Planning Commission Minutes. October 20, 2008

Planning Commission
October 20, 2008

The Planning Commission met on Monday, October 20, 2008 in the Planning and Development Office Conference Room. The following members were present: Don Hamilton; Chairman, Mario DiPietro, Pat Webb, Brian Gosey, Ray Williams, and Tommy Holcombe; Building Official.

Mr. Don Hamilton, Chairman opens the meeting by explaining that the Planning Commission is an advisory board and the next two readings are with the city council for approval. Tommy Holcombe, Building Official did mentioned that the procedure has changed for you to speak and sign up at the council meeting you can sign up to speak 5 minutes before the meeting which starts at 7:00 pm.

The following items were presented to the board:

Annexation Request

Pickens County, 222 McDaniel Avenue, Pickens, SC 29671 made application to have 1.481 acres located at the corner of Pearson Road and Popefield Road located on Pickens County Tax Map 5028-05-18-7490 annexed into the corporate city limits of Easley as
R-10 (Residential).

Building Official, Tommy Holcombe spoke to the Planning Commission to say that this project is for a new E.M.S. Station and meets the setbacks and has been permitted already by Pickens County. This new E.M.S. Station will have landscape, sidewalks and a recycling center for this area. The Planning and Development Office has not had any complaints on this project. It will be good for this area.

After a brief discussion, Pat Webb made a motion to accept this request, seconded by Mario Dipietro. All in favor this request was unanimously granted.

Annexation Request

Ernest E. & Joan Hall, 317 Prince Perry Road, Easley, SC 29640 made application to have 1.9 acres located at 317 Prince Perry Road located on Pickens County Tax Map 5039-14-43-1195 annexed into the corporate city limits of Easley as G.C. (General Commercial).

Building Official, Tommy Holcombe spoke to the Planning Commission to say that the Planning and Development Office has not had any complaints on this request.

Mr. Ernest Hall spoke to the Planning Commission Board requesting that his property be annexed into the city limits as General Commercial due to a potential buyer wanting city services and sewer.

Pat Webb wanted to state that there does need to be a decision made on a stopping point for rezoning on Prince Perry Road because it is invading on the residential areas.

After a brief discussion, Mario DiPietro made a motion to accept this request, seconded by Ray Williams. All in favor this request was unanimously granted.

Rezoning Request

Catherine Ladnier, 66 Rockwood Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830 made application to have 3.167 acres located at 1218 South 5th Street located on Pickens County Tax Map 5018-08-88-5108 rezoned from R-10 (Residential) to G.C. (General Commercial).

Building Official, Tommy Holcombe spoke to the Planning Commission to say that all of this land and the surrounding property came up for rezoning about 13 months ago for a multifamily zoning and did not pass. Ms. Ladnier wants to preserve the trees and plants on this property and renovate the house that is on this property to lease so she is requesting to rezone a portion of this property (about 3 acres) for a smaller project. A General Commercial rezoning will have landscape, and a buffer between the residential and commercial.

Mr. Monte Hart, resident of 105 James Street representing his neighbors in this Botany Park area spoke to say their concern when the property is rezoned commercial any type of business can go there and this is good for this area because it is residential.

Pat Webb brought up the PD Zoning-(Planned Development Zoning) where you designate what can go on the land for development and under the current zoning but it has to be split up in tracts of land and that still would not help from other tracts being zoned G.C.

Mr. Mark Holmes-Greenville, SC, Attorney representing Ms. Ladnier spoke to say the prospective tenant is an Architect Landscape Design Company. He will run his business out of this house and save all the plants and trees around the area. Ms. Ladnier does not want to develop the property. Mr. Holmes presented photos and information to the Planning Commission Board on where the parking is going, and the landscape and buffer area will be. There will not be alot of traffic at this location because Rick Huffman goes to his clients this is not a landscaping business it’s a design business.

Mr. Ronnie Lackey-107 Bonita Drive spoke to say he has a problem with the rezoning due to the traffic on Pendleton Street already at the CVS, Wal-mart, and West End School traffic. Mr. Lackey mentioned in the future we are going to have the new Easley High School traffic also. Mr. Lackey also mentioned his concern about the emergency vehicles getting in and out if needed due to the increase in traffic and the commercial continuing to surround this residential area.

Pat Webb stated that the traffic lights are controlled to stop traffic in case of an emergency so the fire trucks can get in and out. It was also mentioned by the board that there is increase in traffic all over Easley and Wal-mart will eventually be moving from this location and move to the Easley Town Center.

Mario DiPietro wanted to state that there does need to be a decision made on a stopping point for rezoning in this area also because it is invading on the residential areas. He suggested it stop at this request of rezoning.

After a brief discussion, Mario DiPietro made a motion to accept this request, seconded by Brian Gosey. All in favor this request was unanimously granted.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

____________________________
Tommy Holcombe
Building Official
City of Easley