Planning Commission Agendas & Minutes

AT THE WORK SESSION OF THE HAMPTON PLANNING COMMISSION HELD IN THE LAWSON CONFERENCE ROOM, 8TH FLOOR, CITY HALL, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6 2013, AT 3:00 P.M. Chairman Gregory Williams, Vice Chairman Gaynette LaRue, and Commissioners Carlton Campbell, James Young, and Andre McCloud were present. Commissioners Chris Snead and Mary Bunting were absent. Mr. Terry O’Neill, Secretary to the Commission, opened the floor for questions and comments regarding the agenda items. Mr. O’Neill stated under the Director’s Report he will mention that due to the next meeting falling on the July 4 holiday, under the By-Laws the meeting will be continued to the following Thursday, July 11. Mr. O’Neill stated there will be a brief closed executive session for commissioners only after today’s meeting. The Commission will adjourn to the Lawson Conference room. The only Public Hearing item is Zoning Ordinance Amendment 074-2013. In response to a question from Commissioner McCloud, Mr. O’Neill stated Senior City Planner Donald Whipple would give a briefing on the amended proposal for the Taylor Robinson Funeral Home proposal. Donald Whipple stated the applicant had, after their presentation to the Commission, asked to have their application delayed going forward to City Council to allow them an opportunity to review what had been discussed in the hearing and to incorporate recommended changes. In response to a question from Commissioner McCloud, Mr. Whipple stated that improvements to North King Street is a project recommended in the North King Street Master Plan. Work is now being done on Phase 2 and the only street that may close is McAlva Drive. In response to a question from Commissioner LaRue, Planning and Zoning Administration Manager Keith Cannady stated that the proposed exit off I-64 onto North King Street will be included in the long range plans. In response to Mr. O’Neill on what Hampton First is doing, Commissioner LaRue stated there was a proposal to build condominiums on the Amory property at the end of South King Street. Most of the board members did not like that idea. She stated she has a proposal for the conversion of the court house. Chairman Williams stated he has heard that Dr. Harvey has his own proposal. Planning Commission Worksession 20130606 Page 1 The meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m. Planning Commission Worksession 20130606 Page 2 AT A PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE HAMPTON PLANNING COMMISSION HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 8TH FLOOR, CITY HALL, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013 AT 3:30 P.M. ITEM I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Gregory Williams called the Planning Commission meeting to order. ITEM II. ROLL CALL A call of the roll noted Commissioners Mary Bunting and Chris Snead were absent. Commissioner Bunting’s presence was noted at 3:55 p.m. and Commissioner Snead’s presence was noted at 4:10 p.m. ITEM III. MINUTES A motion was made by Vice-Chairman LaRue, seconded by Commissioner Young, to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2013 work session and Planning Commission meeting. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Campbell, Young, McCloud, LaRue, Williams NAYS: None ABST: None ABSENT: Bunting, Snead ITEM IV. STAFF REPORTS Youth Planner Report Chyna Matheny, Junior Youth Planner stated the Hampton Youth Commission year has come to an end and a celebration will be held at Buckroe Beach on June 10, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. During the year work was done on the Youth Guidebook; focus groups were held; a survey was done for youth input; and the youth worked with the CIP Forum and the budgets chats and learned how a budget is formed and maintained. There are nine new Youth Commissioners. Michael York was elected as Chair of the Youth Commission. During the summer months, the Commission will hold its annual boot camp where the Commission will be trained on local government basics, diversity, work styles, and professionalism. Commissioners will also be given the chance to get to know each other better through teambuilding activities, and to develop an understanding of the Hampton Youth Commission and its history. PC Minutes 20130606 Page 1  Recruiting has been done for a new Youth Planner. The Youth Planners will receive training this summer in preparation for the upcoming Commission year; upcoming planning projects will be worked on with adult Planning staff. It has been a great year, and with each year it is important to have high expectations for the upcoming one. Goals have already been set with the addition of fresh new perspectives. Ms. Matheny stated she appreciates the opportunity given to her this past year in her work with the Youth Planners and the Youth Commission. She enjoys the community ties it has given her and is looking forward to her year as Senior Youth Planner. Chairman Williams stated he would like an opportunity to meet the new Youth Planner and the Youth Commissioners. Commissioner