MINUTES

SIMPSONVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY, April 3, 2007 SIMPSONVILLE CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:30 PM

MEMBERS PRESENT: Donnie McDowell, Mike Newman, Roy Shelton, James Boyd MEMBERS ABSENT: Karen Wright, Dick Witkowski, Kirk Leitke CITY STAFF/LEADERS PRESENT: Al Spain GREENVILLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING STAFF PRESENT: Kevin

Robinson

CALL TO ORDER/OPENING REMARKS:

Commission Vice Chair Mike Newman called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Mr. Spain held roll call. Mr. Shelton motioned to accept the amended agenda. Mr. Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, amended agenda accepted. Mr. Boyd motioned to accept the March 2007 Planning Commission minutes. Mr. McDowell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. March 2007 minutes accepted.

TX0701 Historic Preservation Ordinance

Mr. Robinson presented an overview of the Historic Preservation Ordinance as was approved by Planning Commission March 2007 and tabled by City Council for further hearing and review.

Mr. Newman asked if there were any comments to be made by the audience.

Ms. Sarah Shubert, 112 Banberry Circle, said she attended the City Council Meeting where the Ordinance was heard. She voiced concern over the ordinance and questioned whether or not a single property owner could choose to “opt- out” if all the others in a neighborhood decided to apply for historic designation.

Mr. Robinson answered that this draft of the ordinance did not call for the creation of districts and was merely to create historic properties.

Mr. Newman reiterated that this was not to establish districts and was intended to establish a board to hear cases of voluntary applications by property owners. He also said that this ordinance would

need to be accepted before Simpsonville could be established as a CLG, or Certified Local Government, which would allow for federal tax incentives for these properties.

Mr. Shelton assured Ms. Shubert and the audience that the City Council would ultimately have to approve any property designation after approval by the proposed Historic Preservation Board. He likened the designation of these properties to rezoning. He said that there would be zero properties designated at the time of approval if done so by City Council.

Ms. Shubert, said she was still concerned that this would be used to create districts, but that her question had been answered. She said that she knew how Cotton Mill Place would benefit from the ordinance and that the property was good for the town, but that this ordinance should be carefully considered.

Mr. Newman asked if there were any more comments or questions from the audience.

Jimmy Gault, 113 Wood Cliff Ct, said Mr. Witkowski had mentioned at Council that no one had showed up at the previous Planning Commission hearing where the ordinance was discussed. He asked where it was advertised.

Mr. Spain replied that it was advertised in the Tribune Times and at City Hall.

Mr. Gault said that he was for historic preservation as long as it wasn’t forced upon any property owners. He stated that he had property at 109 Maple St. and didn’t want anyone telling him what he could do with it.

Mr. Newman stated that there would be 2 mechanisms for designation in the ordinance, Board recommendations and voluntary requests.

Mr. Gault said it would probably have flown the last time if there had been an “opt-out” clause and that he did support it.

Mr. Spain said that the item would be on the City Council agenda for the coming week, April 10 th at

6:30 pm.

Mr. Newman asked if there were any more comments.

Mr. Spain said that no vote was necessary as it was approved by Commission at the previous hearing.

Proposed Pay Day Loan, Check Cashing, and Title Loan Resolution for City Council

Mr. Robinson summarized the proposed resolution to be sent to council for approval. It discussed establishing a 90 day moratorium on new business licenses for these businesses to allow time for an ordinance addressing their location to be drafted and heard by Planning Commission and City Council.

Mr. Newman asked for comments and questions.

Mr. McDowell motioned to approve the resolution and have it heard by City Council

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

The motion passed unanimously. The resolution will be heard at the next City Council hearing. Mr. Spain said that a public hearing of a drafted ordinance at Planning Commission could be scheduled after approval by Council and that if approved by Council it would be on the May agenda as proposed ordinance TX0702.

Mr. Spain also stated that since there was no advertisement for the tree ordinance that it could be discussed but not voted on.

Text Amendments to City of Simpsonville Tree and Landscaping Ordinances

Mr. Robinson presented the newest amendments to the Tree and Landscaping Ordinance. These would allow for the appointment of a qualified official, designated by the City Administrator, to serve in the place of the Arborist should that position be vacant.

Mr. Spain said that he had talked with Joe Carter, Director of Public Works, and he said that the arborist may not be appropriate for plan reviews.

Mr. Newman said that Shane had received education in horticulture and that he should have sufficient knowledge.

Mr. Spain said that Shane did not have knowledge of plan reviews.

Mr. Newman asked for any comments.

Mr. Spain said that the amendments agenda item would be advertised in the paper next Wed. for the May hearing.

AXZ-2007-01 Stokes Landing Planned Development

Mr. Robinson presented the staff review of the preliminary plans for Stokes Landing Planned Development and recommended for approval with contingencies. Also added to the contingencies by staff was the requirement for external sidewalks on Stokes Rd.

