Planning Commission

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 16, 2020 DRAFT 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: Michele Reed, Heidi, Kevin Mitchell, Jeff Ulma, Jane Yager-Baumrind Mr. Wren called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. 1. Approval of the Agenda Mr. Wren moved for approval of the agenda. Mr. McCormick seconded the motion. Motion passed on a 8 to 1 vote, with Mr. Gates opposed. 2. Approval of Minutes from October 21st Meeting Ms. Smith moved for approval of the minutes. Mr. Davis seconded the motion. All in favor. 3. Update on 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 Mr. Thomas Rourk, 321 Hawthorn Street, expressed opposition to the rezoning request on Coleman Boulevard (case # R-37-20). Mr. Bo Harris, 1119 Garland Road, agreed with Mr. Rourk that the rezoning request should not be approved.  Planning Commission December 16, 2020 Page 2 of 6 There being no further comments, Mr. Wren continued with the agenda. 6. Requests A. Rezoning Case R-36-20, Request to amend the North Point PD, Planned Development District Ordinance, by creating permitted uses and zoning standards according to the current land use and amending the official North Point Zoning Map to do the same. The North Point PD has no adopted ordinance with identified development standards, such as setbacks, lot coverage, etc. The proposed amendment would rectify this by providing specific development standards for each lot within the development. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Ellorbe Dargan, 1454 North Point Lane stated that he is in favor of the request. There being no further comments, Mr. Wren closed public comment. Ms. Smith moved for approval. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. All in favor. B. Rezoning Case R-37-20, Request to rezone from R-3, Medium Density Residential District, to TH, Townhouse District, an approximately 2.90- acre tract of land comprised of eleven (11) parcels and improved with 22 duplexes. Also included is a request to incorporate all parcels into the Coleman Boulevard Overlay District (CB-OD). Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). Mr. Brent Woodward, owner, reviewed the request with the Commission. Mr. Thomas Rourk, 321 Hawthorn Street stated that he is opposed to the request. He expressed concern with the request exacerbating traffic in the neighborhood. He asked that the request be denied. Ms. Susan Thompson, 323 Bayview Drive, suggested that rezoning requests should be carefully reviewed and scrutinized and not be considered  Planning Commission December 16, 2020 Page 3 of 6 an automatic approval by the developers. She suggested that it should not be the norm to have a property rezoned. She stated that she is opposed to the request. She suggested that the neighborhood density should be maintained and the character of the neighborhood preserved. Mr. Bill Fitch, 1119 Harborgate Blvd, expressed concern with drainage in the area and suggested that it should be addressed before more development is approved. He also expressed concern with the access and asked that the request not be approved. Mr. Gregory Maxwell, 1103 Garland Road, stated that he likes the current character and density of the neighborhood. He suggested that if the rezoning is approved it would allow the developer too much flexibility and suggested that it would allow up to 55 foot buildings that would tower over the homes I in his neighborhood. He suggested that it would mean additional traffic that would be disruptive. Mr. Chuck Hill, 315 Bayview Road, asked if the residents be able to vote on this request. Mr. Ben Traywick, Bayview Civic Club President, stated the Civic Club Board is opposed to the rezoning. He stated that he is opposed to the rezoning as well and suggested that the rezoning would allow for increased density. He expressed concern that the additional units would mean additional parking that would not be able to be accommodated. He expressed concern that the proposed development would be adverse to the community and a dramatic change to the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Josh Ericson, 323 Hawthorn, stated that he is opposed to the rezoning request. Ms. Anne Keane, 331 Bayview, agrees with all of the previous comments. She suggested that approval of the rezoning would set a precedent and allow additional density and building height along Coleman Boulevard. She suggested that the additional building height that would be allowed would set a precedent. Mr. Tim Bowman, 316 Quince Street, reiterated that there has been some positive communication with the developer regarding density and building  Planning Commission December 16, 2020 Page 4 of 6 height limits. He stated that if kept to those limits and the concerns raised at this meeting, he would be in favor of the request. There being no further comments, Mr. Wren closed public comments. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the rezoning with denial to be included in the Coleman Boulevard Overlay District. Motion failed due to the lack of a second. Ms. Ireland moved for denial of the rezoning request and denial of including the property in the Coleman Boulevard Overlay District. Mr. Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed on a 8 to 1 vote with Mr. Wren, Mr. Bennett, Ms. Smith, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Davis, Mr. Gates, Ms. Ireland, and Mr. Koedding in favor; Mr. McCormick opposed. C. Proposal to amend Section 156.325 of Chapter 156, Zoning Code, of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances, pertaining to the Principal Use Table. Proposed is to add language under the Utilities category to permit a lay-down yard, maintenance facility with open lot storage of materials, vehicles, and equipment in PI-2, Public Institutional-2, and LI, Light Industrial Districts. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1). There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed public comment. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the request. Mr. Koedding seconded the motion. All in favor. D. 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 to amend the entire ordinance to differentiate treatment based on damage or destruction due to neglect, natural and/or man-made hazards, and to make special distinctions between utilization of property and the physical characteristics. Ms. Reed reviewed staff comments with the Commission (attachment 1).  Planning Commission December 16, 2020 Page 5 of 6 There being no comments, Mr. Wren closed public comment. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the request with changes as discussed. Mr. Wren seconded the motion. All in favor. E. October Planning Commission requested to have a discussion item to address stormwater reviews and a possible procedural change particularly involving new subdivisions within the Special Stormwater Management Area in Old Mount Pleasant. Staff will provide a brief recap of the prior discussion of the standards within the Special Stormwater Management Area Ordinance, the Impervious Surface Overlay District, and the internal procedure for reviewing stormwater management plans for new development inside this area. Staff’s recommendation of incorporating a stormwater conceptual requirement with the subdivision sketch plan checklist will be further discussed along with an ordinance update. Kevin Mitchell reviewed the issue with the Commission. Mr. Bennett moved for the procedural and standard changes as discussed should be codified. Ms. Smith seconded the motion. All in favor. F. Discussion of new Engineering and Environmental Division under Engineering and Development Services – and Continuation of efforts to implement Town-wide environmental policy. Kevin Mitchell reviewed the new re-organization of the Planning and Transportation Departments and creation of the Engineering and Development Services Department with the Commission. The Commission received this as information. G. Request to approve street name for existing street off Mathis Ferry to be named Geddings Way. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the street names as presented. Ms. Ireland seconded. All in favor.  Planning Commission December 16, 2020 Page 6 of 6 H. Request to approve street names for Gregorie Ferry Workforce Housing Development. Street names to include Allusion Lane and Proper Street. Ms. Smith moved for approval of the street names as presented. Mr. Davis seconded this motion. All in favor. 7. Other Business a.) Annual Report from the Zoning Administrator on all Development Agreements Mr. Ulma reviewed the annual report with the Commission. Mr. Ulma announced that he would be retiring the end of January and Ms. Reed would be the new Planning Director. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:46pm. Submitted by, L. Lynes PlanComsn12162020