PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES APRIL 9, 2001   

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, April 9, 2001 at 6 p.m.   Members present were:  Larry Olliff, Joe Harmon, Tim Lovezzola, Holly Young, Debbie Ryan Watts, Craig Brewer and Judson Trapnell.   Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver, City Planner Tim Inglis and Councilwoman Billie Tyler were also in attendance.  Chairman Holly Young called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS:  

  1. Darrel Hutcheson et al request to rezone 201.82 acres along the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway from R-A to I-1, a Light Industrial Zoning.  Darrel Hutcheson presented this request to the board for their review and recommendation.  Mr. Hutcheson stated that they had purchased the property twelve years ago with the intention of developing a residential subdivision at a later time.  Plans were drawn and a wetlands study was done three years ago, but a soil study showed the type of soil was not conducive to installing individual septic tanks.   The property to the east of this tract was annexed by the City of Savannah and zoned Light Industrial.  Keen Trucking Company has built a large truck transport terminal on this site.  Mr. Hutcheson further stated that the property would be developed in a manner that would not adversely impact the adjacent residentially zoned area.  Chairman Young reminded the board that the proposed Morgan Lakes Subdivision is located to the west of this site and to the south is lands owned by International Paper.  Mr. R. W. Barnwell, an adjacent property owner who has lived on his property since 1968 expressed his opposition to the rezoning of any other lands around him to Light Industrial.   He stated that as a property owner he was not notified by the City of Savannah of the rezoning of the property to the east where Keen Trucking Company is located.  He is concerned with potential truck traffic and noise if the property is rezoned to Light Industrial. Mrs. Barnwell presented a petition with thirty-five signatures opposing the rezoning.  Commissioner Larry Olliff suggested getting input from property owners along the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and possibly doing a comprehensive rezoning of the area.  Commissioner Debbie Ryan Watts is concerned about how a Light Industrial Zoning would impact the residents that live in the area.  Following some discussion, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to deny the rezoning of 201.82 acres along the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway from R-A, to I-1.  Motion was seconded by Joe Harmon and passed with Larry Olliff opposing.
  1. Minor Subdivision of Lot 12 out of Mill Creek Village.  Craig Brewer excused himself from any discussion of this item due to a conflict of interest.  Dale Yawn of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented a minor subdivision plat of Lot 12, which is located in the southeast corner of Mill Creek Circle and Benton Blvd.  Mr. Yawn stated that he had revised the plat to reflect a 30’ building setback from Mill Creek Circle instead of a 60’ building setback.  He displayed a copy of the minutes from January 17, 2000 Council meeting wherein a 30’ building setback around Mill Creek Circle was approved.  A motion was made by Tim Lovezzola to approve the minor subdivision of lot 12 out of an 11.85- acre tract.  Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.
  1. Williams Hollow and Creekside Subdivisions Final Plat Review/Approval.  Mr. Fred Williams presented the plats to the board. He stated that he would like to record the plats by posting a bond to insure the completion of the improvements.  Bill Nicholson has approved the amount of the bond and Mr. Williams stated the bond is forthcoming.  Mr. Williams explained Williams Hollow Drive shall be a private road and the owner of lot 3 shall maintain the street and curb and gutter of Williams Hollow Drive.  City Planner Tim Inglis asked if a homeowners association would own lot 3.  Mr. Williams stated that Williams Hollow is such a small subdivision that all of the property owners will own a portion of lot 3. Chairman Young asked what would be on lot 3 and Mr. Williams stated that a recreation center is planned.  Commissioner Debbie Ryan Watts questioned if Mr. Williams sells any of these lots how would it be conveyed to future property owners that they are responsible for the maintenance of Williams Hollow Drive.  The reason Mr. Williams has requested that Williams Hollow Drive be a private street is because it is going to be a gated community.  Chairman Young agrees with Commissioner Debbie Ryan Watts concerning the need for some type of deed restriction to inform each property owner of their obligation to maintain the curb and gutter and Williams Hollow Drive.  Mr. Williams asked that the board approve the Williams Hollow Subdivision contingent upon the City Attorney approving the notes on the plat referencing the above issues.  Chairman Young also asked for clarification from the City Attorney as to whom will be responsible for the maintenance of lot 3.  Craig Brewer made a motion to table the approval of Williams Hollow Subdivision until the City Attorney has had a chance to review the notes on the plat.  Motion was seconded by Judson Trapnell and passed without opposition.  With no comments regarding the final plat of Creekside Subdivision (formerly The Bramblings), Joe Harmon made a motion to approve the plat for recording.  Motion was seconded by Debbie Ryan Watts and passed with no opposition.
  2. Premier Fabricators, Inc. Site Plan Review    Patrick Burk of Stevenson & Palmer Engineering, Inc. presented the site plan for construction of a building on Eason Drive. Mr. Burk stated that he would have all of Bill Nicholson’s comments addressed prior to council’s meeting on Monday. There was some discussion regarding the landscape plan that was approved two weeks ago. Chairman Young stated that if the property owner wishes to make a change in the landscape plan it would need to be approved by Mayor and Council.  Following some discussion, Joe Harmon made a motion to approve Premier Fabricators, Inc. site plan contingent upon all of the comments being addressed.  Motion was seconded by Judson Trapnell and passed without opposition.
  1. Hargray Wireless Site Plan/Landscape Plan Review.  Jeffrey Carr of P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. was present on behalf of Hargray Wireless to answer any questions the board may have.  Mr. Carr stated he had received Bill Nicholson’s comments and had already submitted the revised plans to him for his review and approval.  With no public comment, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the Hargray Wireless Site Plan pending confirmation from Bill Nicholson that all of his comments have been addressed.  Motion was seconded by Judson Trapnell and passed with no opposition.               
  1. Garden Acres Mobile Home Park, Phase II Construction Plan Review.  Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented the plans to the board for their review and comments.  Mr. Wohlfeil reminded the board that when Mayor and Council approved the drainage/recreational master plan for this project back in February, a stipulation was placed on that approval that a substantial amount of the recreational area needed to be completed prior to approving construction plans for Phase II of the mobile home park.  Mr. Wohlfeil stated that he plans to have all of the engineer’s comments addressed prior to the council meeting on Monday.  With no public comments, Judson Trapnell made a motion to approve construction plans for Phase II of Garden Acres Mobile Home Park contingent upon all of the engineer’s comments being addressed and completion of a substantial amount of the recreational area that was approved on the master plan. Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.
  1. Rolland Keller Landscape Plan on Sharon Court, Lots 27B & 28A.  Mr. Rolland Keller stated these lots contain a lot of wetlands and he is requesting approval to clear and fill these lots to satisfy an old wetlands permit that will expire within a year.  Mr. Keller has submitted plans to replant trees to meet the City of Pooler’s tree ordinance.          

