The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 6 p.m. Members present were: Mary Louise Lanier, Charles Archer, Wilson Roberts, Dennis Jones and Debbie Ryan Watts. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Larry Olliff, Councilman Mike Royal, Councilman Bruce Allen, Councilman Wayne Seay, Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver and City Planner Robbie Byrd were also in attendance. Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
Dennis Jones gave the invocation and Charles Archer led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Dennis Jones. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
1. Chrystal Thornburg/Rhema Construction has petitioned the City of Pooler for a 6.10 foot lot width variance to subdivide the property into two (2) lots at the corner of Moore Avenue and Rothwell Street. Wilson Roberts stepped down to abstain from voting on this item. Chrystal Thornburg is requesting a 6.10 foot lot width variance on lot B1. The lots meet all other requirements of the subdivision ordinance. She gave the following reasons why her variance request meets at least two of the standards for granting a variance. This is in the older section of Pooler wherein most of the surrounding lots have less than 80’ lot widths. Also, due to the cost of land in Pooler it is not economically feasible to build a large house in this area. The homes proposed for these two lots would be comparable to the homes in the area. Dennis Jones made a motion to deny Miss Thornburg’s variance because the request meets only l of the standards for granting a variance. Commissioner Roberts stated he feels the board should make some allowances when efforts are made to revitalize some of the older areas of Pooler. Following some more discussion as to how the request meets 2 out of the 3 standards, a motion was made by Dennis Jones to rescind his motion to deny and change the motion to a recommendation of approval of the 6.10 foot lot width variance to subdivide the property into two lots. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed with no opposition.
2. Tommy C. and Frankie R. Fort have petitioned the City of Pooler for a 15 foot front yard side variance at 1001 Woodland Drive. Mr. Fort explained he is requesting approval to encroach 15’ into the thirty foot building setback from Plantation Drive to construct a 35’ carport to cover his boat and 34’ camper. His house faces Woodland Drive and the proposed carport would be accessed from Plantation Drive. Commissioner Roberts stated Mr. Fort would be unable to locate a building on top of a 15’ utility easement as shown on the drawing. Mr. Roberts further stated that if the utility easement was eliminated, the carport and storage building could be built side by side and a variance would not be needed. Commissioner Jones asked if the above ground pool could be moved back rendering enough room to build his structure without a variance. In response, Mr. Fort would prefer not to tear the privacy fence down and move the above ground pool. Commissioner Jones stated he feels this is a convenience issue, rather than a hardship and he could not vote in favor of granting such a variance. Therefore, Commissioner Jones made a motion to recommend denial and motion died for lack of second. Commissioner Wilson Roberts then made a motion to recommend approval of the 15’ side front yard variance at 1001 Woodland Drive because this is not the typical side street frontage with surrounding development. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed with Dennis Jones opposing.
3. John S. Kern has petitioned the City of Pooler for a Zoning Text Amendment to allow parking within 15 feet from the right-of-way line. Mr. Kern read the proposed amendment. Wilson Roberts stated he would rather see the amendment read as an exception to the existing ordinance. Following some discussion about some changes proposed, Mr. Kern asked if he could revise the text and come back at the end of the meeting. With no other comments, Wilson Roberts made a motion to move this item to the end of the agenda. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts stepped down and abstained from any discussion of items 4 and 5. Commissioner Dennis Jones will serve as Chairman in the absence of Co-Chairman Don Taylor.
4. E. Wyleen Long, agent for property owners Mrs. Patricia Fulmer and Mrs. Rose Mary Parker has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 7.79 acres in the northwest corner of Highway 80 and Pooler Parkway from C-1 and R-1A to C-2, a Heavy Commercial zoning. E. Wyleen Long and Bob Dellenback appeared before the board to discuss the petition for rezoning of this item as well as item # 5. Mr. Dellenback stated that he and Mrs. Long have met with Bill Grainger and plan to work with the adjacent property owners to discuss the best way to develop this area to benefit the entire community. They plan to reapply at a later date with a more comprehensive plan that will include buffering along Sangrena Drive. At the request of the petitioner E.Wyleen Long, Charles Archer made a motion to accept a withdrawal of the rezoning petition. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition.
