commission meeting and stated that four additional driveways
would impact traffic and suggested that a cul-de-sac be put in on the west side of the subdivision so
traffic would divert to Johnson.
Karla Hardin, 563 Johnson Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532:
Mrs. Hardin stated that she lives across from Mr. Strniste and adjacent to the proposed subdivision, three
out of four of the lots will back up to her property. It is already difficult to turn on to Mershon from
Fairhope Avenue and will be worse with driveways on Mershon. When she bought her home, she
assumed that the property could not be turned into four lots unless originally platted that way because
she has a friend who tried to subdivide a piece of property and was told that he could not do it. She also
stated that the construction is going to interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the neighborhood and was
concerned with a driveway potentially being placed directly across from Mr. Strniste's. Mrs. Hardin
brought a letter with her as well that was signed by individuals that live in the neighborhood re-stated
her concerns and a concern regarding decreased property values.
Chairman Turner stated that the Melanies Place lots meet the R-2 current setback requirements which is
why the property was able to be divided into four lots.
Chairman Turner closed the public hearing.
Motion:
John Worsham made a motion to approve Case SD 21.31, Melanies Place, subject to staff
recommendations.
Art Dyas seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
SD 21.36 Public hearing to consider the request of 68V OBV 2020, LLC for Preliminary plat
approval of Old Battles Village, Phase 6.
Property Owner/Applicant: 68V OBV 2020, LLC
General Location: Northside of Phase 5 of the Hamlet at Old Battles Village
Project Type: 36-lot subdivision
Project Acreage: 12.37 acres
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Zoning District: PUD
PPIN Number: 380062
Engineer of record: Dewberry
School District: Fairhope Elementary School, Fairhope Middle and High Schools
Report prepared by: Samara Walley (City Planner)
Recommendation: Approval
Summary:
Samara Walley presented case summary:
Phase 6 of the original PUD included 46 lots but was later amended and now includes 36 lots. All
infrastructure, including roadways, drainage, and utilities, shall be constructed in accordance to the most
restrictive standards of the County and the City of Fairhope and/ or the respective utility companies.
Phase 6 of this development has gas, water, and sewer service availability through the City of Fairhope.
Electrical service is available through Riviera Utilities. Interior sidewalks are illustrated on the
preliminary plat for the subject property. Wetlands are located to the northeast comer of Phase 6
development. It was determined by Staff that a wetland delineation or wetland report was not required
for this phase.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends APPROVAL SD 21.36, Old Battles Village, Phase 6 Preliminary Plat subject to the
following conditions:
1. Updated O&M plan shall be required at Final Plat that considers phases 2-6.
2. All infrastructure, including roadways, drainage, and utilities, shall be constructed in accordance
to City of Fairhope standards.
3. Prior to scheduling of a pre-construction meeting, construction documents shall be submitted to
Fairhope Building Department along with permit application.
4. Clarification of side yard setback requirement for accessory structures within Phase 6.
5. Drainage report signed by engineer.
A representative on behalf of the developer spoke to clarify the 10-foot side accessory building setback.
To her knowledge, there was not a request for a variance or amendment to the PUD and it is just a typo
that they can fix.
Chairman Turner opened the public hearing, no one spoke, the public hearing was closed.
Motion:
Jimmy Conyers made a motion to approve Case SD 21.36, Old Battles Village, Phase 6, subject to staff
recommendations.
John Worsham seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
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Old/New Business
CBD Parking Committee Additions -Planning and Zoning Manager, Hunter Simmons, proposed the
idea of adding members to the CBD Parking Committee as there have been requests from other
committees in the city to have input. There is not anything stated in the bylaws about adding members.
Art Dyas asked how many members there are currently. Hunter Simmons said there are currently four
members now from the Planning Commission, Art Dyas wanted to make sure there were not going to
be fifteen or twenty members.
Executive Session
City Attorney, Chris Williams, made a declaration and opinion pursuant to Alabama Law Code Section
36-25-A-7(a)(3) that the discussion that the Planning Commission is going to have is appropriate for
Executive Session to discuss pending and potential litigation.
John Worsham made a motion to close the public meeting and enter Executive Session, for no business
to be discussed after the Executive Session ends.
Jimmy Conyers seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
A YE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
Adiournment
Art Dyas made a motion to reconvene the public meeting at 6:33 p.m.
Jimmy Conyers seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
Having no further business, Art Dyas made a motion to adjourn.
Jimmy Conyers seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
A YE: Lee Turner, Art Dyas, Hollie MacKellar, Harry Kohler, John Worsham, and Jimmy Conyers.
NAY:None.
Adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
Af.!:-=-/,--
Lee Turner, Chairman
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