Planning Commission

COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 25, 2010 The Cookeville Planning Commission met on Monday, January 25, 2010 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 45 E. Broad Street, Cookeville, Tennessee. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Stafne, Dr. Angelo Volpe, Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser, Judy Jennings, Chris Wakefield, Ryan Williams, Aaron Bernhardt, Randy Dalton, and Matt Swallows. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Shipley, James Mills, Jayne Barns, Ken Young, and Greg Brown. OTHERS PRESENT: Michael Sams, Carrie Gordzelik, Robert Archer, Brian Paddock, Lloyd & Gail Harris, Bill Cameron, and Liz Engel. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE AGENDA AS AMENDED TO INCLUDE ACTION ITEM #6: CONSIDER FOR ACTION RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONDUCT RANDOM SURVEY. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY THE COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION. Ryan Williams made the motion to approve the agenda as amended to include Action Item #6: Consider for action recommendation to the City Council to conduct random survey. Judy Jennings seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 30, 2009. Dr. Angelo Volpe made the motion to approve the minutes of December 30, 2009. Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. CONSIDER FOR ACTION REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF BILL SMITH ROAD AND FOREMAN DRIVE FROM RS10 (SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO CG (GENERAL COMMERCIAL). REQUEST SUBMITTED BY LLOYD AND GAIL HARRIS AND REPRESENTED BY BILL CAMERON. THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED ON AUGUST 28, 2008. James Mills stated that Mr. Bill Cameron, representing property owners Lloyd and Gail Harris has submitted a request to rezone from RS-10, Single Family Residential to CG, General Commercial property located at the corner of Bill Smith Road and Foreman Drive. A request to rezone this property to CG was denied by the Planning Commission in August of 2008. The subject property is identified as Parcel 57.02 on Tax Map 65. According to the records of the Putnam County Property Assessor the property consists of approximately 1.4 acres. The property is contiguous with the Bill Smith Subdivision and RS-10 zoning to the west, with CG zoning to the north and east, and with CI, Commercial-Industrial Mixed Use zoning to the south. The western portion of the subject property, consisting of approximately 1 acre, was originally platted as Lot No. 1 of the Bill Smith Subdivision. COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION 2 JANUARY 25, 2010 The remaining 0.4 acre of the property was a remnant from the realignment of Bill Smith Road and Foreman Drive that was at some point combined with the lot from the Bill Smith Subdivision. There is a significant elevation difference in the property with the western 1 acre section at a much higher elevation than the 0.4 acre eastern section. The Comprehensive Future Land Use Plan indicates that the property is best suited for mixed density residential use; however, it is contiguous with areas depicted as suitable for general commercial and commercial-industrial mixed use. Bill Smith Road and Foreman Drive are classified in the Comprehensive Plan as Major Collector Streets. The property has adequate access to public utilities. Property owners in the Bill Smith Subdivision previously provided information that the portion of the subject property identified as Lot No. 1 of the Bill Smith Subdivision is subject to deed restrictions that restrict it to residential use. If this portion of the property is prohibited from commercial use, rezoning it would not be appropriate. While the portion of the property not originally a part of the Bill Smith Subdivision may be suitable for commercial zoning, setback requirements (30 feet from all street frontage) would significantly limit its development potential. Staff recommended denial of the request. Robert Archer, 889 Bill Smith Road, was opposed to more commercial in their neighborhood. Bill Cameron, representative for Lloyd & Gail Harris, stated that you could not see the lot being considered for rezoning from the adjacent subdivision. He added that he had contacted J & S Construction and that the Stites family was not opposed to the rezoning. Mr. Cameron stated that there was a problem with the deed restrictions and that the only way that they could be corrected would be if everyone in the Subdivision signed that they are okay with the rezoning or by action of the Chancery Court. Lloyd Harris passed out photographs of the area. Carrie Gordzelik, 855 James Street, stated that you could see this property from the Subdivision and she was opposed to the rezoning due to additional traffic that would be generated in a residential neighborhood. Michael Sams, 856 James Street, was opposed due to the increase traffic and quality of life if commercial continues into the residential area. Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser made the motion to deny the rezoning request. Ryan Williams seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. DENIED. James Mills stated that the petitioner had the right to appeal the decision to the City Council by submitting a request in writing to the Planning Department. COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION 3 JANUARY 25, 2010 CONSIDER FOR ACTION PLANS FOR LEE SEMINARY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY STAFF. James Mills stated that plans for the extension of Lee Seminary Road from its current intersection with Holladay Road east to South Willow Avenue have been developed. Tennessee Code Section 13-4- 104 provides that once a Plan has been adopted for a municipality the location and extent of all proposed street or utility construction projects must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Commission. The Lee Seminary Road improvement project is approximately 3,186 feet in length and is to be constructed as the primary access point from South Willow Avenue to the planned regional industrial-business park located west of Holladay Road. It involves improving an existing section of Lee Seminary Road from Holladay Road east for a distance of approximately 2,600 feet to where Lee Seminary Road turns south. At this point a new street extension of approximately 586 feet in length to South Willow Avenue is planned. The project involves the construction of three (3) travel lanes, twelve (12) feet in width, with shoulders three (3) feet in width. No