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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/7/2008 - MinutesROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES October 7, 2008 Commissioners Present: Mr. Steve Azar (Evening Session only) Ms. Martha Hooker Mr. Gary Jarrell Mr. Rodney McNeil Mr. David Radford Staff Present: Mr. Philip Thompson, Secretary Mr. Paul Mahoney, County Attorney Mr. Tarek Moneir Mr. Tim Beard Mr. David Holladay Mr, John Murphy (Work Session only) Mr. Chris Patriarca Ms. Lindsay Blankenship Ms. Tammi Wood (Work Session only) Ms. Nicole Gilkeson Mr. Bill Richardson (Work Session only) Ms. Amanda Micklow Ms. Becky Meador, Recording Secretary WORK SESSION: Mr. McNeil called the work session to order at 4:02 p.m. Approval of Agenda Mr. Jarrell made a motion to approve the agenda, which passed 4 -0. Approval of Minutes Ms. Hooker moved to approve the minutes of September 2, 2008, and September 16, 2008, which passed 4 -0. Approval of Consent Agenda Mr. Jarrell made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which passed 4 -0. Ms. Blankenship showed a PowerPoint presentation of Mr. Theodore Foster's petition for a Special Use Permit for a private stable. This petition is being continued from the April 1, 2008, Public Hearing. A new plan has been submitted for approximately 3.20 acres with a run -in shelter. The fencing will be a combination of wood plank, tensile wire, and electric. Three (3) is the maximum number of horses proposed. A waste management proposal has also been submitted. All three (3) lots would be considered as one in respect to the Special Use Permit. Mr. Mahoney stated that a legal description (metes and bounds) would be required. Mr. Beard presented the petition of American Electric Power for a rezoning to expand its existing construction yard. There are approximately three (3) acres of vegetation that will be disturbed. A substantial amount of screening and buffering will be needed. Aerial and site Page 1 of 6 ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 7, 2006 photographs were displayed. It had not been determined if additional entrance(s) would be required. An entrance from Louise Wells Drive could be constructed as this is part of their property. Additional traffic is not anticipated from the expansion. Mr. Thompson updated the commission on the proposed zoning ordinance amendments regarding the parking of recreational vehicles on corner lots. He met with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Mahoney to review the changes suggested by the Board of Supervisors. In the proposed amendment, a corner lot will have one (1) front building line to be determined by the direction the house faces. Vehicle size will not be addressed because the issue cannot be enforced. Language has been added regarding civil penalties for ease of enforcement. Mr. Mahoney is still addressing safety issues. The commission requested drawings representing the new ordinance. Staff Comments Mr. Thompson introduced Amanda Micklow, the new staff Planner 11. Ms. Tara Lambert will join staff on October 13, 2008, also as a Planner 11. Site viewing for the evening was for Consent Agenda Items 3 -Faith Fellowship Church, 4- Cherney Development, and 5 -JJDR Co., LLC. A balloon test was being conducted for the Mel Wheeler, Inc. broadcast tower petition; however, it was decided not to view this site due to the long distance to the parcel, time constraints, and the fact that the proposed tower would be constructed amidst several existing towers. Site Viewing With no further comments, Mr. McNeil adjourned the work session at 4:25 p.m. EVENING SESSION: Mr. McNeil called the Public Hearing to order at 7:02 p.m. Ms. Hooker gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance. 1. The petition of Starkey Medical, PC to modify existing proffered conditions in a C -1 C, Office District with Conditions, on 1.241 acres located at 5681 Starkey Road, Cave Spring Magisterial District was presented by Mr. Patriarca. This petition was continued from the September 2, 2008, Public Hearing. Revised landscaping and site plans have been received. Roanoke County Engineering discovered a discrepancy in the floodway /floodplain on the property. The Petitioner is submitting the applicable information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to have this corrected. Butch Workman, Roanoke County Storm Water Operations Manager, stated the discrepancy does not appear to affect the proposed building footprint. The Petitioner is aware that they will be bound to the final FEMA determination during site plan review. Mr. Azar questioned the increase in the size of the proposed sign from twenty -four (24) to fifty (50) square feet. The new proposal meets the requirements of the sign ordinance. A decisive answer was not obtained at the September 2, 2008, Public Hearing regarding a back lit versus a front lit sign. The Petitioner requested a back lit sign, which was agreeable with staff. Ms. Hooker asked staff's opinion regarding the lighting issue. Mr. Patriarca stated he personally did not have a preference due to the 0.5 foot candle maximum requirement. They currently have a sign with flood lighting. Page 2 of 6 ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 7, 2008 There was discussion of the height of the light