The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, July 23, 2001 at 6 p.m. Members present were: Debbie Ryan Watts, Holly Young, Larry Olliff, Fleta Pepper, Tim Lovezzola, Judson Trapnell and Craig Brewer. Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver and Councilwoman Billie Tyler were also in attendance. Chairman Holly Young called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. following the adjournment of the PUD Review Board Meeting.

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

PUBLIC HEARING:

1. Lee Allen Smokes’ conditional use request for mini-warehouse storage units at 511 West Highway 80 Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company asked that this item be tabled for two weeks since his client was not present. A motion was made by Judson Trapnell to table this item for two weeks. Motion was seconded by Larry Olliff and passed without opposition.

NEW BUSINESS:

2. Final Plat Review/Approval of Stonewater Subdivision at Pine Barren Plantation. Jeff Thomas presented the final plat of Stonewater Subdivision for the board’s review. The subdivision improvements are complete and have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The developer is requesting that the subdivision be accepted and the plat be recorded. Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Inc. recommends that upon receipt and approval of the maintenance bond, the City records the plat and accepts the dedicated improvements for ownership and maintenance. Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the final plat of Stonewater Subdivision contingent upon the maintenance bond being posted and accepted by Mayor and Council. Motion was seconded by Judson Trapnell and passed without opposition.

3. Site Plan Review/Landscape Plan Review of Carolina Self Storage at Pooler Park of Commerce. Craig Brewer excused himself from any discussion on this item due to a conflict of interest. Ralph Forbes of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the site plan for the board’s review and comments. The proposed site is located along the south side of the Pooler Parkway and adjacent to the Pipe maker’s Canal. The storage units will be climate-controlled and open 24 hours a day. Mr. Forbes stated that they are working on addressing all of the engineer’s comments. Tim Lovezzola questioned the location of the dumpster on the site plan. Mr. Forbes stated that if a dumpster is required, the wooded buffer would provide adequate screening from the Pooler Parkway. Larry Olliff made a motion to approve the Carolina Storage Site Plan contingent upon all of the engineer’s comments being addressed and the issue of the dumpster requirement being resolved. Motion was seconded by Debbie Ryan Watts and passed without opposition. There was also a motion made by Judson Trapnell to approve the landscape plan for this project. Motion was seconded by Tim Lovezzola and passed without opposition.

4. Site Plan Review/Landscape Plan Review of American Port Services on Coleman Boulevard. Mark Crapps of Kern-Coleman & Company, representing National Warehousing, is proposing to construct a 129,000 square foot warehouse on 11.3 acres with an area of disturbance of 7.14 acres. This will be for dry good storage only with no chemicals. The project is proposed on two tracts of land, the railroad property is still a part of the City of Savannah and the other tract is within the city limits of Pooler. Chairman Holly Young asked if a recombination has been done on the two lots. The railroad property has to be annexed into the City of Pooler prior to the recombination. Annexation of this tract cannot take place until after January 2002 during the next Legislative Session. City Manager Dennis Baxter, the City of Savannah and John Kerns have been working on the annexation of the railroad property into the City of Pooler. The owner would like to proceed with development plans since the building is located on the Pooler side and the railroad property is being used only for truck and trailer parking. Mark Crapps confirmed that he has been working with Bill Nicholson on addressing all of the engineer’s comments. Mr. Crapps stated that the project could meet all of the development criteria even if the railroad property is not annexed into the City of Pooler. Following some discussion, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the site plan contingent upon the following: clarification from City of Savannah and Dennis Baxter regarding annexation and confirmation that the project will meet minimum development criteria if the annexation does not go thru and the properties are not combined. Motion was seconded by Fleta Pepper and passed with Judson Trapnell and Larry Olliff opposing. The landscape plan met the tree ordinance requirements. Therefore, a motion was made by Debbie Ryan Watts to approve the landscape plan with the stipulation if the lots are not combined the owner would need to submit a revised landscape plan to the board for their review and approval. Motion was seconded by Craig Brewer and passed with Judson Trapnell and Larry Olliff opposing.

5. Conceptual Master Plan Review of The Villages at Godley Station. Jack Wardlaw, Steve Hall of Godley Station Development Company and Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman Company presented the conceptual master plan of The Villages at Godley Station to the board for their review and comments. Mr. Wardlaw stated that they had met with the PUD Review Board prior to this meeting. Mr. Wardlaw described the Western Tract as an upscale-gated community with 362 large lots, nice lagoons, lots of greenspace and amenities. Homes within the Western Tract will begin at $250,000.00. Twenty acres within this gated community have been set aside for some upscale town homes or apartments. This is part of the 35 acres zoned for multi-family within the PUD Master Plan. Chairman Young questioned the access of emergency vehicles to the lagoons. Mr. Wardlaw assured the commission that at least a 25’ access easement would be provided for this purpose. The Northern Tract contains 508 lots with an overall density of 2.5 lots per acre. The lot sizes vary from 6500 sq. ft. to 8800 ft. Some of the comments from the PUD Review Board on the Northern Tract included the following: parking problems and minimum lot coverage with 65’ width lots and clarification from The Branigar Group regarding duplexes within the PUD Master Plan. With concern about duplexes and the small lots, Mr. Wardlaw stated that they are willing to change the acres set aside for duplexes to 70’ width single-family lots and work some more on the neo-traditional design. Mr. Wardlaw thanked the board for their input and stated they would bring some pictures and more detailed drawings to better visualize the neo-traditional design concept.

Councilwoman Billie Tyler introduced Denise Grabowski, City Planner for the City of Pt. Wentworth. Ms. Grabowski gave an informal overview of the new land use plan for the City of Pt. Wentworth. She also submitted a proposal to the board members for some training sessions. She has recently completed a training session with the Garden City Planning Commission. The board thanked her for coming and would get back with her on the training sessions.

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