MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 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 6:35 p.m.
Present: Paul Connerty, Gayla McSwain, Franklin Moore, Doug Quinn, Jeffrey Smith and Allen Wall
Absent: Barry Washington
Staff Present: Sarah Hanson
II. Review of Minutes from February 7, 2012
Motion: Mr. Connerty made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Smith seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.
III. Public Hearing - Land Use Buffer Ordinance
Chairman Moore opened the public hearing. He stated that because the workshop with EDAC was to be rescheduled it had been recommended that their public hearing be continued until their next meeting.
Mr. Wall made a motion to continue the hearing that evening, stating the Commission had numerous chances to discuss the ordinance with EDAC, and he wasn't certain there would be a successful workshop next month, so he felt they should go ahead with their recommendation.
Chairman Moore asked Staff to explain their wish to provide more information. Ms. Hanson stated that prior to Mr. Ben-Yisrael's illness he had planned to provide a power point photo presentation and to recommend amending some of the language discussed last month, and in light of not being able to present that, it was Staff's recommendation that the public hearing be continued. Mr. Smith asked to have the power point emailed to them prior to the next meeting.
Motion: Mr. Wall clarified his motion to hold the public hearing as scheduled and finalize their recommendation to City Council. Ms. McSwain seconded the motion.
Discussion: Chairman Moore stated he felt they should give EDAC another chance to meet with them next month. Ms. McSwain asked why they were not able to attend, and Ms. Hanson answered she understood a couple of their members had previous commitments, and they felt they could have better attendance at a later date. Mr. Connerty stated they had discussed this at the last meeting and asked if the EDAC members had received a month's notice of the workshop. Ms. Hanson stated she wasn't certain they received a full month's notice. Mr. Smith stated he, too, felt EDAC members have known of the Commission's meetings the last three to four months and agreed with Mr. Wall that the Commission should move on. Ms. McSwain asked if there was a recommendation from Staff, and Ms. Hanson stated it was Mr. Ben-Yisrael's recommendation that they continue the public hearing to the following month so that additional information could be presented. Mr. Quinn stated he felt, in the interest of doing everything possible to alleviate EDAC's concerns, they should continue it for another month but only for one more month.
Vote: 2 voted in favor; 4 votes opposed. The motion did not pass.
Motion: Mr. Connerty made a motion to continue the public hearing until the April 3, 2012 meeting. Ms. McSwain seconded the motion.
Discussion: Mr. Wall asked, if the workshop with EDAC didn't occur, would the Commission continue the hearing again. Mr. Connerty stated he personally would not vote a second time to continue the hearing, as he felt they had made more than reasonable efforts to meet with the EDAC members. He stated he has previously been on the record stating that there have been ample opportunities for the EDAC members to express their concerns and offer any insight, though that hasn't happened. He stated that Mr. Ben-Yisrael's absence and request was a compelling reason for his agreeing to support waiting one more month. Ms. Hanson reminded the Commission that April 3 was Election Day for the City in the event that made a difference in the schedule. Mr. Quinn suggested moving the time for the meeting. Ms. McSwain asked that EDAC have a full 30 days' notice for the workshop.
Vote: 5 voted in favor; one opposed. The motion was approved.
IV. Review of Proposed Plans for IGA Development - North Goose Creek Boulevard
Chairman Moore explained that Staff had received an email from Mr. Will King stating that the developers for the proposed IGA project had pulled out of their contract to pursue other options.
V. Comments from the Commission
Mr. Wall asked why the public had been involved in the IGA project but the Commission had not. Ms. Hanson explained that the preliminary plans had been presented to the residents at the Mayor's previously scheduled town hall meeting the previous week, and Staff had expected final plans to be submitted prior to the Commission's meeting for their review and approval; however, the owner had notified Staff via email that they were not going to proceed.
Mr. Connerty asked about the status of the Sonic project, and Ms. Hanson updated them on the project.
VI. Comments from Staff
There were none.
VII. Adjournment
Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn, and Mr. Quinn seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
