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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/11/2018 - Planning Commission - Minutes - RegularPlanni ng Commi ssi on Meeti ng M INUTES Wednesday, July 11, 2018, 7:00 P M Council Chambers, City Hall. 114 North Broad Street, Salem 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 (absent); Reid A. Garst II, N. J ackson Beamer, and Neil L. C onner; with Vicki G. Daulton, C hair, presiding; together with J ames E. Taliaferro, Assistant City Manager and Executive Secretary; 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. 2.C onsent Agenda A.Minutes Consider approval of minutes from the April 11, 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 LMP Investments, LLC , property owner, for rezoning the property located at 515 Electric Road (Tax Map # 155-1-1) from HM Heavy Manufacturing District to HBD Highway Business District / HM Heavy Manufacturing District. T he Executive Secretary reported that notice of such hearing had been published in the J une 28, and J uly 5, 2018, issues of the Salem Times Register and adjacent property owners were notified by letter mailed J une 25, 2018. Staff noted the following regarding the rezoning request: the subject property consists of a single parcel of approximately 2.5 acres, located on the western side of Electric Road (Route 419), northeast of the intersection with Saint J ohn’s Road. T he property is occupied by two small industrial buildings and an office building. T his request is to split zone the property, creating two differently zoned portions on the same parcel. T he rear of the property would remain HM Heavy Manufacturing District, while the front portion, including the building closest to the street, would become HBD Highway Business District. T he owner is requesting this change to accommodate a retail business that would like to lease the building in front, while also keeping his existing tenants in the back that require the industrial zoning. C hair Daulton opened the public hearing and asked if there was anyone to speak. J im Phillips, managing partner of LMP Investments, of 1811 Warrenton Road, Roanoke, appeared before the Commission explaining the rezoning request. He noted that the partnership purchased the property in 2011. Before they closed on the purchase, he had inquired about the potential uses for the property. He was told that the building they are asking to rezone was zoned for offices or retail uses. In fact, he put a sign up advertising the 5,000 square foot building for lease for office or retail. T hen it came to his attention that the building was not zoned for those uses. He now has a tenant who would like to lease the entire building. T his is a retail business that brokers antiques, currently located in Roanoke C ounty. He further discussed the proposed tenant for the building, and the problems that they have had trying to lease the building since it is so large. He noted this is the first time since they bought the property that someone has wanted to lease the entire building. He feels this will be a good use of the building. C ommissioner Beamer asked Mr. Phillips if the business would be like a consignment antiques business, and Mr. Phillips noted that this was correct. He noted that individual sellers would have their own rooms to display their items for sale, and there would be a checkout at the front of the store. C ommissioner Conner asked if he had any idea how many patrons the business has on a daily basis at the current location. Mr. Phillips noted that he was not sure how many per day, but the few times he has been to the business he has seen a maximum of three cars at one time. So, he believes that there is very minimal traffic. C ommissioner Beamer asked Mr. Phillips is the building was chopped up into a lot of offices, and Mr. Phillips noted that the building is chopped up, in fact, it has two hallways with offices on both sides of the halls. He further discussed the layout of the building and the issues related to leasing because of the electricity, heating and air conditioning. C ommissioner Conner asked how he was marketing the building to potential tenants. What are the outlets he has been using to market the building? Mr. Phillips noted that it has been advertised in the newspaper, and the sign has been in front of the building for approximately five years. In addition, they have shared the information with all realtors in Roanoke. He has shown the building to numerous tenants, but it is very difficult to split up the building for multiple tenants. C hair Daulton asked Mr. Phillips if he was told by City staff or by a real estate agent that the building could be used for retail uses. He noted that he was the real estate agent involved in the transaction and that it was someone from the City of Salem who told him. He stated he would never have put the sign up to lease for retail had he not been told it could be used for retail or office uses. Chair Daulton noted she did not think the zoning had changed in the last seven years so she was just wondering how he got the impression that the building could be used for those uses. Mr. Phillips noted that he could not remember who told him this, but he definitely called the C ity to check on the uses. Mr. Tripp noted that he believes there is a certain amount of retail allowed in industrial zoning if it is for an industrial user. Mrs. Wines noted that this was correct. She stated that it is an accessory to an industrial use. For instance, the industrial user could have a showroom in the front to sell products they manufacture. C hair Daulton noted that it was probably just a misconception about the retail part of the zoning. C ommissioner Beamer asked how long they have owned the property, and Mr. Phillips noted he thought they purchased the building in 2011. C hair Daulton noted that this is a public hearing, and she asked if there was anyone else to speak regarding this request. T here was no response, and the public hearing was closed. C ommissioner Conner noted based on the fact there are a quite a few uses for this property that are by right, and he thinks it is the goal of this Commission and staff to keep zoning as clean and methodical as possible, and in light of the future land use designated for this property, he unfortunately feels this request should be denied. Neil Conner motioned to recommend to the Council of the City of Salem that the request of LMP Investments, LLC , property owner, for rezoning the property located at 515 Electric Road (Tax Map # 155-1-1) from HM Heavy Manufacturing District to HBD Highway Business District / HM Heavy Manufacturing District be denied. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst Absent: King 4.Adjournment T he meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.