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CITY OF POOLER PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES APRIL 9, 2007
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, April 9, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. Members present were Larry Olliff, Charles Archer, Wilson Roberts, Mary Louise Lanier, Scotty Fletcher, Nannette Ringham and James Reardon. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Bruce Allen, Councilman Mike Royal and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance. Chairman Wilson Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Charles Archer 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 Larry Olliff. Motion was seconded by James Reardon and passed without opposition.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Konter Development is requesting a 4’ front setback variance for lots 200-217 on the south side of Chippingwoods Circle, in Phase I of Morgan Pines Sub. Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented the variance request to the board for their review and recommendation. The homes were inadvertently laid out 26’ from the right-of-way. The building setback requirement of lots fronting on a 50’right-of-way is 30’ according to The Morgan PUD Development Standards. Since most of the lots on the south side of Chippingwoods Circle are either complete or under construction, the request is to grant variances on all of the lots with the exception of Lot 212. After review of the criteria for granting a variance, the board determined that the request meets two out of the three. Therefore, a motion was made by Commissioner Reardon to recommend approval of a 4’ front setback variance for lots 200 – 217 on the south side of Chippingwoods Circle in Phase I of Morgan Pines Subdivision. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Olliff and passed without opposition.
NEW BUSINESS:
2. Acceptance of Performance Bond / Final Plat Approval of Hamilton Grove, Phase 2 located off East Haven Boulevard in Savannah Quarters. Ryan Smith of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the final plat of Hamilton Grove, Phase 2 to the board for their review and recommendation. Chairman Roberts questioned the location of benchmarks on the copy of the plat the board received in their packets. Mr. Smith pointed them out to the board on his copy of the revised plat. With no public comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Archer to recommend approval of the final plat for Hamilton Grove, Phase 2. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Fletcher and passed without opposition.
3. Pooler Parkway LLC - Final Plat Review for a major subdivision of Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and 5 outparcels. Kendall Jones of Hull Storey Retail Group is requesting approval of the final plat for the major subdivision of Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and 5 outparcels. Commissioner Archer questioned the proposed use of Lot 6 and potential traffic congestion with the future road access onto Pine Barren Road. Mrs. Jones stated that she does not know what is proposed on Lot 6 but for now Pooler Parkway, LLC will retain ownership. Chairman Roberts stated that he would prefer to see the future right-of-way to Pine Barren Road be completed now to alleviate all the traffic dumping on the Pooler Parkway to access this development. Councilwoman Benton is concerned about the road configuration causing traffic congestion, being very similar to that in front of Home Depot and Wal-Mart. She would still prefer to see a frontage road along the Pooler Parkway. She is also concerned about potential traffic on Pine Barren Road with the long school zones from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning and 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. In response, Mrs. Jones stated that she has discussed the request for a frontage road with Haines, Gipson & Associates (Lowe’s engineer), Tom Cetti, who represents the property owner and potential buyer of Lot 5, and Bill Nicholson of HGB&D. Everyone agrees that a frontage road would not be practical and the layout proposed is the best design. Chairman Roberts agrees that a frontage road would cause more traffic congestion. There was further discussion about how the outparcels would be accessed and if the roads within the subdivision would be public or private. In his comments, Bill Nicholson of HGB&D recommended that the roads remain private. Chairman Roberts stated that the road issue decision should be addressed by council. With no other public comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Archer to recommend approval of the Pooler Parkway, LLC final plat for a major subdivision of Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and 5 outparcels, subject to the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Reardon and passed without opposition.
4. Construction Plan Review for Savannah Quarters – East Spine Road Phase 4 Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the construction plan for Phase 4 of the East Spine Road, also known as East Haven Boulevard, to the board for their review and recommendation. Phases 2 and 3 are almost complete and Phase 4 will extend up to the Savannah Ogeechee Canal. Mr. Kraft stated that they have revised the plans to address the engineer’s comments. With no public comments, Commissioner Fletcher made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Reardon, to recommend approval of the construction plan for Phase 4 of the East Spine Road, subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion passed without opposition.
5. Construction Plan / Landscape Plan Review for Phase 7, Westbrook Subdivision. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the construction plan for Phase 7, Westbrook Subdivision to the board for their review and recommendation. All 78 lots within this phase are at least 100’ wide or greater and are a mix of the SF-1 and SF-2 lot categories within the Savannah Quarters PUD. Mr. Kraft stated that due to the shape of the phase and the size of the lots, two (2) sub-standard cul-de-sacs were designed to serve two (2) to three (3) lots. In his engineering comments, Downer Davis recommended placing a sign at the entrance to both of these cul-de-sacs that would read “Private Residences – Do Not Enter”. Chairman Roberts questioned the need for the sign when you are already inside a gated community. Councilwoman Benton stated that she agreed with Chairman Roberts that signage was not needed since the streets are private. She recommended leaving the decision up to the Medalist Group. Commissioner Archer questioned if emergency vehicles, like a fire truck, could turn around in the small cul-de-sacs. In response, Mr. Kraft stated that larger trucks, including a fire truck, should be able to back a distance of approximately 175’. With no other comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Ringham to recommend approval of the construction plan for Phase 7, Westbrook Subdivision, subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Reardon and passed without opposition. The landscape plan included three (3) trees from the preferred tree list on a typical residential plot plan. Chairman Roberts reminded the board that within Westbrook, a streetscape of live oak trees are planted every 40 feet between the sidewalk and the curb. With no public comments, Commissioner Ringham made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Reardon to approve the landscape plan. Motion passed without opposition.
6. Recombination Plat of a portion of Tracts 3A and 3A-1, located along the proposed extension of Blue Moon Crossing. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the revised plat to the board for their review and recommendation. The plat was approved by this board on March 12, 2007, but was withdrawn from the council agenda to create a parcel of record for the berm so that ownership could be transferred to the homeowner’s association. With no public comments, Commissioner Reardon made a motion to recommend approval of the recombination plat of a portion of Tracts 3A and 3A-1. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Fletcher and passed without opposition.
There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Fletcher made a motion to adjourn at approximately 7:00 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Archer and passed without opposition.
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