The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Members present were Wilson Roberts, Larry Olliff, Robert Byard, Nannette Ringham, Mary Louise Lanier, Scotty Fletcher, and James Reardon. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Bruce Allen, Councilman Mike Royal, Planning & Zoning Assistant Kimberly Classen, and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance. Chairman Wilson Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Councilman Bruce Allen gave the invocation and Wilson Roberts led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed upon a motion made by James Reardon. Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.

PUBLIC HEARING:

1. Shoreline Properties, LLC. request for a 1.2’ front setback variance on the northwest corner of the single-family dwelling and a 10.5’ setback variance on the southeast corner of the existing garage located at 1064 Woodland Drive: In view of the fact that the petitioner was not present, a motion was made by Commissioner Fletcher to move this item to the end of the agenda. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Olliff and passed without opposition. Commissioner Reardon stepped down to excuse himself from any discussion of this item. The 1.2’ front setback variance encroachment and the 10.5’ side setback variance encroachment are needed due to the fact the footprint of the house was laid out incorrectly by the contractor. Chairman Roberts stated that contractors should be required to have property strings pulled once the residence is laid out and prior to calling for an inspection. With no public comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Ringham to approve the 1.2’ front setback variance on the northwest corner of the single-family dwelling and the 10.5’ setback variance on the southeast corner of the existing garage located at 1064 Woodland Drive. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Olliff and passed without opposition.

NEW BUSINESS:

2. Sketch Plan Review of proposed Right-in / Right-out Access to West Properties on Pooler Parkway: Steve Wohlfeil with HGB&D presented the sketch plan of the proposed right-in/right-out access to West Properties on Pooler Parkway to the board for their review and recommendation. Mr. Wohlfeil stated that this sketch plan was brought before the Planning & Zoning Board in an informal way for discussion and comments only and then forwarded to Council for discussion and comments. Council recommended that the sketch plan along with a formal application be presented to the Planning & Zoning Department for processing. Mr. Wohlfeil stated that the only comment made previously by the Planning & Zoning board was the slope of the road. He explained that the slope from the shoulder of the road to the right-of-way is currently approximately 7 ½% and the plan is to make the slope 5% or less. With no further comments, Commissioner Fletcher made a motion to approve the sketch plan of the proposed right-in/right-out access to West properties on Pooler Parkway, contingent upon changing the slope from 7 ½% to 5% or less. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Olliff and passed without opposition.

3. Sketch Plan Review of proposed Benton Boulevard Extension: Councilwoman Benton stepped down to excuse herself from any discussion of this item. Steve Wohlfeil with HGB&D presented the sketch plan of the proposed Benton Boulevard Extension to the Board for their review and recommendation. Mr. Wohlfeil stated that this sketch plan was brought before the Planning & Zoning Board in an informal way for discussion and comments only and then forwarded to Council for discussion and comments. Council recommended that the sketch plan along with a formal application be presented to the Planning & Zoning Department for processing. There was some discussion concerning the right-of-way of Benton Boulevard being extended to the Pipemaker’s Canal to eliminate the possibility of creating any landlocked parcels, the current zoning of this property and surrounding properties, available areas of access to the property south of this parcel, and the turn-a-bouts. In response, Mr. Wohlfeil stated that the land is locked only by Pipemaker’s Canal. The petitioner and the adjacent property owner have had some discussion concerning the connectivity of the two (2) parcels. Furthermore, the current zoning of the tract is C-2 (Heavy Commercial) and the land to the south is zoned R-1A (Single-Family Residential). There are two (2) viable routes to access the property to the south. One access would be across the Pipemaker’s Canal and the other access would be from the property to the west. Further, he stated that the petitioner is concerned with the prospect of the adjacent land to the south being rezoned and used for some sort of warehouse project, which would be an inappropriate use of land due to considerable truck traffic. Mr. Wohlfeil also stated that the applicant would be interested in providing the right-of-way with the stipulation that the land to the south would not be rezoned to a Light Industrial Zoning District. Public Comments: Attorney Harold Yellin, on behalf of adjacent property owner Rebecca Benton, appeared before the board to express Ms. Benton’s concerns. Mr. Yellin stated that his client feels that it is not necessary to construct the road up to the Pipemaker’s Canal, but connectivity is needed. Therefore, a right-a-way should to be platted. Furthermore, that his client feels that the two (2) cul-de-sacs appear to be placed in such a way to keep traffic off of Benton Boulevard Extension completely. He further stated that there is concern with the location and proximity of the two (2) cul-de-sacs to each other, and one should be either eliminated or the two spaced farther apart. Petitioner’s Comments: Mr. Wohlfeil stated that for clarification purposes only, the two (2) circles were designed to accommodate all types of traffic; from mopeds to large trucks and the distance between the two (2) circles is approximately 900’ to 1000’ feet a part in distance. With no further public comments, Commissioner Reardon made a motion to approve the sketch plan of the proposed Benton Boulevard Extension, contingent upon extending the right-of-way at least to the Pipemaker’s Canal. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Ringham and passed with Larry Olliff opposing.

4. Revised Subdivision Plat for Lowe’s Home Center and 5 Outparcels to correct acreage amount: The request is to approve the revised subdivision plat for Lowe’s Home Center and 5 Outparcels due to an incorrect acreage amount being documented on the recorded plat for Lot 1. The recorded acreage amount for Lot 1 was recorded as being 16.64 acres and the correct acreage should be 16.32 acres. A motion was made by Commissioner Fletcher to approve the revised subdivision plat for Lowe’s Home Center and 5 outparcels to correct acreage amount. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lanier and passed without opposition. Commissioner Reardon returned to his seat on the board.

Hart Weatherford with Paulson Mitchell Engineers Incorporated appeared before the Board requesting the Board to approve a site plan for a proposed expansion of Southeastern Freight Lines located at 1717 Old Dean Forest Road. A motion was made by Commissioner Ringham to add to the agenda as item #5. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Byard and passed without opposition.

5. Site Plan/Landscape Plan Review of proposed expansion of Southeastern Freight Lines located at 1717 Old Dean Forest Road : Hart Weatherford with Paulson Mitchell Engineers Incorporated presented the site plan for the proposed expansion of Southeastern Freight Lines to the board for their review and recommendation. Mr. Weatherford stated that the proposed expansion includes demolishing a 60 x 20 portion of the existing office structure, adding a 5,200 square foot addition, expanding the existing dock by adding 20 bays, and adding additional parking. There was some discussion concerning the parking encroachments in the front setback, impervious amount of lot coverage, lack of landscaping, total number of trailer parking spaces being added, the distance between the existing pavement to the back of the curb in the parking area on Old Dean Forest Road, drainage, tree calculations, and the types of preferred trees being provided. In response, Mr. Weatherford stated that the total number of parking spaces being added for trailer parking is 40, the distance from the existing pavement on Old Dean Forest Road to the back of curb is approximately 33’, and positive drainage has been included in the site plan by proposed underground detention and a pond for storm water. Furthermore, he stated that as far as the preferred trees being provided and the tree calculations, he would have to claim ignorance. A motion was made by Commissioner Fletcher to table this item for visual observation and pending changes being made to the site plan Motion was seconded by Commissioner Reardon and passed without opposition.

Ms. Tena Hobbs, Business Manager of The Preserve at Godley Station Apartment Community, appeared before the board to express her concerns with the over supply of multi-family housing in the Pooler and surrounding areas.

There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Reardon made a motion to adjourn at approximately 7:26 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Ringham and passed without opposition.