Campbell welcomed to the meeting a former Senior Youth Planner, Evelyn Baumgardner. He expressed his enjoyment in seeing the growth and confidence in these youth during their time with the City and thanked them for what they do. Community Development Department Director and Secretary to the Commission Terry O’Neill also recognized the presence of Evelyn Baumgardner. Evelyn Baumgardner informed the Commission she has finished her first year at Mary Washington College. She credited her time working as a Youth Planner, and working with the Youth Commission and Planning staff, as excellent preparation for the future. James Payne, Senior Youth Planner, informed the Commission of his plans which include going to Thomas Nelson Community College. During his senior year in high school he also completed his first year of college at Thomas Nelson and will go on from there to the University of Virginia or possibly The College of William and Mary for political science and law school. His job as a Youth Planner has prepared him to “take on the world.” He will miss working with the Planning Division and thanked those with whom he had worked. Public Hearing Procedures Mr. O’Neill read key points of the Hampton Planning Commission Public Hearing/Comment Rules in order for the affairs of the Commission to be conducted in a courteous and orderly manner. V. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS A. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 074-2013: Ordinance to Amend and Re- Enact Chapter 18.1 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Hampton, Virginia, PC Minutes 20130606 Page 2  Entitled “Signs” by Amending Section 18.1-11Pertaining to Off-Premises Advertising Signs. Senior Deputy City Attorney Vanessa Valldejuli stated this is a housekeeping amendment that deletes a conflicting provision found in former subsection (c). The reference to Planning Director was also changed to reflect the correct department which is now Community Development. There are other minor grammar and technical changes. In response to a question from Vice Chairman LaRue, Ms. Valldejuli stated the amendment does affect billboards. In section 2, billboards are allowed to be relocated within the same lot or on a contiguous lot split off from that lot. Subsection (c) conflicted with the intent of the original ordinance. In 1988, billboards were frozen in time and no more were to be allowed, but some relocation of them would be allowed. Mr. O’Neill stated at the time the ordinance was adopted only those currently existing billboards were to be allowed and they could be maintained or slightly relocated. The ordinance would not permit any additional billboards within the city. In response to a question from Chairman Williams, Mr. O’Neill stated billboards can be rebuilt but there can be no new billboard faces on different locations. Staff recommended approval of Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 074-2013. There were no speakers. After discussion, the Commission approved the following resolution: WHEREAS: the Hampton Planning Commission has before it this day ZOA 074-2013, a proposed Ordinance to Amend and Re-Enact Chapter 18.1 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Hampton, Virginia, Entitled “Signs” by Amending Section 18.1-11 Pertaining to Off-Premises Advertising Signs; WHEREAS: this is a housekeeping amendment that (i) deletes a conflicting provision found in former subsection (c), (ii) changes the reference to the planning director to reflect the correct department which is now community development, and (iii) provides for other minor grammar and technical changes; and WHEREAS: there were no speakers. NOW, THEREFORE, on a motion by Commissioner James Young and seconded by Commissioner Gaynette LaRue, PC Minutes 20130606 Page 3 BE IT RESOLVED that the Hampton Planning Commission recommends approval of ZOA 074-2013, an amendment to chapter 18.1 of the Zoning Ordinance. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Campbell, McCloud, LaRue, Young, Williams NAYS: None ABST: None ABSENT: Bunting, Snead VI. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. O’Neill stated that at a previous meeting the Commission heard a request by Taylor Robinson to construct a funeral home and crematorium on Big Bethel Road. The applicant requested a delay in moving that application forward to City Council in order to consider comments made at the public hearing. Changes have been made and the application is going forward to City Council. No action will be required on this by the Commission. Senior City Planner Donald Whipple presented the amended proposal on Rezoning Application No. 1310-2013 and Conditional Privilege Application No. 135-2013. The location of the proposal has not changed. The amended application involves the rezoning of only one of the parcels, Parcel 1, located at 978 Big Bethel Road. Most of the development of the original proposal was on Parcel 1, but the size of the facility, stormwater improvements, circulation, and site parking on Parcel 2, caused a need for both parcels to be rezoned. The amended request reduces