poles in proffer number six (6). The total height of the pole and fixture together will not exceed fifteen (15) feet. Mr. Jarrell requested this be specified in the proffer. Mr. Radford asked the purpose of proffer number seven (7), detailing the proposed uses. Mr. Patriarca stated this was included for assurance to the neighboring property owners. Any other uses would need to be referred back to the Planning Commission for approval. Mr. Ray Craighead, architect at Craighead and Associates of 2721 Brambleton Avenue, Suite 2, Roanoke, spoke on behalf of the Petitioner. He stated by the ordinance there is enough road frontage for a seventy -one (71) square feet sign. He conducted a test with flood lights on the existing sign and felt the glare on Starkey Road would be about equal with either type of lighting. The Petitioner is agreeable to proffering a `total' height of light poles at fifteen (15) feet. Mr. Craighead advised that Mr. Warren Coburn, adjoining property owner, came to his office and they worked together to come up with a more mutually agreeable parking plan. The new plan still included thirty -seven spaces; however, they were shifted farther from the property line adjoining Mr. Coburn's parcel. (Mr. Coburn attended the meeting, but did not speak.) Also included is a notation on the landscaping plan allowing the removal of any dead existing vegetation. The new plan does meet code and was agreeable with staff. With no citizen comments, Mr. McNeil closed the public hearing. The commission thanked the Petitioner and neighbors for working together on the project. Mr. Thompson said the dates of the new site and landscaping plans would be recorded for final proffers to be signed by the Petitioner. Mr. Mahoney advised that the original proffers for the parcel should be officially repealed for the record. Mr. McNeil made a motion to approve the petition with the proposed proffers and the repeal of the existing proffers for a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Thompson called the roll and the motion passed 5 -0. AYES: Hooker, Radford, Jarrell, Azar, McNeil NAYES: None 2. The petition of Mel Wheeler, Inc. to obtain a Special Use Permit in an AG -3, Agricultural /Rural Preserve District, for the construction of a 170 -foot broadcast tower on 3.06 acres located at 8131 Honeysuckle Road, Windsor Hills Magisterial District was presented by Mr. Patriarca. Mr. Azar asked the reason for the choice of a lattice tower, as opposed to a monopole. The lattice type tower is better suited for the wind conditions atop Poor Mountain. Monopole towers are more often used for cellular applications. There can be a total of three (3) co- locators on this tower. No plans have been made at this time to tear down any existing, unused towers. Mr. Ben Crew of Balzer and Associates, 1208 Corporate Circle, SW, Roanoke, spoke on behalf of the Petitioner. He stated they would consolidate service from two (2) leased towers upon construction of a new one. The new tower would service two (2) of their radio stations, while the third would be serviced from an existing tower. All paperwork has been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA does not require Page 3of6 ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 7, 2008 lighting for a tower under two hundred (200) feet unless it is in close proximity to an airfield. Mr. Crew also stated the two (2) conditions suggested by staff were agreeable with the Petitioner. The old building on the site will be torn down and a new one built in conformance with the tower. Mr. Robert Lynch, 2018 Floraland Drive, Roanoke, spoke. He stated he works in the broadcast industry; however, was speaking purely from a citizen's perspective and was not representing his employer in any way. He voiced concern with the radio frequency (RF) radiation level to the public generated by the large number of towers on this one parcel, which is on a public road. Mr. Lynch wanted to be sure this issue was addressed. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates exposure limits. The February, 2009, analog television conversion should also reduce levels. Mr. Josh Arritt of Mel Wheeler, Inc. spoke on Mr. Lynch's concerns. He stated that the FCC will regulate and will not allow usage of the site without a study by a professional engineer. They expect to minimize the downward public radiation level with fencing and warning signage. The FCC will impose conditions on their permit. With no further citizen comments, Mr. McNeil closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Radford thanked Mr. Lynch for the information on the radiation levels. Mr. Patriarca noted there was a picture of the private driveway (Media Way) in the packet. The property is currently posted and fenced. Mr. Radford moved to approve the petition to include the two (2) conditions suggested by staff with a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Thompson called the roll and the motion passed 5 -0. AYES: Hooker, Radford, Jarrell, Azar, McNeil NAYES: None 3. The petition of Bonsack Baptist Church to obtain a Special Use Permit in an R -1, Low Density Residential District, for the purpose of Religious Assembly on approximately 3.30 acres located at the 4800 and 4900 blocks of Cloverdale Road, Hollins Magisterial District was presented by Ms. Gilkeson. The