HomeMy Public PortalAbout11.8.1982 Public HearingPUBLIC HEARING
November 8, 1982, 7 P.M.
Town Hall
Those Present: Mayor Lucius Cheshire, Board Members Smith, Martin, Stevens,
Lloyd, and Brown; Planning Board Members: Goodwin, Martin, Cox, Cannity, Brody.
Others: Dorward, Don Turner, Tim Laws, Mary Laws, Willie Laws, Crawford Goodwin,
Warren Summey, and Betty Eidenier.
Mayor Cheshire brought the meeting to order and turned the floor over to Myron
Martin, Vice Chairman of the Planning Board, who pointed out the location of
the property under consideration for rezoning. Martin noted that commercial
businesses exist in the area now. Mr. Laws property is now non -conforming,
but rezoning would bring the property into compliance. Martin also pointed
out that the Gulf Station has been in existence for many years, but was
zoned R-20 in 1979. Mr. Laws received a zoning permit in error in Spring,
1980 for the building that is the Treasure House.
Mr. Laws stated that he had owned the property for 15 years, but was unaware
that the zoning was residential. He became aware in October, 1982 when he
had a prospect to buy the property and.found out that the uses were non -conforming.
He pointed out commercial properties near his property, which is about 1 acre.
Rick Cannity pointed out the neighborhood commercial zoning across Highway 70
which is under Orange County's jurisdiction. The area around the intersection
of St. Mary's Road and Highway 70 has been designated by the County as an
activity node in the County Land Use Plan so that land under the County's
jurisdiction will be encouraged to develop in a commercial fashion. The
advantage that the County has in its Zoning Ordinance over the Town in its
Ordinance is that we have a designation called the Planned Development which
allows the County Commissioners to look at a specific use for the property
or a specific development proposal for a piece of property, particularly
for the driveway access or location of the building, etc. which the Town
Board doesn't have the option of looking at when it receives such a request.
My concern as a Planning Board Member is that there is no restriction on
access to the property. If there were a use of the Laws property which
generated a lot of traffic turning onto St. Mary's Road or Highway 70,
then we would have a real problem. The Pantry and Merritt driveways are
designated. Right now the Town buys whatever the developer wants to do.
My main concern is to keep this intersection functio'^ing as a traffic diverter
and divider and somehow allow the property owners to develop it in some way.
Martin asked if there were additional questions, but there was no response.
He then said that the Planning Board would consider this rezoning request
at their next meeting and recommend its decision to the Town Board which
would then act upon the request. He then turned the floor back over to
the Mayor who declared the public hearing on the Willie Laws Rezoning
Request adjourned.