The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, January 9, 2006 at 6 p.m. Members present were Charles Archer, Mary Louise Lanier, Wilson Roberts, Carl King and Don Taylor. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Mike Royal, Councilman Stevie Wall, City Planner Robbie Byrd and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance. Chairman Don Taylor called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
Charles Archer gave the invocation and Don Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Charles Archer. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Savannah Quarters Phase 4 Final PUD Amendment. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented an amendment to the Savannah Quarters Phase 4 Final PUD. Phase 4 was approved by the City at the December 17, 2001 City Council meeting. The approved Final PUD consisted of four parcels designated for multi-family development at a density of 12 units per acre. The developer is requesting approval to change one of the four multi-family parcels to a single-family designation. The parcel is known as Parcel W-7, and contains 37.36 acres. This change will result in a reduction of 397 units in Phase 4. The proposed use for Parcel W-7 is 51 single family (detached) residential. This is a mixed development from large estate lots (120’ width) to patio home lots (50’ width). The average lot width is 78’. These lots will be a part of the Westbrook Community at Savannah Quarters. Chairman Don Taylor reminded the board that this amendment was reviewed and approved by the PUD Review Board prior to this meeting. With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to recommend approval of the Savannah Quarters Phase 4 Final PUD Amendment. Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.
2. North Godley Developers, Inc. request for an amendment to the R-8 Tract in the Godley Station PUD Master Plan. Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented this amendment to the R-8 Tract in the Godley Station PUD Master Plan. The R-8 tract contains 78 acres that are currently zoned Single-Family Residential in the original Godley Station PUD Master Plan. The owner is requesting the following changes: 14.60 acres to be developed as Commercial / Retail (with restricted uses) along the Pooler Parkway frontage, approximately 14 acres to be undisturbed greenspace and development standards amended to allow approximately 20.07 acres to be developed as a townhome community. The proposed amendment was reviewed and approved by the PUD Review Road subject to deed restrictions being recorded regarding the restricted uses, the non-access easement thru Worthington Subdivision and the undisturbed buffers / greenspace. Furthermore, the PUD Review Board stated that condition (a) regarding a down-zoning of 20 acres in the Lee-Wilson Tract has nothing to do with this amendment.
Under public comments, resident Holly Young asked for clarification as to whether there are other restrictions in the original Godley Station PUD Standards for Commercial/Retail. In response, Terry Coleman stated these are the only restrictions. The restricted uses for Tracts 1 thru 5 with C-2 development standards would be limited to the following uses: All permitted uses in C-1 and the following conditional uses:
a. Eating establishments with live entertainment
b. Funeral Homes
c. Mini-warehouses.
Only the following uses would be allowed under the C-2 development standards and no conditional uses:
a. Shopping Centers with total floor space exceeding 10,000 square feet.
b. Any sales facility exceeding 10,000 square feet.
c. Restaurant with or without alcohol sales
d. Mini-Warehouses
Mr. Coleman stated that mini-warehouses would only be allowed as a conditional use. He also pointed out that condition (f) states that tract 1 thru 5 will have a two-year moratorium on building from the date of the development standard amendment. Furthermore, Mrs. Young stated that she now feels the residents are comfortable with what is being proposed as long as the uses, buffers / greenspace, non-access easement thru Worthington Subdivision are deed restricted and the 2.3 acre right-of-way is dedicated to the City of Pooler or Worthington Estates H.O.A. With no other public comments, a motion was made by Charles Archer to recommend approval of the proposed amendment to the R-8 Tract in the Godley Station PUD Master Plan subject to the following conditions: the uses, buffers / greenspace, non-access easement thru Worthington Subdivision are deed restricted and the 2.3 acre right-of-way is dedicated to the City of Pooler or Worthington Estates H.O.A. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
3. Zoning Map Amendment request from South Godley Enterprises, LLC to rezone 20 acres (Tract 2) north of Pipemaker’s Canal from C-2 to R-3C. Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented the zoning map amendment request to the board for their review and recommendation. The subdivision of Tract 2 was approved by city council in November of 2005. The tract is currently zoned C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning and a down zoning to R-3C, a multi-family zoning, is being requested by the property owner. He plans to build 300 apartments along with a clubhouse and leasing office. With no other public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to recommend approval of the zoning map amendment request from South Godley Enterprises, LLC to rezone 20 acres (Tract 2) from C-2 to R-3C. Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.
4. Conditional Use Request to construct mini storage units in a C-1 zoning on west highway 80 between Pooler Professional Plaza and Pooler Family Dental. Michael Hussey, representing the applicant, is requesting a conditional use to construct mini- warehouse units on a 2.5 acre tract that is zoned C-1, Light Commercial. A 20’ buffer is proposed around the site along with a privacy fence. Mr. Hussey stated that there are many other allowable uses in the C-1 zoning that would be more intrusive than proposed mini-storage units. This will be a secure facility with minimum traffic. The board asked about the lighting, height of buildings, type of privacy fence, design of buildings and proposed hours of operation. The buildings have not been architecturally designed at this time but the hours of operation would be until 9 p.m. on week days and on Sundays till 6 p.m. Wilson Roberts questioned if the developer would be willing to give additional buffering. Under public comments: Jeff Cooper, representing Howard Holdings, pointed out to the board that the plans do not reflect access to Pooler Professional Plaza nor the Pooler Family Dental Office. All parties agree that a restrictive access easement does exist and should be annotated on any future plans for this site. Scotty Fletcher of 109 Wilkes Drive appeared before the board to express his concern about existing drainage problems in the area. Mr. Fletcher also submitted a list of concerns expressed by the adjacent property owners. Some of the concerns listed involve buffering, setbacks, two-story buildings, lighting, fencing, detention area, traffic, hours of access, noise, signage and drainage. In response, Michael Hussey stated he would be glad to sit down with the residents to work out these concerns. Following some discussion, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to table this item for thirty (30) days to give the developer an opportunity to meet with the adjacent property owners to address their concerns. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
NEW BUSINESS:
Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the final plat for Forest Lakes, Phase 3A to the board for their review and approval. Phase 3A includes 25 lots on 26.20 acres and is located in the northern portion of Forest Lakes. A performance bond is needed to guarantee completion of the improvements in order to record the plat. With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to accept the performance bond and recommend approval of the final plat for Forest Lakes, Phase 3A. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
Israel Paez, property owner, presented the site plan for a proposed addition to Auto Perfection to the board for their review and recommendation. The new building will be used as an auto body garage to store vehicles inside the building. No water and sewer services are needed at the building. With no public comments, Charles Archer made a motion to recommend approval of the site plan for a proposed addition to Auto Perfection at 1523 East Highway 80 subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition. Commissioner Roberts asked about some additional landscaping being done on site to dress up the site from U. S. Highway 80. Mrs. Carver was asked to fax Mr. Paez a copy of the tree ordinance.
There being no further business to come before this board, a motion of adjournment was made by Carl King and seconded by Mary Louise Lanier. Motion passed.