Planning Commission

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 MINUTES Green arrows in Minutes are hyperlinks to the recording. Attachment 1—Staff Report PowerPoint Presentation Present: Joseph Wren, Chair, Roy Neal, Rodly Millet, Kathy Smith, George Gates, Peter Lehman, DeAudre Gregg (entered at 5:03 pm) Absent: John McNeill, Tripp Cuttino Staff: Jeff Ulma, Lee Cave, Kent Prause, Michele Canon, Liz Boyles, Austin Rutherford, Lynnette Lynes, Jane Yager-Baumrind Mr. Wren called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. 1. Approval of Minutes from July 18, 2018 Meeting Mr. Gates moved for approval of the minutes with the correction that meeting start time should be 5 pm. Mr. Neal seconded the motion. All in favor. Mr. Gates noted for the record that the Commission did not meet in August due to no submittals being received. 2. Approval of the Agenda Mr. Neal moved for approval of the agenda. Mr. Lehman seconded the motion. All in favor. 3. Update on Planning Commission Recommendations Ms. Canon reviewed Town Council decisions with the Commission. Ms. Gregg entered at this time (5:03 pm). 4. Correspondence and Public Comments There being no comments, Mr. Wren continued with the agenda.  Planning Commission September 19, 2018 Page 2 of 6 5. Staff Update on the 2018 Comprehensive Plan Process Ms. Boyles updated the Commission on the Comprehensive Plan update process. She stated that the next meeting would be held on October 16th. Ms. Smith asked if there will be an opportunity to provide written comment for those that cannot attend the open house. Ms. Boyles answered in the affirmative. Mr. Neal asked what the attendance rate has been for the last few Comprehensive Plan Forum meetings. Ms. Boyles answered that they have been well attended, with a little lower attendance rate for the September 6th meeting. Mr. Millet asked if the forum members have had an opportunity to comment on all aspects of the Comprehensive Plan to date. Ms. Boyles answered in the affirmative and stated that there is a tendency to stay within your comfort zone. She stated that all of the members will have an opportunity to comment on the entire draft plan. Mr. Millet asked if there is flexibility in the timeline to ensure sufficient review. Ms. Boyles answered in the affirmative. Ms. Gregg asked if there would be additional opportunities to review and provide feedback. Ms. Boyles answered in the affirmative. Ms. Gregg asked about having information available at the Farmers Market. Ms. Boyles answered that this could be possible, but the Farmers Market is coming to a close for the year. She stated that information would be provided and available for other meetings, such as Town Council meetings. Ms. Gregg suggested that the forum members should also reach out to others in their community. Ms. Boyles stated that this has been encouraged in the past and would continue to be encouraged. 6. Requests A. R-19-18, Request to rezone from R-1, Low Density Residential District, to AB, Areawide Business District, located at 1108 Graddick Road. TMS No.: 559-00-00-176 Mr. Rutherford reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1).  Planning Commission September 19, 2018 Page 3 of 6 Mr. Wren asked about the annexation to R-1. Mr. Rutherford answered that R- 1 is the default zoning for those properties not within the Community Conservation or Rural Conservation areas. Ms. Smith asked about the right-of-way, and if there are any negative implications with the uncertainty of the roadway. Mr. Rutherford answered that any issues with the right-of-way would have to be resolved before the property was developed. There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Mr. Neal moved for approval including all staff comments. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. All in favor. B. R-20-18, Request to annex and zone Pepper Tract PD-CD, Planned Development Conservation Design District, located at 1306 Old Rosebud Trail. TMS No.: 615-00-00-140 Ms. Canon reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the zoning. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. Mr. Millet asked about the issue of open space. Ms. Canon answered that there is currently 192 acres of open space. She stated that this is calculated as lots are added to the planned development (PD) and if necessary, more open space would have to be provided. Mr. Wren called for a vote on the motion. All in favor. C. R-21-18, Request to rezone from R-1, Low Density Residential District, to RC-2, Rural Conservation-2 District, located at 1450 Chandler Road. TMS No.: 615-00-00-089 Ms. Canon reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1).  