MEMBERS: Mike Ready, Chair; Jonathan Eady, Vice-Chair;
Penny England, Vivian Harris, and Ron Manson.
Shawn Gaither, secretary, was absent.
STAFF:
Bob Schwartz, city manager and zoning administrator.
GUESTS:
Edwin Ruggeri, Gina Ruggeri, and Jeremy Ferguson with GABE Properties;
and Kendra Mayfield and Daniel Parson with Oxford College.
OPENING:
Mr. Ready called the meeting to order and welcomed the guests.
PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS: Mr. Ready congratulated Ms. Harris
and Mr. Manson upon being reappointed to the Planning Commission for new three
year terms. Mr. Manson expressed appreciation to the city for the appointment
letter he received from Mayor Roseberry.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. Harris: Mr. Ready, chair; Mr. Eady, vice chair; and Ms. Gaither,
Secretary; were each elected for an additional one year term. The motion passed
unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. England, the minutes for the meeting of December 9, 2014 were approved.
GABE PROPERTIES: GABE Properties has submitted two
requests for development permit approval for the home they are renovating at
201 Williams Street. They want to build a two-car garage on the east side of
the home and add an 8’ x 20’ deck to the back of the house. Ms. Ruggeri started
the discussion by stating that they were picking up the pieces after splitting
with a former partner. The former partner and contractor had informed them they
did not need a permit for this type of construction. After Police Chief Dave
Harvey notified them that they needed a permit, they stopped all work on the
garage and the deck. Mr. Ruggeri stated they thought they were okay but that since
splitting from the partner it has been a nightmare. Ms. Ruggeri wanted to say
they were very apologetic for the situation they were in.
Mr. Schwartz
presented research which the city had done concerning the location of the edge
of the right-of-way for Asbury Street. As a result of the research there were
three separate and distinct lines for the edge of the right-of-way. The line
which has the most probability of being correct is the line which was extended
with the assistance of city engineer Robert Jordan from survey work he had done
on Asbury Street several blocks to the south. Using this line, the garage is
21.7 feet from the edge of the Asbury Street right of way. The build to line
for Asbury Street is 10 feet (plus or minus 5 feet to be approved by the zoning
administrator).
Mr. Eady and
the rest of the Planning Commission discussed whether or not just knowing the
edge of the right of way was sufficient information. The problem is that we
have no survey which shows us definitively the boundary of the lot. We also do
not have anything that says whether or not the entire lot is owned by the
current property owner.
Upon motion of Mr. Eady, seconded by
Mr. Manson, the Planning Commission authorized the chair of the Planning
Commission to issue a development permit for this garage when presented with a
boundary survey which shows the entire property and locates the current and
proposed structure accurately on the survey. This was adopted unanimously.
The second
part of the request from GABE properties was for the approval of the addition
of an 8’ x 20’ deck to the back of the house.
Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. Harris, the deck was approved as presented by the property owners. This
was adopted unanimously.
OXFORD COLLEGE - FENCE FOR ORGANIC
FARM: As requested
by Mr. Ready, Mr. Schwartz distributed copies of §40 – 532 - fences and walls; §40
– 869 - visibility at intersections and driveways; and a copy of the section of
the May 13, 2014 minutes, which involved the pre-application discussion of a
fence for the organic farm. Ms. Mayfield noted that during the May meeting discussion,
they learned they have two front yards: one on Emory and one on Bonnell. Their
first suggestion was for an eight foot horse fence. What they are presenting
tonight is very much different.
The
application involves a four foot horse fence with hardware cloth backing along
the two front yards, and an eight foot field fence along the other borders. The
hardware cloth backing will stop small animals from entering the farm. In
addition, the four foot fence will have a temporary four foot extension mounted
on top of it. The result would be a temporary fence that extends to eight feet
and a permanent fence that extends four feet.
Mr. Parson
stated that the organic farm was a resource both for the college and the
community. It turns out the local deer like the vegetables being grown at the
farm. The purpose of the temporary fence addition is to condition the deer to
stay away from the fence and not to come onto the farm.
Mr. Eady
acknowledged that the point of all of this is to keep the deer out all the
time. Mr. Manson suggested a different fence design. Mr. Daniel noted that he
needs some sort of fence in order to be able to grow crops on the organic farm.
There was some discussion between Mr. Daniel and members of the Planning
Commission about the nature of a temporary fence and the design of the fence.
His goal is to take down the temporary four foot extension when and where it is
no longer needed. This will depend very much upon the deer.
Upon motion of Mr. Eady, seconded by
Ms. England, the Planning Commission approved a development permit to construct
a four foot wooden fence along Bonnell and Emory and an eight foot fence around
the balance of the property that does not front a road. The motion passed
unanimously. (It was noted that no permit is necessary for a temporary fence.)
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Ready adjourned the meeting at 8:50
PM.
Submitted
by:
Bob Schwartz, zoning administrator and city
manager