CITY OF POOLER
PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES
JULY 25, 2005

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, July 25, 2005 at 6 p.m.   Members present were: Charles Archer, Wilson Roberts, Mary Louise Lanier, Carl King, Don Taylor, Elinor Minshew and Jim McQueeney. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Larry Olliff, Councilman Michael Royal, Councilman Bruce Allen and Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver were also in attendance.  Chairman Don Taylor called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.

Charles Archer gave the invocation and Carl King led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon a motion made by Wilson Roberts.          Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. Phillip R. McCorkle, agent for Ping Tyner, has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 3.92 acres on east Highway 80 from R-A-1 to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning.  Attorney Phillip McCorkle, representing Ping Tyner, presented the rezoning petition to the board for their review and recommendation.   The 3.92 acre tract extends through to Old Louisville Road and is adjacent to the commercial/retail units currently under construction on east Highway 80.  The existing house on the rear of the lot will be removed and a non-access easement will be recorded.  As with the adjacent Haygood tract that was previously rezoned to C-2, the same uses will be eliminated on this parcel along with large building setbacks, fencing and buffers.  Wilson Roberts reminded the petitioner about dedicating additional right-of-way for future widening of Old Louisville Road.  A sixty foot right-of-way is needed; not off-set but in a straight line.  Mr. McCorkle stated that would be no problem due to the depth of the lot.    Councilwoman Rebecca Benton asked Mr. McCorkle if he plans to extend water and sewer to this development.  In response, he stated this is a small development, but he would research the possibility prior to the council meeting.  With no public comments, a motion was made by Charles Archer to recommend approving the rezoning of 3.92 acres on east highway 80 from R-A-l to C-2 with the condition the following uses will not be permitted: used auto sales and service, truck service centers, mobile home sales or repairs, bars or nightclubs and family entertainment centers and dedication of additional right-of-way for Old Louisville Road.  Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
  1. Ryan Thompson, agent for property owner Abercorn Site, LLC has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 8.311 acres from C-1 to R-1A, a Single Family Residential Zoning.   Ryan Thompson of Thomas & Hutton Engineering presented the rezoning request to the board for their review and recommendation.  This parcel was once a portion of the Central of Georgia Railroad right-of-way.  The property is currently zoned C-1 (light commercial district) and is 8.311 acres with dimensions of approximately 200 feet by 1,800 feet.  The southern 60 feet of this right-of-way will be used for access to the R-4 townhome development.  The requested rezoning is to allow for the remaining portion of this right-of-way to be sub-divided into 15 (100 x 140) single family lots.  Ike LaRoache, an adjacent property owner is concerned about a drainage ditch that drains the back of his lot.  Mr. Thompson stated the ditch is not on the Central of Georgia Railroad right-of-way and would not be affected by this development.  The board questioned if a buffer would be required with commercial abutting a residential district.  Since the zoning change would create an undue burden on the commercial side, the board recommends a 20’ undisturbed buffer on the rear of these residential lots.  Following some discussion, Wilson Roberts made a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning of 8.311 acres from C-1 to R-1A with the stipulation that a 20’ undisturbed buffer will be placed on the rear lot lines at the time the plat is recorded.  Motion was seconded by Elinor Minshew and passed without opposition.
  1. Ryan Thompson, agent for Lisa Mock and Pat French, has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone 8.2 acres from R-1A to R-4, a town home/condominium zoning district.

Ryan Thompson of Thomas & Hutton Engineering stated on behalf of his client, Abercorn Site, LLC, he is requesting to withdraw the rezoning request at this time.  Therefore, a motion was made by Elinor Minshew to accept the withdrawal of this item.  Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