Planning Commission September 19, 2018 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Wren asked if this was annexed today, would it be annexed as rural conservation. Ms. Canon answered in the affirmative. Mr. Millet moved for approval of the zoning including all staff comments. Mr. Lehman seconded the motion. Ms. Gregg suggested that zoning in unincorporated areas should be reviewed considering the number of manufactured homes in these areas, particularly when considering affordable housing options. Mr. Wren called for a vote on the motion. All in favor. D. R-22-18, Request to Rezone from OP, Office Professional District, to TH, Townhouse District. Also request to amend the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map designation from Commercial to Medium Density Neighborhood, located at Nantahala Boulevard/Mathis Ferry Road. TMS No.: 558-01-00-077 Ms. Canon reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Ms. Smith asked if the property is currently developed. Ms. Canon answered in the negative. Mr. Jay Karen reviewed the request with the Commission. He stated that he has contacted residents in surrounding neighborhoods and they are in favor of rezoning to a residential. Mr. Neal asked about traffic and what traffic counts would be if an office use compared to a residential use. He expressed concern with the increased traffic. Mr. Wren noted that this is a rezoning request and not a sketch plan and the request cannot be conditioned. Mr. Karen answered that a typical medical office would have approximately 150 trips per day, while four townhomes would be approximately 16 trips per day. He stated that the request would mean less traffic in the area. Mr. Gates asked about the due diligence period. Mr. Karen answered that he has a long due diligence period, but the sale of the property is not contingent on approval of the rezoning. Mr. Gates asked about the property ownership  Planning Commission September 19, 2018 Page 5 of 6 and suggested that based on the submitted information, ownership documentation was not provided. Mr. Wren stated that staff reviews these applications for completeness before it is placed on the agenda and suggested that the Commission should have confidence in staff regarding this issue and review the request based on its merits. Ms. Canon clarified that there is no limit on the building size for Office Professional zoning; they would have to meet development standards such as parking requirements, buffers, etc. She stated that Transportation staff has indicated that there would be a light installed at the intersection of Lauda Drive/Mathis Ferry Road in conjunction with the new high school construction. Ms. Leigh Marlow, HOA president for Wando East subdivision, suggested that a townhome use would be more in keeping with the neighborhood. She also agreed with access to the front of the property to preserve trees and green space. She stated that she is appreciative of the proposal for a traffic light being installed at the intersection of Lauda Drive/Mathis Ferry Road. She stated that she is in favor of the request. Ms. Jennifer Scanlon, 1685 Nantahala Blvd, stated that a residential use would be more appropriate for the neighborhood as opposed to an office use. She stated that she supports the request. There being no further comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Mr. Neal moved for approval including all staff comments. Mr. Millet seconded the motion. Ms. Smith expressed appreciation for a traffic light being installed at the intersection. Mr. Neal suggested that this rezoning makes sense and would be more in keeping with the neighborhood even though it is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan recommendation. He commended the developer for meeting with staff and the residents to come to an appropriate use. Mr. Millet stated that there are several improvements slated for Mathis Ferry Road in conjunction with the new high school.  Planning Commission September 19, 2018 Page 6 of 6 Ms. Gregg asked about drainage. Ms. Canon answered that a full stormwater report would be required with development of the site. Mr. Wren agreed that a residential use would be more appropriate for this area. Mr. Wren called for a vote on the motion. All in favor. E. Proposal to amend the Principal Use Conditions division of Chapter 156 of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances, specifically pertaining to Zoning Code Section 156.326(C)(3)(f), which establishes conditions associated with a Pump Station. Proposed is to amend the required buffers, setbacks and design approval. Mr. Rutherford reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Ms. Smith commended staff on the amendment. There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the amendment. Mr. Lehman seconded the motion. All in favor. F. Approval of street names for streets located in Merrill Gardens in Carolina Park. Street names to include Spicata Street, Cristata Alley, Pogonia Street, Habenaria Road and Triphora Road. Ms. Canon reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Ms. Smith moved for approval. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. All in favor. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 pm. Submitted by, L. Lynes PlanComsn09192018