the chapel from seating 400 to 300 and the crematorium has been relocated to Parcel 1 so Parcel 2, 1014 Big Bethel Road, will no longer be needed. The Commission did not support the original request to rezone both parcels to a C-2 zoning. Revised elevations and a revised proffer statement have been submitted as part of the amended application. If Council moves forward with the rezoning, staff has updated its conditional privilege recommendation. The analysis is that the original proposal conflicted with the Community Plan and could create a precedent for commercial expansion; it is located outside of the designated commercial node; and the plan was too large in scale and intensity. The amended proposal no longer conflicts and is now more in line with the Community Plan. Reduced in scale, the amended proposal will have less impact on the neighborhood. City Council can either move forward with the amended proposal or send it back to the Planning Commission. In response to a question from Commissioner Young, Mr. O’Neill stated the ultimate decision is up to Council to defer, deny, or send the amended application back to the Commission. Ms. Valldejuli explained that the General Assembly has stated applicants can amend their applications up to the actual hearing by Council. In this case the PC Minutes 20130606 Page 4 applicant has presented something to staff for review prior to it going to City Council. In response to questions from Commissioners Young and McCloud, Mr. O’Neill stated a decision was rendered on the original proposal by the Commission and Council will be provided with the minutes and the proposal from the original meeting which mentioned residential concerns. The applicants have not hosted another community meeting (which is voluntary) and it is not certain at this point if the changes address the residential concerns. Staff believes the amended proposal is consistent with the Community Plan. Mr. Whipple explained a Conditional Privilege is still required with a C-2 zoning designation. He also stated that all information, including the resident’s petition, have been forwarded to City Council. Mr. O’Neill stated that an affirmative vote is required on the rezoning and the conditional privilege before the applicant can go forward on the project. In response to Chairman Williams, Mr. Whipple stated the applicant declined having a community meeting. In response to Commissioner Campbell’s concern regarding the applicant being delayed in going forward without a new recommendation from the Commission on the amended proposal, Ms. Valldejuli stated the original advertisement was presented. The General Assembly afforded taking out the advertisement, but Hampton has decided to keep that form of public notification available. The ad has remained the same and anyone with concerns or in opposition can still come before Council and give their objections or see if the new proposal changes their minds. In response to a question from Commissioner Campbell, Mr. Whipple stated the crematorium has been incorporated into the funeral home and is now on the same site as the funeral home. Commissioner McCloud stated the Commissioners made their recommendation on what had been proposed at the original hearing. Commissioner LaRue thanked the staff for keeping the commission informed on what has happened with this application. Mr. O’Neill stated the next regularly scheduled meeting falls on the July 4 holiday and, according to the Planning Commission By-Laws, when that occurs the meeting falls on the succeeding Thursday which will be the second Thursday of the month, July 11, 2013. PC Minutes 20130606 Page 5 VII. ITEMS BY THE PUBLIC There were no items by the public. VIII. MATTERS BY THE COMMISSION There were no matters by the Commission. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on motion of Commissioner McCloud and seconded by Commissioner Campbell that the Commission convene a closed meeting pursuant to the exemption from open meetings allowed by Section 2.2-3711(A). 1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, to discuss a personnel matter. The Commission adjourned from Council Chambers to the Lawson Conference Room. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Campbell, Young, McCloud, LaRue, Snead, Bunting, Williams NAYS: None ABST: None ABSENT: None Upon the end of the closed meeting, on a motion by Commissioner McCloud seconded by Commissioner Campbell to certify that to the best of each member’s knowledge (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which the certification applies; and (ii) only such matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered by the Hampton Planning Commission. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows: AYES: Campbell, Young, McCloud, LaRue, Snead, Bunting, Williams NAYS: None ABST: None ABSENT: None There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ___________________________________ Terry O’Neill Secretary to the Commission PC Minutes 20130606 Page 6 APPROVED BY: ________________________________________ Gregory Williams Chairman PC Minutes 20130606 Page 7