Standing Committee

TOWN OF SUMMERVILLE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT “Creating Sense of Place Through Parks & Play” TO: Beth Messervy, Town Clerk CC: Lisa Wallace, Town Administrator FROM: Amy Evans, Parks & Recreation Director DATE: May 7, 2024 RE: May Parks & Recreation Committee Minutes The Parks & Recreation Committee met on Monday, May 6, 2024 in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall Annex. Chairman Bob Jackson and committee members Tiffany Johnson-Wilson and Aaron Brown participated in the meeting. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM. Ms. Evans shared some background information about the Summerville Parks Foundation highlighting its purpose and vision. Steve Doniger, President of the Foundation, was invited to present the Foundation’s 2023 Annual Report. Mr. Doniger shared that the Foundation had received $181,350 and expended $171,737. The board focused on supporting two projects, Saul Alexander Pickleball Courts and Huger Park. Ms. Johnson- Wilson inquired how the Foundation selected projects to support. Ms. Evans shared that she provides a staff report at each meeting and shares potential opportunities and needs with the Board. Ms. Johnson-Wilson inquired whether a sidewalk project could be considered. Ms. Evans stated she would review the bylaws to verify. Ms. Evans shared that registration was open for the 2024 Sweet Tea Half-Marathon. She requested to allow donations on behalf of the Summerville Parks Foundation to be collected at check-out as done the previous year. Donations are completely optional. The committee supported this, and Mr. Jackson stated this could be permanent practice for this event moving forward unless an issue arose. Ms. Evans shared that the Summerville Parks Foundation had been pursuing sponsorships for individual shade structures for the Doty Splash Pad without much success. First Citizens has verbally committed to a lump sum of $25,000 in exchange for naming rights  Page 2 of 2 for 20 years and other agreed upon terms. Mr. Brown made a motion (seconded by Ms. Johnson-Wilson) to recommend that staff draft a memorandum of understanding to accept the donation. This memorandum of understanding will be provided to full Council for final approval. Ms. Evans shared that the splash pad construction had been delayed by approximately one month. The seating wall was recently replaced due to the quality of the construction. Mr. Brown asked if there were any change orders for the project. Ms. Evans stated there were not. At this time, we are anticipating a late June/early July opening. With no other business to discuss, Mr. Brown made a motion (seconded by Ms. Johnson- Wilson) to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 5:43 PM. Sincerely, Amy Evans Parks & Recreation Director Town of Summerville Mailing: 200 South Main Street | Summerville, SC 29483 Physical: 515 West Boundary Street | Summerville, SC 29483 Office: (843)851-5211 | Fax: (843)851-5214  PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT for May 6, 2024 5:30 PM The Planning and Development Committee of Town Council met on May 6, 2024. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 200 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC. Committee members present included Richard Waring, Council District 4; Matt Halter, Council District 3; and Bob Jackson, Council District 6. Staff members present included Jessi Shuler, AICP, Director of Planning and other Town staff. The meeting was called to order at 5:44 PM immediately following the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. Letter of support: Ms. Shuler introduced the discussion of request for letter of support for Woda Cooper Companies for their state tax credit application for a project at 615 N. Cedar Street. She highlighted the location at the corners of Highway 78, N. Cedar St., and W. 6th North Street. She explained that they were proposing a four-story apartment building. Mr. Jackson asked if they were partnering with any non-profits, and Ms. Shuler responded that she was not aware of them partnering with any non-profit, but that she could confirm that with them. There was further discussion about the state law regarding affordable housing, non- profits, and property tax exemptions. Mr. Halter questioned why this property was chosen. Ms. Shuler noted that this property has been for sale for quite some time. She cannot speak to the exact reasons why they chose it, but it is a good location for affordable housing as it is close to existing infrastructure and other needs, such as a grocery store, jobs, and a TriCounty Link transit stop. Further discussion ensued regarding the density, design of the development, concern about possible property tax exemption, and the process for approval of the project. Ms. Shuler stated that the density was in line with the D-MX zoning and the location in the downtown area, but that she was not aware if a conceptual plan was available yet. She did note that this project previously came before Council requesting a financial contribution, which was denied, but this request is merely for a letter of support. Also, the project will have to go before the TRC and then DRB if the tax credits are granted. Mr. Jackson made a motion to hold the item for further information, and Mr. Halter made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Following the vote, Parker Zee with the Woda Cooper Companies asked to speak to the Committee, as he had additional information to share with the Committee. Mr. Waring allowed him to speak and reopened the item. Mr. Zee confirmed that they are not partnering with a non-profit organization with this development and are estimating that the property taxes generated annually will be approximately $80,000 based on the proposed plan for the development. He shared a conceptual plan for the site and conceptual building elevations and detailed that the plan included six one-bedroom, 25 two- bedroom, and 11 three-bedroom apartments. He added that in addition to the reasons Ms. Shuler detailed, this property is attractive to them because of the proposed mixed-use development on the Dorchester County property that he felt would be in line with their proposal. Based on the additional information provided, Mr. Halter made a motion to send the item to the full Council with no recommendation, and Mr. Jackson made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Site plan approval: Ms. Shuler introduced the site plan approval for Short Central Beautification project within Central Ave. & W. 2nd South St. right-of-way (owned by Town of Summerville). She clarified that this project required approval from Council because the Central Ave. (Short Central) right-of-way is owned by the Town. The W. 2nd South St. right-of-way is currently owned by SCDOT, but they are willing to quit claim that block of W. 2nd South St. to the Town, which will be considered by the Public Works Committee next month. Mr. Waring asked if this site plan had already gone before the TRC, and Ms. Shuler confirmed that it had, and the main items raised were making sure that the ADA parking was compliant and working with SCDOT on the W. 2nd South St. right-of-way. Mr. Jackson made a motion to send the item to the full Council with a recommendation for approval, and Mr. Halter made the second. The motion passed unanimously. UDO amendments: Ms. Shuler introduced the proposed amendments to the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 2, Section 2.3.6.A - Encroachments; Chapter 4, Section 4.2.5 - Frontage Encroachments; Chapter 13, Section 13.7.1 – Zoning/Development Permit. