MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2011, 6:30 P.M.
MARGUERITE BROWN MUNICIPAL CENTER
519 N. GOOSE CREEK BOULEVARD

 

I. Call to Order -Chairman Allen Wall

Chairman Wall called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
Present: Gayla McSwain, Franklin Moore, Doug Quinn, and Allen Wall
Absent: Paul Connerty, Jeffrey Smith, and Barry Washington
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael and Sarah Hanson

II. Review of Minutes - April 5, 2011

Motion: Ms. McSwain made a motion to accept the minutes as written, and Mr. Quinn seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

III. Public Hearing - Goose Creek 2021 Comprehensive Plan

Motion: Mr. Quinn made a motion to open the public hearing. Mr. Moore seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Mr. Wall summarized the process for the hearing.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained the purpose of the hearing was to recommend, via Resolution to City Council, the approval of the Comprehensive Plan as drafted to date by the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council Of Governments and as it has been recommended by the Steering Committee. He stated Staff drafted a resolution and forwarded it to the Commission members, receiving only a few comments. He stated he had made a few revisions per these comments and asked that a specific reference to Article 3 Chapter 29 be referenced in the Resolution.

Mr. Wall asked if there were any questions or comments in favor of the Resolution. Mr. Frank Stern was recognized, and he stated he had none at this time.

Mr. Wall asked if there were any other comments, either pro or con, and there were none.

Mr. Wall asked the members if they recalled hearing at the previous meeting there would be an introduction page added to the draft. He asked Mr. Ben-Yisrael to read it to the Commission for their consideration and approval. Afterwards, Mr. Wall asked if there were any questions or comments about the additional language.

Mr. Joel Arenson questioned the effect this statement would have on the purview of the Planning Commission. There was discussion about the Commission's future duties in accordance with this language and the current zoning ordinance language. Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained that per the zoning ordinance the review of projects had been designated to Staff and the process would not change unless that designation is revoked by the Commission and the policy changes. Mr. Wall stated he felt it important the Commission be in the loop in regard to major changes within the City rather than just kept informed. Mr. Ben-Yisrael supported the suggestion and asked that, if the Commission wished to request a policy change, they make the change via a vote of the Commission and make the request a part of the official record.

Mr. Wall recognized Mr. John McCants who stated his concern about slowing the review process and stated his wish that Staff have final review.

Mr. Arenson stated he felt that the Planning Commission has the responsibility and authority to approve development based on their responsibility to insure development is compatible with the Comprehensive Plan.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael suggested that any changes made to the process be clear and specific to insure transparency and consistency in plan review and to insure there is no doubt as to review authority.

Mr. Wall stated the Implementation Table designates the Planning Commission as having the responsibility for implementing most strategies included in the Comprehensive Plan. He stated the purpose of including the introduction was to explain the authority of the Plan.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael reminded the Commission that City Council will approve the Comprehensive Plan by Ordinance, but the Comprehensive Plan itself it not an ordinance.

Motion: Ms. McSwain made a motion to add the introduction to the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Quinn seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Motion: Mr. Quinn made a motion to close the public hearing. Ms. McSwain seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Motion: Mr. Quinn made a motion to approve the Resolution recommending the Comprehensive Plan be adopted by the Goose Creek City Council. Mr. Moore seconded the motion.
Discussion: Mr. Wall explained to the public that the Commission has been working on the Plan for a couple of years, so it is not new information. Ms. McSwain questioned if the term "official guide" was strong enough language. There was discussion about using the word "document" rather than "guide".

Motion: Ms. McSwain made a motion to amend the Resolution to include the reference to Chapter 29 where appropriate to follow the words "Article 3" and to amend the Resolution to substitute the word "document" for the word "guide" in the last paragraph of the Resolution. Mr. Quinn seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Mr. Wall continued the discussion regarding the motion made to approve the Resolution. There was no further discussion.
Vote: All voted in favor.

There was discussion about Staff scheduling a Council workshop to discuss the Plan. Mr. Ben-Yisrael reminded the Commission that from now until Council's official adoption there will be comments received and minor edits being made to the document. He explained that per their request any changes made would be provided to them.

Mr. Wall thanked Ms. Gillis for her work.

IV. Comments from the Commission

Mr. Wall asked Ms. Gillis for a definition of performance zoning, which she explained is zoning based on the scope or size of the use rather than specific standards and requirements.

Mr. Wall asked that next month there be a discussion regarding the Planning Commission's future involvement.

V. Comments from Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael asked if the Commission would hear a request for rezoning at their next meeting for property located at 122 Red Bank Road. The Commission agreed to hold the public hearing for the rezoning request. He also thanked Ms. Gillis for her work on the Plan and thanked the Steering Committee and the Commission for their hard work and dedication to the project.

VI. Adjournment

Mr. Quinn made a motion to adjourn, and Mr. Moore seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.