Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/27/2014 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING May 27, 2014 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on May 27, 2014, at 7:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, William D. Jones, and Lisa D. Garst (Byron Randolph Foley – absent); with John C. Givens, Vice Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Melinda J. Payne, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Rosie Jordan, Director of Finance; Charles E. Van Allman, City Engineer; Mike Stevens, Communications Director; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney; and the following business was transacted: The May 12, 2014, regular meeting minutes were approved as written. Vice Mayor Givens requested that Council present City Council’s Pride in Salem Green Awards; and WHEREAS, Councilwoman Johnson noted that the 3 rd Annual Pride in Salem Green Awards recognizes the spirit and pride in our community that makes Salem such a wonderful place to live, work, and play; these awards are presented to local businesses that have risen above others by significantly contributing to the beautification or “greening up” of our city through visible landscaping, prominent exterior building or site renovations, or responsible environmental initiatives; by exercising the characteristics of corporate philanthropy and civic responsibility at their own expense, these businesses serve as an example to others in a shining part in the City of Salem and what makes it so special; WHEREAS, it was noted that General Electric, Main Street Primitives, and Family Dollar were nominated in the Landscaping and Beautification category; General Electric, Roanoke Valley Wine Company, and Parkway Brewery were nominated in the Renovation and Energy Efficiency category; and Fresh Studio, Templeton Vest, and ITT Technical Institute were nominated in the Recycling, Reusing and Repurposing category; and WHEREAS, General Electric was honored with the award in the Landscaping and Beautification category; Parkway Brewery was honored with the award in the Renovation and Energy Efficiency category; Fresh Studio was honored with the award in the Recycling, Reusing and Repurposing category; and ITEM 1 PRESENTATION OF CITY COUNCIL’S PRIDE IN SALEM AWARDS 2 ITT Technical Institute was awarded the Council’s choice award (a first -time award); THEREUPON, said awards were presented. Vice Mayor Givens reported that this date and time had been set to consider the request of Irvin L. & Jonny J. Webster, property owners, and Josh & Michelle Lynch, lessees, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow athletic instruction services on the property located at 735 Roanoke Street (Tax Map #142-3-12); notice of such hearing was published in the May 7 and 14, 2014, issues of The Roanoke Times, a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Salem; Planning Commission recommends approval of request with condition; and WHEREAS, staff noted the following: the subject property consists of one parcel .503 acres located on the north side of Roanoke Street between Spring and Maple Streets and is currently occupied by two buildings, 729 and 735; the request is for 735, which is the building on the west side of the property adjacent to 745 Roanoke Street (see pictures attached); the building is currently vacant but has previously been used by the property owners for offices and warehouse; the request is for a Special Exception Permit for athletic instruction services; the lessees would like to open a fitness facility/gym which will provide group and individual fitness training classes; the facility has a large open floor space with high ceilings and will “afford the business the ability to train larger groups and conduct exercises which require that type of space” as well as ceiling height; and WHEREAS, Josh Lynch of 409 Cahas Mountain Road, Boones Mill, lessee, appeared to answer any questions regarding the request; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones questioned if the ceiling height was adequate for the business needs; and WHEREAS, Mr. Lynch stated that the ceiling height was adequate; and WHEREAS, Councilwoman Garst questioned the hours of operation; and WHEREAS, Mr. Lynch stated that typically it would be morning and evening classes; some classes will be during the day; there will be a trainer there during the day; it will not be a come at any time type business, but will be ITEM 2 SPECIAL EXCEPTION PERMIT TO ALLOW ATHLETIC INSTRUCTION SERVICES ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 735 ROANOKE STREET (T/M 142-3- 12) APPROVED WITH CONDITION 3 specific on requiring a trainer be available; the hours would be 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., and in the evenings at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and potentially up to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding parking, type of classes being offered, etc.; WHEREAS, no other person(s) appeared related to the request; ON A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN JONES, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GARST, AND DULY CARRIED, the request of Irvin L. & Jonny J. Webster, property owners, and Josh & Michelle Lynch, lessees, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow athletic instruction services on the property located at 735 Roanoke Street (Tax Map #142 -3-12) was hereby approved with condition – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye; Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – absent. Vice Mayor Givens reported that this date and time had been set to hold a public hearing and consider ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 30, Article IV Stormwater Management (in its entirety) of the Code of the City of Salem, Virginia, pertaining to stormwater management; notice of such hearing was published in the May 7 and 14, 2014, issues of The Roanoke Times, a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Salem; WHEREAS, the City Engineer noted that over the past year and a half or two years, the Commonwealth of Virginia through DEQ has been making changes to the Virginia Stormwater Management Act; the Act basically applies to acreages or developments over one acre; the City Engineer reviewed the history of the Act, the process of amendments to the Act, etc.; this amendment to the City Code better reflects state law; the law does not make any changes to anything under an acre within the City of Salem; it places the enforcement of land disturbing activities over an acre squarely on the shoulders of the localities; therefore, the City will be enforcing the ordinance and the permit; this does not say that DEQ does not retain the ability to also enforce the permit; he noted that there are guidelines on what fees can be charged for permits and 28 percent of the full amount that can be charged for the permits is returned to the state; he also noted that the ordinance will become effective July 1, 2014, as required by state law; and WHEREAS, no other person(s) appeared related to the amendment; ITEM 3 ORDINANCE PASSED AMENDING CHAPTER 30, ARTICLE IV STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (IN ITS ENTIRETY) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, PERTAINING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT 4 ON A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GARST, AND DULY CARRIED, an ordinance amending Chapter 30, Article IV Stormwater Management (in its entirety) of Code of the City of Salem, Virginia, pertaining to stormwater management was hereby passed on first reading – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye; Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – absent. There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on motion adjourned at 7:53 p.m.