The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 6 p.m. Members present were: Mary Louise Lanier, Charles Archer, Wilson Roberts, Tim Lovezzola, Jim McQueeney and Dennis Jones. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Larry Olliff, Councilman Michael Royal, Councilman Bruce Allen, Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver and City Planner Robbie Byrd were also in attendance. Commissioner Dennis Jones chaired the meeting in the absence of the Chairman and Co-Chairman. The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m.
Charles Archer gave the invocation and Wilson Roberts led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Mary Louise Lanier. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
1. Conditional Use Request from Billie Bazemore to allow an auto sales business at 205 East Highway 80. Mike Bazemore presented the conditional use request to the board on behalf of his mother, Billie Bazemore. The request is to allow an auto sales business to operate at 205 East Highway as a conditional use. Mr. Bazemore stated that an auto sales office has been at this location since 1996. He reviewed the criteria as to how the request met the criteria. Mary Louise Lanier questioned whether the lot is large enough for this type of business. Mr. Bazemore assured the board no service/repairs would be conducted, only auto sales. With no public comment, Tim Lovezzola made a motion to recommend approval of the conditional use request to allow an auto sales business to operate at 205 East Highway 80. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed with Mary Louise Lanier opposing.
OLD BUSINESS:
2. Site Plan/landscape plan review of Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Savannah Quarters. John Mendrala, Jr. presented the site plan to the board for their review and recommendation. The proposed development includes a Sanctuary/Social Hall and four classrooms for church related functions. Mr. Mendrala is unsure as to when Spanton Crescent would be completed. Charles Archer questioned the need for a dumpster. Mr. Mendrala stated he doesn’t feel one is needed right now but space is provided for one if needed in the future. With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to recommend approval of the site plan for the Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Savannah Quarters subject to all of the comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition. Mike Hinderberger, representing the church, stated the number of trees required and no credit given to existing Pines and sweet gums will place a hardship on the church. Wilson Roberts recommends that the board review the tree ordinance. Following some discussion on how the tree ordinance is interpreted, the petitioner requested that the landscape plan be tabled for two weeks. A motion was made by Wilson Roberts to table the landscape plan and seconded by Tim Lovezzola. Motion passed without opposition.
NEW BUSINESS:
3. Site Plan/landscape plan review for proposed plumbing business on lot 21, Westside Business Park. Adam Ragsdale of Ward Edwards presented the site plan to the board for their review and recommendation. This is a 7000 square foot plumbing supply business with a 2000 square foot show room. The plan does not show a dumpster and Mr. Ragsdale stated it was left off in error and he would add one. The rear yard shows a parking and storage area for panel trucks and trailers. No parking is proposed in the sixty foot setback. With no public comments, Charles Archer made a motion to recommend approval of the site plan for a proposed plumbing business on lot 21, Westside Business Park subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Jim McQueeney and passed without opposition. After reviewing the landscape plan, Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the plan. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition.
4. Final Plat Revision of Westside Business Park. Michael Fell of Kern-Coleman and Company went over the list of revisions to the Westside Business Park plat. Lots 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 are combined to form lot 1. Areas labeled drainage and access easements have been changed to just drainage easements. Lot 40 was subdivided to create lot 38 and both added to the Westside Business Park along with lot 39. A 25’ right-of-way dedication along Highway 80 on lot 39 was added to the plat. Signature blocks need to be added to sheets 3, 5 and 6 of the final plat. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton asked that one of the Alderman signatures be changed to Alderwoman. With no public comments, Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the final plat revisions to Westside Business Park. Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.
5. Final Plat approval of Westbrook Townhomes, Phase I in Savannah Quarters.
Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the final plat for Westbrook Townhomes, Phase I in Savannah Quarters. Construction plans for the project were approved by City Council on March 21, 2005 for all 4 phases. The developer is posting a performance bond in order for the plat to be recorded for Phase I. Mr. Kraft pointed out one change in the plat. Lot 125 has been omitted from this plat due to a wetland’s issue involving this lot. Jim McQueeney questioned the purpose of the open space. In response, Mr. Kraft stated the open space around lots 129-132 is a lagoon and the other open space areas will be landscaped to be maintained by the Homeowner’s Association. With no public comments, Tim Lovezzola made a motion to recommend approval of the final plat for Phase I, Westbrook Townhomes in Savannah Quarters. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition.
6. Final Plat approval for Lot “H” Village Quarter Commercial Subdivision.
Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the final plat for Lot “H” in the Village Quarter Commercial Subdivision. This was part of the Phase I Final PUD approved by City Council on December 16, 2002. The parcel is located in the northeast corner of Blue Moon Crossing and Moonlight Lane. There was some discussion about setbacks. The Savannah Quarters PUD Development Standards address setbacks from the center of the right-of-way. Therefore these setbacks meet the PUD requirements. With no other comments, Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the final plat for Lot “H” Village Quarter Commercial Subdivision. Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.
