HomeMy Public PortalAbout20160321_PC MINUTES.pdfPLANNING COMMISSION
Demery Bishop
Ron Bossick
Marianne Bramble
Tina Gann
John King
Charles Matlock
David McNaughton
CITY MANAGER
Diane Schleicher
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
George Shaw
Planning Commission Meeting
MINUTES
March 21, 2016 — 7:00 p.m.
For City Council Meeting April 14, 2016 — 7.-00 p.m.
CITY ATTORNEY
Edward M. Hughes
Chair Bishop called the March 21, 2016 Tybee Island Planning Commission meeting to order. Commissioners
present were Demery Bishop, Ron Bossick, Marianne Bramble, Tina Gann, John King, Charles Matlock and David
McNaughton.
Consideration of Minutes:
Chair Bishop asked for consideration of February 8, 2016 meeting minutes. Commissioner Matlock made the
motion to approve, Commissioner Bossick seconded the vote to approve was unanimous.
Disclosures/ Recusal:
Chair Bishop asked if there were any disclosures or recusals, there were none.
Old Business:
Chair Bishop asked staff to give an update on old business; Mr. Shaw stated he would like to give an update on a
couple of items, the R/C Park the applicant has withdrawn and Planning Commission will not will not see that one
in the near future. Mr. Shaw also stated on the Short term rental ordinance council did appoint an AD HOC
committee and they have a May deadline to bring something back to Planning Commission. Commissioner
McNaughton asked Mr. Shaw concerning the R/C Park and changing the ordinance, has there been any thought to
draw an ordinance so this would not be repeated. Mr. Shaw stated two years ago when the ordinance was
changed it was because they did not want the ordinance to be too broad so they made a list of approved uses.
Commissioner Bishop asked staff to Advise Commission on who is on the Ad Hoc committee. Mr. Shaw read off the
list. Commissioner Bishop stated so there was no consideration to include a member of planning for the Ad Hoc
committee. Mr. Shaw stated that is right. Chair Bishop also stated there is no indication that it would return to
Planning Commission and it would be appropriate that planning be represented in those meetings as to not create
too many unanswered question. Mr. Shaw stated that his understanding is that if there is something different than
what this body has seen before, it should come back here first. Commissioner Matlock asked should we make a
motion to be involved in the committee. Chair Bishop stated that we have already put our recommendation in
there. Commissioner Bramble made a request to be on the list. Mr. Shaw stated that the Mayor asked for two
names from each Council member and that was the extent of the process. Commissioner Bossick asked if legal
counsel will be there. Mr. Shaw stated that was not decided that day and the members have not meet yet.
New Business:
Quit Claim — Request to purchase city property:
Mr. Shaw approached the Planning Commission and stated that there is a typographical error in the proposal it
should be .06 acres not .60. The applicants Dave and Martha Makel would like to purchase a piece attached to
their property that has been used by previous owners of that property. The property has been referenced as a
right of way but the property does not go through to another street it runs off Van Horn and is a sliver of
property already inside the Makel's property and has been used for parking by prior owners as well.
Commissioner McNaughton asked has the city abandoned this piece. Mr. Shaw stated that is a legal question
that I cannot answer but I think it has not been used by the City in a long time. Commissioner Bossick this will
not take away a right of way? Mr. Shaw stated it is not a right of way it is a dead end so city does not lose a
through street. Commissioner McNaughton asked if this space could become greenspace. Mr. Shaw yes it could
but it is insignificant. Chair Bishop asked if the comparable properties were correct and the appraised value of
this piece is what the purchase price would be. Mr. Shaw stated yes the City can use this price or use it to start
negotiations. Commissioner Bramble asked did you say the City would give away the right of way. Mr. Shaw
stated no we are not giving away the right of way. Commissioner Gann do we know how the City originally
acquired this property, and there is no potential use. Mr. Shaw stated no it has been in place for a long time
and there is no known value in it for the City. Ms. Martha Makel approached the Planning Commission and
stated she is a resident of Virginia and owns the subject property at 34 Van Horn. Ms. Makel also stated that
the area in question will be used for parking for the three apartments that will be at the Van Horn address.
Commissioner Bramble what will you do with the basement. Ms. Makel stated they will use the basement for
storage and a shop. Commissioner Bossick asked Mr. Shaw about the property being zoned R1. Mr. Shaw
stated it is a continuing non -conforming use as apartments. Commissioner Matlock made a motion to accept
the proposal as stated, Commissioner McNaughton seconded and the vote to accept was 5-1, Commissioners
McNaughton, Matlock, Gann, King and Bossick approved and Commissioner Bramble opposed motion carried to
approve.
