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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2003 Planning Commission MinutesThe Fairhope Planning & Zoning Commission met Monday, January 6, 2003, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers at the City Administration Building, 161 North Section Street. Members present: Larry Green, Chairman; Dan McCrory; Bob Clark; Cecil Christenberry; Dick Charles; Jean Wilson; Lee Turner; Ed Brinson Staff present: Christopher Baker, Director of Planning and Brenda Hoffren, Acting Secretary Absent: Mayor Tim Kant and Betty Rivenbark, Secretary Chairman Green called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. A motion was called for regarding approval of the minutes of December 2, 2002 meeting. Dan McCrory made a motion and minutes were approved with minor spelling changes suggested and seconded by Dick Charles. Chairman Green noted that items 8, 11, and 12 on the agenda had been removed and asked Mr. Baker to explain their removal. Mr. Baker stated that the items needed some additional work before presentation to the Commission so the staff withdrew them for the present. SD 02-54 Replat of Gafford's Subdivision: This property is inside the City and zoned as R-1. It is a two lot family division containing 2.2 acres +/-. Steve Dunnam, of Fairhope Title & Survey, representing the owners, came forward to present his comments and to answer any questions. The division meets the requirements for R-1 zoning. Chairman Green called for comments from the public. There were none. Dick Charles made a motion to approve, subject to drainage calculations being considered at time of development. Cecil Christenberry seconded. Motion carried unanimously. SD 03-01 Replat of Manifold Division: This property is inside the City, zoned R-1 and contains 2 lots. Mr. Manifold is asking for a waiver of the sidewalk requirement. Seth Moore, of Moore Engineering, representing the owner came forward to present his comments and answer any questions. Dick Charles raised the issue of drainage and was advised that a portion of the property on the West side would serve as a 100' x 130' drainage easement for both lots. Drainage would also be addressed at the time of permitting construction. Jean Wilson asked about the issue regarding sidewalks. Had they already asked for a waiver and been denied. Mr. Baker asked a staff member to retrieve the minutes from the hearing relating to Mr. Manifold's previous request. (While these were being gathered, the Commission proceeded to the next case on the agenda.) These minutes (May 6, 2002) reflected sidewalk requirement would apply for further division of the parcel. Dick Charles made a motion to require sidewalks. Mr. Manifold asked to be heard. Commented that this is a family division, there are no sidewalks in this area for two miles, Windmill road paving removed their culvert, and there are no sidewalks along Morphy Avenue. Chairman Green responded that we now have a requirement in our Subdivision regulations for sidewalks. We have a sidewalk program in place. We have to start somewhere. A motion was called for. Dick Charles revised his previous motion and moved for approval requiring sidewalk installation and drainage issues being addressed at permitting. Ed Brinson seconded. Motion carried unanimously. SD 03-02 Replat of Wood Church Subdivision: This is a proposed two lot subdivision zoned B-2. This is an L-shaped lot with frontage on Magnolia and N. Church Street. Sidewalk waiver is being requested because of possible damage to large oaks on the property. Drainage issues would be addressed at time of permit. Dick Charles made a motion to approve as requested. Ed Brinson seconded. Lee Turner abstained. Motion carried. SD 03-06 Informal Development Review/Oak Hill Subdivision: Charlie Bassett spoke to the Commission for the owner, Miles Jones, soliciting direction from the Commission with regard to a proposed 614 lot development West of Greeno Road and North of County Road 34. An option for annexation as a PUD was presented for consideration. Comments offered by the Commission centered on the density and monotony of the development as presented. They would like to see more diversity in the lot sizes. Concern was expressed over the high voltage power lines near the development. Would it comply as a village center location? Traffic and parking for a development this size was discussed. Charlie Bassett responded that Miles Jones wanted to create affordable housing for young couples. There are schools in the area; he plans to have a pool and amenities for young couples and children, smaller lots mean more affordable real estate. These features do not appeal to retirees. There is no commercial planned for the area by the developer. The owner cannot control commercial units being built outside the development, in an unzoned area such as this. The Greenspace layout is the central attraction to buffer homogenous lots. It is designed as a walkable development. The Greenspace traverses the entire development. This is a phased development with phase I near Greeno Road. The Commission explained that diversification is required. Christopher Baker suggested possibly larger lots on the perimeter of the development, better integration, diversity of lot types and housing products. SD 03-07 Public Hearing/Amend Article 5 Planning Design Standards/Section D Street Standards/Sidewalk Clarification The Sidewalk committee recommended the following: 1) Flexibility regarding installation at the time of public improvements as the sidewalks are sometimes destroyed during housing construction. 2) Two years for sidewalk construction from time of approval of final plat/a letter of credit posted to complete all sidewalks Chairman Green opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Bob Clark made a motion to approve the recommendations. Ed Brinson seconded. It carried unanimously 2 SD 03-08 Public hearing/Amend Subdivision regulations to require Underground Utilities The city has required underground utilities in all developments inside its city limits. Outside the City some have installed overhead services. This amendment would require all utilities to go underground in our planning jurisdiction unless waived by the Planning commission for special circumstance. Chairman Green opened the Public Hearing. Frank Leatherbury spoke saying it was an idea past its time. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed. Dick Charles made a motion to approve. Dan McCrory seconded. The motion passed unanimously SD 03-10 Request of H.L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport Board for review under 11.52.11 of the relocation of Bishop Road. A portion of Bishop Road requires relocation as it lies within the "clear zone" required as it is now mapped. It is a safety zone intrusion. Maps supplied to the Planning Commission members show the existing road and its new location. The Airport Board is handling the bids, etc. for road relocation. Dick Charles made a motion to approve. Bob Clark seconded. It passed unanimously. SD 03-11 Request of Gerald Rodgers for extension of preliminary approval of Silverwood Phase III Gerald Rodgers is making the request for his father, P.A. Rodgers, owner of the property at Silverwood I1I. Two years have passed since the Planning Commission granted Preliminary approval for this phase. At this point the infrastructure is in. The owner has a substantial investment in the property and improvements. Substantial improvements have been made. Mr. Rodgers needs some time to finish the drainage and certify it. He needs to schedule a walk thru with City supervisors and his engineers to certify compliance with City requirements. Staff recommendation is to grant the extension. Jean Wilson asked if we can grant an extension due to the language in the Subdivision Regulations referring to time limit for improvements. After some discussion by the members, Dick Charles made a motion to approve the extension for three (3) months subject to getting a legal opinion from the City Attorney on whether the Commission was allowed to grant such an extension. Cecil Christenberry seconded. It passed unanimously. SD 03-05 Curtis Gordan/Patrick Fulford Informal Request This case was inadvertently left off the agenda. Mr. Gordan & Mr. Fulford asked to address the Commission in regard to their individual adjacent properties located on Morphy Avenue and Bishop Road. Last year they tried to have the properties rezoned for business and were turned down. They have requested some input from the Commission on what they might do with the property as they feel it is not selling as residential due to the adjacent business properties. Staff& Planning Commission members made a couple of 3 recommendations regarding the layout of the lots, which might be more beneficial to the owners. Mr. Gordan & Mr. Fulford agreed to take a look at the suggestions and return with their new requests. There being no further business, meeting was duly adjourned at 6:30 PM. VW440e'� —/ Larry Green, Chairman Brenda L. Hoffren, Acting S r 0