The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 6 p.m. Members present were Wilson Roberts, Larry Olliff, Scotty Fletcher, Jim McQueeney, Mary Louise Lanier, Charles Archer and Don Taylor. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Bruce Allen, and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance. Chairman Don Taylor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Charles Archer gave the invocation and Don Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Larry Olliff. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
Public Hearings:
Ryan Thompson of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company and property owner, Ryan Boland presented the rezoning request to the board for their review and recommendation.
This item was tabled by this board on December 12, 2005 for additional information to be provided regarding potential allowable uses and buffering concerns addressed on a preliminary development plan. At that time the developer was also asked to meet with the adjacent property owners about their concerns. In response to these concerns, the uses have been limited and the buffer has been increased from 30’ to 50’ along with a berm on the side adjacent to the lands owned by Savannah Quarters. The current zoning is R-A, a residential-agricultural zoning and the developer is now requesting a C-1, Light Commercial with conditions for a depth of 395’ adjacent to Quacco Road and conditional zoning of C-P for the remaining balance of the site. Mr. Thompson reviewed the conditions proposed in the rezoning petition regarding uses in the C-1 zoning and the C-P zoning. The board expressed concerns about buffering, lighting and this being a spot zoning within a residentially zoned area. The two church sites to the north are located within the Savannah Quarters PUD but would have also been an allowable use within the R-A zoning. There was some discussion about eliminating other allowable uses within the C-1, Light Commercial Zoning such as: grocery stores, any type of eating establishments, neighborhood shopping centers and eliminating garages under conditional uses. Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver explained that in the proposed development standards under conditions of the C-P, Commercial Professional Zoning you cannot add uses. Therefore, adding the use of childcare facilities and mini-warehouses within the C-P zoning would not be permitted. Bill Gilbert of Savannah Quarters stated that none of the adjacent lots have been sold and he would prefer this tract of land remain residential. Many residents of Westbrook Subdivision, a residential development to the north of this tract within Savannah Quarters were present to oppose the rezoning. The following concerns were expressed: size of buffer, demand on utility system, narrowness of Quacco Road and more uses need to be restricted. Dr. John Kennedy stated a lot of these concerns could have been addressed if the developer had set down with the property owners in Westbrook. James Borgwardt, Pastor of The Lutheran Church that is located on the adjacent property to the north, would prefer that the surrounding land remain residential. He explained the long range plan includes a sanctuary and a school for children from early childhood thru 8th grade. Ernest and Robert Ennis, property owners across the street from this tract, spoke in favor of the rezoning. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton asked Mr. Thompson to read for the record a list of the proposed uses. In response, Mr. Thompson stated the uses proposed in C-1 are professional offices, banks, laundry and dry-cleaning establishments (limited to drop-off and pick-up only), grocery stores, barbershops and beauty shops, dry good stores, churches and fraternal organizations, gift shops, eating establishments with no live entertainment, theaters, heating and air conditioning sales and service, television sales and service, child care facilities, household furniture, hardware stores, retail sales, neighborhood shopping centers 10,000 square feet or less of building area and drugstores. The conditional uses that would be allowed under C-1 are residential construction when authorized, funeral homes, service stations and mini-warehouses with a one story height limitation. In the C-P zoning district, the following uses would be allowed: professional offices, professional office plazas, gift shops under 2,000 square feet, drug stores under 2,000 square feet, churches and fraternal organizations, eating establishments under 2,000 square feet with no live entertainment and no drive through, furniture stores under 2,000 square feet and specialty shops under 2,000 square feet. Following some discussion, the developer did agree to eliminate the mini-warehouse use in C-1 and any restaurant use in C-P. Commissioner Wilson Roberts stated that the C-P, Commercial Professional zoning is a transitional zoning and is appropriate for this area. He would also recommend an Architectural Review Board with certain criteria that would require the structures to be built residential in nature. Commissioner Jim McQueeney is concerned about the possibility of a chain reaction if this commercial rezoning request is approved. In response, petitioner Ryan Boland reviewed the list of allowable uses in the current R-A, Residential-Agricultural zoning, some of which would be undesirable to the adjacent property owners. Following some discussion, the developer agreed to change his request for rezoning on the lot fronting on Quacco Road from C-1 to C-P and for that lot only to include banks and eating establishments under 2,000 square feet with no live entertainment and no drive through. With no other public comment, Larry Olliff made a motion to recommend denial of Erhead Properties rezoning request of 16.43 acres at 1743 Quacco Road from R-A to C-1 and C-P. Motion was seconded by Jim McQueeney and passed with Charles Archer and Wilson Roberts opposing.
New Business:
Matt Gerkin of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the amenity area site plan to the board for their review and recommendation. The plan includes a community pavilion with bathrooms, a pool and a small parking lot. All of the engineer’s comments have been addressed. Therefore, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney to recommend approval of the site plan for Somersby Amenity area. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition. Chairman Don Taylor stated the landscape plan looks fine but lacks detail on the acreage, etc. Following some discussion, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney to approve the landscape plan. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
Donna Blalock of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the site plan for a proposed building to house equipment for cable, security systems, internet and phone services for the residents of The Farm at Morgan Lakes. The building will not be regularly occupied and will not require water and sewer services. A fence enclosure will be provided with heavy landscaping to shield the pre-fab building. With no public comment, a motion was made by Charles Archer to recommend approval of the site plan for the YRT2 communications building at The Farm at Morgan Lakes. Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.
With no public comment, a motion was made by Mary Louise Lanier to recommend approval of the revised plat for The Retreat @ Forest Lakes, Phases 2 & 3. Motion was seconded by Scotty Fletcher and passed without opposition.
There being no further business to discuss, Wilson Roberts made a motion to adjourn at approximately 8 p.m. Motion was seconded by Scotty Fletcher and passed without opposition.