Planning Commission

MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 6:00 P.M. City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT Kathy Jones, Chair Matthew Blomeley, Assistant Planning Director Ken Halliburton, Vice-Chair Marina Rush, Principal Planner Eddie Smotherman Amelia Kerr, Planner Ronnie Martin Carolyn Jaco, Recording Assistant Warren Russell David Ives, Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Garland Roman Hankins, Assistant City Attorney Chase Salas Sam Huddleston, Exec. Dir. Of Dev. Services Greg McKnight, Interim Planning Director Kathy Jones called the meeting to order after determining there was a quorum. New Business Zoning application [2019-445] for approximately 0.89 acres located along Bradyville Pike west of Minerva Drive to be rezoned from RS-10 to PCD (Bradyville Center PCD), Ken Xayabudda applicant. Ms. Amelia Kerr summarized the zoning application from the staff report, which had been provided to the Planning Commission in the agenda packet. Mr. Clyde Rountree and Mr. Ken Xayabudda were in attendance representing the application. Mr. Rountree came forward to begin a PowerPoint presentation from the applicant’s pattern book. He stated the proposed commercial center had been designed for multiple tenants and the potential for a restaurant with an open patio area. This would be a nice architectural building that would become a trend setter and an asset to the existing neighborhood. Mr. Eddie Smotherman commented on this area having a high volume of traffic. Would sidewalks be included with this site? Mr. Blomeley made known Bradyville Pike has been approved for roadway improvements with sidewalks in this area. Currently, the City has begun the right-of- way acquisition process for approximately 150 properties. Once that is completed it would be a year before construction would begin. Mr. David Ives explained the Tennessee Department of 1  MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 Transportation would be overseeing the project. Bradyville Pike would be constructed to a three- lane roadway with curb, gutter, and sidewalks on both sides of the street. This construction would occur from Southeast Broad Street to South Rutherford Boulevard. Mr. Ives stated this would be a difficult road project that would affect this area for a couple of years. Mr. Warren Russell wanted to know how this would affect the property when the applicant is ready to develop his property. Mr. Blomeley explained the applicant is aware there is a need for an amount of right-of-way for the road project. Mr. Russell asked if the parking requirements would be affected if ever there was an opportunity to connect to the adjoining property. Mr. Rountree answered this site would meet parking requirements even with a future connection. Chair Kathy Jones opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak for or against the zoning application; therefore, Chair Kathy Jones closed the public hearing. Vice-Chairman Ken Halliburton made a motion to approve subject to all staff comments, seconded by Mr. Chase Salas. The motion carried by unanimous vote in favor. Zoning application [2019-440] for approximately 0.71 acres located along East Vine Street east of South Highland Avenue to be rezoned from RS-8 to PRD (East Vine Villas PRD), Blue Sky Construction, Inc. applicant. Ms. Amelia Kerr summarized the zoning application from the staff report, which had been provided to the Planning Commission in the agenda packet. Mr. Clyde Rountree and Mr. Brian Burns were in attendance representing the application. Mr. Clyde Rountree came forward to begin a PowerPoint presentation from the applicant’s pattern book. Mr. Ronnie Martin wanted to know if the rear elevations for the patio areas would include a fence, in which Mr. Burns answered each individual patio would have a fence. Mr. Eddie Smotherman requested for the applicant’s pattern book to state the Homeowners Association would manage the hours of operation regarding the open space area for the dog run. Mr. Chase Salas 2  MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 recommended that the rear of the buildings for each individual unit should have its own color so it would not be so monotonous. Mr. Burns stated he would address the exact tone of colors further that would be suitable with the neighborhood. Chair Kathy Jones wanted additional information regarding painted brick. Mr. Burns stated the paint material he uses on the brick is guaranteed for 25 years. All of the exterior of the buildings, the landscaping, the dog run, and on-street parking would be managed by the Homeowners Association. Chair Jones voiced her concerns regarding the size of the garages. Mr. Burns made known that the garage doors he would be using are sixteen-feet wide which is the same that had been approved for his other developments. Mr. Blomeley stated the sixteen-foot garage door is not the issue