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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/12/2020 - Planning Commission - Minutes - RegularPlanni ng Commi ssi on Meeti ng M INUTES Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 7:00 P M Salem Civic Center, Community Room, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, VA 24153 1.C all to Order A regular meeting of the Planning C ommission of the C ity of Salem, Virginia, was called to order at 7:00 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Vicki G. Daulton, Chair (absent); Denise P. King, Vice C hair; Reid A. Garst II, N. J ackson Beamer, and Neil L. C onner (absent); with Denise P. King, Vice Chair, presiding; together with C harles E. VanAllman, J r., C ommunity Development Director; Mary Ellen Wines, Zoning Administrator, Benjamin W. Tripp, C ity Planner; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney. N. J ackson Beamer motioned to appoint Mary Ellen Wines as Executive Secretary Pro Tem for this meeting of the Planning Commission. Reid A. Garst II seconded the motion. Aye: Beamer, Garst, King Absent: Conner, Daulton Vice C hair King welcomed a Boy Scout troop who were in attendance. 2.Pledge of Allegiance 3.C onsent Agenda A.Minutes Consider acceptance of the minutes from the J une 10, 2020, regular meeting. Accepted as presented 4.New Business A.Special Exception P ermit Hold public hearing to consider the request of Riverland Oaks, LLC , contract purchaser, and Higgs Family Trust, property owner, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow a two-family dwelling on the property located at 422 South Broad Street (Tax Map # 145-12-7). T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of said hearing had been published in the J uly 30, and August 6, 2020, issues of the Salem Times Register, and all property owners were notified by letter mailed J uly 27, 2020. Staff noted the following regarding the request: the subject property consists of a single parcel of 0.277 acres, with a lot width of forty-six (46) feet and a depth of two hundred sixty two (262) feet. It is located on the east side of South Broad Street, to the north of the intersection with Gray Alley. T he property fronts both on South Broad Street and White Oak Street. T he property is currently vacant as the existing home was demolished in J anuary 2005. In March of that same year the Board of Zoning Appeals denied a variance request that would have allowed a reduction in lot width and area so the lot could be subdivided, and two single-family dwellings built. T he petitioner is requesting a permit to allow a front to back two- family dwelling. T he portion of the lot furthest east lies within the 100-year floodplain. Vice Chair King opened the public hearing and asked if there was anyone to speak regarding this request. Patrick Snead, Manager Member of Riverland Oaks, LLC , appeared before the C ommission explaining the Special Exception Permit request. He noted the members of the company are lifelong residents of the community and focus on giving back to the community. T hey are proposing to build a back to back two-story duplex with one home facing South Broad Street and the other home facing White Oak Street. T here will be ample off street parking provided for each home. He further discussed the proposed project and noted that updated handouts had been provided to the Community Development office. Mr. Garst asked if the units would be rental, and Mr. Snead noted that they would be rental units. Mr. Garst asked what would be the price range, and Mr. Snead noted that the rental rate would be approximately $1,400 plus pets. Mr. Garst asked if this would be marketed for college students, and Mr. Snead noted that college students are not their target market. Vice C hair King asked if there was anyone else to speak on this matter. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. Reid Garst motioned to recommend to the Council of the City of Salem that the request of Riverland Oaks, LLC , contract purchaser, and Higgs Family Trust, property owner, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow a two- family dwelling on the property located at 422 South Broad Street (Tax Map #145- 12-7) be approved. J ackson Beamer seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Garst, King Absent: Conner, Daulton B.Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing to consider the request of Boone T homas, applicant, and Edward Andrew Riner Revocable Declaration of Trust, Edward Andrew Riner - Trustee, property owner, for rezoning the property located at 201 Northern Trail (Tax Map # 10-1-1.1) from RSF Residential Single Family District w/conditions to RSF Residential Single Family District w/ amended conditions. T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of said hearing had been published in the J uly 30, and August 6, 2020, issues of the Salem Times Register, and all property owners were notified by letter mailed J uly 27, 2020. Staff noted the following regarding the request: the subject property consists of a single parcel of 0.357 acres. T his is Lot 1 of the Rivendell Subdivision. It is located on the north side of of Northern Trail, to the east of the intersection with Polar Lane. T he petitioners wish to have a driveway access from Polar Lane leading to an attached garage. In 2007 the rezoning of the parent parcel was granted with proffered conditions. During the meeting the applicant voluntarily proffered that here would be no access to Polar Lane from several of the lots, including this one. Unfortunately, this condition was erroneously left out of the final ordinance, however, in recognition of the proffer, it was added to the subdivision plat approved by Planning C ommission later that year. T he request relates only to the condition prohibiting access from Polar Lane to lot 1. Vice Chair King opened the public hearing and asked if there was anyone to speak regarding this request. Steve Poff with Boone T homas Homes, applicant, representing the property owner, appeared before the C ommission explaining the rezoning request. He noted that the original rezoning in 2007 placed several conditions on this subdivision. T hey are requesting to amend one of those conditions which prohibits access from Polar Lane. T he property owners would like to build a home with a side entry garage as this is the best way to access the proposed construction due to the topography. If they were to build the proposed house with the entrance from Northern Trail, it might require a retaining wall. Further, he feels the houses with the side entry garage look asthetically better for a corner lot. T here are no sight distance issues related to the request. In addition, no other lot in the subdivision would benefit from amending this condition. Vice Chair King noted she had been by the property. T here is currently a gate on the side of the property on Polar Lane. She asked if this would be where the driveway would go, and Mr. Poff noted that yes that is his target for the driveway. T here was further discussion regarding the elevations for the subdivision. Vice C hair King noted that the proposed driveway will more than likely line up with the driveway on the other side of Polar Lane. Vice Chair King asked Mr. VanAllman if he knew the reason why the condition was placed on the subdivision prohibiting access to Polar Lane from the subdivision lots. Mr. VanA llman noted he thought there was some concern about the width of Polar Lane and that the neighbors were concerned with sight distance with driveways being put in on the street. So the developers decided to proffer that they would not have any driveways on Polar Lane. He does not remember it being a big issue. Further, he did drive up to the subdivision to verify the safety, and he does not see a problem with putting the driveway for this lot on Polar. Vice C hair King asked about the sight line distance. She noted that she drove down Northern Trail and came back to Polar Lane, and she did not have an issue with sight line. Mr. VanAllman noted that the plat provided with the request does have the sight distances noted, and the plat was prepared by a licensed surveyor and a professional engineer has to certify the plat is correct. Mr. Garst asked if the driveway would be wide enough for the owners to back out of the garage and turnaround and pull out onto Polar. Mr. Poff noted that there should be enough room to put a turnaround. Vice C hair King asked if there was anyone else to speak on this matter. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. J ackson Beamer motioned to recommend to the Council of the City of Salem that the request of Boone T homas, applicant, and Edward Andrew Riner Revocable Declaration of Trust, Edward Andrew Riner - Trustee, property owner, for rezoning the property located at 201 Northern Trail (Tax Map # 10-1-1.1) from RSF Residential Single Family District w/conditions to RSF Residential Single Family District with amended conditions be approved as presented for Lot 1, 201 Northern Trail only. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Garst, King Absent: Conner, Daulton 5.Adjournment T he meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m.