The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, April 12, 2004 at 6 p.m. Members present were: Charles Archer, Tim Lovezzola, Mary Louise Lanier, Debbie Ryan Watts, Wilson Roberts and Don Taylor. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, City Planner Robbie Byrd and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance. Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Don Taylor gave the invocation and Tim Lovezzola led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Wilson Roberts. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Attorney Phillip R. McCorkle, as agent for property owner Franklin Denny Haygood has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 7.84 acres between U. S. Highway 80 and Old Louisville Road from R-A-L, Residential-Agricultural- Limited to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning. Commissioner Mary Louise Lanier stepped down from her seat on the board to represent her interest as an adjacent property. Attorney Phillip McCorkle stated that he is representing Joseph and Rebecca Coppula who are attempting to purchase this property from Franklin Denny Haygood with a contingency that the tract be rezoned to a commercial use. Mr. McCorkle distributed some maps to the board members and pointed out the current zonings surrounding this tract of land. East of I-95, along the U. S. 80 corridor, the majority of the land is zoned C-2, Heavy Commercial, a small portion of C-1, Light Commercial, some R-A, Residential-Agricultural and some I-1, Light Industrial Zoning. Several meetings have been held with adjacent property owners and the following proposals have been made as a result of issues discussed during these meetings: a 5’ non-access easement along Old Louisville Road, a 50’ tree buffer and a proposed 6’ fence along Old Louisville Road and Mr. Easterling’s property, a 20’ buffer proposed along the Lanier property on the west and the Tyner property on the east and deep building setbacks proposed to keep the buildings far away from Mr. Easterling’s property. The closest building to Mr. Easterling’s residence would be 183’ away. Drainage was the major concern expressed by the adjacent property owners during the first meeting. Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company attended the second meeting with the adjacent property owners to discuss the drainage issues. The problem is evident that there are major outfall ditches that are not being maintained. Several adjacent property owners appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission to express their concerns. Ronald Easterling is concerned about the drainage, noise and potential uses allowed in a C-2, Heavy Commercial Zoning. He opposes the project but will consider selling to them. If approved, Mr. Easterling wants to know who is going to enforce the noise ordinance and who is going to enforce the proposed buffering. In response, Chairman Debbie Ryan Watts stated the buffering is overseen by the building department and the noise ordinance is enforced by the Police Department. Beverly Waters owns four properties across from this development and her major concern is the drainage and how this development would impact the drainage of surrounding properties. The county maintained ditches through her property and outfall ditches at one time but with no easements in place the City of Pooler will not maintain these ditches. Mrs. Waters asked if there is a master drainage plan for this area and if not there should be with the potential development in this area. Mary Louise Lanier and her brother own property to the west of this tract. While they are not totally opposed to commercial development, they are very concerned about potential uses allowed in C-2, Heavy Commercial Zoning and the impact on surrounding residential properties as far as noise, congestion, pollutants both air and ground and industrial lighting. The property has no public water, no public sewer and hence no fire flow. She is very concerned about the drainage and how this development will impact the drainage in this area. She feels all of the ditches in this area need cleaning and upgrading to support future development along east highway 80. If the tract is divided as proposed with three different buildings, who will be responsible for maintaining the buffers, detention ponds, septic tanks and paved areas. Mrs. Lanier would like to make the following recommendations: either restrict the uses in C-2 zoning or preferably consider a C-1, Light Commercial Zoning, a 10’ berm with plantings between her property and Mr. Haygood’s property, maintenance of trees and fencing within the buffer, would like the city or whomever to provide a ditch clean out schedule with continuing maintenance that is monitored prior to any development, be provided with pre-development run-off data prior to any development, and the assurance that run-off from any pollutants will not effect the drainage system through adjoining properties. Mr. Ping Tyner reiterated the fact that all of the ditches in this area were maintained by the county for years and has been a problem since the City of Pooler annexed this area. Mr. Tyner recommends the commercial property not extend all of the way to Old Louisville Road but line up with Mr. Easterling’s property and extend across. Mr. McCorkle asked Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company to address the board regarding the above drainage issues. Mr. Coleman assured the board the drainage concerns would be addressed with the engineering plans for this project. Copies of pre-development run-off and drainage calculations will be made available to the adjacent property owners. He further explained the run-off would drain into box culverts under U. S. Highway 80. Also, on-site detention areas will take care of this project’s water and be released at a rate not to exceed pre-development run-off. Regarding septic tanks, the Chatham County Health Department has given concepual approval for three septic tanks (mound system). Councilwoman Rebecca Benton asked Mr. McCorkle if his client would be willing to dedicate some land for future widening of the Old Louisville Road. In response, Mr. McCorkle stated that he felt his client would be willing to dedicate some right-of-way for future road improvements. Commissioner Wilson Roberts would like to see the above drainage issues addressed as to whether improvements are needed and who would be responsible for these improvements. Regarding the option of a berm, Mr. Easterling would prefer to have a tree buffer with additional plantings. Commissioner Charles Archer would prefer to see a C-1, Commercial Zoning due to the potential contaminants connected with certain allowable C-2 uses. With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to approve the rezoning of Franklin Denny Haygood’s property between U. S. Highway 80 and Old Louisville Road from R-A-L to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning subject to certain uses under conditional uses in C-1 Zoning being excluded. Mrs. Carver reminded Commissioner Wilson that the conditional uses would need Planning and Zoning’s approval as well as the Mayor and Council. Therefore, Mr. Roberts amended his motion to approve the rezoning. Motion was seconded by Don Taylor and passed with Charles Archer opposing.
NEW BUSINESS:
2. Karen and Jeff Thornburg’s request to subdivide .5 acres located in the north East corner of Newton Street and west Whatley Street into two lots. Commissioner Wilson Roberts excused himself from any discussion on this item. Jeff Thornburg presented this request to the board for their review and recommendation. Mr. Thornburg plans to construct a single-family residence on each lot. The house on Lot A-1 would face Newton Street and the house on lot A-2 would face Whatley Street. The access to both homes would be from Newton Street. The lots meet the minimum square footage and setback requirements. Commissioner Don Taylor requested that benchmark datum be added to the plat. With no public comments, Charles Archer made a motion to recommend approval of the minor subdivision subject to benchmark datum being added to the plat. Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.
3. Final Plat Review/Approval of Glen Sawyer’s Commercial Subdivision on Governor Treutlen Road. Paul Simonton of P.C.Simonton & Associates presented Glen Sawyer’s Commercial Subdivision plat on Governor Treutlen Road for approval. The construction plans have been approved and Mr. Sawyer has posted a bond to cover the improvements in order for the plat to be recorded. Commissioner Don Taylor reminded Mr. Simonton about putting benchmark datum on the plat. With no public comment, Don Taylor made a motion to recommend approval of the Glen Sawyer Commercial Subdivision plat subject to benchmark datum being added to the plat. Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.
4. Westbrook Subdivision, Phase 4A, revised preliminary construction plan/landscape plan review. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the revised construction plans to the board for their review and recommendation. Westbrook Phase 4A,consisting of an eastern tract and a western tract was approved by this board October 28, 2002. The project was put on hold by the owner following this approval. Now the developer is ready to proceed with the project, but would like to exclude the western tract from the original project and revise a portion of the eastern parcel due to proposed modifications on the golf course. Comments have been addressed and plans will be resubmitted for the city’s review. Regarding the greenspace plan, the required tree cover for this project is 652 trees. In addition to the remaining trees in the protected buffers, one preferred street tree will be planted at each lot and 6 additional preferred trees will be planted or saved per lot as shown in the typical tree save/tree planting exhibit shown on the greenspace plan. With no public comment, Wilson Roberts made a motion to recommend
approval of the revised preliminary construction plan for Westbrook Subdivision, Phase 4A. Motion was seconded by Don Taylor and passed without opposition. With no other comments regarding the landscape plan, Charles Archer made a motion, seconded by Tim Lovezzola, to approve. Motion 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 Charles Archer. Motion passed.