The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, February 25, 2002 at 6 p.m.   Members present were:  Glenda Champion, Larry Olliff, Holly Young, Tim Lovezzola, Craig Brewer and Debbie Ryan Watts.  Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver, City Planner Tim Inglis, Councilwoman Billie Tyler, Councilman Robert Bryan, Councilman Wayne Seay, Councilman Jack Brewton and Mayor Buddy Carter were also in attendance. Chairman Holly Young called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. 

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Larry Olliff.  Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezolla and passed without opposition.

 

PUBLIC HEARING: 

  1. Wendell Heintzman’s request to rezone lot l on the northeast corner of Newton Street and Whatley Street from R-1A, a Single Family Residential Zoning to R-2A, a Two-Family Residential Zoning District.  Mr. Heintzman explained the reason for the rezoning is he would like to build one duplex on the lot.  The entrance to the lot would be from Newton Street.  With no opposition to the rezoning, a motion was made by Debbie Ryan Watts to approve the rezoning of lot 1 on the northeast corner of Newton and Whatley Street from R-1A to R-2A.  Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition. 

 

  1. J. M. Woods, Inc. request to rezone 21.83 acres from an undefined zoning district to R-3C, a Multi-Family Residential Zoning District.  Jim Woods, as agent for G.P.Morgan, III et al  presented the rezoning request to the board for their review and recommendation.  The tract of land is located approximately 1200 feet east of the intersection of the Pooler Parkway and Pine Barren Road.  The proposed multi-family housing would be compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and generated traffic would use Pine Barren Road to access the Pooler Parkway.  Commissioners Debbie Ryan Watts and Larry Olliff expressed concern regarding additional traffic so close to the West Chatham Elementary and Middle Schools.  George Seabrooks, owner of a 2.6 acre tract adjacent to this property, is concerned about the quality of the multi-family housing and how it would impact the adjacent properties.  Henry Morgan, one of the property owners, assured the board and the concerned citizens of Pooler that he has safeguards in the contract to guarantee the quality of this project.  Since the potential buyer is proposing only 138-140 units, Commissioner Debbie Ryan Watts recommended changing the zoning to R-3B which would allow him 16 units per “Net Acre of Residential Land”.  The owner agreed to the change.  Following some discussion, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning of 21.83 acres on Pine Barren Road from an undefined zoned district to R-3B, a Multi-Family Residential Zoning District.  Motion was seconded by Craig Brewer and passed with no opposition

 

  1. Loretta Cockrum’s request to amend the Jabot PUD Master Plan to zone the 378.50 acres now designated as “Undefined PUD”  to Commercial/ Professional/Distribution Zoning District

Craig Brewer excused himself from any discussion on this item due to a conflict of interest. Jeff Halliburton of Thomas & Hutton Engineering

Company presented the Jabot PUD Amendment # 2 on behalf of Loretta Cockrum and the Foram Group, Inc. The proposed designation of the land use for this area is a Commercial/Professional/Distribution Zoning District.  A PUD Review Board Meeting was held prior to this meeting wherein the following issues of concern were expressed:  industrial uses adjacent to residential areas, potential truck traffic on Quacco Road, and existing traffic at Rogers/Pine Barren Road intersection. Based on these comments, Mr. Halliburton proposed the following changes in the amendment:  delete items 9 and 11, maintain a 75’ vegetative buffer on those tracts adjacent to residential areas, spine road right-of-way would be shifted to the north 75’ from the property line on parcel N, moving items # 19, 20 and 22 to conditional uses for “Parcel W”.  Fred Williams and some other citizens have concerns with the industrial uses not being compatible with the surrounding residential areas.  Mr. Halliburton stated that with the large buffer proposed and the shifting of the spine road the adjacent residential areas would not be adversely impacted.  Since the board still had concerns with the industrial uses listed (items # 19, 20, 22 & 23), the following compromise was made.  Items 19, 20, 22 & 23 would be placed as conditional uses on the north side of the spine road and permitted uses on the southside of the spine road.  The location of the spine road would not change if this compromise were accepted.  Following some discussion, a motion was made by Debbie Ryan Watts to recommend approval of the PUD Amendment # 2 with the following changes: delete items 9 and 11, items # 19,20, 22 & 23 be placed as conditional uses on the north side of the spine road to include parcel W and permitted uses on the southside of the spine road.  Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.

         

NEW BUSINESS: 

  1. Request for Decorative Fence at 304 Symons Street.  Joyce Edge and brother-in-law Roy Stewart presented the request to the board for review and recommendation. Mrs. Edge explained the decorative fence was designed to confine her two small dogs.  The decorative fence will be painted beige to match the trim on the house.  It does not obstruct view of pedestrians nor vehicular traffic.  Since Mr. Stewart wants to use 6”x 6”

posts the board requested they be spaced 1 ˝” apart instead 1”.  A motion was made by Tim Lovezzola to approve the decorative fence request for 304 Symons Street.  Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.

       

  1. Bridgewater Subdivision, Phase 3 Greenspace Plan Review.  Hal Kraft of HGB&D

presented the greenspace plan to the board for their review and recommendation.  The existing tree cover on the site is 6”-8” planted pines with a few larger pines and scatteredhardwoods along the edge of Quacco Road and Pine Barren Road.  In order to save these trees, the developer is proposing a 50’ undisturbed buffer along these right-of-ways.  Since the lots will be cleared individually, there will also likely be trees saved on the lots

when the houses are built.  The board requested that the developer provide the city with a typical lot layout showing proposed landscaping.  With no public comment, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the greenspace plan of Bridgewater Subdivision, Phase Three. Motion was seconded by Glenda Champion and passed without opposition.   

  1. Godley Station Western Tract, Tract 1/Forest Lake Greenspace Plan Review. 

Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the greenspace plan to the board for their review and recommendation.  Phase I contains 93.90 acres, a gated community with 66 large lots.  Tim Inglis stated that a typical lot layout showing proposed landscaping is needed prior to the issuance of the Land Disturbing Activity permit.  With no public comment, a motion was made by Glenda Champion to approve the greenspace plan for Forest Lake, the Western Tract of the Godley Station.  Motion was seconded by Craig Brewer and passed without opposition.

 

7.   Proposed Change in Decorative Fence Ordinance.    Jackie Carver explained that in the decorative fence definition there has been some confusion regarding the meaning of      “minimum 30 percent opaqueness”.  After discussing this with the City Attorney Wiley Ellis, he recommended changing the wording to “maximum 70% opaqueness.  The board agreed and a motion was made by Debbie Ryan Watts to propose this text amendment to Mayor and Council during the next meeting.  Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed with no opposition.

 

There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Craig Brewer and seconded by Tim Lovezzola.