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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1.7.1992 Agenda & Minuets Planning Boardc�uwn of N1011shorou#4 HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278 AGENDA PLANNING BOARD Tuesday, January 7, 1991 6:30 PM Town Barn ITEM #1: Consideration of additions to the agenda. ITEM #2: Comments from the Chair. 101 E. Orange Street P.O. Box 429 (919) 732-2104 ITEM #3: Approval of the minutes of the December 5, 1991 meeting. (Attachment) ITEM #4: Update of Town Board actions (Attachment). ITEM #5: Discusssion of possible text amendment concerning communications towers on Eno Mountain. (Attachment) ITEM #6: Continue discussion of the Efland Interchange. (Attachment) ITEM #7: Continue discussion of the reassessment of the Hillsborough Thoroughfare Plan (Attachments). ITEM #8: Continue discussion of the definition of setback as applied to HVAC units. ITEM #9: Declaration of vacancy for the seat of Jim Culbreth. ITEM #10: Continue discussion of the NB (Neighborhood Business) district by developing performance standards (Attachments). ITEM #11: Continue discussion concerning the siting of the new Orange County landfill. (Attachments) ITEM #12: Information and request for volunteers for truck origin/ destination survey for Churton Street. ITEM #13: Update on NCDOT realignment of NC 86 & NC 57 ITEM #14: Re -appointment of Planning Board members. (Attachment) ITEM #13: Information: A: Parks and Recreation Task Force Update (Attachments) B: Staff report on 1990 census data (Attachments) C: Newletter & Calender (Attachment) D: Distribution of 1991 Planning Activities Report It is essential to have a quorum at this meeting. Please call the Planning Department if you cannot attend. Thank You. MINUTES PLANNING BOARD January 7, 1992 MEMBERS Sam Jones (Chair), Wayne Tilley (Vice -Chair), Bill Crowther, Leif PRESENT: Deetjen, Cheshire Cole, Margaret Moore, Richard Simpson, Wendy Olson, Kendall Abernathy (Alternate) MEMBERS Ida Louise Evans, Kenneth Chavious, Jim Culbreth (Alternate) ABSENT: OTHERS Fred Beard, G. I. Allison, Norma White, Laura Oaks, Wesley Hyatt PRESENT: Jones called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. ITEM #1: There were no additions to the agenda. ITEM #2: Jones pointed out his term would be expiring at the next meeting and said he had enjoyed working with the Board. ITEM #3: Revisions to the minutes of December 5, 1992 were discussed and recorded for correction. Olson moved to approve the minutes as amended. Abernathy seconded. VOTE: Unanimous. ITEM #4: Coe reviewed the Town Board actions of the December 9, 1991 meeting. ITEM #5: Coe presented information concerning a current application to build a communications tower on Eno Mountain. He noted previous Planning and Town Board decisions and the Zoning Ordinance text. Moore asked about the height requirement and Coe said the ordinance specified "building" heights and did not mention the height of towers. He added that the Board of Adjustment could interpret whether or not the height requirement applied to towers. Deetjen asked if the town would benefit from the tower and Coe said not directly since it was located outside the city limits. Olson pointed out it was located in an area described as 'the most significant natural area in the county. She said that if it must be built, construction performance standards should be adhered to to prevent damage to the environment. She pointed out is was also located next to the Occoneechee Mountain Park. Crowther asked what action should be taken and Coe said Beard had indicated a willingness to sponsor an amendment preventing further towers from being build, adding that staff was asking if the Board had any interest in sponsoring such an change. Olson said she had opposed the change from the beginning and Coe confirmed that a change now would not affect the current application. Simpson said he felt the Board should not interfere with the land owners right to develop the property. Beard said as an adjacent property owner, he did not want to see his property rights interfered with either. He said the tower could be as high as 400 feet and felt he had missed the chance to input into the process. PLANNING BOARD JANUARY 7, 1992 PAGE 2 He pointed out that he felt there was a chance that many towers could be built on the property and aesthetics alone should be reason to deny the tower. Coe reviewed several procedural alternatives and the Board continued discussion concerning safety and environmental concerns. MOTION: Crowther moved to recommend the Board of Adjustment delay approval of the tower project until such time as negative impacts contrary to the Vision 2010 Comprehensive Plan could be considered. Deetjen seconded. Olson said an environmental assessment including the requirement for construction standards to protect the site should be a part of the approval process in addition to an evaluation of the visual impacts that might damage the appeal of the town. Crowther amended his motion to include Olson's suggestions. VOTE: Unanimous. Beard asked about the procedures for initiating a text amendment and Coe said the Board could sponsor one or an individual could pay a fee of $50.00. Olson said since she was opposed to the original change she