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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-23 Planning Commission Minutes MINUTES Town of Pulaski Planning Commission January 9, 2023 Commissioners Present: Kevin Meyer, Chairman; AJ Schrantz; David Hall; Terry Hale; Rachel Arthur; Frank Neice; Van Taylor Commissioners Absent: Town Staff: Caroline Smith, Planner/Zoning Administrator; 1. Call to Order Chairman Meyer called the Planning Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call of Commission A quorum was determined with seven commissioners present. 3. Review and Approval of Minutes Mr. Chairman asked if there were any comments on the December meeting minutes. Mr. Hall motioned to approve the meeting minutes and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote. 4. Public Hearing a. A request from Memorial Baptist Church for a Special Exception for property located at 995 Peppers Ferry Road, [tax parcel(s) 072-61-1] in the R-3, Multi-Family Residential District, for “Schools, Colleges, Universities, Pre-Schools or Daycare Center”. Caroline Smith, Town Planner, gave an overview of the case. Chairman Meyer opened up the floor for a public hearing. Page 2 of 6 / January 9, 2023 Dr. Gehrz, representing Memorial Baptist church gave background on the church and existing facility. He explained that the proposed daycare center would utilize a commercial kitchen and will build a community playground to serve nearby communities as well. Chairman Meyer asked the commissioners if they had any questions. Ms. Arthur asked if the church has been in contact with the fire inspector regarding safety precautions. Dr. Gehrz replied that he has communicated with the fire and building inspector. Ms. Arthur inquired about a possible water retention pond on the property. Dr. Gerhz stated that there was not any noticeable pond that filled up with water during his time there. Chairman Meyer ask how would children be prevented from going into the basement. Dr. Gehrz replied that there will be extra classrooms in the basement and the younger children would be in their classrooms. With no further questions Chairman Meyer closed the public hearing. Mr. Taylor motioned to recommend approval to Town Council the special exception and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: Chairman Meyer – Aye Mr. Hale – Aye Mr. Hall – Aye Mr. Neice - Absent Mr. Schrantz – Aye Ms. Arthur - Aye Mr. Taylor – Aye b. A request from Shah Development for a Special Exception for property located at 2460 Lee Highway [tax parcel(s) 063-25-25A] in the R-1, Single Family Residential District, for “Hospital or Health Center”. Ms. Smith gave an overview of the special exception case from SHAH Development. Chairman Meyer stated that allowing a blanket special exception would be setting a precedent that he did not want to see in the Town. Ms. Arthur asked if the supplemental material provided by the applicant could be considered as the application. Page 3 of 6 / January 9, 2023 Mr. Rygas stated that the materials could be used to supplement the application and the way that the application is currently written the application would be barred. Ms. Arthur asked for further clarification and stated that she was questioning whether or not the supplemental email is or is not part of the application. Chairman Meyer stated that it is not part of the application but it may be once that applicant states it is. Chairman Meyer opened up the floor for a public hearing. Kevin Conner, a representative from Shah Development, explained that the email he sent is able to be a condition to the application. Mr. Neice joined the meeting at 6:45pm. Mr. Conner explained that the company has been having to turn people away because possible tenants do not want to go through the special exception process. Chairman Meyer asked what the permitted uses were currently. Mr. Conner stated that the building could only be used for residential purposes or as a house of worship. Ms. Arthur asked if would be a single use residential building that the planning commission was looking at. Mr. Conner stated that they had not intended to abandon the use. Chairman Meyer stated that he wanted the Planning Commission and applicant to be more specific with the request. Mr. Schrantz asked for clarification on the intent. Mr. Conner elaborated that it would allow a tenant to move in quicker. David Hagen, a representative from Shah development explained that Shah Development had applied for a broad special exception in the past at memorial square for industrial use. Chairman Meyer stated that the zoning was changed in that particular case, but he understood Shah Development’s intentions. Page 4 of 6 / January 9, 2023 Ms. Arthur explained that she believed that the Planning Commission’s responsibility was to maintain the current district of the zonings that have been put into place and continued that a special exception may not be the right question. Mr. Taylor asked if Ms. Arthur was leading onto the question of rezoning the property. Ms. Arthur responded that it was not her place to ask that question. Chairman Meyer stated that the Planning Commission has several options to proceed. Mr. Conner explained that there will be no major changes because a building is already constructed. Chairman Meyer explained that he is okay with some uses under hospital or health center but not all. Ms. Arthur expressed her concerns about security depending on what tenant moves in and explained that she would have to consider the worst-case scenario and that it should not be the Planning Commission’s responsibility to sift through the proposed uses. Mr. Schrantz stated that the Planning Commission could table the request and have the applicant work with staff. Ms. Arthur explained that the commission would need to discuss each possible use. Mr. Schrantz replied that as a town they want to be welcoming of businesses. Ms. Arthur said that she didn’t think they had to say yes to everyone to achieve the goal of being welcoming. Chairman Meyer stated that he wanted to move forward with the public hearing. Sunshine Cope, a resident of Pulaski, explained her concern about the broad the application. Susan McAfee, a resident of Pulaski, stated that she too was concerned about the broadness of the request. Traci McAfee, a resident of Pulaski, asked the commission to work with the applicant to allow a doctor’s office. Page 5 of 6 / January 9, 2023 With no further questions Chairman Meyer closed the public hearing. Ms. Arthur reiterated that she was still concerned about the broad application. Ms. Schrantz motioned to request staff to work with the applicant to make the application more specific and to table the vote to the next meeting and Mr. Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: Chairman Meyer – Mr. Hale – Aye Mr. Hall – Aye Mr. Neice - Aye Mr. Schrantz – Aye Ms. Arthur - Aye Mr. Taylor – Abstain c. A proposed Zoning Amendment to Section 11.2, Definitions, Houses of Worship. Ms. Smith gave an update on the zoning amendment definition. Chairman Meyer opened up the floor for a public hearing. With no further questions Chairman Meyer closed the public hearing. Discussion between Ms. Arthur and Chairman Meyer occurred regarding special events and warming stations. Mr. Taylor motioned to recommend approval to Town Council the proposed zoning amendment and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: Chairman Meyer – Mr. Hale – Aye Mr. Hall – Aye Mr. Neice - Aye Mr. Schrantz – Aye Ms. Arthur - Aye Mr. Taylor – Aye 5. Old Business 6. New Business 7. Staff Report 8. Other Business Page 6 of 6 / January 9, 2023 a. Nominations Mr. Hale and Mr. Schrantz were nominated for vice-chairman. A roll call vote was used to determine who would fill the position with Mr. Schrantz being elected. Chairman Meyer – Hale Mr. Hale – Schrantz Mr. Hall – Hale Mr. Neice - Hale Mr. Schrantz – Schrantz Ms. Arthur-Schrantz Mr. Taylor – Schrantz Mr. Meyer was nominated for chairman. Mr. Meyer accepted the nomination and was elected on a voice vote. 9. Adjournment With there being no further business to discuss, Chairman Meyer adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Kevin Meyer, Chair ATTEST: __________________ Caroline Smith, Planner/Zoning Administrator/Secretary