Town Council Regular Meeting

Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 3, 2024 The St. James Town Council met in Regular Session at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in the Earl Dye Council Chamber. Council Members Present: Mayor Jean Toner, Mayor Pro Tem David DeLong, Councilors Jim Board, David Morgan, and Lynn Dutney Staff Present: Town Manager Jeff Repp and Town Clerk Laura Williams Others Present: State Port Pilot Reporter Eliot Duke and 6 residents. Absent: Finance Director Pauline Haran CALL TO ORDER Mayor Toner opened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All in attendance joined Mayor Toner in honoring our flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no changes or corrections to be made to the Agenda. Mayor Toner asked for a motion to approve the Agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to approve the Agenda. Vote: 5/0 APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Board made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which consists of the minutes from the February 22, 2024 Budget Work Session and the minutes from the March 6, 2024 Regular Meeting. Vote: 5/0 MAYOR/COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS Town Manager Repp stated that the Town received a parking modification request from the County Planning Commission for the Liberty Healthcare property located off Middleton Road and next to the Seaside Gate. The County is providing the planning and zoning services for that proposed project. The applicant has requested to reduce the number of parking spaces from 357 to 305. Currently, the County is only requesting public comment for the proposed change. Mayor Toner inquired if the units have garages and driveways, and Mr. Repp stated that they do. Councilor Board stated he reached out to Chief Scott Boyer regarding this notice since this property is in the fire district. He inquired if the Fire Department would have an issue with the parking reduction and Chief Boyer said it is not an issue for the SJFD. Councilor Board did ask which specific spaces they were removing, and Mr. Repp responded he did not know but will ask the County. OLD BUSINESS – None.  Page 2 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 3, 2024 NEW BUSINESS 24-10 Motion to Accept the Proposal of McGill & Associates for Engineering Services and Construction Administration for the Cell Tower Road Town Manager Repp discussed this proposal is based on the February 22nd Work Session where Council requested to move forward with the improvement of the access road, which is west of the Town Hall. The proposal consists of paving the road from NC211 to the back of the Community Center parking lot and then laying stone material from the end of the Community Center parking lot to the storage building behind Town Hall. This proposal is $52,500 and there is no specific schedule, but it should commence soon due to the Town having about $380,000 in this FY budget funds for the shoreline protection/conservation but have not yet been spent. Councilor Morgan made a motion to accept the proposal of McGill & Associates for Engineering Services and Construction Administration for the Cell Tower Road. Mayor Toner asked if there were any discussion or questions from Council, there were none. Mayor Toner asked if there were any questions from the public, there were none. Vote: 5/0 24-11 Motion to Adopt the Proposed Citizen Recognition Program for St. James Town Manager Repp discussed that the proposed program was presented to Council at the March Work Session. The only requested change was to add a generalized timeframe. It will be advertised on the Town’s website, in the What’s Up St. James Newsletter, email blast, and posted at the Community Center. Councilor Dutney made a motion to adopt the proposed Citizen Recognition Program for St. James. Mayor Toner asked if there were any discussion or questions from Council, there were none. Vote: 5/0 At 4:14pm, the St. James Town Council meeting was adjourned, and the Board of Adjustment Meeting was opened. Town Council serves as the Board of Adjustment. 24-12 Motion to Adopt the Floodplain Ordinance Freeboard Variance Request for 2757 St. James Drive Town Manager Repp stated that the Board of Adjustment needs to make a motion to appoint a Chairperson. After discussion, Jean Toner made the motion to appoint Lynn Dutney as the Chairperson for the Board of Adjustment. David DeLong seconded the motion.  Page 3 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 3, 2024 Vote: 5/0 Town Manager Repp stated that since the Board serves as a quasi-judicial body, it needs to be confirmed that no members have had contact with the applicant. All members of the Board of Adjustment stated they have had no contact with the applicant. Town Manager Repp discussed this variance request regarding property address 2757 St. James Drive. The Town’s zoning permit was issued on July 21, 2022 to JWB, Inc. The property is located in the AE-12 flood zone, the minimum base flood elevation (BFE) is 12’ and the Town requires an additional 2’ of freeboard, meaning the finished floor elevation (FFE) of the house needs to be at least 14’. The property was surveyed, a preconstruction elevation certificate was supplied, and upon the County’s inspection to issue the Certificate of Occupancy, it was discovered that the surveyor made mistakes with the elevation measurements. Island Surveyors, Inc. conducted three surveys, spanning from 2022-2023, all of which were incorrectly measured. Port City Land Surveying conducted a survey on February 9, 2024, which showed different measurements for each elevation reading. The two measurements that were most concerning regarding the floodplain ordinance were the top of the next highest floor and the lowest elevation of machinery or equipment. The home is within the 12’ BFE as required by FEMA but it short on the additional two feet as required by the Town’s floodplain ordinance. Town Manager Repp stated that the County’s Floodplain Administrator has recommended that the Town’s Board of Adjustment approve the variance request. ** The County inspection report is attached to these Minutes. Member Toner made a motion to adopt the Floodplain Ordinance Freeboard Variance Request for the top of the next highest floor at 13.27’ and the lowest elevation of machinery or equipment at 11.35’ or 2757 St. James Drive. There was no further discussion from the Board of Adjustment. Vote: 5/0 At 4:23pm, the Board of Adjustment adjourned the meeting, and the Regular Town Council meeting was reopened. PUBLIC COMMENT – None. ADJOURNMENT At 4:24pm Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Vote: 5/0  Page 4 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 3, 2024 Respectfully Submitted, Approved, _________________________ ______________________ Laura Williams, Town Clerk Jean R. Toner, Mayor