5. Bob Dellenback, agent for property owner, Amy Demas, has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 3.3 acres in the northwest corner of Highway 80 and Pooler Parkway from C-1 and R-1A to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning. At the request of the petitioner Bob Dellenback, Mary Louise Lanier made a motion to accept a withdrawal of the rezoning petition. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts returned to her seat on the board.
6. Site plan/landscape plan review of Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Savannah Quarters. The board received a letter stating how the engineer’s comments were addressed. There was no dumpster on the site plan and Wilson Roberts had some questions about the landscape plan. Since neither the petitioner, nor anyone was present to answer these questions, a motion was made by Charles Archer to table this item. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition.
7. Review/recommendation of Morgan’s Corner Commercial Development clearing plan and construction drawings. Morgan’s Corner is a six lot commercial subdivision located in the northeast corner of Pine Barren Road and Pooler Parkway. Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company LLC. stated all of the engineering comments have been addressed for this project and plans have been resubmitted for Bill Nicholson’s review. A strip center is proposed on lot 1, a bank on lot 3 and lot 6 is under contract with a landscape company. No trucks will be allowed to enter the commercial development from the Pooler Parkway. There was some discussion about item # 3 of the engineer’s comments regarding the curve radius coming off the Pooler Parkway onto the frontage road. Mr. Coleman stated the minimum street radius of 75’ that is referenced by the city engineer refers to a curve in the road and not a street intersection. The board asked that this be clarified with the city engineer. Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts questioned if the city had any plans to widen Pine Barren Road. In response, City Planner Robbie Byrd was not aware of any at this time. With the width of the right-of-way of Pine Barren Road, Mr. Coleman stated there was room to add an additional lane in the future. With no other comments, Dennis Jones made a motion to approve the preliminary construction plans of Morgan’s Corner subject to the radius issue in item 3 being resolved with the city engineer and all other comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
8. Preliminary construction plans/landscape plan review of Hamilton Grove, Phase 3 in Savannah Quarters. Ryan Smith of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the construction plans for Phase 3 of Hamilton Grove to the board for their review and recommendation. Centex Homes proposes the development of Hamilton Grove at Savannah Quarters. Phase 3 consists of 67 residential lots. Mr. Smith stated the comments from the city engineer are straight forward and he has no issue with addressing them. With no public comments, Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the preliminary construction plans for Phase 3 of Hamilton Grove subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Dennis Jones and passed without opposition. Regarding the landscape plan, the board questioned the saving of a 24” Oak Tree located in the middle of lot 148. Mr. Smith stated it would be very difficult to save the tree because of the amount of fill needed to develop the lot. The plan meets the tree ordinance requirements with three trees proposed on each lot. With no public comments, Charles Archer made a motion to approve the landscape plan subject to covenants restricting the removal of these trees. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition.
9. Preliminary construction plans/landscape plan review of Hamilton Grove, Phase 6 in Savannah Quarters. Ryan Smith of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the construction plans for Phase 6 of Hamilton Grove to the board for their review and recommendation. Phase 6 consists of 50 residential lots. Mr. Smith stated the comments from the city engineer are straight forward and he has no issue with addressing them. With no public comments, Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the preliminary construction plans for Phase 6 of Hamilton Grove subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition. Regarding the landscape plan, the board is concerned about the large number of significant trees to be removed. Phase 6 has wetlands on one side and the spine road on the other side. The developer will make every effort to save the significant trees adjacent to the Spine Road. The plan meets the tree ordinance requirements with three trees proposed on each lot. With no other comments, Charles Archer made a motion to approve the landscape plan for Hamilton Grove, Phase 6. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
Item # 3 continued. John Kern of Kern-Coleman and Company read the following text amendment to the board for their review and recommendation:
Exception: In planned Industrial Parks where no road widening will occur, parking of two-axle vehicles within the front setback will be allowed but no closer than 20’ from the right-of-way. No truck parking will be allowed within the front building setback. Following some discussion, Mary Louise Lanier made a motion to recommend approval of the text amendment as proposed. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Charles Archer and seconded by Mary Louise Lanier. Motion passed.