Planning Commission

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 MINUTES Attachment 1—Staff Report PowerPoint Presentation Present: Joseph Wren, Chair, Michael McCormick, Brett Bennett, Kathy Smith, Don Campbell, Gary Davis, George Gates, Pam Ireland, Bruce Koedding Staff: Jeff Ulma, Michele Reed, Liz Boyles, Kevin Mitchell, Heidi Moeser, Lynnette Lynes Mr. Wren called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. 1. Approval of Agenda Ms. Smith moved to amend the agenda to discuss items D and E under requests as items A and B. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. All in favor. 2. Approval of Minutes Mr. Gates moved for approval of the minutes, noting that the date on tonight’s agenda should be “August 19th regular meeting”. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. All in favor. 3. Update of Planning Commission Recommendations Ms. Reed reviewed Town Council decisions with the Commission. 4. Correspondence There being no additional correspondence, Mr. Wren continued with the agenda. 5. General Public Comment Walter Kaufmann, 1411 Barbara St, expressed concern with the sketch plan for McCants. He stated that he is in favor of the request and asked that it should be approved. He suggested that the proposed plans should provide additional relief from drainage problems in the area.  Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Page 2 of 6 Mr. Stuart Hewlett, 1 Darlington Lane, spoke regarding McCants sketch plan request. He expressed concern with the drainage in the area and that the drainage would cross his property. He stated that Darlington Lane is not maintained by the Town and has not been resurfaced. He referred to a Thomas and Hutton study that indicated that this drainage system is the third worse in the Town. He expressed concern that the proposed drainage plan would not resolve drainage issues. He also expressed concern that adding additional lots would increase traffic. Ms. Maxine Sullivan, 1427 Barbara Street, expressed concern with the McCants sketch plan request and that with the amount of drainage issues that she has seen and suggested that it was due to the new construction on Darlington. She suggested that no further construction should be allowed until the drainage issues are resolved and a storm drain is installed. She distributed photos for the Commission to review of the drainage problems with her property. Ms. Anna Richter, Goblet Ave, spoke regarding McCants sketch plan and stated that she is in favor of the request. She stated that there have not been any drainage issues on her property or traffic issues in her neighborhood. Mr. Randy Welch, 915 McCants, spoke regarding the sketch plan request. He suggested that the drainage issues are due to the ground water rise/fall and not the nearby construction. He also noted that the drainage pipe has been blocked. 6. Requests A. Sketch Plan, SP-06-20, Sketch Plan approval to reinstate an abandoned lot line that will create two (2) residential lots. Also includes a request for a Waiver from the Land Development Regulations to allow the depth of the lot to exceed 2.5 x the width of the lot, located at 1170 Rifle Range Road. TMS No. 560-05-00-024 Mr. Mitchell reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Kirk Heidenreich, owner, stated that he was available to answer any questions. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the sketch plan and LDR waiver. Mr. Wren seconded the motion.  Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Page 3 of 6 Ms. Smith moved to amend the motion to include all staff comments with the addition that there is a shared driveway easement and mail kiosk to serve both lots. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. Mr. Wren called for a vote on the motion as amended. Motion passed on a 8 to 1 vote with Mr. Bennett, Mr. Koedding, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Davis, Mr. Gates, Mr. Wren, Ms. Smith and Mr. McCormick in favor; Ms. Ireland opposed. B. Sketch Plan, SP-07-20, Sketch Plan approval for McCants Drive, a proposal to subdivide two (2) lots, a total of approximately 0.98 acres, into three (3) Single family residential lots (each approximately 0.33 acres. Also includes a request for a Waiver from the Land Development Regulations to allow access from a private easement, located at 915 and 917 McCants.: Randall G. Wilkes, Cynthia Hartline, David Wilkes, & Brenda Nicholson. 915 & 917 McCants Drive (Corner of McCants Drive and Darlington Lane). TMS No. 532-11-00-001 and 532-11-00-004 It is noted that a Legal Opinion regarding this agenda item was provided as Confidential and Subject to Attorney-Client Privilege from the Town’s Corporation Counsel to the Planning Commission. Mr. McCormick recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Mr. Mitchell reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Ellis Lesemann, representative for the owner, reviewed the request with the Commission. Ms. Smith moved for denial of the LDR waiver. Ms. Ireland seconded the motion. Motion passed on a 6 to 2 vote with Mr. Koedding, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Davis, Mr. Gates, Ms. Smith and Ms. Ireland in favor; Mr. Bennett and Mr. Wren opposed and Mr. McCormick abstaining. Mr. Gates moved for approval of the sketch plan. Ms. Ireland seconded. Mr. Gates withdrew his motion. Ms. Ireland withdrew her second.  Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Page 4 of 6 C. Rezoning, R-33-20, Request rezone from AB, Areawide Business District, to AB2, Areawide Business-2 District, an approximately 14.59-acre (according to Charleston County Tax Records) tract of land comprised of eight parcels, located off Highway 17 North. TMS No.’s 598-00-00-008, 598-00-00-010 through -012, 598- 00-00-018, 598-00-00-020, 598-00-00-025 and 598-00- 00- 059. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Derrick Williams, owner, reviewed the request with the Commission. Mr. John Claypoole, representative for FCA Dealership, reviewed the reasoning for requesting rezoning of the entire property with the Commission. There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the rezoning. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. All in favor. D. Rezoning R-34-20, Request to amend the Gregorie Ferry Landing PD-MU- SR, Planned Development-Mixed Use Suburban-Rural District, (Ordinance No. 06082, as amended), by clarifying that the additional multi-family units to be utilized for workforce housing may be comprised of one (1) building or multiple buildings, not to exceed a maximum of 42 units, located off Winnowing Way near its intersection with Gregory Ferry Road. TMS No. 580-00-00-013 Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Tony Berry, owner, reviewed the request with the Commission. There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Ms. Smith moved for approval. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. All in favor. E. Proposal to amend Sections 156.140 - 156.142 of Chapter 156, Zoning Code, of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances, pertaining to Nonconforming Lots, Structures and Uses. Proposed is amended language that  Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Page 5 of 6 differentiates treatment based on damage or destruction due to neglect, natural and/or man-made hazards. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed the public hearing. Ms. Ireland moved for approval. Ms. Smith seconded the motion. Ms. Ireland moved to amend the motion to include her edits as outlined in her document. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. Ms. Ireland withdrew her amendment; Mr. Wren withdrew his second. Mr. Wren called for a vote on the original motion. Motion passed on a 5 to 4 vote with Mr. Bennett, Mr. Koedding, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Davis, and Mr. McCormick in favor; Mr. Gates, Mr. Wren, Ms. Smith and Ms. Ireland opposed. F. Environmental Policy Overview and Watershed Planning Ms. Moeser provided an update on the environmental policy and watershed planning. Mr. Mitchell reviewed how staff would like to move forward with implementation. Ms. Smith commended staff on their hard work on this issue and moved that staff should continue to work on the issue to develop an environmental policy program. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. All in favor. G. Street Name approval for Lieben Forest. Street names include Misty Grass Court and Sandy Gate Lane Ms. Smith moved for approval of the street names as presented. Mr. Gates seconded the motion. All in favor. The Commission agreed to discuss the preliminary plat process at next meeting. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.  Planning Commission September 23, 2020 Page 6 of 6 Submitted by, L. Lynes PlanComsn09232020