The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pooler Planning and Zoning Commission was held on Monday, December 12, 2005 at 6 p.m. Members present were Charles Archer, Mary Louise Lanier, Wilson Roberts, Jim McQueeney, Carl King and Don Taylor. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton, Councilman Larry Olliff 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 Don Taylor 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. Erhead Properties, LLC has petitioned the City of Pooler to rezone approximately 16.4 acres at 1743 Quacco Road from R-A, Residential-Agricultural to C-1, a Light Commercial Zoning District. Ryan Thompson of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the rezoning request along with property owner Ryan Boland. The subject parcel consists of approximately 16.4 acres and is located on the west side of Quacco Road south of the Savannah Quarters PUD. Currently the zoning for this property is R-A (Residential – Agricultural District) and the existing use on site is one (1) single family residence. The property directly to the north of this parcel is zoned PUD as part of the Savannah Quarters development; wherein the proposed uses are for churches, commercial, and medical/office along the Pooler Parkway. Properties to the south, east and across Quacco Road to the west are zoned R-A, with current land uses of single family residential and vacant/agricultural. Mr. Thompson explained the requested zoning for this parcel is C-1, a Light Commercial Zoning and the allowable uses in this zoning would be compatible with the uses permitted along the Pooler Parkway within the Savannah Quarters PUD. The board was concerned about what was proposed and how the parcel was to be developed. Mr. Thompson stated that most likely the 16.4 acres would be subdivided into smaller tracts as a commercial subdivision. While the final uses for the property are not known at this time, the current plans are for medical / office uses and some commercial retail. On December 7th, a meeting was held with the adjacent property owners to hopefully address any concerns. The board members expressed concerns regarding how the rezoning would affect the surrounding residential areas and the church site to the north. Several representatives from the church are concerned that the rezoning would adversely affect their property with their future plans for a church site and day school located so close to the above referenced parcel. Other adjacent property owners, Mary Hammer and E. W. Ennis are not opposed to the rezoning but would like more information as to what is proposed on the parcel. Several property owners in Savannah Quarters stated they were opposed to the rezoning and urged the board members to give this request careful consideration. Hal Kraft of HGB&D spoke on behalf of Savannah Quarter Holdings and Cotter Christian. He stated that Mr. Christian is concerned about the proposed buffering from the residential areas in Savannah Quarters and asked if the developer would meet with him to discuss this prior to the council meeting. Councilwoman Rebecca Benton is concerned about the property owners that have purchased these very expensive lots in Westbrook Subdivision assuming the adjacent property to the south would remain residentially zoned. Commissioner Wilson Roberts stated that he is opposed to a blanket rezoning of the 16.4 acres and that if the rezoning was approved, extensive buffering restrictions and use restrictions would have to be in place as conditions to the rezoning. Zoning Administrator Jackie Carver questioned the need for the rezoning with such a variety of allowable uses in the R-A zoning district such as a medical center, childcare center and churches, just to mention a few. Commissioner Charles Archer also questioned if the property owner had researched all of his options considering all of the allowable uses listed in the R-A Zoning District. In response, Mr. Thompson stated the property owner would like to have the flexibility to add some commercial retail along with the proposed medical / office buildings. Following some discussion, a motion was made by Carl King to table this request for additional information to be provided regarding potential allowable uses and buffering concerns addressed on a preliminary development plan. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition. 

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Final Subdivision plat of Lot 15C of the Parkway Professional Plaza into four lots.

The petitioner was not present but the board has approved similar subdivision plats on lots 15A and 15B. A building has been constructed on Lot 15C and the owner wants to sell the individual units. Therefore, Jim McQueeney made a motion to recommend approval of the final subdivision plat of Lot 15C in the Parkway Professional Plaza into

four lots. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.

  1. Preliminary site plan / sketch plan review of a proposed commercial subdivision located approximately 4,000 feet west of Benton Boulevard on the north side of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway. Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the preliminary site plan for this proposed commercial subdivision to the board for their review and comments. Dickey Development, LLC plans to subdivide this tract into five parcels with a 45 foot access easement. One parcel will be developed as a mini-storage warehouse, two parcels will be developed as retail, and the remaining two out parcels will be developed as allowed under The City of Pooler C-2 development standards. Mr. Coleman reviewed the list of comments from Bill Nicholson as to how he would address each one. He also stated that the developer is proposing a 20’ undisturbed buffer to include possibly a berm to screen the commercial area from the residential development to the north. Commissioner Roberts recommended a circular drive be added to the Retail A building site for better truck delivery access. With no public comments, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to recommend approval of the preliminary site plan for a proposed commercial subdivision on the north side of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway subject to the plans being revised to address the board’s comments and the engineer’s comments.

Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.

  1. Preliminary construction plan for East Spine Road, Phase 3 (Easthaven Boulevard) in the Southwest Quadrant of Savannah Quarters. Hal Kraft of HGB&D presented the construction plans for East Spine Road, Phase 3 to the board for their review and recommendation. The Phase 3 project is for the construction of the East Spine Road extension to the amenity/park area, the Lift Station and infrastructure to future residential development in the Southwest Quadrant of Savannah Quarters. The board questioned who would own and maintain the amenity area. In response, Mr. Kraft stated that the homeowner’s association would probably be responsible for the amenity area. With no public comments, a motion was made by Charles Archer to recommend approval of the preliminary construction plan for East Spine Road, Phase 3 in Savannah Quarters subject to all of the engineer’s comments being addressed and clarification of who will own and maintain the amenity area. Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.
  1. Construction plan review of a 60” Storm Pipe Extension for South Godley Enterprises, LLC in the northeast corner of Park Avenue and Pooler Parkway.

Steve Wohlfeil of HGB&D presented the construction plans to cover a large drainage ditch in the northeast corner of Pooler Parkway and Park Avenue. The construction plan has been approved by Downer Davis of Davis Engineering, Inc. With no public comment, a motion was made by Carl King to approve the construction plan of a 60” Storm Pipe Extension for South Godley Enterprises, LLC in the northeast corner of Park Avenue and Pooler Parkway. Motion was seconded by Jim McQueeney and passed without opposition.

 

  1. Acceptance of Performance Bond / Final Plat review of Hamilton Grove, Phase 3.

Ryan Smith of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the final plat of Hamilton Grove, Phase 3 to the board for their review and recommendation. Phase 3 contains 67 lots and is located in Savannah Quarters south of East Haven Boulevard. The subdivision is not complete; therefore the developer has posted a bond in the amount of $126,208.11 to guarantee completion of the work in order for the plat to be recorded. With no public comment, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney to accept the performance bond and recommend approval of the final plat for Hamilton Grove, Phase 3. Motion was seconded by Charles Archer and passed without opposition.

 

  1. Acceptance of Performance Bond / Final Plat review of Hamilton Grove, Phase 6.

Ryan Smith of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company presented the final plat of Hamilton Grove, Phase 6 to the board for their review and recommendation. Phase 6 contains 50 lots and is located in Savannah Quarters south of East Haven Boulevard. The subdivision is not complete; therefore the developer has posted a bond in the amount of $1,175,167.54 to guarantee completion of the work in order for the plat to be recorded. With no public comment, a motion was made by Charles Archer to accept the performance bond and recommend approval of the final plat for Hamilton Grove, Phase 6. Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition.

Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company appeared before the board to request adding an item to the agenda. Following some discussion, a motion was made by Jim McQueeney to add the acceptance of the maintenance bond and final plat review for Morgan’s Corner as item # 8.

Motion was seconded by Wilson Roberts and passed without opposition.

  1. Acceptance of Maintenance Bond / Final Plat review of Morgan’s Corner – a commercial subdivision located in the northeast corner of Pine Barren Road and Pooler Parkway. Terry Coleman of Kern-Coleman & Company presented the final plat for Morgan’s Corner to the board for their review and recommendation. The subdivision is complete but there were some punch list items noted by the Public Works Department. 

They hope to have these punch list items corrected to schedule a re-inspection in a couple of days. Once this inspection is complete and all items have been addressed, the city will accept a maintenance bond in the amount of $172,540.95 to cover any defects that may occur during the l year maintenance period. With no public comment, a motion was made by Wilson Roberts to accept the maintenance bond and recommend approval of the final plat for Morgan’s Corner. Motion was seconded by Carl King and passed without opposition. 

There being no further business to come before this board, a motion of adjournment was made

by Jim McQueeney and seconded by Carl King. Motion passed