Planning Commission

Town of Summerville Planning Commission The public and Town Council members are invited to attend November 18, 2019 - 4:00 PM Summerville Town Hall, Training Room 200 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC For additional information regarding items on this agenda including any public hearings, please contact the Planning Department at 843.851.5200. Applications and related documents for this meeting are available for review at any time at www.summervillesc.gov, Public Notices; and, in the Planning Department during regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 8:30–5:00 excluding Town of Summerville holidays. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approval of minutes from meeting on October 21, 2019. II. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Petition by William Tolman Salisbury, Jr.; The Tolman Salisbury Family L.P.; William T. & Kathy J. Salisbury (JTROS); Danny L. Wright, II & Jennifer S. Wright; Kathy J. & W. Tolman Salisbury (JTROS); William T. Salisbury, Jr.; and William L. McCormick to annex Dorchester County TMS#’s 130-00-00-020, 716 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-004, 156 Labyrinth Lane; 130-00-00-005, 708 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00- 006, 712 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-036, N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-033, Old Dairy Road; 130-00-00-019, 81 E. Turner Street; and 130-00-00-034, N. Maple Street; and Berkeley County TMS# 730-00-00-036, Old Dairy Road (approximately 250.046 acres total), currently zoned R-4 Multifamily Residential in Dorchester County and Flex-1 in Berkeley County and will be zoned PUD, Planned Development District upon annexation into the Town of Summerville’s municipal limits. WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT 2. Request to rezone TMS# 145-02-11-003, located on E. Carolina Ave., approximately 4.65 acres, and owned by Dr. Thomas M. Leland from GR-2, Single-Family Residential, to N-B, Neighborhood Business (Council District 3). 3. Request to rezone TMS# 145-02-11-002, located at 208 E. Carolina Ave., approximately 0.61 acres, and owned by Margaret B. and Michael B. Murray from GR-2, Single-Family Residential, to N-B, Neighborhood Business (Council District 3). III. OLD BUSINESS: IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. New Street Names (as needed) 2. Petition by William Tolman Salisbury, Jr.; The Tolman Salisbury Family L.P.; William T. & Kathy J. Salisbury (JTROS); Danny L. Wright, II & Jennifer S. Wright; Kathy J. & W. Tolman Salisbury (JTROS); William T. Salisbury, Jr.; and William L. McCormick to annex Dorchester County TMS#’s 130-00-00-020, 716 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-004, 156 Labyrinth Lane; 130-00-00-005, 708 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00- 006, 712 N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-036, N. Maple Street; 130-00-00-033, Old Dairy Road; 130-00-00-019, 81 E. Turner Street; and 130-00-00-034, N. Maple Street; and Berkeley County TMS# 730-00-00-036, Old Dairy Road (approximately 250.046 acres total), currently zoned R-4 Multifamily Residential in Dorchester County and Flex-1 in Berkeley County and will be zoned PUD, Planned Development District upon annexation into the Town of Summerville’s municipal limits. WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT 3. Request to rezone TMS# 145-02-11-003, located on E. Carolina Ave., approximately 4.65 acres, and owned by Dr. Thomas M. Leland from GR-2, Single-Family Residential, to N-B, Neighborhood Business (Council District 3). 4. Request to rezone TMS# 145-02-11-002, located at 208 E. Carolina Ave., approximately 0.61 acres, and owned by Margaret B. and Michael B. Murray from GR-2, Single-Family Residential, to N-B, Neighborhood Business (Council District 3). V. MISCELLANEOUS: 1. Comprehensive Plan & Master Transportation Plan Update VI. ADJOURNMENT: ____________________________________ Chairman or Vice Chairman Posted November 13, 2019 Amended and reposted November 15, 2019  The Town of Summerville Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 21, 2019 This meeting of the Town of Summerville Planning Commission was attended by Commission Members, Jim Reaves, Chairman; Sarah Bares; Tom Hart; Jonathan Lee; Elaine Segelken; and Kevin Carroll. Staff in attendance included Jessi Shuler, Director of Planning; Tim Macholl, Zoning Administrator; Becca Zimmerman, Planner II; and Michael Lisle, Economic Development Coordinator. Jim Reaves, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 4:01 PM. Approval of Minutes: The Chairman asked if there were any edits or additions to the minutes from the meeting on September 16, 2019. Hearing none, the Chairman declared the minutes accepted as presented. Mr. Hart stated that he was unable to make the meeting last month, but he would like the record to show that he was originally in favor of both the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Priority List and the Economic Development Incentives Ordinance. Old Business: The first item under Old Business was for Article VI, Summerville Economic Development Incentive Program proposed to be added to Town Code, Chapter 20, Planning and Development. Mr. Reaves introduced the request. Mr. Hart made a motion to recommend approval of the ordinance, and Mr. Carroll made the second. Mr. Reaves then opened the floor to discussion. Mr. Carroll questioned the process for the incentives, and Mr. Lisle responded that all incentives would be handled as reimbursements that are dependent upon what is approved by Town Council. Mr. Hart clarified that he understood that no funds would be given that had not already been paid and no other taxpayer money would be used for the program. Mr. Carroll asked how much would be reimbursed and how often, and Mr. Lisle explained that the reimbursement amount would be set by the agreement with Council, and could vary based on the quality of the proposal. He stated that the reimbursement could last up to five years based on the benchmarks set in the agreement. Mr. Hart asked for clarification from Mr. Lisle that these incentives would not be automatically given and would be ultimately dependent on Council approval, and Mr. Lisle confirmed that was the case, and he would be the staff person that would carry out the ordinance. Dr. Bares expressed her concern with a single person determining the value of an application and compliance with any approved agreements. Mr. Hart asked Mr. Lisle if he would have the ability to grant approval to any applications or determine non-compliance with any agreements, and Mr. Lisle responded that Town Council would make those determinations. Mr. Hart again asked for clarification from Mr. Lisle that these incentives would only be considered for new businesses; only be rebating money that the business already paid the Town; and use no other public money. Mr. Lisle stated that he was correct on all accounts. Mr. Reaves asked Mr. Lisle where the criteria came from that are used in Section 20-206, and Mr. Lisle noted that he used other ordinances from around the state as examples. Mr. Reaves questioned the difference between “full-service restaurant” and “hospitality-related business,” as he felt that restaurants would fall under the category of “hospitality-related business” and could therefore be removed. Dr. Bares asked why manufacturing was not included, and Mr. Lisle stated that it could still be approved by Council. Dr. Bares then expressed her opinion that she would not be in favor of full-service restaurants being included because of the low-wage jobs they provide. Mr. Reaves asked if there was a maximum benefit that could be received, and Mr. Lisle explained that it would depend on the benefits to the Town, including property values, employment, etc. Mr. Lee noted that there is a program that exists (LOCI) to calculate the benefits or value of a project. Mr. Hart pointed out that Section 20-207 specifies the criteria to be considered in deciding the incentives to be given to each project. Mr. Lee then questioned if Section 20-204 should include a definition of job, and Mr. Lisle responded that it would be for full-time jobs only or their equivalent. Mr. Hart asked if other areas are doing similar programs, and Mr. Lisle stated that many other areas in the state are offering incentives. Goose Creek, as an example, has seen $11 million in improvements in the first year of offering incentives. Mr. Hart then asked for clarification from Mr. Lisle on the type and frequency of evaluations of each agreement and the program as a whole. Mr. Lisle detailed that evaluations would be done on a regular basis using high-quality evaluation tools, which could include the LOCI tool that Mr. Lee mentioned among others, and an annual report would be provided to Town Council as each agreement comes up for renewal. Dr. Bares mentioned several reports that she had emailed to the Commission members that discussed the costs and benefits of economic development incentives, and one thing they cautioned was that incentives could be canceled out if too many resources are drained from other initiatives that definitely increase property values. Mr. Hart responded that the schools get no funds from us, and this program would not drain anything because it is only for new businesses, so it would be a win-win. Dr. Bares stated that new businesses might come anyway without the need for incentives. Mr. Hart used Nexton as an example to show that many of those businesses are in unincorporated Berkeley County, and we are also losing out to Goose Creek. Mr. Carroll questioned the amount that Goose Creek has rebated so far, and Mr. Lisle did not have the exact amount at this time, but he provided the percentage language from Goose Creek’s ordinance. Dr. Bares questioned why the Town’s proposed ordinance did not include specific percentages allowed, and Mr. Lisle explained that he did not want to tie Council’s hands. Following the discussion, Mr. Hart made a motion to amend Section 20-204 to add a definition for jobs to include full-time positions or their equivalent added by the business at that location, and to amend Section 20- 206(4)(g) to eliminate “full-service restaurants” and replace with “manufacturing industry.” Mr. Carroll seconded the amendments. Mr. Reaves called for the vote, and the amendments passed unanimously. Mr. Reaves then called for the vote on the amended motion, and the motion passed 5-1 with Dr. Bares voting in opposition. Mr. Lee stated that he was concerned about possible lawsuits, and would request that G.W. Parker review the possibility of adding language to the ordinance to prohibit them. New Business: The first item under New Business was New Street Names (as applicable). Ms. Shuler explained that they did not have any street names for approval. Miscellaneous: The first item under Miscellaneous was the Unified Development Ordinance Approval. Ms. Shuler informed the Commission that the UDO had received second and final reading from Town Council on October 10 and was now adopted. She stated that she would email them the hyperlinked PDF of the final document and the PDF of the map. Mr. Reaves asked about the timeline of the Comprehensive Plan, and Ms. Shuler stated that she believed that it would still be primarily on target, and she hoped to have an update at their next meeting. Adjourn With no further business for the Commission, Ms. Segelken made a motion to adjourn with Mr. Carroll making the second, and Mr. Reaves adjourned the meeting at 4:48 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Jessi Shuler Date: __________________________ Director of Planning Approved: ____________________________________________ Jim Reaves, Chairman or Elaine Segelken, Vice Chairman  REZONING STAFF REPORT PLANNING COMMISSION November 18, 2019 Owner: Margaret B. and Michael B. Murray TMS#: 145-02-11-002 Location: 208 E. Carolina Avenue Description: one lot, approximately 0.81 acres, existing single-family home Request: Rezoning of the lot to N-B Reason for request (from applicant): We are applying to have our family home at 208 E Carolina Avenue rezoned to commercial property. Over the course of the 64 years that we have owned the property, the area around our house has drastically changed from a small two lane road to one of the very busiest in Summerville. In addition to all the nearby commercial development, we will soon have the exit ramp for a planned overpass cutting through a portion of our front yard when the Berlin G. Myers Parkway expands. The town has repeatedly widened East Carolina which has taken away the ditch at the front of the yard which allowed it to drain. But a much bigger problem is that the town has built a tall brick wall on East Carolina in front of the property adjacent to ours which blocks our view when exiting our driveway, making it hazardous. We have tried to sell the home off and on since 2017 and have been unsuccessful due to the heavy traffic in front of the home, being so close to the parkway expansion and fear of safely exiting our driveway with a brick wall blocking ones vision. (This has been our feedback numerous times.) The nature of this area has changed dramatically over the decades and we feel it has become less and less appropriate as residential property, but could be a great and useful location commercially. Thank you for your time and consideration, Michael Murray The property owner is requesting for the above referenced parcel to be rezoned from GR-2 Single- family Residential to N-B, Neighborhood Business. This property is included in the Town’s ‘Recreation Open Space’ area as identified within the Town’s 2009-2011 Comprehensive Plan and Update as well as on the accompanying Future Land Use Map, which is intended to classify public and privately dedicated open space and passive recreational uses. While the proposed N-B zoning as stated on the application for this site does not fall within the description of land uses recommended for this immediate area, the property is just outside of the juncture of the Commercial District. Berlin G. Myers Parkway Phase III, once constructed, will be in close proximity to the property, and the property fronts E. Carolina Avenue, which currently has a traffic count of just over 40,000 cars a day near this location. Given these findings, this request is recommended for approval by staff, as the N-B zoning designation appears to be a more appropriate designation than GR-2. 2  REZONING STAFF REPORT PLANNING COMMISSION November 18, 2019 Owner: Dr. Thomas M. Leland TMS#: 145-02-11-003 Location: E. Carolina Avenue Description: one lot, approximately 4.65 acres, undeveloped Request: Rezoning of the lot to N-B Reason for request (from applicant): The traffic and planned development of the Berlin G. Myers parkway through this land makes it no longer suitable for building residential houses on. The land is adjacent to the Sunoco gas station and Sawmill Village shopping center (Harris Teeter) and would fit better with the other commercial properties in the area. The property owner is requesting for the above referenced parcel to be rezoned from GR-2 Single- family Residential to N-B, Neighborhood Business. This property is included in the Town’s ‘Recreation Open Space’ area as identified within the Town’s 2009-2011 Comprehensive Plan and Update as well as on the accompanying Future Land Use Map, which is intended to classify public and privately dedicated open space and passive recreational uses. While the proposed N-B zoning as stated on the application for this site does not fall within the description of land uses recommended for this immediate area, the property is just outside of the juncture of the Commercial District. Berlin G. Myers Parkway Phase III, once constructed, will be in close proximity to the property, and the property fronts E. Carolina Avenue, which currently has a traffic count of just over 40,000 cars a day near this location. Given these findings, this request is recommended for approval by staff, as the N-B zoning designation appears to be a more appropriate designation than GR-2. 3