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Home My WebLink About1/11/2023 - Planning Commission - Minutes - RegularPlanning Commission Meeting MINUTES Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 7:00 PM Work Session 6:00PM Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street: WORK SESSION 1. Call to Order A work session of the Planning Commission of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on January 11, 2023; there being the members of said Commission, to wit: Vicki G. Daulton, Chair; Denise P. King, Vice Chair; Reid Garst, Jackson Beamer, and Neil L. Conner; together with Mary Ellen Wines, Planning & Zoning Administrator; Maxwell Dillon, Planner; and Jim H. Guynn, Jr., City Attorney; and the following business was transacted: Chair Daulton called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and reported that this date, place and time had been set for the Commission to hold a work session. 2. New Business A. Discussion of items on the January agenda 1. Harrogate. 2. Mill Lane properties A discussion was held regarding the January agenda items. 3. Adjournment Chair Daulton inquired if there were any other items for discussion and hearing none, adjourned the work session at 7:00 p.m. REGULAR SESSION 1. Call to Order A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held after due and proper notice in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, at 7:02 p.m., on January 11, 2023. Notice of such hearing was published in the December 29, 2022, and January 5, 2023, issues of the "Salem Times Register," a newspaper published and having general circulation in the City of Salem. All adjacent property owners were notified via the U. S. Postal Service. The Commission, constituting a legal quorum, presided together with Jim H. Guynn, Jr., City Attorney; James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager and Executive Secretary, ex officio member of said Commission, to wit; Charles E. Van Allman, Jr., Director of Community Development; Mary Ellen Wines, Planning & Zoning Administrator; and Maxwell Dillon, Planner, and the following business was transacted: A. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Election of Officers A. Election of Officers In accordance with 15.2-2217 of the Code of Virginia, consider the election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2023. On motion by Denise King, seconded by Jackson Beamer and duly carried, Vicki Daulton was appointed Chair of the Planning Commission. On motion by Reid Garst, seconded by Neil Conner and duly carried, Denise "Dee" King was appointed Vice Chair of the Planning Commission. 3. Consent Agenda A. Minutes Consider acceptance of the minutes from the December 14, 2022, work session and regular meeting. Neil Conner motioned Consider acceptance of the minutes from the December 14, 2022, work session and regular meeting. Denise King seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King 4. Old Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing to consider the request of Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, contract purchaser, and White Whale Two, LLC, property owner of 1871 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map # 128-1-5), and Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, property owner of 1851 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map # 128-1-13) for rezoning the properties from RMF Residential Multifamily District, with conditions to HBD Highway Business District, with conditions. (Continued from the December 14, 2022, meeting.) Neil Conner motioned to continue until February 15, 2023, the request of Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, contract purchaser, and White Whale Two, LLC, property owner of 1871 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map #128-1-5), and Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, property owner of 1851 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map #128-1-13) for rezoning the properties from RMF Residential Multi-family District, with conditions to HBD Highway Business District, with conditions. Jackson Beamer seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King 5. New Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing to consider the request of the City of Salem, property owner, of the 1900 block of Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1.1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District to LM Light Manufacturing. Staff noted the following: The subject property, located at the 1900 block of Mill Lane, consists of approximately 12.281 acres and currently sits in AG Agriculture District. Acquired by the City of Salem in 2022, the City anticipates rezoning the property in order to create additional space for future industrial development. If approved, the City will market the property to prospective businesses which operate within the use types permitted by the LM Light Manufacturing District. While currently zoned AG Agriculture, the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) identifies the majority of this parcel as an Economic Development Area with a smaller component designated Residential. Though this parcel is addressed Mill Lane, there appears to be opportunities to possibly create additional access off of Southside Drive. The topography of the site provides a natural buffer between the area designated for potential future industrial development and the residential areas located to the south and southeast of the subject property. Despite bordering very few existing residential parcels, elevation changes and existing vegetation on—site serve as natural screening mechanisms. Any additional screening required by City Code would be identified and installed. Tommy Miller, Director of Economic Development, appeared before the Commission on behalf of the City of Salem and stated that the City acquired the property with a long-term vision of supporting future industrial business development. He stated that the current zoning is agricultural/single family and the City would like for it to be rezoned to light industrial zoning for the best future use and to complement the existing businesses in the area. Member Garst noted that there is no current tenant or buyer for the City, this is all being done for future plans. Mr. Miller stated that there are no active projects for the property, but the property is being marketed. It was also noted that some of the property is in the 500-year flood plain. Edward Dyer, Helm Building, 1491 Southside Drive, appeared before the Commission and stated that he owns several properties in the City of Salem, and stated that a few months ago a discussion was held before the Commission about big A/C units and anything moving closer to the neighborhoods. This was not the future plan of Salem, and his question is why is Salem taking good manufacturing property in the East Bottom and changing it to residential, and then taking what is future plans for residential in the master plan and changing it to light manufacturing where it is closer to residential, a school, and a low-water bridge that can't currently support a sufficient amount of traffic? He also questioned the future plan for egress to make the land viable, and storm water issues related to the development. He stated that there are too many unknowns with the request. Typically, there is a more thought-out plan when a request is submitted, but nothing was submitted with the request. He questioned why a full set of plans was not submitted with the request like is required with other rezoning requests. A discussion was held regarding development of the property, plans required, due diligence being done, site plan procedure, etc. It was noted that the area is designated as an "Economic Development Area" in the Future Land Use Map. No other person(s) appeared related to the request. Neil Conner motioned to approve the request of the City of Salem, property owner, of the 1900 block of Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1.1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District to LM Light Manufacturing. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Conner, Daulton, Garst, King Nays: Beamer B. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing to consider the request of Charles N Dorsey, property owner, of 1900 Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District and RSF Residential Single-Family District to RSF Residential Single-Family District. Staff noted the following: The subject property consists of 2.456 acres which is currently split zoned to include both the RSF Residential Single-Family District and AG Agriculture District. Formerly part of a larger farm spanning over 27 acres, a 1997 ordinance adopted by the Salem City Council allowed for 1.553 acres of the total property area to be modified from the Agricultural District to a Residential District. Several subsequent subdivisions culminated in the ultimate split-zoning of the subject property, which is now moving through the rezoning process in an attempt to remove that designation. The applicants utilize the property as a residence, and thus are seeking to remove the AG Agriculture component of its zoning classification. The Future Land Use Map (FLUM) identifies this area as Residential, consistent with the proposed rezoning. Tommy Miller, Economic Development Director, reappeared before the Commission on behalf of the property owner and stated that the request is to remove the split zoning of the property so that the parcel would be zoned RSF only for intended development. It was noted that there is no current/active plan to develop the property at this time. No other person(s) appeared related to the request. Denise King motioned to approve the request of Charles N Dorsey, property owner, of 1900 Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District and RSF Residential Single-Family District to RSF Residential Single-Family District. Reid Garst seconded the motion. Ayes: Beamer, Conner, Daulton, Garst, King 6. Adjournment Having no other items before the Commission, on motion by Member Conner, seconded by Member Beamer and duly carried, meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m. City Council meeting, January 23, 2023, 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street