7. Site plan/landscape plan review for Regions Branch Bank in Godley Station intersection of Park Avenue and Pooler Parkway. Lawren Pratt of Sain Associates in Birmingham, Alabama presented the site plan for Regions Branch Bank to the board for their review and recommendation. He has received comments from the city’s engineer and has no issues with addressing them. Mrs. Carver reminded the developer that the plans need to be approved by Scott Martens with the ARB for the Pooler Park of Commerce. With no other comments, Charles Archer made a motion to recommend approval of the site plan for Regions Branch Bank subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed and approval of the ARB for the Pooler Park of Commerce. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier and passed without opposition. Regarding the landscape plan, the board noted that only 5 of the trees listed are from the preferred tree list. The landscape plan looks fine but the replacement trees need to be from the preferred tree list. Wilson Roberts made a motion to approve the landscape plan for Regions Branch Bank subject to the preferred tree list being revised and resubmitted for approval by the City Planner Robbie Byrd. Motion was seconded by Mary Louise Lanier.
8. Review and recommendation of preliminary construction plans for “The Grove” at Brighton Woods Subdivision. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the constructions plans for the “The Grove” to the board for their review and recommendation. The Grove at Brighton Woods consists of 66 single-family lots with associated road, drainage and utilities. A previous request to develop this tract of land was approved by this board approximately 15 months ago and later denied by Council. The only change in the plans from what was previously submitted are some changes regarding the soil erosion plans.
One of the main issues at that time was traffic. Since that time, a traffic study has been conducted by a traffic engineer indicating that the new project would not overload Brighton Woods Drive. All of the engineer’s comments were addressed at that time and the only change requested by the city is to loop the water line by tying into Winskie Road. Another issue of major concern 15 months ago was drainage and still is. The drainage plan meets the city’s requirements. Mr. Kraft has also run a model for a 25 year storm and the lagoons are adequate to handle the water for a 25 year storm. Commissioner Wilson Roberts questioned the lot width on lot 51 and asked Mr. Kraft to confirm that all of the lots meet that requirement. Commissioner Roberts also requested a neighborhood drainage plan be developed for this subdivision.
Public Comments: Sheila Seymour of 206 Brighton Woods Drive presented a petition with 39 signatures from residents of Brighton Woods Subdivision opposing this development. The residents listed the following reasons: traffic, drainage, wildlife, water pressure, decrease in property values, noise, safety of neighborhood children and existing parking congestion on Brighton Woods Drive that is worsened by overflow parking from funerals. Pictures were presented showing this area during the 1994 flooding as well as pictures from all the rain experienced a few weeks ago. There were also some residents from Winskie Road that spoke in opposition of this development. They oppose any attempt to add a second entrance to this development from Winskie Road. They have existing problems with ATV vehicles, mosquitoes and flooding. Robert Morgan, a long time resident of Winskie Road, stated this tract is nothing but a swamp land, unsuitable for development. G. U. Davis, resident of 508 Winskie Road, stated that the entire tract proposed for development was flooded in 1994 and the existing wooded area has served as a buffer from the noise of Shearouse Lumber Company. Mrs. Stuckey of 515 Winskie Road stated the canals are not adequate to handle existing water much less additional stormwater from this proposed development. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton questioned if the development has any amenities. Mr. Kraft stated there is open space proposed but not any amenities. Commissioner Wilson Roberts asked if any of the proposed improvements to the existing ditches would help with the drainage problems of Brighton Woods Subdivision. In response to these concerns, Hal Kraft, engineer for the project, stated that the improvements to the ditches would not improve existing drainage problems in the Brighton Woods Subdivision, but neither would it add to these problems. Furthermore, the wetlands are not impacted and storm water detention will be provided by two detention ponds on the tract which is required by the City of Pooler’s subdivision ordinance. A traffic study was conducted during the period when a funeral was held and determined to meet acceptable traffic patterns for the city. The proposed water line being extended and looped through the Brighton Woods Subdivision to Winskie Road would help the water pressure in the area. The developer has committed to raising the minimum finished floor elevation of the new homes to 18’ BFE. In closing, Mr. Kraft stated that all of the engineer’s comments have been addressed for this project and the developer has more than met the minimum requirements set forth in the City of Pooler’s subdivision ordinance. Commissioner Wilson Roberts questioned the proposed rerouting of an existing ditch with 90˚ turns and whether this could be changed to a more direct routing into the lagoon. Further, he would recommend the engineer and the developer review the plan to see if there is any way to help with the drainage along the rear of the lots that back up to this development. Following some discussion, Wilson Roberts made a motion to table this item for two weeks, to give the engineer and the developer some time to review the project for open space requirements and also review the project along with the drainage calculations and possibly make some changes that would help relieve some of the drainage problems at the southern end of Brighton Woods Subdivision. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
9. Landscape plan review for “The Grove” at Brighton Woods Subdivision for compliance with the City of Pooler’s Tree Ordinance. At the request of the petitioner, Wilson Roberts made a motion to table the landscape plan for “The Grove”. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Tim Lovezzola and seconded by Mary Louise Lanier. Motion passed.