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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/2/2024 - Planning Commission - Minutes - SpecialPlanning Commission MINUTES Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 7:00 PM Work Session 6:30PM Regular Session 7:00PM 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, at 6:30 p.m. on October 2, 2024; there being present said Commission members to wit: Denise P. King, Reid Garst, Mark Henrickson; Jackson Beamer; and Nathan Routt, constituting a legal quorum, presided together with Chris Dorsey, City Manager and Executive Secretary, and H. Robert Light, Assistant City Manager and Deputy Executive Secretary, ex officio members of said Commission; Jim Guynn, City Attorney; Mary Ellen Wines, Planning & Zoning Administrator; Maxwell S. Dillon, Planner, and the following business was transacted: Chair King called the meeting to order at 6:30 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 October agenda 1. Sign ordinance update 3. Adjournment Chair King adjourned the meeting at 6:57pm. REGULAR SESSION 1. Call to Order The 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 October 2, 2024; there being present said Commission members to wit: Denise P. King, Reid Garst, Mark Henrickson; Jackson Beamer; and Nathan Routt, constituting a legal quorum, presided together with Chris Dorsey, City Manager and Executive Secretary, and H. Robert Light, Assistant City Manager and Deputy Executive Secretary, ex officio members of said Commission; Jim Guynn, City Attorney; Mary Ellen Wines, Planning & Zoning Administrator; Maxwell S. Dillon, Planner, and the following business was transacted: Chair King called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Commission to hold a regular meeting. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call All members of the Commission were in attendance. 4. Consent Agenda A. Minutes The minutes of the September 11, 2024, work session and regular meeting were accepted. 5. New Business A. Amendment to the City Code – Chapter 106 Zoning Hold public hearing to consider amending Chapter 66, Signs, Article I, In General, Section 66-11, Application of chapter to certain types of signs, (H) Minor signs, (1) Political campaign signs of the CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA. Chair King opened the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. Chair King accepted the staff report as the presentation. The staff report stated the following: It has become apparent that the current sign ordinance is in conflict with the regulations of Virginia State Code Section 24.2-310. Requirements for polling places. E. It shall be permissible to distribute campaign materials on the election day on the property on which a polling place is located and outside of the building containing the room where the election is conducted except as specifically prohibited by law including, without limitation, the prohibitions of § 24.2-604 and the establishment of the "Prohibited Area" within 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place. However, and notwithstanding the provisions of clause (i) of subsection A of § 24.2- 604, and upon the approval of the local electoral board, campaign materials may be distributed outside the polling place and inside the structure where the election is conducted, provided that the "Prohibited Area" (i) includes the area within the structure that is beyond 40 feet of any entrance to the polling place and the area within the structure that is within 40 feet of any entrance to the room where the election is conducted and (ii) is maintained and enforced as provided in § 24.2-604. The local electoral board may approve campaigning activities inside the building where the election is conducted when an entrance to the building is from an adjoining building, or if establishing the 40-foot prohibited area outside the polling place would hinder or delay a qualified voter from entering or leaving the building. Sec. 66-11. - Application of chapter to certain types of signs. Subject to the provisions of section 66-5, the following signs may be allowed without a sign permit and may not be included in the determination of the type, number, or area of permanent signs allowed within a zoning district, provided such signs comply with the regulations in this section, if any. H. Minor signs: Minor signs shall not be electronic nor illuminated. No minor sign may include commercial messaging. No minor sign shall be located on public property or in the right-of-way. Minor signs shall not exceed 24 square feet. Minor signs shall include: 1. Political Signs All polling places for the City of Salem are now located on public property. City Council desires to provide limited access to public property for minor signs during voting. Chair King asked if there was anyone to speak on this matter. Hearing none, Chair King closed the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. Chair King inquired if there were any comments from Commissioners, if not a motion would be entertained. Commissioner Henrickson moved to recommend approval as written. Commissioner Routt seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Routt, aye; Mr. Henrickson, aye; Mr. Beamer, aye; Mr. Garst, aye; Chair King, aye. Having no further business, Chair King adjourned the meeting at 7:02 pm.