MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012, 6:30 P.M.
MARGUERITE BROWN MUNICIPAL CENTER
519 N. GOOSE CREEK BLVD.

I. Call to Order -Chairman Franklin Moore

Chairman Moore called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
Present: Paul Connerty, Gayla McSwain, Franklin Moore, Allen Wall and Barry Washington
Absent: Doug Quinn and Jeffrey Smith
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael and Sarah Hanson

II. Review of Minutes from January 3, 2012

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

III. Discussion - Land Use Buffer Ordinance

Chairman Moore turned the discussion over to Mr. Ben-Yisrael. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated since turning the draft over to the City Council for approval, Staff and Mr. Moore had met with the Chair of EDAC, the Assistant City Administrator and the City Administrator in an effort to try to work out the differences with the ordinance. There was language proposed that could be potentially inserted into the ordinance regarding the applicability to existing businesses, as the main opposition to the ordinance is the language which applies to existing businesses and the five year horizon for conformity. He stated the EDAC has expressed their concern about this, and there was discussion about exempting existing businesses from being required to conform.

He stated he had been informed that once the full EDAC was able to review the draft ordinance they still were not comfortable with it and still felt the ordinance should not apply to existing businesses. They agreed with the overall intent of the ordinance but felt it should be applicable only to new businesses. He stated he felt EDAC still wished to have a joint workshop so that together the ordinance could be discussed in more detail.

Mr. Moore stated he wished to formally invite EDAC and any business owners to the Commission's next regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the information. There was discussion about the format and structure of the next meeting and the need for a workshop with EDAC and possibly City Council. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that a public hearing will also be necessary if and when the changes proposed are made a part of the ordinance recommendation to Council.

Mr. Connerty expressed his concern about structuring the discussion in that fashion, inviting EDAC to discuss an item that has already gone to public hearing and that will be going back to another public hearing, as it could leave the impression the Commission was doing something formally at a Commission meeting. He asked to perhaps have a work session prior to the meeting, having a single workshop topic of the Land Use Buffer Ordinance, then the formality of a Commission meeting. He felt it would be better not to comingle the topics, and it would allow for some dialogue. Mr. Moore stated his wish that any future discussion be held as a public meeting. Mr. Wall stated his concern regarding having two meetings on the same subject and recommended that a public hearing be planned next month regardless, stating that a joint workshop prior would be fine; he stated his opinion that the Commission has catered enough to them and suggested they approve the draft tonight and schedule a public hearing for next month rather than waiting another month. Mr. Wall suggested that because City Council cannot have input at the Planning Commission Meeting, it might be helpful for the joint workshop to be held prior to the meeting.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael clarified that nothing was added to the ordinance from the EDAC meeting; the changes in the draft were from the Commission's discussion at their last meeting.

There was agreement that because of the substantive changes made to the ordinance, another public hearing is required. Mr. Connerty stated that, because EDAC has already seen the language, he agreed any concerns could be heard during a public hearing and they had the option of making changes in the public hearing. He asked to state again that they are having a public hearing, and if there is opposition to this or feedback which the public and EDAC feel the Commission should hear, then they should attend the public hearing and put those concerns on record rather going to their own meeting and expressing their displeasure without coming to the Commission to express their concerns. Ms. McSwain stated she agreed, stating she respects the EDAC and their role, but the discussion has been ongoing for months now. She stated EDAC is aware of the Commission meetings, and she was uncertain as to what a workshop would accomplish, as she is hearing that EDAC simply opposes this language being applied to existing businesses, and the Commission simply disagrees with that; she stated she is inclined to go forward.

Mr. Connerty stated it has been suggested that the Commission is not business friendly or wasn't keeping the interests of businesses in mind, and he stated he takes exception to that, as there has been a lot of good discussions about the implications this has for businesses, and they've also heard through the Comprehensive Plan a good deal of feedback from both businesses as well as others regarding their desire to see some of these changes, and this has been taken into consideration as well. He asked that it be stated that at some point throughout the discussions everyone on the Commission has expressed their support for businesses and economic development in the community, and he didn't see anything they have done that would suggest otherwise; they are business friendly, and they are trying to do something that will advance the City of Goose Creek and add to its aesthetics.

Mr. Wall asked about the revision regarding exemptions, as the draft did not specify who would approve the exemption, and it was suggested adding "as specified by the Zoning Administrator" to paragraph A(3).

IV. Review of Subdivision Plat for Liberty Village Phase 3A

The subdivision plat for Phase 3A of Liberty Village was presented for the Commission's review. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated the plat has been addressed and approved with a couple of changes that are in process; once these changes have been made the plat will be recorded and construction can begin.

There was discussion about the Henry Brown Boulevard/Montague Plantation Road in regard to the subdivision. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated there is about 3,000 feet still left to complete for connection of the roadway. Mr. Wall asked about the use of the road for trucks, and there was discussion that the decisions for the road are up to DOT. Previous discussions about the City being able to limit truck traffic were restated.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael presented a draft of a Memorandum to Council regarding the corridor, per their previous request, and asked the members to provide feedback to him.

V. Comments from the Commission

Chairman Moore informed the Commission that he had decided to run for City Council.

VI. Comments from Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael updated the Commission on an upcoming general ordinance amendment under the business license regulation section of City code and stated the Commission will be tasked with revising the use tables of the Zoning Ordinance regarding certain provisions for sweepstake centers/donation centers. Mr. Wall commented the Ordinance also includes the term "gaming", and stated the Commission had proposed several years ago that this language be removed, but Council did not act upon it.

VII. Adjournment

Ms. McSwain made a motion to adjourn, and Mr. Washington seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.