HomeMy Public PortalAbout4.28.1998 Joint Public Hearing Minutes and AgendaTown
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AGENDA
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
HILLSBOROUGH TOWN BOARD AND PLANNING BOARD
Tuesday, April 28, 1998
7:00 PM, Town Barn
The Hillsborough Town Board will hold a regular public hearing on Item 1 before calling the joint public hearing
with the Planning Board.
ITEM #1: Town Board public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed annexation of the
Hines/Liner Tract consisting of approximately 24.72 acres located at the intersection of NC
Highway 86 and US Highway 70-A.
ITEM #2: Call joint public hearing to order.
ITEM #3: Rezoning Requests
a) Request from Roger Dale Stephens & Bonnie Gates to rezone 34 acres south of Interstate
85 and north of the Old Mill Business Park from Economic Development District -Primary
to Economic Development District -Secondary (4.40.A.22).
ITEM #4: Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
a) Amendments Section 8.5.d of the Zoning Ordinance to permit off -premise signs under
certain circumstances.
Please call the Clerk or Planning Department if you cannot attend
732-2104 ext. 224 or 228
both lines are connected to voice mail
101 East Orange Street • P.O. Box 429 • Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
919-732-2104 o Fax: 919-644-2390
MINUTES
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
April 28, 1998
PRESENT: Mayor Horace Johnson, Frances Dancy, Evelyn Lloyd, Catherine Martin, Ken Chavious, John Taylor
(PB chair), Richard Bradford, Joel Brinkley, David Daniel, Ed Gill, Jack Hughes, Louise Long, Chris
Quinn, George Sagar
PUBLIC: Roger Stephens, Bonnie Gates, Kevin & Kimberly Moore, Mark O'Neal, Eric Peterson, Margaret
Hauth
Mayor Johnson called the Town Board public hearing on a proposed annexation to order at 7:05 PM.
ITEM #1: Hauth described the Hines Liner tract which has requested voluntary contiguous annexation and she
indicated its location on the map. She noted the owners want the tract to maintain its industrial
zoning, but that will be handled at a future meeting. O'Neal, representative of the owner said they
are seeking to come under one jurisdiction and would prefer to be in the town. He noted that the
addition of this tract to town seems to be logical, as it fills a gap between Cornerstone Park and
Meadowlands.
ITEM #2: Mayor Johnson closed the annexation public hearing and called the quarterly joint public hearing to
order. He passed the gavel to Planning Board Chair Taylor, who briefly highlighted the items on the
agenda.
ITEM #3: Hauth introduced the Stephens rezoning request to rezone 34 acres north of Old Mill Business Park
and south of Interstate 85 from EDD -primary to EDD -secondary. She noted the change will still
allow office uses to develop, but would also allow singles family and multi -family developments on
the tract. Mayor Johnson asked how the property would be accessed. Hauth said the parcel is
currently land -locked, but as part of the approval of the Old Mill, a road is to be built heading north
from Millstone and connecting to this property, providing access. Additionally, right-of-way was
required as part of the subdivision to extend Oakdale Drive through Old Mill. If that extension was
created, traffic would access Old 86 via Oakdale Drive rather than Millstone Drive. Hauth added that
Stephens has provided the necessary right-of-way to build Oakdale Drive extension, but the street
crosses NCDOT property and is blocked by a fence and equipment. Since Oakdale Drive has been
removed from the Town's Transportation Plan, it would need to be put back before the town could
request construction of the road. Martin confirmed that the construction of Oakdale Drive extension
would not be the only source of access for this property. Hauth highlighted the traffic pattern that
has currently been approved, using the to -be -constructed street and Millstone Drive.
Stephens spoke on behalf of himself and partner Gates. He said the property is a little too hilly for
commercial and office development and they would like the flexibility to build residential. He added
development of this tract is a future plan and not an immediate plan as sewer will be needed to
develop the tract effectively. He added that the traffic generated by a residential development on 34
acres would not be significantly different than that of an office/service development which he already
has approval to develop. He noted his support for the EDD concept, but noted that sewer is
necessary for it to function fully and as intended.
Kevin Moore asked whether the rezoning would impact his property or a piece between his current
building and the 34 acres. Hauth confirmed that those properties would not be impacted. He asked
whether the intervening lot can currently be used or whether the to -be -constructed road needs to be
JPH
4/28/98, page 2
in place. Hauth said that if Moore were to purchase the lot and combine it with his existing lot, he
could develop it now, using his access to Millstone. If he doesn't combine it with a lot with frontage,
the development of the tract must wait for the road to be built.
ITEM #4: Hauth introduced the proposed text amendments to allow off -premises signs in certain circumstances.
She noted the major changes from last hearing are the reduced size and reduced height. She noted
that the Planning Board is -sponsoring this amendment for hearing purposes, as the original request
from Holiday Inn Express was denied. Hauth added that the person with Holiday Inn which was
working with the Planning Board is no longer with the company and that Hauth did inform the
manager of the hearing and proposal. Chavious asked what would happen to the third business who
wanted a sign at an intersection. Hauth said they would have to reach an agreement with one of the
other two sign owners to locate on their sign. He noted his concern about this and asked about ways
to guarantee signage is available. Hauth said there is not a way to do that, outside the Town owning
and maintaining the sign. Hughes noted that while the Planning Board sponsored the amendment for
hearing, there is not strong support on the Board for the concept if it were not for the hotel use
involved. Mayor Johnson suggested naming the area as a single development and allowing the
development a sign on the corner and a logo sign closer to the businesses. Sagar noted that it would
be helpful to know just how many businesses may be developed at the sites where these signs are
being allowed. Hauth said it could be anywhere from 1-28, since there's about 7 acres beyond
Holiday Inn which could be developed. Sagar noted that if that many can be built, off -premise signs
won't be needed because the area will have sufficient traffic. He added that the problem right now
is the relative isolation of the businesses on that street.
O'Neal spoke as a commercial realtor and President of the Chamber of Commerce. He noted that
the owners probably did not realize how hidden their site would be. He urged the members to find
a way to allow this sign as a special exception rather than with a text amendment which would allow
further signs. O'Neal said his rule of thumb for a desirable location is the ability to give directions
by phone in 15 seconds, which the Holiday Inn can do. He noted the Chamber does not support off -
premises signs in the Historic District. Stephens spoke as the "third business" that Chavious
mentioned. He noted that he is building between McDonald's and Holiday Inn and will also be
interested in a sign on Churton Street. Taylor noted that if his building has multiple tenants, he will
not quality for a sign. Stephens noted the difficulty that current owners in Old Mill have do to the
lack of signage on Churton Street. Kevin Moore agreed with Stephens. As an owner in Old Mill,
he routinely hears from customers "I didn't know you were back here." He asked the members to
consider the request. Chavious suggested the Planning Board continue working on this issue and that
Hauth try and provide the type of information Sagar requested.
ITEM #5: Taylor closed the public hearing and returned the gavel to Mayor Johnson. He adjoumed the meeting
at 7:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
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MargarL A. Hauth, Secretary