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation for approval at their meeting on April 15, 2024. Ms. Shuler briefly explained the amendments and the need to close a loophole in the existing ordinance. Mr. Halter asked for confirmation that this would only affect fences visible from the street, and Ms. Shuler confirmed that that was the intention. He then asked if residential properties in mixed-use districts would be subject to these changes, and Ms. Shuler confirmed that they would in the N-MX, D-MX, and UC-MX districts, but that the DRB or BAR could allow chain-link fencing in certain situations, although the BAR has never allowed it in the past. Mr. Halter asked if there were specific instances recently that prompted these changes, and Ms. Shuler confirmed that there were a couple of properties: one adjacent to Laura and one on Boone Hill Road. Following the discussion, Mr. Jackson made a motion to send the item to the full Council with a recommendation for approval, and Mr. Halter made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Shuler introduced the proposed amendments to the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 3, Section 3.3 – Table of Permitted Uses and Section 3.4.5.E – Tobacco/Tobacco Alternatives Sales Store; Chapter 15, Section 15.3 – Definition of Terms. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation for approval at their meeting on April 15, 2024. Ms. Shuler briefly explained the amendments to add CBD and CBD alternatives to the existing conditional use for tobacco and tobacco alternative stores, slightly reduce the distance required from certain uses, address signage for these stores, and define sensitive receptors. Mr. Waring asked for confirmation that the distance was reduced to 750 feet from 1,000 feet, and Ms. Shuler confirmed that, and explained why these changes were proposed. Mr. Jackson made a motion to send the item to the full Council with a recommendation for approval, and Mr. Halter made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Shuler introduced the proposed amendments to the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 9, Section 9.3 – Design Standards. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation for approval at their meeting on April 15, 2024. Ms. Shuler noted that this change is proposed to address a loophole in the lighting chapter, as this type of lighting is addressed in relation to signage in Chapter 10, but not outside of signage. She added that staff recently received multiple complaints about this type of lighting. Mr. Jackson made a motion to send the item to the full Council with a recommendation for approval, and Mr. Halter made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Shuler introduced the proposed amendments to the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 13, Section 13.7.2 – Building Permit and Section 13.7.3 – Certificate of Occupancy/Occupancy Permit. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation for approval at their meeting on April 15, 2024. Ms. Shuler explained the three main changes proposed and the reasoning behind each. Mr. Halter expressed his surprise that a survey was not already required for a building permit and expressed his full support for that change. He noted that he had concerns about requiring a foundation survey and an as-built survey as he felt they would generally be unnecessary and add time and cost. Mr. Waring agreed, noting that surveyors are very busy, and it can take between 2-4 weeks at a minimum, which would not work, particularly as pouring a foundation is very dependent on weather and other conditions. Ms. Shuler explained that she’d worked with the Building Department so that the language allowed the foundation survey to be submitted at the time of the foundation inspection; therefore, it wouldn’t hold up the foundation being poured. She noted that this language could be clarified and stressed that staff was trying to catch issues before the entire structure was built. Mr. Waring asked if staff considered just having the corners of the foundation marked by a surveyor on-site, as that would require less time and cost, but still address staff’s concerns. Mr. Halter explained that as a surveyor, he rarely sees buildings more than a few inches off when he has performed as-built surveys. Ms. Shuler explained that the as-built survey would also help with impervious surface, not just building location, as staff has recently experienced numerous occasions when the approved site plan was not followed in terms of the amount of impervious surface added to the property. While a little bit on one site may not seem like a big deal, a little bit on multiple sites can add up and lead to significant drainage/flooding concerns. Mr. Halter stated that it sounded like it could be more of an enforcement issue, and Ms. Shuler agreed that that is part of it and is being addressed with the next item on the agenda, but that she felt that the foundation and as-built survey requirements would be helpful for staff particularly on smaller lots and would primarily impact tract builders who should not have as much of an issue with time and cost as it could be built into their proforma. Further discussion ensued regarding the concerns about the foundation and as-built surveys and how the wording could potentially be changed to address those concerns. Ms. Shuler asked that the Committee allow the item to move forward and give her the ability to submit suggested changes prior to first reading on Thursday. Following the discussion, Mr. Halter made a motion to send the item to the full Council with no recommendation, and Mr. Jackson made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Shuler introduced the last item on the agenda, which was the proposed amendments to the Summerville Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 14, Section 14.2.4 – Notice of Violation and 14.2.5 – Failure to Correct Violation. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation for approval at their meeting on April 15, 2024. Ms. Shuler explained the reasons for the changes and the difficulty with certified mail. She noted that legal counsel agreed that a warning was not required, although staff would still provide warnings in situations where the violation could be corrected. Mr. Halter made a motion to send the item to the full Council with no recommendation, and Mr. Jackson made the second. The motion passed unanimously. Following no additional business or discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM on a motion by Mr. Jackson and a second by Mr. Halter. Respectfully submitted, Jessi Shuler, AICP May 7, 2024 Director of Planning