it is the width of the interior of the garage being only eighteen-foot wide is Staff’s concern. He recommended the development include twenty-foot wide garages to provide enough room for two vehicles, trash can, etc. Mr. Burns stated they do not have the space to increase the size of the garages to twenty feet. Most townhomes have only one-car garages but they are proposing two-car garages for this development. Chair Kathy Jones opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak for or against the zoning application; therefore, Chair Kathy Jones closed the public hearing. Mr. Chase Salas made a motion to approve subject to all staff comments, seconded by Mr. Ronnie Martin. The motion carried by unanimous vote in favor. Annexation plan of services and annexation petition [2019-516] for approximately 190 linear feet (0.22 acres) of Annell Drive right-of-way, City of Murfreesboro applicant. Ms. Marina Rush summarized the annexation petition from the staff report, which had been provided to the Planning Commission in the agenda packet. Ms. Rush explained that City staff had taken this request to the Rutherford County Road Board on January 6, 2020. The County Road Board had deferred this request so they could conduct further research for legal reasons on how they should provide consent. The Road Board would 3  MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 reconvene next month for consideration of this annexation. Therefore, Staff is asking for a deferral on this annexation request. In addition, due to the public hearing being advertised, we are required to conduct the public hearing. Chair Kathy Jones opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak for or against the annexation petition; therefore, Chair Kathy Jones closed the public hearing. Mr. Warren Russell made a motion to defer the annexation petition and plan of services, seconded by Mr. Ken Halliburton. The motion carried by unanimous vote in favor. Proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance [2019-809], City of Murfreesboro Planning Department applicant. Mr. Matthew Blomeley and Mr. David Ives summarized the proposed amendments from the staff report, which had been provided to the Planning Commission in the agenda packet. The Zoning Ordinance sections proposed to be amended included: Section 2: Interpretation and Definitions, regarding the definition of “family”; Section 10: Variances; Section 18: Regulations of General Applicability, regarding lighting fixtures at recreational fields; and Section 27: Landscaping and Screening, regarding landscaping for stormwater management areas. Chair Kathy Jones opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak for or against the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance; therefore, Chair Kathy Jones closed the public hearing. The Planning Commission complimented Staff for their hard work in addressing these issues. Mr. Ken Halliburton made a motion to approve subject to all staff comments, seconded by Mr. Warren Russell. The motion carried by unanimous vote in favor. 4  MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 Staff Reports and Other Business Chair Kathy Jones introduced the new Interim Planning Director, Mr. Greg McKnight. We are excited to have Mr. McKnight join the Planning Commission. Mr. McKnight currently serves as the Director of Project Development in Administration and will continue in this position as well. Continuing, Chair Jones and the Planning Commission thanked Mr. Matthew Blomeley, Assistant Planning Director, who had stepped up when asked to serve as Acting Planning Director. We are so appreciative for all the hard work Mr. Blomeley has done while serving in this position during this busy time in Murfreesboro. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Mr. Blomeley reminded the Planning Commission about the next Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, January 14th at 1:00 p.m. Lastly, Mr. Blomeley explained to the Planning Commission that there is an opportunity for the City’s Planning staff to attend an annual Spring Conference of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association (TAPA). The TAPA conference has been scheduled for March 4 through March 6, 2020. Several of our Staff members would like to attend the conference. He asked the Planning Commission to consider changing the March 4, 2020, Planning Commission meeting to March 11, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Ken Halliburton made a motion to change the Planning Commission meeting date from March 4, 2020 to be rescheduled to Wednesday, March 11, 2020, seconded by Mr. Chase Salas. The motion carried by unanimous vote in favor. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 5  MINUTES OF THE MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 8, 2020 _______________________________ Chair ________________________________ Secretary MB: cj 6