HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200615_PC_MINUTES.pdf
PLANNING COMMISSION CITY MANAGER
Demery Bishop Shawn Gillen
Ron Bossick
Charles Matlock COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Elaine T. McGruder George Shaw
David McNaughton
J. Whitley Reynolds CITY ATTORNEY
Alan Robertson Edward M. Hughes
Planning Commission Meeting
MINUTES
June 15, 2020
Chair Bishop called the June 15, 2020 Tybee Island Planning Commission meeting to order.
Commissioners present were Charles Matlock, Elaine T. McGruder, Ron Bossick, J. Whitley
Reynolds, Alan Robertson and Davie McNaughton.
Consideration of Minutes:
Chair Bishop asked for consideration of the May 18, 2020 minutes. Commissioner Charles Matlock
asked if the meeting taking place on zoom video could be added to the minutes. Commissioner Alan
Robertson made a motion to approve. Vice Chair Ron Bossick seconded. The vote to approve was
unanimous.
Disclosures/Recusals:
Chair Bishop asked if there were any Disclosures or Recusals. Commissioner Whitley Reynolds
disclosed he did the survey on the lot at 1413 Fifth Avenue a few years ago and feels he could be
unbiased in any decisions. Chair Demery Bishop disclosed he is familiar with the representative Rick
Hogan for 52 Captains View, and feels he can be unbiased in any decisions for that item.
Old Business: Chair Demery Bishop stated that the Short Term rental information that each member
received tonight will be briefly discussed at the end of this meeting.
New Business:
1. Variance: requesting to put pool two feet from property line instead of the required five foot
setback – 52 Captains View – Zone R-2 – 40021 16013 – Tanya & Roger Huff.
George Shaw approached the Planning Commission and stated the applicants would like the pool in
their back yard to be larger than what the required setbacks would require it to be. A pool is a luxury
item and staff sees no hardship so staff recommends denial. Commissioner David McNaughton
asked if the City is bound by the neighborhood homeowner’s rules in making a decision. George
Shaw stated no we are not. Rick Hogan who lives at 68 Captains View, Tybee Island and speaking as
the applicant’s representative approached the Planning Commission and stated the applicant would
like to have a variance from the five foot requirement for pools. He stated the size required by the
ordinance would not give enough buffer to neighboring properties and would create more to the rear
of the property that has no neighbors just the common area. Pinky Butler who lives at 7 Sea breeze
Lane approached the Planning Commission and stated the Architectural review board has a two year
moratorium now on new pools and he hopes the Planning Commission will deny this application.
Kitty Williams who lives at 1 Sea breeze Lane approached the Planning Commission and stated she is
a member of the Architectural review Board for Captains Row. She stated they were elected to enforce
the covenants for the Neighborhood. She stated pools cause disruption. Frank Giddens who live at 13
Sea Breeze Lane approached the Planning Commission and stated he is also on the Architectural
review Board and he agrees with all the comments and hopes this will be denied. Commissioner
McNaughton made a motion to deny. Commissioner Elaine McGruder seconded. Vote to deny was
unanimous.
2. Variance: requesting 2.5 feet into side setback for new carport/storage area – 1413 Fifth Ave.-
Zone R-2 – 40011 06008 – Mary Anne Butler.
George Shaw stated the applicant would like to create a carport, storage building and a gazebo. There
is ample room to have the five foot setback and our ordinance does not allow 2 accessory structures on
one property unless they attach them in some way. Staff recommends denial. Mary Anne Butler who
lives at 1413 Fifth Avenue approached the planning Commission and stated her reason for this
variance is for her nephew who has difficulty with mobility. She also stated the neighbor on the side
the variance effects is her sister and she wrote a letter that I have included with my submittal.
Commissioner McGruder asked Mary Anne Butler if she would have a problem putting a breezeway
to attach the two buildings. Mary Anne Butler stated she would have no problem doing that. John
Mulligan who lives at 506 Fifteenth Street approached the Planning Commission and stated he helped
Mary Anne Butler with some preliminary plans and this is what she came up with. He stated he hopes
they give her this Variance because it will help her tremendously. Commissioner Alan Robertson
made a motion to deny. Commissioner Charles Matlock seconded. Commissioner McNaughton
asked if the motion to deny the variance application include a request to Council that applicant come
back with a design that meets City code. Commissioner Alan Robertson stated but then they would
not have to come back. And there are other viable alternative designs that can be built to code.
Commissioner Alan Robertson stated he stands by his motion to deny. Vote to deny was unanimous.
3. Variance: requesting 3.4’ feet into side setback & 7.6’ feet into front setback for second means
of egress and new deck – 1109 Laurel Ave. – Zone R-1-B – 40026 04011 – Paul & Carrie Harvill.
George Shaw approached the Planning Commission and stated the applicant is requesting to put a
second means of egress at their residence and our code does allow him to approve a second set of
steps with a required landing administratively, but they are also requesting to add a larger deck than
required to those steps and that is why they are here today. In this case there is no hardship for a larger
deck and staff recommends denial. Carrie Harvill, the applicant, who lives at 1109 Laurel Ave.
approached the Planning Commission and stated this is her primary residence and she would like to
make the deck larger since it is in the front of the house and the look would be nicer. Commissioner
Elaine McGruder made a motion to deny the new larger Deck only. Vice Chair Ron Bossick
seconded. Vote to deny was unanimous.
4. Variance: requesting 3.53’ feet into side/rear setback -803 First St. & 4 N Campbell Ave.-
Zone C-2 – 40019 01005/01002/01001 – Matt Anderson.
George Shaw approached the Planning Commission and stated the applicant would like to move the
lot line so the 4 North Campbell is on its own lot. The house behind it will be part of the lot off
Highway 80 and will have two structures. This is slightly less of a non-conformity so staff
recommends approval. Matt Anderson who lives at 1923 Stuckey Lane, Statesboro Ga. Who is the
representative for the owner Green Growth, approached the Planning Commission and stated this
variance will help with future development for the larger lot. Jay Altman who lives at 167 Lewis
Avenue, approached the Planning Commission and stated he is the one that is proposing this future
plan. He also stated he is the one that updated the small cottage on this property at 4 N Campbell
Avenue. He also stated his vision for the house at 803 First Street is to have an artisan space for other
unique artist. Commissioner Whitley Reynolds made a motion to approve. Commissioner Elaine
McGruder seconded. Vote to approve was unanimous.
Discussion Item:
Chair Demery Bishop stated George Shaw approached him late this afternoon and City Council still would like
the Planning Commission or a working group to discuss possible solutions, specifically on how to require a
review for safety, parking, fire code, garbage, enforcement, fees and what they would be spent on and perhaps
requiring short term rentals having to go through a special review process. They would like a report in 90 days.
George Shaw stated City Council would like for Planning Commission to create a working group to look at our
shot term rental ordinances and see if there are other way to make them less of a problem with the community.
He also stated he will get as much information for them as soon as possible. Chair Demery Bishop asked if they
could get more specificity and specific guidelines from City Council. George Shaw stated that City Council
hopefully will put together guidelines and we will get you all the information we can gather. Chair Bishop
stated there would be two Planning Commission members, two representatives of the industry: one large
company and one small company, two citizens-at-large of the community, and the City Marshall. And a legal
representative only for information not as a member. The two members of the Planning Commission will be
Commissioner David McNaughton and Commissioner Alan Robertson. Commissioner Alan Robertson
stated that this information should be put on City Councils agenda for the 25th of this month for more direction.
Lisa L. Schaaf
Meeting Adjourned 9:18pm