MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2010, 6:30 P.M.
MARGUERITE BROWN MUNICIPAL CENTER
GOOSE CREEK

I. Call to Order - Chairman Allen Wall

Chairman Allen Wall called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
Present: Joel Arenson, Paul Connerty, Gayla McSwain, Doug Quinn, Jeffrey Smith, Allen Wall and Barry Washington.
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael, Sarah Hanson

II. Review of Minutes - November 3, 2009

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Mr. Connerty seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All in favor; none opposed.

III. Street Name Approval - Marrington Villas at Cobblestone

Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained the location of the street. He stated that Berkeley County could not approve the name "Clerrmont Drive", as it is reserved for another location within Berkeley County, so he asked that the Commission consider the name Wellbrook Drive. He explained that the engineer had marked the name Wellbrook Lane on the plat; however, the actual name should be Wellbrook Drive.

Motion: Ms. McSwain made a motion to approve the name Wellbrook Drive. Mr. Connerty seconded.
Discussion: Mr. Wall asked if this street was to continue from intersection to intersection, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael answer that it would.
Vote: All in favor; none opposed.

IV. Discussion - Street Name Change for a Portion of State Road

Mr. Ben Yisrael stated that the Carnes Crossroads developer had previously requested a change in the name of South Live Oak Drive to North Main Street, and the Commission had made that change to the City boundary on 17A. At that time the Commission also discussed changing the name of a portion of State Road to St. James Avenue, extending it through the intersection to the City boundary, which is also the boundary of the Carnes Crossroads development. He stated Staff planned to bring it to the attention of the Commission at the next meeting but wanted to see if they had any questions or concerns that they wished to have addressed in the interim.

Mr. Wall asked if all properties from WalMart to 17A were addressed with numbers, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded that they were. Mr. Wall asked if those numbers would just be continued past 17A, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated they would. Mr. Connerty asked if there would be any businesses or residences impacted, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated there may be two - one being a 911-address for the water tower, and there may be one other property on State Road that would be impacted. A public hearing would have to be held and property owners would have to be notified of the changes.

Mr. Wall asked if the Commission didn't decide to stop the name "North Main Street" at the intersection, leaving the name "South Live Oak Drive" at the intersection and going north; he stated the original request was to take it all the way to the City limits sign, but the Commission decided to stop it at the intersection. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that no, the name change went all the way to the boundary of the Carnes Crossroads development on 17A. Mr. Wall said this was not the case, that the Commission backed it up to the intersection because they didn't want to stop or start a name of a street at a sign. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated the Commission continued the street name to the City Limits sign because of the street naming ordinance currently in place, with the language suggesting not changing street names at intersections. If the street continues through an intersection the ordinance suggests keeping that name, and he believed that fact contributed to the decision to continue it through the intersection. Mr. Wall stated he'd like to continue the general discussion but come back to this specific question.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated the change would cover the area in yellow, referencing the map presented for consideration. There was some discussion about the placement of signs. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that one reason for waiting for the change was that Staff was waiting for determination of the planned access and egress points along State Road. Mr. Wall asked if this may not be at an intersection, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that for now the end point would be the boundary of the development which was consistent with what was done previously with North Main Street.

Mr. Wall said he was in total disagreement of ending a street without an intersection. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that is the reason for having a public hearing - if during the hearing new information is presented, and it was felt another option is better, such as stopping at the existing street, a change could be made. He stated most of the development in this area of Carnes Crossroads will not be addressed off of St. James Ave. but rather off an interior feeder road. Mr. Wall suggested waiting to see where there will be a street. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that information hasn't been offered by the developer as they are not far enough along in their design work. He stated there is no rush to do this, and if the Commission wishes to table it until a later date they can do that.

Mr. Quinn asked if there was any plan in the future for the boundaries to be extended past their current location, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded that he had no knowledge of that, and with current plans for the other surrounding properties, the City doesn't envision any of those areas becoming a part of the City.

There was discussion about ending a road at the boundary of the City and how the City would designate the change in name. Mr. Arenson asked if Staff could research how this is typically handled by other municipalities as far as street name changes at intersections vs. otherwise.

Mr. Wall asked if anyone was opposed to holding a public hearing on the change, and no one responded. Mr. Wall requested Mr. Ben-Yisrael to ask the developer where their street was going to terminate and to research the minutes from the meeting where the name of South Live Oak Drive was changed to North Main Street, as he felt they had decided to back up and stop the name at the intersection because of not wanting to change the name of the street at a sign but instead at an intersection.

Mr. Wall asked if a sign would be erected and the property owners notified in writing of the public hearing, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded yes, a letter would be sent and the hearing would be advertised in the local papers. Mr. Wall requested Mr. Ben-Yisrael to find some other municipalities that change street names with no intersection, as he did not like that.

V. Discussion - Land Use Buffer Map

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated he wanted to introduce the idea of taking three or four months over the next year to work on looking at commercial properties within the City that abut residential properties and studying the land uses allowed on those properties by virtue of the zoning, then discussing the potential impacts on the residential properties if the commercial properties are developed. He wants the Commission to plan land use buffers to protect the character of the residential properties and protect the residents from adverse impact from commercial development. So far Staff has taken a rough inventory of vacant commercial land which abuts residential properties, and in the next several meetings the Commission can look at the properties, their zoning, the adjacent properties and discuss buffer requirements. He suggested these recommendations would be adopted as a Land Use Buffer Map and incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Ultimately the zoning ordinance will be amended to reflect these changes; until then they become recommendations. There was discussion concerning the various methods of buffering property lines. Mr. Wall asked if these would be studied individually or if this would just be a general recommendation. Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded that he hoped to look at areas that have properties grouped together as well as looking at stand-alone properties individually. Mr. Arenson suggested that increasing buffers would improve the aesthetics of commercial properties and mentioned requirements in Hilton Head and Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated this will give Staff more credibility when working with developers. There was brief discussion about the need to have the ARB review and approve the buffer map. Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded that he will inform the ARB of the project and will also forward it to the EDAC for review and consideration. There was some discussion about how this will work in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission expressed their interest in going forward with the project.

VI. Comments From the Commission

Mr. Quinn asked if Casey Fletcher's position had been filled, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael responded that it had not yet; the position is being re-advertised.

Mr. Wall reminded the Commission they had decided to plan a get together for the members. The Commission decided to delay the public hearing for the street naming until the March meeting, per Mr. Ben-Yisrael's suggestion and meet at Ms. McSwain's home on February 2 at 6:30.

Mr. Wall asked if Staff could provide the Commission with a monthly list of new building permits so they can stay informed of new projects within the City. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated Staff could provide a copy of a map of all pending commercial and residential projects, ranging from projects in the planning stage to projects recently completed. There is also a spread sheet that gives more in-depth information about the projects.

VII. Comments From Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained that he had been asked to present information concerning the Zoning Board of Appeals' upcoming hearing. He mentioned that because there will be a public hearing there wasn't a lot of information he could give but summarized the issue as being a variance request for the front setbacks for a few of the lots within the development of Sofia Landing.

VIII. Adjournment

Mr. Quinn made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Washington seconded the motion, and the meeting adjourned at or about 7:48 pm.