Mr. Bobby Scruggs, of A & W Acquisition, spoke on behalf of the development. He presented color maps of the property and renderings of the entrances on both Stokes and Putman Rd. He stated that he wants it to be good for the city as well as its residents and the developer. He then presented elevations of examples of housing types for the development consisting of stone, and brick.

Mr. Newman addressed the entrance on Stokes Rd and expressed concern over accessing the neighborhood during busy hours.

Mr. Scruggs told the Commission that DOT would not allow a left hand turn lane at the entrance, but that Gray’s Engineering had proposed a wider, 50 ft. radii to ease turning issues.

Mr. Newman asked about the open area and area around the retention pond.

Mr. Scruggs said that walking trails and a working wet pond would be provided.

Mr. Newman addressed pervious paving methods such as pervious concrete and asked if it could be

used on the sidewalks and driveways. Mr. Matt Cline, from Gray’s Engineering, asked about the feasibility of pervious concrete with the soils in Simpsonville.

Mr. Newman mentioned the new Greenville Car Wash located on Main St. in Simpsonville. Mr. Scruggs said they would pursue it at Planning Commission’s request. Mr. Cline asked if slope on the property would be a problem in using that particular concrete, but

said that he thought the materials had good potential and mentioned other examples in the state where it was being used. Mr. Shelton asked about the price range on the houses in the development.

Mr. Scruggs said they would average in the mid 200K. Mr. Boyd motioned to approve the annexation, rezoning of the property to planned development, and preliminary plans with the contingencies set forth by staff.

Mr. McDowell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The agenda item will go before City Council for hearing.

Z-2007-02 South Street Planned Development

Mr. Robinson indicated that a parcel needed to be added to the tax map numbers as it was included in the preliminary plat and statement of intent, but not listed on the application.

Mr. Spain discussed with the developer and commission two ways that this could done, either by combining the two parcels or by adding it an amended application.

Mr. Robinson presented the staff review of the preliminary plans for the proposed South Street Planned Development and recommended for approval with contingencies to apply to each phase of development.

Mr. Shelton asked about the phases of the development.

Mr. Mark Holmes, representative for the development, clarified the phases of the development. Residential tract and Commercial tract I would be the first part to be developed. Commercial Tract II to the north of Corporate Dr. would be developed later.

Mr. Robinson stated that a correction should be made to the agenda. Tract II is located to the north of Corporate Dr., not Tract I as indicated in the staff review.

Mr. Spain said that a doctor’s office had been mentioned as one possible office business in Tract II.

Mr. Holmes said that the majority of the property had not been designated for specific businesses yet, but that the residential tract was planned and contracted already.

Mr. Shelton inquired again about the phases and asked if they would all come back to Planning Commission.

Mr. Spain told the Commissioner that they would.

Mr. McDowell inquired about the width of the Duke Energy right of way which runs through the property.

Mr. Holmes said that it is 68 ft. wide and that it provided a buffer between residential and commercial aspects of the development.

Mr. Newman requested that Mr. Robinson provide Grays Engineering with a copy of the pending design overlay for the area.

Mr. Newman asked about the traffic conditions on South St. and whether turn lanes would be provided.

Mr. Holmes said that South St. would be plenty wide enough for improvements and that internal traffic circulation between residential and commercial would help ease traffic on the roads. He also said that the statement of intent indicated that the developer would work with Department of Transportation and Simpsonville with any street improvements as required.

Mr. Robinson said that he had spoken with Greenville County Transportation Planners and that he was assured that the road capacity could handle the added traffic and that the roads would be wide enough for improvements.

Mr. Newman asked about the proposed theater to be built in Commercial Tract I.

Mr. Cline said that it was not certain that theater would be built there, but that he was sure that the owner of such a building would want adequate access.

Mr. Spain told Planning Commission that the Final Development Plans for these phases would elaborate on the design requirements.

Mr. Newman asked about sidewalk requirements.

Mr. Robinson said that staff recommended 5 ft. sidewalks on one side of the street on all external areas of the residential portion of the development. He said this would include all of South St. and the residential portion of Corporate Dr.

Mr. Shelton said that S-1 allows for several big box warehouses, adult themed bars, and less than desirable uses for this area of town and that this would be an improvement.

Mr. Holmes responded that he was very excited to be working on this property that been unused for a long time.

Mr. Newman asked that as an additional contingency the additional property tax map number be added or the two properties be combined before any Final Development Plan is heard.

Mr. McDowell motioned to approve the preliminary plan for the South St. Planned Development with staff recommended contingencies and rezone the property from S-1 to Planned Development.

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Preliminary plans for South St. Planned Development will be heard by City Council.

Mr. Shelton motioned to adjourn. Mr. McDowell seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Hearing adjourned at 7:54 pm.

.

.

.