church is proposing sixty (60) additional parking spaces in one lot, as well as a detention pond. Mr. Jarrell questioned the use of the two (2) homes currently on the site. Mr. Rodney Pierson of 155 Victoria Drive, Troutville, spoke on behalf of the Petitioner. He stated the house closest to the church is leased to the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association. The other home is leased for residential purposes. Mr. Pierson also stated that the church has two (2) Sunday School classes and two (2) services that run concurrently. During the overlapping times and for special programs, parking runs short. He noted the new lot would be easier for the elderly and handicapped to access and they would not want visitors to leave because there was no parking. The lighting for the new lot would conform to the lighting in their existing parking lot and would adhere to the county ordinance. No additional entrance(s) are proposed. With no citizen comments, Mr. McNeil closed the public hearing. Mr. Azar inquired about buffering and landscaping. Ms. Gilkeson stated there is some existing and the requirements will be addressed during site plan review. She also clarified the date of the most recent site plan as July 31, 2008. Mr. Jarrell moved to approve the petition with a favorable recommendation to the Board Page 4 of 6 ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 7, 2008 of Supervisors. Mr. Thompson called the roll and the motion passed 5 -0. AYES: Hooker, Radford, Jarrell, Azar, McNeil NAYES: None 4. A proposed amendment to the Roanoke County Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the Hollins Area Plan was presented by Mr. Holladay. He voiced his appreciation to all parties involved with the creation of the plan. Additions to the plan document since last draft were an implementation schedule and Appendix B. He gave a brief history and timeline of the plan. It was noted that the 3 -D model of the Hollins area created by Mr. Darren Jones was presented at the State GIS Conference. It will become a base of information for ongoing projects. Mr. Holladay asked the commission to vote on their choice of Future Land Use scenarios. He noted that Hollins University prefers their frontage property to be classified under the University Designation. The reservations on designating the Huffman Farm as Conservation were discussed. Mr. Holladay briefly reviewed each of the four (4) scenarios. He suggested Scenario 3 could be revised to show the university's frontage designation as University, as opposed to Transition. This strip of land is owned by the university. Mr. Jarrell asked what a Transition designation would allow that a University designation would not. Mr. Holladay stated the University designation discourages general commercial development, but should not imposed limits on Hollins University, Ms. Kerry Edmunds, 6415 Garrett Lane, Roanoke, Executive Director of University Administration at Hollins University, thanked the staff and commission for allowing the university to participate in the study. They do support the frontage property being designated as University use. They wish to keep it "green ". With no further citizen comments, Mr. McNeil closed the Public Hearing. The commission complemented the staff for its hard work on the plan. It was the consensus that the Huffman Farm should not be designated as Conservation; therefore, Scenario 4 was not considered. All the commissioners felt Scenario 3, with a change for Hollins University's frontage from a Transition to a University designation, was the best choice. Mr. Thompson stated that a new map to reflect the Planning Commission's choice for future land use would be created to include with the package for the Board of Supervisors. A resolution approving the Hollins Area Plan was submitted for incorporation into record. Mr. Jarrell moved to adopt the resolution with a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Thompson called the roll and the motion passed 5 -0. AYES: Hooker, Radford, Jarrell, Azar, McNeil NAYES: None Final Orders The petition of Kroger Limited Partnership to obtain a Special Use Permit in a C -2, General Commercial District, to operate a drive -in and fast food restaurant on 18.02 acres located at 3940 Valley Gateway Boulevard, Vinton Magisterial District, was approved with conditions by the Board of Supervisors at their public hearing on September 23, 2008. Page 5 of 6 ROANOKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 7, 2008 Commissioners' Comments Mr. Radford requested a copy of the Capital Improvement Program. This will be provided to him at the next scheduled work session. Staff Comments Mr. Thompson reminded the commissioners that Supervisor Flora would join the Planning Commission for dinner at the November 3, 2008, Public Hearing. Mr. Holladay discussed the upcoming joint work session with Roanoke City. The commissioners chose to delay the meeting until the first part of the new year so all could attend. With no further business or comments, Mr. McNeil adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Ck" &Ad Becky Meador Recording Sec Lary, Roanoke County Planning Commission hilip T mpson Secre ry, Roanoke Co my Planning Commission Approve 4 1, le'u Rodney M&Neil Chairman, Roanoke County Planning Commission Page 6 of 6