Planning Commission

FAIRMONT PLANNING COMMISSION The regular meeting of the Fairmont Planning Commission was held on February 17, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street. President William 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 Greene Commissioner Weber Commissioner Richardson Commissioner Parker Commissioner Pitman Commissioner Majic Commissioner Straight Commissioner Miller Commissioner Straight excused Commissioner Greene from the meeting. Commissioner Parker seconded the motion. CITY STAFF City Manager – Robin Gomez Recording Secretary – Maria Cipolla PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM Special Session January 25, 2016 President Oliver asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Weber motioned to approve minutes. Commissioner Richardson seconded. Motion carried 8-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR February 17, 2016 1. THE APPLICATION DATED JANUARY 15, 2016, FROM JENNIFER HUEY, POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR THE H. DALE HUEY REVOCABLE TRUST, FOR FAIRMONT AVENUE PROPERTIES, LLC, TO ABANDON A PLATTED ALLEY RUNNING WEST TO EAST FROM FAIRMONT AVENUE TO GASTON AVENUE BETWEEN 10TH STREET AND 11TH STREET BETWEEN PARCELS 2 AND 3 OF MARION COUNTY TAX MAP 03-06. President Oliver asked if there was anyone here this evening to speak for this request. Jared Decker spoke on the behalf of Ms. Huey. We are here this evening for a formal abandonment of this right of way. We are working on a five parcel assembly there for a commercial development. President Oliver asked if there was anyone else here to speak for this request. Joe Staud said, I am a business man from this area and I am here to support the abandonment of this alleyway. It hasn’t been used for years. I see no reason why it shouldn’t be abandoned. This is good for the area and I’d like to see it happen. President Oliver asked if there was anyone here to speak against this request. There were none 1 President Oliver asked if there were any questions or discussion on this matter. There were none President Oliver asked for a motion. Commissioner Weber motioned to approve the request. Commissioner Miller Seconded the motion. Motion carries 8-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS TO SET FOR March 16, 2016 None. NEW BUSINESS 1. First discussion to possibly adopt a new city zoning map. President Oliver asked if there was anyone here to speak in favor of this proposal. Robin Gomez, City Manager showed them the map that is the first attempt to update the existing City’s zoning map. He would like more flexible and reasonable changes in some existing zoning areas within the City. The Commissioners and Mr. Gomez discussed the map, updating the Comprehensive Plan, the development of the new State Police facility, the possibility of a Sheetz, Dunkin Donuts moving in on Fairmont Avenue, the current traffic pattern on Fairmont Avenue and other roads as well as the need to have it surveyed due to all the upcoming development, and the present communication system between City Council and other city boards such as the BZA, Planning Commission and the Development Review Committee (DRC) at great length. CITIZENS PETITION None OTHER BUSINESS Commissioners Comments: The Commissioners agreed this was a very healthy and helpful discussion. Commissioner Parker added, things maybe happening and publicly discussed but there is no cross communication. We need to be proactive in planning and included in the city government conversations. Commissioner Oliver said, when the DRC was started, it was started to speed things along but eliminated much of our job, input, and knowledge away from projects. Planning Department Secretary, Maria Cipolla suggested that going forward we should start doing minutes at the DRC meetings and share them with City Council. We could also share minutes from other meeting with each other as well. Commissioner Weber ended the meeting by adding, the more informed we have the better decisions we can make. You can’t design the City if you don’t know what is happening within the City. STAFF UPDATES None ADJOURNMENT: President Oliver asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Straight made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Pitman seconded it. 2