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Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Page 1 April 19, 2007 Harlem City Hall
The Planning & Zoning Commission met for a meeting at City Hall on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. with Vice-Chairman Dale Arnold presiding.
Present: COMMISSIONERS: Vice-Chairman Dale Arnold, Commissioner B. J. Cunningham, Commissioner Tim Farr, and Commissioner Franklin Jennings; STAFF: City Manager Jean R. Dove, City Clerk Debra E. Moore, City Attorney Lee Bennett and Planning & Zoning Clerk Dee Tapley; ABSENT: Chairman Bobby Culpepper; VISITORS: William P. “Sport” Dozier, Jr., Daryll Garrison, Perry L. Duncan, and Barbara Driggers.
The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Arnold at 7:00 p.m.
The Invocation was given by Vice-Chairman Arnold.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice-Chairman Arnold.
Approval of March 2, 2007 Minutes: Vice-Chairman Arnold called for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2007; that motion was made by Commissioner Cunningham; 2nd by Commissioner Jennings. Motion carried; all in favor.
Rezoning/Variance request-Larry Prather-Sawdust Road and Fairview Drive: Planning & Zoning Clerk Dee Tapley presented to the Commission the information regarding Mr. Prather’s property. Mr. Prather is requesting a rezoning of the property from R1-A (20,000 square foot lots) to R1-B (10,000 square foot lots). In the proposed development there will be several cul de sacs and is requesting a variance on the frontage on the roads. There are no formal plans in place at this time on the development. Mr. Prather will come back before the Commission when the preliminary plat is ready for approval. Vice-Chairman opened the floor up for public comment limiting comments to two minutes each.
Public Comment: Barbara Driggers of Hillcrest Street addressed the Commission with some concerns she had with the cul de sacs. Her property abuts Mr. Prather’s. She had read about entrances being off of Fairview Drive and Sawdust Road, but had been unable to locate them. The response was that they had not been established as there were no formal plans yet. She had concerns with the increase of traffic on the streets and the possibility of the increase in crime. It was recommended to her that when the plans are brought to the Commission for approval, that she be in attendance at that meeting to express her concerns at that time.
Commissioner Cunningham asked what the normal frontage is on a lot; City Manager Dove responded that is was normally 80 Feet. Mr. Prather is requesting for them to be 50 feet in the cul de sac areas due to the shape of the lots. Commissioner Cunningham felt Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Page 2 April 19, 2007 Continued from page 1
Rezoning/Variance Request-Larry Prather-(cont’d): that the Commission needed to see something concrete before they could make any decisions on the variance request. At this time Vice-Chairman Arnold asked if there were any motions to be made. Commissioner Cunningham made the motion to deny the variance request until they receive further information on the cul de sacs for the new development on Sawdust Road and Fairview Drive; that motion was seconded by Commissioner Jennings. Motion carried; all in favor.
Public Comment (add’l): Mr. Perry Duncan of Sawdust Road addressed the Commission. He wanted to know if an environmental impact study would be done to find out what the impact would be on their property. He and Mr. Daryll Garrison both have ponds on their property and have concerns about run off. They were told that Mr. Prather would be required to do one. Mr. Garrison expressed his concerns as to the type of development it would be; whether low-income or not. It was explained to Mr. Garrison that Mr. Prather was only the developer and that he had other properties in the City that had houses in the $200,000.00 range. The residents present received the recommendation to come to any other meetings in the future. There were questions about notification of the meeting; it would be advertised in the legal section of the Columbia News. The only time this is printed is in the Wednesday edition. The residents also left their phone numbers for contact.
As there was no further public comment, Vice-Chairman Arnold called for a motion on the rezoning request of Mr. Prather’s. Commissioner Farr made the motion to approve the request of Larry Prather to rezone his property on Sawdust Road and Fairview Drive to R1-B; 2nd by Commissioner Jennings. Motion carried; all in favor.
Variance Request-William P. Dozier-320 W. Milledgeville Road (Old Thomson Company Building): Ms. Tapley reported that Mr. Dozier is the property owner. The property is the old Thomson Company building across from Watts Service Station. The variance that is requested is to change from a 25 foot variance to a 5 foot variance. Mr. Dozier addressed the Commission on the reasons for the request. Mr. Dozier stated that the main reasons for the request included the requirement by DOT for the deceleration lane on Highway 78 (W. Milledgeville Road), the minimum square footage requirements for the store by the developer, and the parking requirements by both the State and the project developer. The first row of parking would not be far enough away from the front of the store to promote a safe environment; safety is the primary reason. The approval of the request would allow them to build the store further back. The actual front of the store would be back at least half way of the existing building. There is a 10 foot easement at the back of the store that belongs to the City. Including this easement, the building would be a total of 15 feet off the property line. City Manager Dove explained to the Commission that the easement had never been developed and that there were no utilities within the easement. Vice-Chairman Arnold asked if there would be any type of fencing Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Page 3 April 19, 2007 Continued from page 2
Variance Request-William P. Dozier-(cont’d): installed at the back of the property; the response was that it was felt that there probably would be.
As there was no further discussion, Vice-Chairman Arnold called for a motion. Commissioner Cunningham made the motion to approve the variance request of Mr. Dozier to change the rear setback requirement of 25 feet to 5 feet with the inclusion of the 10 feet easement making it a total of 15 feet; 2nd by Commissioner Farr. Motion carried; all in favor.
Next Public Hearing: Vice-Chairman Arnold announced that the next Public Hearing had been scheduled for May 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. There will be a rezoning request for 410 N. Louisville Street on the Agenda.
As there was no further business before the Commission, Vice-Chairman Arnold adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Debra E. Moore City Clerk
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