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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/16/2019 - Planning Commission - Minutes - RegularPlanni ng Commi ssi on Meeti ng M INUTES Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 7:00 P M City Hall, Council Chambers, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 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; Denise P. King, Vice C hair; Reid A. Garst II, N. J ackson Beamer, and Neil L. Conner; with Vicki G. Daulton, Chair, presiding; together with C harles E. VanAllman, J r., Director of C ommunity Development Department; Benjamin W. Tripp, C ity Planner; Mary Ellen Wines, Zoning Administrator; and William C . Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney. J ackson Beamer motioned to appoint Mary Ellen Wines as Executive Secretary Pro Tem for this meeting of the Planning C ommission. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Conner, Beamer, Garst, King, Daulton 2.C onsent Agenda A.Minutes Consider approval of the minutes from the November 14, 2018, work session and regular meeting. Approved as presented 3.New Business A.Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing to consider the request of J Farmer, LLC, property owner, for rezoning the property located at 1101, 1109 and 1115 Electric Road (Tax Map # 221-1-4.1) from LM Light Manufacturing District and LM Light Manufacturing / HM Heavy Manufacturing District to HBD Highway Business District. T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of such hearing had been published in the J anuary 3 and 10, 2019, issues of the Salem Times Register and adjacent property owners were notified by letter mailed December 21, 2018. Staff noted the following regarding the rezoning request: the subject property consists of a single parcel of approximately 0.6 acres located on the west side of Electric Road (Route 419), near the intersection with C ampbell Street. It is currently occupied by a single story, three unit, office building. T his request is to rezone the property from LM to HBD in order to allow medical offices. T he property has been used for general offices since construction, but the owners would like to have the option to lease the space to a medical office. C hair Daulton opened the public hearing and asked if there was anyone to speak on this request. J ohn Farmer of 315 Howard Drive, property owner, appeared before the C ommission explaining the rezoning request. He noted that the property is currently zoned for Light and Heavy Manufacturing. T hey would like to have the option to lease the space to a medical office business and therefore, need to rezone the property to HBD Highway Business District to accommodate the proposed use. At this time, there are no changes proposed to the structure or the property. C hair Daulton asked if there was anyone else to speak regarding this request. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. She noted that the Planning C ommission will make a recommendation to City C ouncil and then the request will go before Council on J anuary 28. Neil Conner motioned to recommend to the Council of the City of Salem that the request of J Farmer, LLC, property owner, for rezoning the property located at 1101, 1109, and 1115 Electric Road (Tax Map #221-1-4.1) from LM Light Manufacturing District and LM Light Manufacturing/HM Heavy Manufacturing District to HBD Highway Business District be approved. J ackson Beamer seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King B.Special Exception P ermit Hold public hearing to consider the revocation of a Special Exception Permit issued November 13, 2017, to William E. Lee, property owner, and Green GearHeads LLC, lessee, to allow scrap and salvage services on the property located at 844 Union Street (Tax Map #200-2-1). T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of such hearing had been published in the J anuary 3 and 10, 2019, issues of the Salem Times Register. Staff noted the following regarding the request to revoke a Special Exception Permit: it has been requested that this item be continued to the February 13, 2019, Planning Commission meeting. Ben Tripp appeared before the C ommission noting that staff is requesting the C ommission to continue this request to the February meeting. Neil Conner motioned to continue the request to consider the revocation of a Special Exception Permit issued November 13, 2017, to William E. Lee, property owner, and Green Gearheads LLC , lessee, to allow scrap and salvage services on the property located at 844 Union Street (Tax Map #200-2-1) to the February 13, 2019, Planning C ommission meeting. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King C .Amendment to the City Code Hold public hearing to consider amending Chapter 106, Article II District Regulations, Section 106-210.2 Downtown business district, C ommercial Use Types, 106-212.2 Transitional business distrct, C ommercial Use Types, 106-214.2 Highway business district, C ommercial Use Types, pertaining to Pawn Shops; Article IV, Definitions and Use Types, Section 106-600 Definitions, pertaining to Substantial Improvement, and 106-602.3, Residential use types pertaining to Residential human care facility. T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of such hearing had been published in the J anuary 3 and 10, 2019, issues of the Salem Times Register. Staff noted the following regarding the request: staff continually reviews the Zoning Ordinance for its current applicability. Topics of discussion have arisen due to recent rezoning requests. Adjustments are necessary to encourage the type of development the community has requested. T he proposed changes will remove pawn shops by-right and require a special exception permit. In addition, definitions also need to be updated from time to time. T he state has amended their definition of residential human care facility to reflect the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services instead of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse. T he definition of substantial improvement will now include local historic registers to mirror the Uniform Statewide Building C ode. Ben Tripp appeared before the C ommission explaining the proposed zoning ordinance amendments. C hair Daulton noted that this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present who would like to speak regarding this matter. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. Denise King motioned to recommend to the C ouncil of the C ity of Salem that C hapter 106, Zoning, Article II District Regulations, Section 106-210.2 Downtown Business District, Commercial Use Types, 106-212.2 Transitional Business Distrct, C ommercial Use Types, 106-214.2 Highway Business District, Commercial Use Types, pertaining to Pawn Shops; Article IV, Definitions and Use Types, Section 106-600 Definitions, pertaining to Substantial Improvement, and 106-602.3, Residential use types pertaining to Residential human care facility be approved as amended. Neil Conner seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King D.Amendment to the City Code Hold public hearing to consider amending Chapter 66, Article IV, Permitted Signs by Use and District, Section 66-105(A), of the C O D E O F T HE C IT Y O F SA LEM, VIRG IN IA pertaining to signs. T he Executive Secretary Pro Tem reported that notice of such hearing had been published in the J anuary 3 and 10, 2019, issues of the Salem Times Register. Staff noted the following regarding the request: the existing sign ordinance was adopted in J anuary 2017, in part due to the creation of the Downtown Plan and the direction from the public as to how signage affects its character. As the ordinance has been enforced, staff has become aware of certain changes that need to be made to promote visibility while preserving the downtown character. Summary of proposed changes: 1. Freestanding sign height will be reduced from fifteen to five feet in T BD and D BD to create more of a pedestrian nature, and 2. Multi-tenant sign size will be increased from twelve to twenty-four square feet, and the restriction to wall signs only will be removed to allow for greater visibility. Ben Tripp appeared before the C ommission explaining the proposed sign ordinance amendments. C hair Daulton noted that this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present who would like to speak regarding this matter. Dr. Mark Wadstrom, property owner at 1035 Electric Road, appeared before the C ommission asking about the proposed amendments to the sign ordinance. Staff noted that the proposed changes would not affect his existing property. C hair Daulton asked if there was anyone else to speak on this request. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. Neil Conner motioned to recommend to the Council of the City of Salem that C hapter 66, Article IV, Permitted Signs by Use and District, Section 66-105(A), of the C O D E O F T HE C IT Y O F SA LEM, VIRG IN IA pertaining to signs be approved as amended. Denise King seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King 4.Adjournment T he meeting was adjourned at 7:17 p.m.