MEMBERS: Mike Ready, Chair; Shawn Gaither,
Secretary, Penny England, Vivian Harris, and Ron Manson. Jonathan Eady was absent.
STAFF:
Bob Schwartz, city manager and zoning administrator.
GUESTS:
Marguerite Abd El-Shahid, Jen Fabrick, and Kendra Mayfield with Oxford
College and Emory University. Also Tyson
Curcio with EYP Architecture and Engineering of Boston, MA joined on the
speaker phone.
OPENING:
Mr. Ready called the meeting to order and welcomed the guests.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. England, the minutes for the meeting of June 3, 2014 were approved.
Oxford College (Development Application
for Science Building)
– Oxford College had submitted an Application for Development Permit Approval
for a 57,720 square foot Science Building.
Marguerite Abd El-Shahid introduced the representatives from Oxford
College and Emory University, along with Mr. Tyson Curcio with EYP Architecture
and Engineering of Boston. Mr. Curcio joined the meeting on the speakerphone. Ms.
Abd El-Shahid stated that the Emory representatives were glad to be at the
meeting and to be able to discuss the building. They had verified the
requirements of the fire marshal. The submitted plans were the permit set and
were essentially the same as the draft plan submitted for the pre-application
meeting last month. More of the details had been filled in. In general the
offices were in the front of the building with the labs and classrooms in the
back. There is a greenhouse on the side. There had been no major changes since
the last meeting.
Mr. Manson
asked what was in the penthouse portion of the building. Ms. Abd El-Shahid
stated that it was all mechanicals. She also noted that she had submitted the hydrology
report to the city. Mr. Schwartz reported that the hydrology report had been
reviewed by Jim Patrick who found it in compliance. Mr. Schwartz asked whether
or not Mr. Curcio was going to be present during construction. He stated that
he was planning to make several visits, but that his firm had a local architect
who would be on the scene almost daily.
Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. Gaither, the development permit for the new science building for Oxford
College was approved. All members voted in favor.
Ms. Fabrick thanked the Planning
Commission for its work and asked that if any member had any questions during
construction to please give her a call.
(There was a short recess while Mr.
Ready and Mr. Schwartz loaded the building permit set of plans into Ms.
Mayfield’s car.)
Comments:
Mr. Ready noted that, in his opinion, the Planning Commission had done more
work in the last six months than in the previous twelve months. Mr. Manson
noted that this was true as far as residents, but that earlier, the commission
had developed the existing zoning ordinance. Ms. Harris commented that they
really had done more work in the last six months than in the last five years,
except for the zoning ordinance.
2050
Plan: Mr. Ready and Mr. Schwartz commented on version 1 of the 2050
plan zoning ordinance. The 1st draft had been prepared. When the 3rd
draft was received. Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Ready would prepare a marked up copy
to be submitted to the Planning Commission. They intend to show the new zoning
ordinance with all the portions of the existing Oxford city code inserted at
the proper points. This will take a lot of time and work, but is necessary to
develop a unified zoning ordinance for all of Newton County.
Master
Plan: Mr. Ready reported that City
Council was still working on a master plan and it was not clear whether or not
a committee as such would be necessary. He would keep the Planning Commission
informed as this project moved forward.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Ready adjourned the meeting at 7:47
PM.
Submitted
by:
Shawn Gaither, Secretary