Planning Commission

FAIRMONT PLANNING COMMISSION The regular meeting of the Fairmont Planning Commission was held on February 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street. President Oliver called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and asked for a roll call of members. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Members Present: Members Absent: President Oliver Commissioner Miller Commissioner Richardson Commissioner Parker Commissioner Weber Commissioner Majic Commissioner Greene Commissioner Pitman Commissioner Straight City Staff Present: Director of Planning and Development – Kathy Wyrosdick Recording Secretary – Maria Cipolla Commissioner Straight motions that Commissioners Parker and Miller be excused from the meeting. Commissioner Pitman seconds the motion. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President Oliver asked for a motion to approve the minutes from January 21, 2015. Commissioner Greene motioned to approve minutes. Commissioner Weber seconded. Vote was 7-0 in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS TO SET FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2015 1. Amendment to the City of Fairmont’s Comprehensive Plan to include the new Connectivity Plan, Action and Funding Recommendations and Rapid Health Impact Assessment. President Oliver asked City Planner, Kathy Wyrosdick, for an explanation of this. Kathy Wyrosdick explained that we are revisiting this in order to meet the statuary requirements to hold a public hearing on this matter. The Connectivity Plan, the Health Impact Assessment, and the Supplemental Action Recommendation are all encompass within the Comprehensive Plan with this amendment. We are requesting Council to establish a Pedestrian Safety board to look at existing sidewalks as well as the Connectivity Plan recommendation. Kathy is requesting the commissioners attend the first meeting on February 24, 2015 and the public hearing for City Council on March 24, 2015, to speak on behalf of this item. Kathy will be there to represent the Planning Commission. She has also extended the invitation to Jim Christy, the consultant from Thrasher at the time, Kate Greene, and Main Street who also worked on this to speak as well. 1 President Oliver asked for a motion Commissioner Weber motioned to approve Commissioner Majic seconded. Vote was 7-0 in favor. 2. Adam Rohaly is requesting the Right-of-Way abandonment of a portion of the alley between Parcels 138, 139, 140 and 243 of Tax Map 01-01. Kathy explained that Mr. Rohaly and his partner owns four of the parcels. They are requesting the alley way be abandoned so it may be used for additional parking. President Oliver asked if there was anyone here to speak in favor of this request. Adam Rohaly, one of the co-owners of these parcels, spoke about wanting to abandon the alley way for additional parking in the rear of their lot. Commissioner Pitman asked if it was an abandonment of the entire alley way. Kathy Wyrosdick explained that they are abandoning to the end of parcel 138. The rest is hillside. Commissioner Straight asked if there were any negative comments from the neighbors. Kathy Wyrosdick explained that Adam Rohaly and his partner own the surrounding parcels. President Oliver asked for a motion Commissioner Greene motioned to approve Commissioner Richardson seconded. Vote was 7-0 in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS TO SET FOR March 18, 2015 1. The adoption of an ordinance providing for a comprehensive amendment and update to Chapter One, Zoning Administration, Chapter Three, District and Regulations, and Chapter Five, Subdivision Regulations of the Fairmont City Code and adoption of the new Clear Zoning format. President Oliver asked for City Planner, Kathy Wyrosdick, for an explanation of this. Kathy Wyrosdick explained that there were about 36 changes from the original draft. They have taken out the Business Campus District section. There are also more graphics for the different types of signs. She is requesting a work session be scheduled for March 18, 2015 at 6 pm. She would also like to invite the City Council, some realtors, engineers, and architects that we traditionally work with to the work session. This would give us an opportunity to go over all the new amendments with them. President Oliver asked for a motion Commissioner Majic motioned to approve Commissioner Weber seconded. 2 NEW BUSINESS 1. Set a work session for March 18th at 6 pm with the Planning Commission, City Council, real estate companies, engineers, and architect firms on the New Planning & Zoning Code Book. Kathy Wyrosdick is requesting another work session with City Council since more than half the member of City Council are new and were not at the first work session. This will be open to the public as well. The Commissioners gave their approval and set a work session for March 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. CITIZENS PETITION None. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner’s Comments Commissioner Majic asked if anyone received letter from Republic Services increasing their rates by 44%. Commissioner Weber explained to him that the city has a contract with them. The letter applies to residents outside the city limits. The City’s contract is not up for another year. There will be a renegotiating and bidding process. The city has a lot of control over something like this happening. Commissioner Oliver complimented the city on their efforts on their snow removal. Staff Updates City Planner Wyrosdick  Your Neighborhood, Your Future Studio located at 305 10th Street (Across from Majic Touch) is a collective initiative between the City, the Urban Renewal Authority, and WVU. The students of WVU (four different classes) will use this place to show case their work for the next six months. The studio will work as a community center for meetings with residents, street festivals, help identify key-stake holders in the neighborhood, student surveys and help students with redevelopment opportunities within the Beltline. The Beltline is from Third Street to Beverly Road and from Fairmont Ave to the river. We will be also holding some of our meetings there for the Bad Buildings Team (the first one on March 3rd at 6:00 pm), the Urban Renewal Authority (next week will have a meeting there), and council members can also schedule a time slot to hold community meetings here as well. The Grand Opening will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm on March 9, 2015. We hope all of you can join us. President Oliver suggested that the Planning Commission could show their support by having one of their meeting here Kathy Wyrosdick suggested the April meeting since the March meeting will include a work session beforehand. President Oliver agreed.  Bad Buildings Update: We have a few key people still in place. Things are starting to pick up. The group wants to sponsor part of the Make Marion County Shine, on April 18th in neighborhoods hardest hit with bad buildings. Letters to property owners are drawn up and being mailed out. In April, the president of Marion County’s Habitat for Humanity, will be speaking to the group. 3   APA Planning Grant update: We did get word that we will not be receiving this grant. Kathy is allowed to follow up with them in two weeks and look into what we could have done to make our application more competitive for the next time. ADJOURNMENT President Oliver asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Straight motions to adorn Commissioner Weber seconded it. 4