Mr. Tim Inglis recommended placing a time schedule to replant trees.  Following some discussion, Judson Trapnell made a motion to approve the landscape plan on lots 27B and 28A contingent upon the replanting of the trees be completed within 6 months after the issuance of the LDA permit.  Motion was seconded by Craig Brewer and passed without opposition.

  1. Pooler Plaza Site Plan/Landscape Plan Review.  Steve Wohlfeil presented the site plan for Pooler Plaza on behalf of Donald Dyches. Mr. Wohlfeil stated the plans have been revised to add a 20’ greenbelt buffer from the residentially zoned areas.  The proposed building will be located on eastbound Highway 80 across from the Pooler Library and will be used for retail office space.  Commissioner Judson Trapnell asked if the dumpster location could be moved from the front of the building next to Highway 80.  Other locations were discussed, but to meet setback requirements this was the only possible location without obtaining a variance.  Councilwoman Tyler suggested a change in the name of the plaza since we already have Pooler Plaza in our city.  Mr. Dyches agreed to come up with another name for the plaza.  With no further comments, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the site plan for this project contingent upon all of the engineer’s comments being addressed.  Motion was seconded by Joe Harmon and passed without opposition.  A motion was also made by Judson Trapnell to approve the landscape plan for this project.  Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed with no opposition.
  2. Westbrook Subdivision, Phase I Final Plat Review/Approval.  Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D stated this is the residential portion of Savannah Quarters.  They are ready to record the plat and bond the rest of the improvements.  Chairman Young asked where the developer got the names for the streets in Westbrook Subdivision.  Mr. Wohlfeil stated the street names were taken from a town in England where James Oglethorpe was born.

A motion was made by Joe Harmon to approve the final plat of Westbrook Subdivision, Phase I contingent upon the receipt and approval of a performance bond in the amount of $295,080. Motion was seconded by Judson Trapnell and passed without opposition.

  1. Discussion of ordinance change regarding shipping containers.  Mrs. Carver reviewed the proposed list of changes with the board.  She also gave a short narrative regarding how other cities address the use of shipping containers.  The board made the following suggestions:  change the maximum period for a permit from 70 days to 60 days, change the penalty charge from 100.00 per container/per day to $250.00 per container/per day after the 60-day permit has expired.  The board also recommended revoking permit  privileges after a second violation.  They are also concerned about the business located behind a business that is permitted to place shipping containers to the rear of the building.   In this instance, the containers would not be out of view of the general public.  An example of this would be the Jameson Inn that sits behind the Cracker Barrel.  In a case like this, the board may need to require some type of buffering or screening for a container to be out of view of the general public. Following a lot of discussion, the board felt they needed to table this item for two weeks. 

There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Joe Harmon and seconded by Judson Trapnell.