Westminster Planning & Zoning Commission

Minutes Of the City of Westminster Planning Commission Meeting of May 14, 2015 Attendance: Planning Commission Members and City Staff: Chair Margaret R. Bair, Suzanne Albert, Common Council Member, Kevin W. Beaver, Lori Welsh Graham, and Nancy B. Palmer, Christopher Jakubiak, Acting Director of Community Planning and Development and Scott Graf, Carroll County I. Call to Order Chairperson Margaret R. Blair called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. II. Approval of Minutes In separate moved and approved actions, the Planning Commission approved minutes of the February 13, 2015 and April 9, 2015 meetings noting that in the minutes of April 13, 2015 Mr. Scott Graf was inadvertently not listed among those members actually in attendance. III. Old Business There was no old business. IV. New Business 1. Consideration of zoning ordinance amendments to address small cell telecommunications facilities within the City of Westminster (no action) Mr. Jakubiak introduced the topic noting that Verizon Wireless had contacted the City’s Department of Community Planning and Development and advanced the idea of amending the text of the zoning ordinance to clarify rules governing the deployment and use of small cell wireless technology. He referred the Commission to a set of preliminary text amendments which were previously mailed to the Planning Commission members. These amendments mainly define small cell wireless installations and allow small cell installations throughout the City’s various zoning districts, including the historic overlay district with varying levels of regulations largely related to location, height, and compatibility with adjoining architecture. Christopher Mudd, Esq. was a present to legally represent Verizon Wireless along with two representatives 1  of the company who were available to offer technical information about small cell wireless technology. The Commission discussed the topic and asked technical questions but deferred any action until the City staff or an interested party was ready with a more formal submission for review. 2. Planning Commission 2014 Annual Report, Action to review and approve Annual Report which was distributed to the Planning Commission at its April 9, 2015 meeting. Chairwoman Bair requested Mr. Graf to begin the discussion of the 2014 Annual Report. He summarized the report noting that Mr. Jakubiak had submitted comments to the draft which he had incorporated into the final version. The comments were intended to place statements about growth projections for Westminster in the context of constraints on public water and sewer availability. Mr. Jakubiak then referred the Planning Commission to the draft approval letter he had prepared which letter customarily is placed by the County at the back of the Annual Report upon being signed by the Chair of the Planning Commissions. The Planning Commission discussed the letter and in particular what recommendations it might provide relating to improving planning and development processes and agreed that the letter should include new language that the Planning Commission will seek to bring about improvements to walking and biking when reviewing development projects as well and improvements to the quality of site planning generally. On a motion by Ms. Graham, seconded by Mr. Beaver, the Planning Commission approved the Annual Report which included directing that Mr. Jakubiak draft a paragraph for inclusion in the approval letter for the Chairwoman’s review and approval. Note the letter—which was signed by Chairwoman Bair, was revised to include the following: “During 2015 and beyond the Planning and Zoning Commission will consider ways to improve the safety and convenience of walking and bicycling within Westminster especially in the context of the review and approval of new development projects. We will, from time to time, offer the Mayor and Common Council recommendations for amendments to the zoning ordinance, including the plan approval procedures related to improving commercial site design including circulation, landscaping and signage”. V. Planning Commission Discussion The Planning Commission discussed the importance of having the zoning ordinance available at the meetings and the design preference manual as well. Mr. Jakubiak distributed copies and agreed to maintain copies at City Hall for future use. Mr. Beaver indicated that it is important that building elevations and signage plans be included in future site plan packages for Planning Commission’s review and approval. The members agreed. 2