HomeMy Public PortalAbout100_040_20150316_PC_MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION CITY MANAGER
Demery Bishop , Diane Schleicher
Ron Bossick
Marianne Bramble PLANNING &ZONING MANAGER
Julie Livingston Ecological Planning Group
John Major
Tyler Marion CITY ATTORNEY
David McNaughton 4434.4 , Edward M. Hughes
MINUTES
Planning Commission Meeting
March 16, 2015
Chair Marion called the March 16, 2015 Tybee Island Planning Commission meeting to order.
Commissioners present were Tyler Marion, Demery Bishop, Ron Bossick, Julie Livingston and Marianne
Bramble. David McNaughton was absent and excused.
Chair Marion asked Mr. DiTommaso if we could do the variance first so the applicants that were present
did not have to wait till the end of the meeting to be heard. Mr. DiTommaso approved.
Chair Marion asked for consideration of February 17, 2015 meeting Minutes. A motion to approve was
made by Commissioner Demery and seconded by Commissioner Livingston, vote to approve was
unanimous.
Chair Marion asked if there were any disclosures or recusals. Commissioner Major recused himself for the
variance on Campbell Avenue.
Old Business
Chair Marion asked if anyone had any Old Business they would like to bring up. No one came forward
with any Old Business.
New Business
Variance—consideration of marsh buffer encroachment variance application for outdoor
shower- Section 3-090.1(E)(1)b - 166 S. Campbell/Iocovozzi
Mr. DiTommaso approached the Commission to explain the variance request for the outdoor shower. Mr.
DiTommaso then gave a short presentation with pictures of the proposed area for the shower and
eventually a walkway from the existing deck to the area of the property for the shower. Chair Marion
asked that since there were four Commissioners on the panel did he need to vote. Mr. DiTommaso
answered no. Chair Marion stated are there any concerns with the walkway being added on the property.
Mr. DiTommaso explained that the walkway is allowed and there are no concerns with adding it.
Commissioner Bossick asked is there a reason why the shower would be hooked to City Water &Sewer
and not to the sceptic tank that is shown on the plat. Mr. DiTommaso stated that he believes there is a
Septic tank that is in use that does tie into the City System, and Mr. Iocovozzi could explain that better.
Mr. Iocovozzi approached the Commission and addressed that there is an old 100 gallon tank with a
pump that takes the sewer up to the city sewer system. It was installed by the previous owner of the
property and it works great so rather than damage anything on the property or marsh we thought we
would tie right into that tank its very close to where we are putting in the shower and we thought that
would be the best method. Commissioner Bossick made the motion to approve and was seconded by
Commissioner Bramble with the comment that we are really protective of our marsh area and she just
wants the applicant to be very aware of it and not to encroach in it any further. The vote to approve was
unanimous.
Text Amendment—considerations of revisions to Off Street Parking Section 3-080(C)
Mr. DiTommaso approached the Commission to explain that the text amendment had been amended by
the city attorney and now it is back for the Planning Commission to look at and then bring back to Council
with recommendations if any. Mr. DiTommaso stated that the proposed wording for the first section
starts to impact all the items below it. Because as soon as you change the top paragraph then all of a
sudden item one where it says can't be greater than 25 feet now is impacted by the first paragraph. It
looks like this whole section would have to be discussed and have some recommendations to take back
to council. Commissioner Major stated that the text is dealing with everything else but driveways and he
thought it needs to be worded differently. Commissioner Bossick explained the way it is now it just
creates one big driveway. Mr. DiTommaso stated that it should have its own bulleted item beneath that
and have the language pulled from the beginning. And we should leave the beginning how it used to be
and move this language down to 4 and create one specific to right-away. Commissioner Major stated that
there are a number of driveways that pertain to this. Chair Marion asked do we need to vote on this or do
we need to tell you to move this to there. Mr. DiTommaso stated we do need to vote on this.
Commissioner Bossick stated that it gets confusing between off street parking and driveways.
Commissioner Major stated in looking at this I looked at our ordinance on green space and 65% of the
designated set-back area of a lot shall remain in a vegetative state so what do we define as the set-
backs.
Commissioner Bishop asked we are not perusing any changes for the water quality purposes in any of
this rewrite. Mr. DiTommaso answered correct. Chair Marion asked are we taking our intro and replacing
it with item 4. Ed DiTommaso explained he will leave the language up to the City Attorney. A motion was
made by Commissioner Bishop for approval and to incorporate Commissioner Majors proposed language
and relocation of those phrases into the appropriate area of Sec 3-080 entitled off street parking
requirements and Commissioner Bossick seconded the motion the vote to approve was unanimous.
Text Amendment—consideration of revisions to Commercial Signage Section 6-080(E)
Mr. DiTommaso approached the Commission and stated that the change to this text amendment for commercial
signage section 6-080(E) under section 2 that would allow for certain types of tourism based uses to have 2
principle signs on their property. He then explained and showed a short presentation of where the visitor center
wanted a second proposed sign. Commissioner Major explained that last year the Marine Science Center came
before us and Council with a signage issue and it seems that would be a similar situation and he is not sure that
the Marine Science Center would fall under this definition as well. Commissioner Major also asked if they were
currently in compliance with our current sign ordinance with the other 3 signs on the property. Mr. DiTommaso
answered as far as he can tell they are in compliant with what they have now. Chair Marion asked if the applicant
was the owner. Mr. DiTommaso stated that Mr. Solomon is the applicant and he is not sure who the owner of the
property is. Chair Marion stated that there are more than enough signs for the visitor center and this might start
more business wanting more signs. Mr. DiTommaso agreed. Commissioner Bishop stated that he is concerned
with the wording and that it will give to many other businesses a chance to put more signage on Tybee. Chair
Marion asked Commissioner Bishop if we leave out the exception would that be better. Commissioner Bishop
stated I don't feel we need exceptions at all. Commissioner Bramble explained that there are already a good
amount of Banners on the Island and she agrees that is will open a flood gate for more signs. Commissioner Julie
stated that the changing of the text would be across the board variance which we don't do and it would be some
for profits. Commissioner Bossick added that the location of the proposed sign that's 32 square feet that is at a
very busy intersection and visibility will be a safety hazard. Mr. DiTommaso stated that the location did meet the
visibility requirement for that corner, but that doesn't mean it won't be a visibility problem. Commissioner Major
asked why no one here is here representing petitioner. Mr. DiTommaso stated he is not sure why no one showed
up on behalf of the petitioner. Commissioner Bishop made a motion to deny the text amendment application with
regards to commercial signage section 6-080(E) for reasons stated Commissioner Bramble seconded the motion
the vote to deny was unanimous.
Commissioner Livingston made a motion to adjourn Commissioner Bramble seconded the motion the vote was
unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 7:54pm