Variance — consideration of second staircase Ingress/Egress for safety:
Mr. Shaw approached the Planning commission stating that the applicant would like a second means of egress
for safety reasons and the only area will put the steps two and a half feet into the setback, they would like to
get a variance for the stairs because this is an odd shaped lot and there is no way to avoid not going into the
setback because of the grinder station and A/C units in the way. Commissioner McNaughton asked at what
point it is in the setback. Mr. Shaw stated the encroachment would be two and a half feet into the setback.
Commissioner Bramble asked if they can go over the pumps. Mr. Shaw stated that would put them in the
setback in the front and he thought maybe the steps could turn under the house but not sure if there was
enough clearance. Commissioner Bossick asked how wide is the existing deck and is marsh in the way. Mr.
Shaw stated it is approximately six feet and there is room from the marsh. Chair Bishop stated that this
ordinance was created from an incident where a family had a fire and for this reason two accesses should be
done for public safety. Mr. Victor Sasser approached the Planning Commission and stated he is the resident of
home at 1 Lighthouse Lane and he has explored all the options he could and this was the best option.
Commissioner Bramble stated if you are coming to us for safety reasons why do you have a grill on deck that
has no access if a fire happens. Mr. Sasser stated he is very careful when he grills. Commissioner Bossick asked
Mr. Sasser if you can come down half way and turn the opposite way you would not be in the setback. Mr.
Craig Harrison approached the Planning Commission and stated he lives at 144 South Campbell and he is a
contractor representing the applicant and stated that the picture shows how the stairs would interfere with the
air-conditioning units and would make it hard to change the units out. Chair Bishop asked if there were any
consideration of using a circular stair coming from a platform from the existing deck. Mr. Sasser stated he does
not think there is enough room and he is not comfortable with the safety of a spiral stair case. Chair Bishop
stated the area at the back left corner of the deck for a circular stair. Mr. Shaw stated that would be a better
location for one. Commissioner Matlock asked if a spiral staircase can be used for egress from a legal point.
Chair Bishop stated yes we do have several in some homes on the Island. Mr. Sasser stated that area would be
inside the DNR jurisdiction. Commissioner McNaughton made a motion to approve this application as presented
and was seconded my Commissioner King the vote to approve was 5-1, Commissioners McNaughton, Matlock,
Gann, King and Bossick approved and Commissioner Bramble opposed motion carried to approve.
Discussion — City of Tvbee C-2 Parking Suggestions:
Mr. Shaw approached the Planning Commission and stated that he was requested to research options for
alternative parking requirements for the C-2 district along highway 80, the remaining empty lots and
redevelopment of some of the existing lots is difficult due to the City's parking requirements. Mr. Shaw
researched a number of options other than just the city building a parking lot which we could do. Mr. Shaw
stated these are the options, 1. Require additions/bike parking, to encourage more people to bike. 2.
Transportation Benefit District to add meters on highway 80. 3. Fee in lieu of parking to allow new businesses
to pay a fee for each parking spot they are short of requirement. 4. Allow public parking within 500 feet (or
some other number) of business to count toward required parking. S. Change parking requirement from one
space for every200 gross square feet to one space for every 300 gross square feet, or some other number that
seems reasonable. 6. Shared parking agreements. Mr. Shaw told Planning Commission member that they can
recommend one or a few of these or stay with current ordinance, that is the feedback City Council is looking
for. Commissioner Matlock stated what is driving this because all these suggestions appear to be a relief of
requirement and they are usually in place for a reason. Mr. Shaw stated that it is the belief of some folks that it
is difficult to develop what is down there now and or redevelop existing businesses due to the parking
requirements. Some businesses in that area have no parking or were allowed to use Butler Avenue as parking.
Commissioner King stated it should be driven by not enough parking, it is one of the easiest areas on the
Island to park and where is a space to put a parking lot if we do. Mr. Shaw stated the space for the parking lot
would be right next to Tim's Bike Rentals. Commissioner Bossick stated that requiring less parking would create
more of a traffic hazard also when the crosswalks went in on the other end of Butler we lost about 20 or 30
spaces. We do need to build a parking lot somewhere before changing C-2 Parking requirements.
Commissioner McNaughton stated that he would not want to recommend anything unless he has more
information like who proposed this and why. Mr. Shaw stated that Councilman Garbett was the one that
directed him to do this research. Commissioner Bramble stated she has always wondered why parking services
haven't gone down 80 when that's clearly part of Tybee, we should be making people pay and have a shuttle
service take them to one our new crosswalks. Chair Bishop stated we need to know the why and what reasons
we should consider this. Mr. Shaw stated this was just a discussion so no recommendation is needed.
Commissioner Bramble made a recommendation that we send this back to Council member Bill Garbett for
more information as to why he wants us to discuss this and what his priorities are for this parking discussion.
Commissioner Bossick made a motion to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting and Commissioner Bramble
seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 8:21.
LLS