City of Simpsonville, South Carolina

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The following summary minutes have not been approved by Simpsonville Planning Commission. An official copy of the minutes will be available after adopted by Planning Commission at City Hall 118 NE Main St. Simpsonville.

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, notice of this meeting date, time, place and Agenda was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall and faxed to the newspapers, radio stations, television stations and any concerned citizens.

 

SIMPSONVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION

MINUTES

JANUARY 2, 2008, 6:30 P.M.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Hunter Howard III, Caroline Mahaffey, Mike Newman, Mikelene Loe, Roy Shelton, James Boyd

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Kirk Leitke

 

CITY STAFF/LEADERS PRESENT:  David Dyrhaug

 

GREENVILLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING STAFF PRESENT:  None

 

CALL TO ORDER/OPENING REMARKS:

 

Commission Vice-Chair Mike Newman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

Mr. Dyrhaug held roll call.

 

Mr. Newman welcomed back Ms. Mahaffey and welcomed Mr. Howard and Ms. Loe as new members of the Planning Commission.

 

Mr. Newman presented the items on the agenda and the hearing rules of procedure.

 

Mr. Boyd moved to accept the December 4, 2007 Planning Commission minutes.

 

Ms. Mahaffey seconded the motion.

 

The motion to approve the December 4, 2007 Planning Commission minutes passed unanimously, 5-0.

 

The December 4, 2007 Planning Commission Hearing minutes were approved.

 

NOTE: At this point in the meeting Mr. Howard arrived at the meeting.

 

AXZ-2007-07, Proposed Annexation and Rezoning Request of the Sapna & Nisha Property

 

Mr. Dyrhaug presented a petition for rezoning and annexation into the City of Simpsonville.  This petition entails 1 property along Grandview Drive near Harrison Bridge Road owned by Sapna & Nisha, Inc.  The applicant has requested rezoning to the C-2 zoning district.  This property is presently zoned C-3.  Staff opines that this zoning district is appropriate for this area as the property is contiguous to other C-2 zoned property.  The applicant intends to develop the land with a Comfort Suites Hotel which is befitting of the C-2 zoning district.  Staff supports the requested rezoning to C-2 for the property listed in this annexation petition.

 

Mr. Newman asked if the utility letters for this project were on file yet.

 

Mr. Dyrhaug replied that they are not yet on file but that the applicant is presently coordinating the provision of various utilities and there are no notable concerns at this time.

 

Mr. Hawes related the specific efforts that have been made and are currently being coordinated in regards to sewer connection and the extension of sewer lines.

 

Mr. Shelton moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the requested rezoning to C-2 for the property listed in the annexation petition of AXZ-2007-07.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to recommend approval of AXZ-2007-07 passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

SP-07-05, A Major Change to the Patton Park PD

 

Mr. Dyrhaug presented a request for a major change to a previously approved planned development named “Patton Park.”  The original statement of intent for the Patton Park PD indicated that an 87-unit single-family residential community would be developed throughout the northern portion of the PD.  The applicant has provided a revised statement of intent which now indicates a mixed-use development throughout northern portion of the PD.  This mixed-use development would consist of approximately 52,000 square feet of retail, 30,000 square feet of office, and 288 multi-family residential units.  The preliminary site layout is very attractive and well-designed.  Staff supports the request for the major change to the Patton Park PD.

 

Mr. John Fort and Ms. Diana Bozzuto, both representatives of the owner, indicated their respective interests in developing the subject property.

 

Mr. Shelton noted that this development has been labeled as “up-scale.”  He asked that the applicant expound on how this development will be up-scale.

 

Ms. Bozzuto noted that the apartments will be marketed on the high-end of the market and developed as luxury apartments.  She also noted her company’s investment in other apartment communities in Simpsonville.

 

Mr. Shelton asked for an estimate timeline of the project.

 

Ms. Bozzuto indicated that construction would commence around the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009.  Construction of buildings would be complete in approximately 9 to 10 months from commencement.

 

Ms. Mahaffey referred to the samples of other apartments owned by Ms. Bozzuto’s company and asked if these were projects that her company developed from the ground up or if these projects were purchased after they had already been constructed.

 

Ms. Bozzuto noted that the samples illustrated were constructed by her company.

 

Ms. Mahaffey asked if their project would consume all of the sewer capacity available in that area.

 

Mr. Fort replied that there would probably be some capacity leftover but most of the capacity would probably be used.

 

Ms. Mahaffey asked about the project’s impact on traffic.

 

Mr. Fort indicated that they will be working closely with the Highway Department on planning improvements to Neely Ferry Road.

 

Ms. Mahaffey asked if tenants have been lined up yet for the commercial development and what types of businesses may be expected.

 

Mr. Fort replied that he anticipated the two outparcels would be occupied by a bank and a restaurant.  The remaining commercial space would be developed as specialty retail.  There would not be any big-box retail development on this site.