would be happy to make a motion. MOTION: Olson moved the Planning Board sponsor a text amendment change to to Section 5.22.1 to limit towers to those existing and put a height limitation on the existing towers. Abernathy expressed concern for future public needs and said a height limitation on the public use towers might not be desirable. Coe pointed out that it was only necessary to move to sponsor an an amendment and that the exact wording would emerge during the discussion and public hearing phases. Olson's motion died for lack of a second. MOTION: Crowther moved the Planning Board sponsor a text amendment without exact wording and to inform the Board of Adjustment of this action. Abernathy seconded. VOTE: Unanimous. MOTION: Tilley moved to hear #Item 10 at this time. Crowther seconded. VOTE: Unanimous. ITEM #10: Coe reviewed previous work on the reassessment of the neighborhood business district and the establishment of performance standards. Allison said there was a need, especially for low income persons, to subsidize their incomes by working at home. He said that restrictive measures would impair a low income citizen from PLANNING BOARD JANUARY 7, 1991 PAGE 3 becoming more self-sufficient. He said he hoped the town would accommodate citizens who needed to subsidize their income and not discriminate against low income citizens. Discussion continued concerning performance standards that would prevent negative impacts to a neighborhood. Deetjen said that in the past the Board had talked about a General Commercial - 2 district and suggested the Board could approach the issue this way. Olson pointed out that the Home Occupation section was fairly well defined. Simpson said this discussion had been going on for a long time and some action should be taken. Crowther suggested a subcommittee might be formed to look at this issue and said he would like eliminate this district altogether in order to clarify the ordinance. Abernathy said she would like to see mixed uses permitted in more areas of town. ITEM #6: Coe reviewed the response from NCDOT addressing the concerns of the Board regarding the Efland Interchange of I-85, noting that NCDOT indicated they shared those concerns and had dealt with them adequately. Olson pointed out there was an upcoming meeting with the Emergency Management team looking at the access and environmental issues. ITEM #7: Coe reviewed the progress of the Thoroughfare Plan subcommittee, noting that maps of the proposed Cooperative Planning Transition Zone were included in the packets. He said the subcommittee would continue the formulation of a recommendation for the Board. ITEM #8: Coe asked for a clarification of the Board's position on the difference between residential and commercial HVAC units and the members agreed there was. He pointed out that traditionally, setback requirements had not been applied to these units. Deetjen pointed out there was a difference between HVAC units and other types of utilities such as oil and propane tanks and suggested that HVAC could be allowed in the setback but fuel storage should not. ITEM #9: Coe said he had an applicant for Jim Culbreth's seat and since he no longer lived in town, Coe asked the Board to declare the seat vacant in order for the Town Board to decide on the new applicant. MOTION: Crowther moved to declare the seat of Jim Culbreth vacant. Olson seconded. VOTE: Unanimous. MOTION: Crowther moved that the application be expedited to fill the vacant seat. Deetjen seconded. VOTE: Unanimous. ITEM #11: Coe reviewed the progress of the siting of the Orange County Landfill. He noted that the Chair of the Selection Committee PLANNING BOARD JANUARY 7, 1992 PAGE 4 would speak to the various town boards at the February 5th Historic District Commission meeting. He said he had full documentation of the selection process available in the Planning office for the members to review. Deetjen expressed concern about the increased truck traffic on Churton Street and the Board agreed this could be discussed with Item #12. ITEM #12: Coe reviewed the progress to date on the truck survey by NCDOT and the feasibility of requiring the re-routing trucks. Coe noted that if this was the case, garbage trucks would not be allowed at all. He asked for volunteers to help with the NCDOT sponsored survey to be held on January 22, 1991 from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Crowther, Tilley, Olson, Simpson, and Moore agreed they would help. ITEM #13: Coe reviewed the proposed realignment of NC 86 and NC 57. He said he had met with NCDOT engineers and the propery owners and NCDOT had agreed to look at alternative that would allow more road frontage for the Chavis Parker Funeral Home. ITEM #14: Coe reminded the Board that several members's terms expired next month. These members agreed they would make a decision by the next meeting as to whether or not they would seek re -appointment. ITEM #15A Coe reviewed the progress of the Parks and Recreation Task Force. ITEM #15B Coe presented the staff report on the 1990 Census. ITEM #15C Coe distributed the newsletter and calendar. ITEM #15D Coe distributed the 1991 Planning Activities Report. There being no further business, Jones adjourned the meeting at 9:00 PM. Respectfully Submitted, 1 Joff Coe, Secretary