CITY OF POOLER

PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES

October 12, 2009

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.  Members present were Charles Archer, Scotty Fletcher, Larry Olliff, Wilson Roberts, Mary Louise Lanier, Nancy Bachner and James Reardon. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Mayor Mike Lamb, Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver and Planning & Zoning Assistant Kimberly Classen were also in attendance. Chairman Wilson Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Charles Archer gave the invocation and Wilson Roberts led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed upon a motion made by Commissioner Reardon. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Olliff and passed without opposition.

PUBLIC HEARING:

1.      Competitive Auto Brokers has petitioned the City of Pooler for a conditional use to operate a wholesale/retail auto sales company at 807 West Highway 80:  Amber Sills, Owner, and James Manka, Business Partner, presented the conditional use request to the board for their review and recommendation. Mr. Manka stated that they are requesting approval to operate a wholesale/retail auto sales company. Further, stating that the main source of income will be based on the wholesale division, which consists of purchasing used vehicles from auctions all over the southeast and selling them directly to the dealerships, but would like to be able to resale used cars occasionally. In addition, he stated that they would like to advertise 12 to 14 vehicles if sales are good. The vehicles will be shipped directly from the auction to the dealerships so there will be no reconditioning on site nor any mechanical work. Mr. Manka also stated that the projection on retailing will not be more than 12 to 14 vehicles at any given time. The hours of operation will be Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There were concerns by the board regarding adequate paved parking for that many cars. In response, Mr. Manka stated that no cars will be parked on the grass at any given time. The board reminded the petitioner that the request stated that no more than seven (7) to eight (8) cars will be parked at this location. With no further comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Fletcher to recommend approval for a conditional use to operate a wholesale/retail auto sales company at 807 West Highway 80, contingent upon no mechanical work being completed on site and parking limited to the pavement only. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Archer and passed without opposition.

OLD BUSINESS:

2.      Towne Lake Park of Commerce, LLC has petitioned the City of Pooler for an 8’ sign height variance to construct a directory sign with an incorporated clock tower at 125 Southern Junction Boulevard: A letter was received from the petitioner asking to have this item withdrawn from the agenda. A motion was made by Commissioner Archer to accept the withdrawal. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Reardon, and passed without opposition.

Mark Crapps, of Kern-Coleman & Company asked the board if they would consider adding a site plan/landscape plan for Cap Barbell to the agenda. A motion was made by Commissioner Olliff to add this item to the agenda. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bachner and passed without opposition.

NEW BUSINESS:

3.      Site Plan / Landscape review for Cap Barbell located at 155 Distribution Drive: Mark Crapps of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the site plan to the board for their review and recommendation. The proposed warehouse is approximately 60,000 square feet with a concrete truck loading dock.  The project is located in an area currently designed as a Floodway. Typically, no fill material can be placed in a floodway. However, a “No-Rise” certification has been provided by Dan Robinson with Kimbely-Horn and Associates, along with data supporting the No-Rise finding. Mr. Crapps stated that Lot 6 is the last one within the confines of the North Point Development. There were concerns from the board regarding the turn around radius for the trucks and engineering comment # 1 pertaining to parking space requirements. In response, Mr. Crapps stated that since the proposed plan illustrates six (6) dock doors, the area was enlarged to eliminate the trucks having to utilize the cul-de-sac area for turning around. Also, the parking space width requirements according to the City of Pooler will be met. With no further comments, a motion was made by Commissioner Olliff to recommend approval of the site plan for Cap Barbell located at 155 Distribution Drive, contingent upon all of the engineering comments being addressed. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lanier and passed without opposition. Regarding the landscape plan, there was discussion concerning the number of proposed trees and the option of the reimbursement to the City for the unused trees. After extensive discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Archer to table the landscape plan to allow revisions to be made concerning the number of preferred trees. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bachner and passed without opposition.

There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Fletcher made a motion to adjourn at approximately 6:40 p.m. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lanier and passed without opposition.