 

Mr. Newman asked where the sewer line is that this project ties into.

 

Mr. Kellett indicated that this project would tie into a line that runs down Neely Ferry Road.

 

Mr. Shelton noted that sewer capacity is not reserved for a project merely because of a zoning change that has been approved by the City.

 

Mr. Shelton moved to recommend to the City Council approval of SP-07-05, a major change to the Patton Park Planned Development.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to recommend approval of SP-07-05 passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Z-2007-04, Rezoning Request of the Glenna Jones Property

 

Ms. Mahaffey recused herself from any discussion and voting of this agenda item.

 

Mr. Dyrhaug presented a request to rezone a property owned by Glenna Jones.  The applicant has requested rezoning to the PD zoning district.  The property is currently zoned I-1.  This item has been reviewed by the Planning Commission before.  However, the proposed plan and statement of intent have evolved over the course of the last couple of months.  Therefore, the City Council requested that the Planning Commission review these changes.  Recent plans for this planned development entail 300 townhouse units and 415 single-family dwelling units.  Only 2 ½ acres of commercial development is proposed.  The applicant is proposing to donate 25 acres of land to the City for a parking facility serving Heritage Park.  The applicant has increased buffering adjacent to this development and has re-located its secondary access.  Staff supports the changes that have been made to this project.

 

Mr. Mark Holmes, a representative of the applicant, introduced himself and noted his availability to answer any questions.

 

Mr. Newman asked about the portion of the project that is located in the City of Fountain Inn.

 

Mr. Holmes noted that a small portion of phase II is located in Fountain Inn and some issues will need to be worked out for that phase.

 

Mr. Dyrhaug noted that the development could be designed and laid out such that it is clear on which side of the municipal boundary any given structure lies.

 

Mr. Holmes stated that there will be some procedural bridges to cross as the applicant approaches to developing phase II.  Of course, one alternative is to forget about the portion of the project that is contained within the boundary of Fountain Inn.

 

Mr. Newman noted the long, straight streets depicted in the conceptual plan and asked if any traffic calming measures have been contemplated yet.

 

Mr. Holmes replied that this plan is still conceptual.  The plan is intended to convey numbers rather than design.  The design has not yet been determined.

 

Mr. Boyd moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the requested rezoning to PD for the property listed in Z-2007-04.

 

Mr. Howard seconded the motion.

 

The motion to recommend approval of Z-2007-04 passed unanimously, 5-0.

 

TX-2007-04. A Text Amendment to Regulate Outdoor Storage Containers and Storage Areas

 

Mr. Dyrhaug presented the status of TX-2007-04, a text amendment that would address the use of outdoor storage containers on residential properties throughout the City.  Based on discussion at last month’s Planning Commission meeting, the proposed text amendment has been modified accordingly.  This includes eliminating provisions which regulate where on a property these containers may be placed, rewording the definition of an outdoor storage container, lengthening the time limitation regulating the how long a container may remain on a property, directing these regulations only to residential properties, and exempting sites which are undergoing active construction or renovation.

 

Ms. Mahaffey noted that she does not believe that this proposed text ordinance is fool-proof.  There is room to curtail these proposed regulations.

 

Discussion followed on various components of the proposed text amendment and the likelihood that this ordinance will be approved by the City Council.

 

 

Mr. Shelton moved to recommend to the City Council approval of TX-2007-04.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to recommend approval of text amendment TX-2007-04 passed, 5-1.

 

Other Business

 

Ms. Mahaffey moved to table any discussion on the draft design overlay district ordinance for the sake of the new planning commission members who in all likelihood have not yet been able to review the draft ordinance.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to table discussion of the draft design overlay district ordinance passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Mr. Shelton moved to open the floor for nominations of officers of the Planning Commission.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to open the floor for nominations for officers passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Mr. Shelton nominated Mr. Newman for chairperson.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the nomination.

 

Mr. Shelton nominated Ms. Mahaffey for vice-chairperson.

 

Ms. Loe seconded the nomination.

 

Mr. Shelton nominated Ms. Loe for secretary.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the nomination.

 

Mr. Shelton moved to close the floor for nominations of officers of the Planning Commission.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to close the floor for nominations for officers passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

The vote to approve the nominations of officers passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Ms. Mahaffey moved to amend the evening’s agenda to discuss the rules and procedures of the Planning Commission.

 

Ms. Loe seconded the motion.

 

The motion to amend the agenda passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Ms. Mahaffey moved to change the date of the November 2008 Planning Commission meeting to the following day, November 5.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Discussion regarding the present rules and procedures of the Planning Commission followed.

 

Mr. Shelton moved to adopt the rules and procedures as presently constituted.

 

Mr. Boyd seconded the motion.

 

The motion to adopt the rules and procedures as presently constituted passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Ms. Mahaffey moved to adjourn the meeting.

 

Ms. Loe seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved unanimously, 6-0.

 

Commission adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

 

 

 


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