sidewalks are planned. The existing southern portion of Lee Seminary that runs from South Willow Avenue would stop where it will intersect at the new street extension. The renaming of this southern section should be considered at some point in the future. Mr. Greg Brown, Director of the Public Works Department, is available to address any specific questions regarding the project. The proposed extension and improvements of Lee Seminary Road are not identified in the 1999-2020, Cookeville Comprehensive Plan but are included the 2010 updated plan. It is specifically depicted as project number six (6) in the proposed revised Major Street Plan component of the Plan. Staff recommended approval of the project. Brian Paddock asked if the Planning Commission would be reviewing the engineering plans for Pedestrian and Bike Lanes. James Mills stated that the Planning Commission only reviews the project to see if it complies with the Comprehensive Plan. Greg Brown responded that he has the Preliminary Plan that anyone can review after the meeting. Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser made the motion to approve the project in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, but would like to encourage in the future non vehicular lanes where possible in areas located in the Urban Growth Boundary. Dr. Angelo Volpe seconded the motion and the motion carried. APPROVED. CONSIDER FOR ACTION PLANS FOR HIGHLANDS BUSINESS PARK MAJOR ROADWAY PLAN. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY STAFF. James Mills stated that plans for the construction of the streets for the regional industrial-business park have been developed. Tennessee Code Section 13-4-104 provides that once a Plan has been adopted COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION 4 JANUARY 25, 2010 for a municipality the location and extent of all proposed street or utility construction projects must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Commission. The Highland Business Park Major Roadway Plan involves the construction of approximately 8,706 lineal feet of new streets to serve the regional industrial-business park located west of Holladay Road. The project begins at Lee Seminary Road just west of Holladay Road and extends westward through the properties proposed for development of the industrial-business park. The streets are to consist of four (4) twelve foot wide travel lanes with curb and gutter. A vegetated median up to 20 feet in width, which will serve as a bio swale for water detention, will be provided. Sidewalks, six (6) feet in width on both sides of the streets, are to be constructed. The sidewalks will be located ten (10) feet from the edge of the street curbs. The project requires the construction of a bridge, approximately 265 feet in length across Cane Creek. A roundabout will be used at the intersection with Lee Seminary Road. Mr. Greg Brown, Director of the Public Works Department, is available to address any specific questions regarding the project. The proposed construction of the industrial-business park road is generally identified in the 1999-2020, Cookeville Comprehensive Plan. The project is also included in the 2010 updated plan. It is specifically depicted as project number five (5) in the proposed 2010 Major Street Plan component of the Plan. Staff recommended approval of the project. There was a suggestion by the Board that the Public Works Department look for a solution to the southern portion of Lee Seminary Road by either changing the name or closing that section of the road and adding a cul-de-sac. Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser made the motion to approve the project in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Dr. Angelo Volpe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. CONSIDER FOR ACTION RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A RANDOM SURVEY. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY THE COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION. James Mills stated that the Planning Commission had expressed an interest at its work session in conducting a random survey of Cookeville citizens to gather input into the update of the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that completion of the survey would require the approval of the City Council. The Planning Department has posted on the City’s website an informal survey to gather input from residents on the plan updates which include: Background for Planning, Environment and Nature Factors, Socio-Economic Factors, Existing Land Use Analysis, and Transportation Analysis. Staff recommended approval of the random survey. COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION 5 JANUARY 25, 2010 Randy Dalton made the motion recommending that the City Council approve conducting a random survey for the Comprehensive Plan. Dr. Angelo Volpe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser made the motion to take the following items for study. Dr. Angelo Volpe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. STUDY ITEMS. (1) CONSIDER FOR STUDY 2010 ANNUAL REPORT AND PROGRAM DESIGN. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY STAFF. (2) CONSIDER FOR STUDY REZONING 1629 MCCULLEY ROAD FROM RS20 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO RS10 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL). REQUEST SUBMITTED BY R. L. OAKLEY JR. AND TIM HUDDLESTON. STAFF REPORTS: (1) MINOR PLAT APPROVALS: • ABBY DIVISION – 2 LOTS LOCATED ON WHITSON’S CHAPEL ROAD – GREG LANE. • WALKER & MATTSON SUBDIVISION – 2 LOTS LOCATED ON NORTH WASHINGTON AVENUE – BILL WALKER & JACK MATTSON. • THE MEADOWS RESUBDIVISION LOTS 5-7 – 2 LOTS LOCATED ON MCKINLEY STREET – RYAN WILLIAMS. (2) UPDATE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – DEVELOPMENT PLAN ELEMENT. James Mills stated that Chapters 2-6 of the Comprehensive Plan update have been posted on the City’s website. Comments and suggestions from the residents of Cookeville and the Urban Growth Boundary are encouraged and may be submitted online. In early 2010 the Cookeville Planning Commission will begin scheduling Public Workshops and Hearings regarding the preparation of the Development Plan Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Notices regarding these hearings will be placed in the Herald Citizen and on the City’s website. ADJOURNMENT: 6:20 P.M. SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL SUBMITTED FOR RECORDING ____________________________ _________________________________ JAYNE BARNS CPS JIM STAFNE, CHAIRMAN PLANNING ASSISTANT COOKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION