HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/12/2013 - Planning Commission - Minutes - RegularAPPROVED MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
June 12, 2013
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in
Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, at 7:00 p.m., on June 12, 2013, there being
present the following members of said Commission, to wit: Vicki G. Daulton, Jimmy W.
Robertson, and Samuel R. Carter, III (Terrance D. Murphy and Bruce N. Thomasson – absent);
with Vicki G. Daulton, Vice Chair, presiding; together with James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City
Manager and Executive Secretary, ex officio member of said Commission; Melinda J. Payne,
Director of Planning and Development; Benjamin W. Tripp, Planner; Judy L. Hough, Planner;
Mary Ellen Wines, Deputy Zoning Administrator/Secretary; and William C. Maxwell, Assistant
City Attorney; and the following business was transacted:
ON MOTION MADE BY COMMISSION MEMBER CARTER, AND DULY CARRIED, the
minutes of the regular meeting and work session held on May 15, 2013, were approved as
written – the roll call vote: all present - aye.
In re: Hold a public hearing to consider the request of Farmer & Quinn LLC, lessee,
and Metts Investments LLC, property owner, for the issuance of an “Use Not
Provided For” Permit to allow an auction and appraisal business on the
property located at 1701 Midland Road (Tap Map #230-6-1)
The Executive Secretary reported that this date and time had been set to hold a public
hearing to consider the request of Farmer & Quinn LLC, lessee, and Metts Investments LLC,
property owner, for the issuance of an “Use Not Provided For” Permit to allow an auction and
appraisal business on the property located at 1701 Midland Road (Tap Map #230-6-1); and
WHEREAS, the Executive Secretary further reported that notice of such hearing had
been published in the May 29 and June 5, 2013, issues of The Roanoke Times, and adjoining
property owners were notified by letter mailed May 31, 2013; and
WHEREAS, staff noted the following: the subject property consists of a 4.5 acre parcel
located at the eastern corner of the intersection of Easton and Midland Roads, near the
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intersection with Route 419; the parcel is occupied by a large single story, multi-tenant
industrial building; this request is for an “Use Not Provided For” permit to allow an auction
gallery in a portion of the building (approximately 12,650 square feet); the auction use will be
combined with warehousing, which is allowed by-right in the zoning district; and
WHEREAS, William Farmer of 431 Homeplace Drive, representing Farmer & Quinn LLC,
appeared before the Commission in support of the “Use Not Provided For” Permit request; he
noted that the proposed use is for an auction house, which they are proposing to relocate from
Radford; he has recently been hired as the General Manager, and his father has been in the real
estate, antique and personal property business for 30 years; the space that they have in
Radford currently occupies about 11,000 square feet as an antique auction house and appraisal
business; when he took over the business, one of the things he set about to do was to move the
business back to this area as he is a Roanoke College graduate; he has spent the past 10 years
working in the real estate business and also for Cox Communications; but he has been an
auctioneer for 10 years and loves the personal property and antique business and knew that
coming back to an area that is much more robust with a lot happening was needed; the building
that they identified is a manufacturing-type building with over 60,000 square feet, and the
space they will be leasing is approximately 12,600 square feet with a great side entrance,
separate parking and area for a showroom space, etc.; they typically hold two or three auctions
a month and usually Tuesday evenings and Saturdays; and
WHEREAS, Vice Chair Daulton asked if they would be moving the business here from
Radford, and Mr. Farmer noted that they would be moving the business to Salem; and
WHEREAS, Commission Member Robertson asked Mr. Farmer if the auctions are open
to the public, and Mr. Farmer noted that they are open to the public; he further noted that
everything is sold on a consignment basis so they do not own the merchandise – it belongs to
estates, trusts, banks, etc.; there is a preview time where people can come to see the
merchandise and also, some people come to the business during regular business hours; and
typically, during auction time is when the traffic increases; and
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WHEREAS, Vice Chair Daulton asked how much traffic would they anticipate generating
at the location; Mr. Farmer noted that the traffic varies depending on the type of auction; it can
be as few as 50 to as many as 150, which is the average of what they typically are doing at the
building in Radford; and
WHEREAS, Vice Chair Daulton inquired how they advertise the auctions; Mr. Farmer
noted that the auctions are primarily advertised through email and their website; they are
considering some other options with his new marketing plan; he wrote a new business plan to
come to Salem, and they are looking at some new approaches for the business; he noted that
the business is his father’s, which he is taking over so it is a change of the guard in some ways;
further, he is looking forward to getting involved in the community and being an active part of
the arts committee, history, etc.; in addition, he would love to be part of promoting Salem; and
WHEREAS, no other person(s) appeared related to said request;
ON MOTION MADE BY COMMISSION MEMBER ROBERTSON, AND DULY CARRIED, the
Planning Commission of the City of Salem doth recommend to the Council of the City of Salem
that the request of Farmer & Quinn LLC, lessee, and Metts Investments LLC, property owner,
for the issuance of an “Use Not Provided For” Permit to allow an auction and appraisal business
on the property located at 1701 Midland Road (Tap Map #230-6-1) be approved – the roll call
vote: all present – aye.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the same on motion
adjourned at 7:09 p.m.