CITY OF POOLER

PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2002                    

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 6 p.m.   Members present were:  Larry Olliff, Glenda Champion, Wilson Roberts, Debbie Ryan Watts and Fleta Pepper.  Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver, City Planner Tim Inglis, Councilman Travis Cowart, Councilman Wayne Seay, Councilman Jack Brewton and Councilwoman Billie Tyler were also in attendance.  Co-Chairman Larry Olliff called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.   

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

Councilwoman Billie Tyler introduced Don Taylor as our new alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission and administered the Oath of Office. 

PUBLIC HEARING: 

1.        John Downing, Jr.’s request to rezone 5.3 acres on Pine Barren Road from MH-2B, a manufactured home dwelling district to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning District.  Mr. Downing presented this request to the board for their review and recommendation.  Mr. Downing stated that the land is triangular shaped with 600’ frontage on I-95 and approximately 600’ frontage on Pine Barren Road. He further stated that due to the noise factor along I-95, the property is not suitable for residential development. Clem Burnsed, Sr., of 310 Old Pine Barren Road opposes the rezoning because he feels the surrounding area is predominately residential.  Keith Caswell of 306 Old Pine Barren Road objects due to existing noise already generated by I-95. Commissioner Debbie Ryan Watts opposes the spot zoning.  Therefore, a motion was made by Don Taylor to deny Mr. Downing’s request to rezone 5.3 acres on Pine Barren Road from MH-2B to C-2, a Heavy Commercial Zoning District.  Motion was seconded by Debbie Ryan Watts and passed without opposition.

2.        Marvin Strickland’s request to rezone 2.37 acres on Pine Barren Road from I-2, a Heavy Industrial Zoning to I-1, a Light industrial Zoning.  Mr. Strickland would like to move his business from the center of town to Pine Barren Road (lot 18). The setback requirements for I-2, a Heavy Industrial Zoning are too restrictive for Mr. Strickland to build an office and a warehouse on this site.  By rezoning to I-1, an additional 24,500 square feet of usable land will be available because of less restrictive setbacks in I-1, a Light Industrial Zoning.  Wilson Roberts stated this would be transitional zoning because the lot is located between a C-2 district and an I-2 district.  With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to approve Mr. Strickland’s request to rezone 2.37 acres on Pine Barren Road from I-2, a Heavy Industrial Zoning to I-1, a Light Industrial Zoning.  Motion was seconded by Don Taylor and passed without opposition. 

3.        J. M. Woods, Inc. as agent for the Morgan Family to rezone 824 acres from an “undefined” zoning to a PUD zoning, which is a Planned Unit Development.  This item was discussed earlier during the PUD Review Board Meeting.  Jim Woods, representing the Morgan Family, presented this request to the board for their review and recommendation. The subject property has been owned by the Morgan Family since 1946.  The property lies within the jurisdiction of Pooler and Bloomingdale.  Access for the property will consist of two median cuts off the Pooler Parkway, two access points off of Pine Barren Road and one access point from U.S. Highway 80.  Light Industrial Zoning was chosen for the following reasons:  access points are off major thoroughfares and a natural buffer is provided with 40% of the acreage set aside for wetlands. Mr. Woods explained that the Morgan Family has worked on this project for approximately two years, seeking advice of planners and marketing experts.  Everyone agreed that light industrial is the best use for the property.  The Morgan Family has met with adjacent property owners and city officials from the City of Pooler and the City of Bloomingdale.  Coastal Georgia RDC, in response to the DRI submittal, reported it was in the best interest of the City of Pooler to approve the project.  With no public comment, Debbie Ryan Watts made a motion to approve the Morgan Family’s request to rezone 824 acres from an “undefined” zoning to a PUD zoning, which is a Planned Unit Development contingent upon item # 9 listed under permitted uses in Light Industrial be moved under “conditional uses”.  Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition. 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: 

4.        Westbrook Subdivision, Phase 3B Final Plat Review/Approval.  Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D stated that because of bonding requirements, the developer has decided to only record the first 12 lots of the subdivision at this time. The plat will be recorded as Phase 3B-1.  A motion was made by Wilson Roberts to approve Phase 3B-1 final plat for recording. Motion was seconded by Debbie Ryan Watts and passed without opposition.   

5.    Westbrook Subdivision, Phase 3C Final Plat Review/Approval.  Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D stated that because of bonding requirements, the developer has decided to only record the first 14 lots of the subdivision at this time.  The plat will be recorded as Phase 3C-1.   A motion was made by Wilson Roberts to approve Phase 3C-1 final plat for recording.  Motion was seconded by Glenda Champion and passed without opposition. 

  1. Amendment to the Westbrook PUD Development Standards for Phases I, III and V Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented the change in the development standards for Westbrook, Phases I, III and V.  The development standards needed to be amended to add guest homes as a permitted use in Phases I, III and V.  During the PUD Review Board meeting, Wilson Roberts and Tim Inglis recommended a change in the wording for clarification.  The words “primary structure or attached or detached accessory building” replaced “detached accessory building” in the amendment.  A motion was made by Debbie Ryan Watts to approve the amendment of Westbrook PUD Development Standards for Phases I, III and V contingent upon the change being made in the wording of the amendment.   Motion was seconded by Don Taylor and passed without opposition.
  1. Godley Villages Northern Tract, Phase 3B Final Plat Review/Approval.   Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the 30 lot subdivision plat of the Northern Tract, Phase 3B to the board for their review and recommendation.  The developer will post a performance bond in order for the final plat to be recorded.   City Planner Tim Inglis reminded Mr. Coleman that a thicker buffering was requested when the greenspace plan for the Northern Tract was approved by this board in January, 2002.  Mr. Coleman stated that the underbrush would not be cut on this tract. Mrs. Carver questioned the need for an easement along Godley Station Boulevard that was requested by Jeff Thornburg.  Mr. Coleman stated that he would check on the easement. A motion was made by Wilson Roberts to approve Phase 3B of the Northern Tract.  Motion was seconded by Don Taylor and passed without opposition. 

 

  1. Discussion of Appendix A, Article III, (F), regarding whether a nonconforming use which is changed to a conforming use shall be permitted to revert to the original or less restrictive use.    The board was not ready to take action on this item.  Therefore, a motion was made by Fleta Pepper to table this item for two weeks.  Motion was seconded by Glenda Champion and passed without opposition.      

 

There being no further business to come before the board, a motion of adjournment was made by Debbie Ryan Watts and seconded by Wilson Roberts.