Planning & Zoning Commission

MINUTES OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION December 7, 2023 Call to order The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Commissioner Robert P. Newnam. Commissioners Scott Clark, Michael Reed, and Michael McGrath were present. Michael Reed was excused. Also present were Senior Planner Jeremy Rothwell and Crystal Wheeler, and Attorney D. Barrett Edwards was via zoom. Recognition of visitors There was none. Additions/deletions to published agenda There was none. Reading, correction, approval, or disposition of minutes Commissioner McGrath made the motion to approve the minutes of September 27, 2023, as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Clark and carried unanimously. Public Hearing Review and recommendation of Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment. Mr. Rothwell discussed the Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment. Mr. Rothwell stated that there is a piece of land behind the Smyrna Shopping Center. This property was purchased by the Town of Smyrna in 1992 and utilized ORPT funding (Outside Recreation Parks Trails – State Funding). This has never been stated as a park, its wooden ground with wetlands. Since this property has never been utilized, there are two adjacent property owners that are interested in this property. They both put in bids and the Town Council picked the highest bid and accepted the $430,000. The owner of Smyrna Self Storage would like to expand their self- storage building area on this property. There was a contingency plan put in place by the Town Council that will allow for potential commercial plans for 135 days to be able to do a comprehensive plan map amendment. This property will go from an open space recreation historic to potentially allow a commercial zoning districts for L-C or H-C. This is a requirement before developing anything on the property. After the comprehensive plan map amendment, there will be a rezoning hearing, and will come forward with the site plan review approval, along with applying for a building permit. The owner/developer will need to comply with all environmental standards and will have maybe 3 to 3 ½ acres to use to expand the self-storage building. Commissioner McGrath made a motion to recommend to the Town Council the modifications to the Comprehensive Plan Map amendment as proposed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Clark and carried unanimously. Review and recommendation of Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment. Mr. Rothwell discussed the Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment. In the Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment, it has the land use maximum designation, and this can’t be changing the zoning ordinance to anything, it makes it less restrictive to the comprehensive plan. The issue is with high density residential districts. Mr. Rothwell stated that the Glenwood Apartments have a vacant field, over an acre, that the property owners want to build a 4-6 apartment building. This is already non-conforming, and it is already exceeding the  Planning & Zoning Commission Page 2 of 2 December 7, 2023 maximum density. This property is under utilized and restricted by what’s in the comprehensive plan. The State is very supportive of making the changes to allow additional density. Commissioner McGrath made a motion to recommend to the Town Council the modifications to the Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Clark and carried unanimously. Discussion of Comprehensive Rezoning Mr. Rothwell would like to schedule two meetings in the month of January. One for the workshop and one for the rezoning hearing. The workshop is scheduled to be at the firehouse, and each commissioner will have a table zoning districts to help explain to the property owners what is going on with the rezoning. Mr. Rothwell would like to schedule the second rezoning hearing for the month of February. There will be a special meeting in January about the rezoning. Mr. Rothwell wants to set up an information session for all the rezoning properties in the community. Mr. Rothwell wants to set up two meeting dates in January and February to process all the rezoning properties. Other Business The next couple of months three projects will be coming in Tappahanna, WAWA, and Duck Creek Crossing. Adjournment Commissioner Newman adjourned the meeting at 6:50 pm. clw