MEMBERS: Jonathan Eady, Chair; Aaron
Robinson, Secretary; Mike Besaw, Laura McCanless, and Zach May. Juanita Carson was
absent.
STAFF: Matthew Pepper, assistant city
manager and zoning administrator.
GUESTS: Hubert White; Joey Brewer, Acre
Professional Surveyors; Kendra Mayfield, Oxford College.
OPENING: At 7:00 PM, Mr. Eady called the
meeting to order, welcomed the guests, and introduced Mike Besaw, Zach May, and
Laura McCanless as the newest Commission members.
MINUTES: Upon motion of Mr. Besaw, seconded
by Ms. McCanless, the minutes for the meeting of December 13 were adopted as
amended. The vote was 5-0.
ELECTIONS: This is the first meeting in 2018 so
it is time to elect officers for the next year. The officers are: Chair,
Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Upon motion of Ms. McCanless, seconded by Mr.
Robinson, Mr. Eady was nominated for Chair. Upon motion of Mr. Besaw, seconded
by Mr. Eady, Mr. Robinson was nominated for Vice-Chair. After a discussion of
the duties, upon motion of Mr. May, seconded by Mr. Besaw, Ms. McCanless was
nominated for Secretary.
Mr. Eady called for a vote on the
entire slate of officers. The vote was 5-0 to approve Mr. Eady as chair, Mr.
Robinson as vice-chair, and Ms. McCanless as Secretary.
MINOR SUBDIVISION – HUBERT WHITE AND
JOYCE SULLIVAN: Mr. White and Ms.
Sullivan submitted a request for the review and approval of a plat for a minor
subdivision. They wish to subdivide the lot at the corner of Asbury Street and
W. Watson Street. They submitted a plat of the subdivision prepared by Joey
Brewer, surveyor. The Planning Commission members had a discussion on whether
or not the square footage of Lot 1 should be increased to meet the standard
minimum lot size. Given that the
proposed subdivided lots are within the infill overlay, the Commission members
thought Sec. 40-492 (Lot size averaging) would be applicable. Sec. 40-492
includes a provision that the lot cannot be reduced to less than 80% of the
required minimum lot size, which in this case would be 24,000 square feet.
Upon motion
of Mr. Besaw, seconded by Mr. Robinson, the minor subdivision was recommended
for approval to City Council as submitted. The vote was 5-0.
PHI GAMMA
HALL RENOVATION: Kendra Mayfield
detailed to the Planning Commission members the college’s plans to renovate Phi
Gamma Hall. The renovation plans include making the building handicap accessible,
constructing bathrooms in the basement, and renovating the building’s interior.
Upon motion of Ms. McCanless,
seconded by Mr. Besaw, the Planning Commission approved the development permit
for the Phi Gamma Hall renovation, conditional upon receiving the official
design plans from Ms. Mayfield. The vote was 4 in favor, with Mr. Eady abstaining.
PIERCE STREET RE-DESIGN PROJECT
UPDATE: Kendra
Mayfield shared with the Planning Commission the engineering drawings for the
redesign of Pierce Street as approved by City Council on February 5th,
2018.
REVIEW OF OXFORD COLLEGE HOOP HOUSE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT –
The Planning Commission members reviewed the development permit and minutes
from the meeting wherein the first hoop house was approved in its current
location. The Commission members determined that the first hoop house is
compliant, and therefore would not affect the Planning Commission’s decision to
approve the second hoop house at the December 2017 meeting.
REVIEW OF CODE SECTION 40-536. –
LIVESTOCK AND FOWL – The
Planning Commission members discussed the code section regarding the keeping of
livestock and fowl in residential zoning districts. The Commission members
decided to recommend to City Council that the current ordinance be more
permissive by allowing laying hens in all residential zoning districts, and
reducing the setback limits. The Commission members also decided to include a specific
provision to ban roosters, and another provision to limit the number of laying
hens allowed on a property to six. Mr. Eady and Mr. Pepper will work on the
specific language of the ordinance to present to City Council.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Eady adjourned the meeting at 8:50
PM.
Approved by:
Laura
McCanless, Secretary