MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 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 6:36 p.m.
Present: Paul Connerty, Franklin Moore, Doug Quinn, Jeffrey Smith (arrived after roll call), and Allen Wall
Absent: Gayla McSwain and Barry Washington
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael

II. Review of Minutes - April 14, 2011

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

III. Public Hearing - Request for Rezoning of 122 Red Bank Road from Residential Low Density (R1) to General Commercial (GC)

Mr. Wall opened the public hearing. He then summarized the process for the hearing.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained the property was annexed in January 2006. Prior to annexation it was designated as General Commercial Office/Institutional by Berkeley County zoning, and then upon annexation it was zoned R1. Currently it is a single family residence which could be converted to a commercial office space, being consistent with the surrounding properties. He stated that Staff recommends the rezoning request.

Mr. Wall recognized Mr. Ralph Sanders who was representing the applicant. Mr. Sanders stated the property is tied up in an estate, so the property is being sold, and it has been recommended that the zoning be changed, as the location on Red Bank Road is no longer suitable for a family residence. He asked the Commission to approve the request to rezone.

Mr. Wall asked if there was anyone who wished to speak in favor of the request, and there was no one.

Mr. Wall asked if there was anyone who wished to speak in opposition to the request, and there was no one.

Mr. Wall closed the public hearing.

Mr. Wall asked the Commission if there was any discussion. Mr. Moore stated rezoning the property to General Commercial would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's land use map. Mr. Wall asked if, prior to the City's annexing the property in 2006, had the property been used as a single family residence, and Mr. Sanders answered that it had been until a couple of years ago. Mr. Wall stated he agreed with Mr. Moore that a general commercial use is consistent with the area and that he also agreed that a single family use was not appropriate for its location.

Motion: Mr. Quinn made a motion to recommend the rezoning of 122 Red Bank Road from R1 to GC. Mr. Moore seconded the motion.
Discussion: Mr. Wall reminded the Commission that this would be sent to City Council as a recommendation, and there would be two public hearings prior to approval.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Mr. Sanders asked when the request would be heard by City Council, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael answered he wasn't certain and would have to speak to the City Administrator to see when it would be scheduled.

IV. Street Naming - Stratford Knights Drive

Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained that the location for the street is off of College Park Road and is the bus access to the high school. It was built several years ago, but a street name was never designated for it. Berkeley County has taken over the maintenance and is pressing for the naming of the street now. There was brief discussion regarding the use of the road.

Motion: Mr. Smith made a motion to accept the name Stratford Knights Drive as the street name. Mr. Quinn seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

V. Discussion - Role of Planning Commission

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated this was to follow up on the discussion regarding the role the Commission will play in the future as to plan review. He stated this was discussed in relation to the Comprehensive Plan and the Commission's authority over the Comp Plan. He asked if the discussion could be postponed as well as the agenda item regarding the Land Use Buffer Ordinance.

Mr. Connerty made a motion to table these agenda items until the next meeting, and there was no objection.

VI. Discussion - Amendment to Use Tables

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that City Council wished the Commission to clarify the language of the Conservation Open Space district, to make it a bit more restrictive and to also allow for the use as a golf course county club without requiring a conditional use permit. He asked to bring the matter before them at the next meeting as a Zoning Ordinance Amendment along with a couple of other cosmetic changes to the Use Tables. He confirmed it would be in the form of a public hearing. Mr. Quinn asked if this was in lieu of adding deed restrictions, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael answered that it was not; it was to address the other recommendation the Commission made regarding the issue of a country club being a nonconforming use. Mr. Wall asked the Commissioners if they were in agreement to have the public hearing next month, and Mr. Quinn asked to have the proposed language emailed to the members. Mr. Connerty asked about the advertising of the hearing, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael answered that it would be advertised as a regular zoning ordinance amendment, and interested parties would be notified. Mr. Wall commented that the next issue could be to rezone the 21 acres to CO, in which case the property would be posted with signage.

VII. Comments from the Commission

There were questions about the fencing being built along Highway 52, particularly the openings between the areas being fenced, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated he was unsure why there were open areas but would ask those working on the project. There was brief discussion about the problem with bandit signs.

VIII. Comments from Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated he would be meeting with the City Administrator to confirm the dates for the City Council workshops for the review of the Comprehensive Plan.

IX. Adjournment

Mr. Quinn made a motion to adjourn, and Mr. Moore seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.