  1. Sketch plan approval/final PUD approval for the proposed Harmony Townes project – Option B in the Jabot  PUD.  Jeff Carper of HGB&D presented the proposed project to the board for their review and recommendation.  Harmony Townes consists of 203 single family townhome units on Tract B of Jabot PUD.  The project meets all current PUD requirements for setbacks, minimum building width and units per building.  Ten floor plans will be offered with square footage ranging between 1200 to 1600 square feet.  Chairman Don Taylor reminded the board members that this project was approved by the PUD Review Board prior to this meeting.  Charles Archer questioned the need to widen the two-lane spine road with the number of units proposed at build-out.  Mr. Carper stated Thomas and Hutton Engineering did the road design and a traffic study was probably done.  He will check with Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company regarding this issue. With no other comments, a motion was made by Elinor Minshew for final PUD approval of the proposed Harmony Townes project.  Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.  Furthermore, a motion was made by Elinor Minshew to recommend approval of the sketch plan for the proposed Harmony Townes project.  Motion  was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.
  1. Final Plat Review for Phase 1A of The Gates at Savannah Quarters.   Jacob Lang of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the final plat for Phase I of The Gates to the board for their review and recommendation.  Phase I of the Gates at Savannah Quarters will consist of 156 single family residential lots.  A PUD revision was approved on July 18, 2005 by Pooler City Council to allow limited access and private streets which are noted on the subdivision plat in note # 9.  A construction bond will be posted for all construction associated with Phase IA of this development in order for the plat to be recorded.  Mrs. Carver stated according to the subdivision ordinance in “A” Flood Zones, the developer shall establish base flood elevations and finished floor elevations for each lot.  With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to recommend approval of the Final Plat for Phase 1A of The Gates at Savannah Quarters subject to the base flood elevation data being placed on the plat along with minimum finished floor elevations on each lot.  Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.
  1. Sketch plan review of Ron Walker’s Real Estate office at 511 West Highway 80 Clay Loyless of Kern-Coleman and Company presented the sketch plan to the board for their review and comments.  Ron Walker is proposing to build an 8,400 square foot office building on a l acre parcel adjacent to Coastal Bank. Chairman Don Taylor questioned if there is a legal egress/ingress easement across the front of Coastal Bank’s lot.  Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company stated that when the property was sold to Coastal Bank there was an agreement to grant an easement across the front of their lot.  Councilwoman Rebecca Benton recommended the use of earth tone colors similar to Coastal Bank.  With no other comments, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney and seconded by Mary Louise Lanier to approve the sketch plan for Ron Walker’s Real Estate Office building.  Motion passed without opposition. 
  1. Site development plan for American Commercial Retail Center on lot 13 of the Daniels Tract.  Mark Pickering of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the site plan for a 31,000 square foot shopping center to the board for their review and recommendation.  This is a proposed 7 acre commercial development on the north side of U. S. 80 east of the Pooler Parkway.  The dumpster pad location was omitted from this plan by mistake.  Therefore, a motion was made by Charles Archer to recommend approval of the site plan for American Commercial Retail Center subject to the dumpster pad being added to the plans.  Motion was seconded by Elinor Minshew and passed without opposition.
  1. Final plat review of Pooler Business Development Park.  Chairman Don Taylor stepped down to abstain from any discussion of this item.  Co-Chairman Charles Archer chaired the meeting for this item.  Dan Fisher of EMC Engineering Company presented the final plat to the board for their review and recommendation.  The 16.2 acre commercial subdivision is located on east Highway 80 between Sharon Court and Pine Barren Road.  Two curb-cuts onto U. S. Highway 80 are proposed for access to this subdivision.    The project is not yet under construction so the developer will post a bond in order for the subdivision plat to be recorded.  With no public comments, a motion was made by Elinor Minshew to approve the final plat for Pooler Business Development Park.  Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.  Chairman Don Taylor returned to his seat on the board.
  1. Sketch plan review of a Commercial development on lot 1, Pooler Business Development Park.  Clay Loyless of Kern-Coleman & Company, LLC presented the sketch plan for a commercial development on lot 1 to the board for their review and comments.  Ten units are proposed and adequate parking has been provided. Following some discussion about the removal of several large oak trees, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney to approve the sketch plan for a commercial development on lot l, Pooler Business Development Park.  Motion was seconded by Elinor Minshew and passed without opposition.
  1. Construction plan review of infrastructure to serve Live Oak Plaza in the Godley Station PUD.  Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented construction plans for the spine road infrastructure to serve the Live Oak Plaza within the Godley Station PUD.  The roadways and drainage system within the project will be public, and will be maintained by the City of Pooler.  Downer Davis of Davis Engineering, Inc. has several comments to be addressed prior to going to council and five additional comments for consideration only. Following some discussion about the comments, Elinor Minshew made a motion to recommend approval of the construction plans for the infrastructure to serve the Live Oak Plaza subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed.  Motion was seconded by Jim McQueeney and passed without opposition.

Charity Peterson, a citizen of Pooler, appeared before the board to express her concerns about the color of buildings, signage and strip centers along the Highway 80 corridor.  Elinor Minshew stated she would be glad to discuss with Ms. Peterson some proposed plans for a proposed downtown historic district after the meeting. 

There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Elinor Minshew and seconded by Jim McQueeney.  Motion passed.