Planning Board

March 17, 2009

Minutes

The Morehead City Planning Board conducted a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in the Municipal Building Auditorium, 202 South Eighth Street, Morehead City, NC, at 5:30 p.m.  The following people were present:

            MEMBERS:     John Creech, Vice-Chairman

                                    Curtis Fleshman, Corinne Geer, and Jackie Maucher

            ABSENT:         Sally Smith, Bill Taylor and Gordon Thayer

            Others present:  Planning Director Linda Staab, Zoning Enforcement Officer Joyce Veltman, Secretary Jeannie Vaughan, Mike Shutak of the Carteret County News-Times, Jennifer Stallings of the Gam, John Maucher, Ken Wood, Attorney Edith Mason, Jim Bailey, Trace Cooper, Lynn Hudson, John Fussell, Sandy Kunkle, Roberta Johnson, Tom Lockwood, and Nancy Veitch.

Vice-Chairman Creech called the meeting to order and delivered the invocation. 

The roll was called and Sally Smith, Bill Taylor and Gordon Thayer were absent.  Curtis Fleshman made MOTION, seconded by Corinne Geer, to excuse the absences.  The motion carried unanimously.

            Vice-Chairman Creech led the Pledge of Allegiance.

            MINUTES: February 17, 2009:   Corinne Geer made MOTION, seconded by Jackie Maucher, to adopt the minutes as written and dispense with the reading.  The motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

 A.   Request from Radio Island Development Company, LLC to rezone Lots 17-21 Breakwater Spit located on Morgan Street from County PI to R5 (Residential).

Rezoning Request from Radio Island Development Company, LLC to rezone Tax PIN #s 639619612017000, 63961961000, 639619602928, 639619602933000, 639619602838000 located at Lots 17-21 Breakwater Spit on Morgan Street from County PI to R5 (Residential):

Jim Bailey has submitted a request on behalf of Radio Island Development Company, LLC, Cape Lookout Marine, Inc., Radio Island Enterprises, and Croatan Investment Company, LLC to rezone 0.72 acres located on Morgan Street from County PI to R5 (Residential).  There is a pending annexation request.  Adjacent property is zoned as follows: County B2 to the north, County PI to the south and west, and RMF across the canal to the east.  Surrounding development includes a single-family dwelling and glass shop to the north, vacant property to the south and east, and common area for Morgan’s Creek across the canal to the west.Following annexation, the property will be in CAMA Land Use Plan Neighborhood 1.  The proposal does not appear to conflict with any policies of the Land Use Plan.

 Property owners within 300 feet of the property were notified of the Planning Board meeting as well as the date of the public hearing which is scheduled for April14^th.  The property has been posted.

Planning Director Linda Staab introduced the request.  In response to Corinne Geer, Ms. Staab said that Morgan Street is a state road and the City would not be responsible for the upkeep.            

Jim Bailey of Radio Island Development Company spoke in favor of the request.  Mr. Bailey said that there will be five individual lots, each with a single-family dwelling that will be served by the current city water and sewer/pump station already on the island. 

           No one spoke in opposition of the request.

          Jackie Maucher­ made MOTION, seconded by Curtis Fleshman, to recommend approval of the rezoning request and to adopt Planning Board

         Resolution 2009- 001

          The motion carried unanimously.

          B.   Request from Tide Lines, LLC for Preliminary Plat Extension for Tide Lines, 14 single-family lots located at 210 Radio Island Road.

Request from Tide Lines, LLC for Preliminary Plat Extension for Tide Lines, 14 single-family dwelling units located at 210 Radio Island Road.  Flood Zone AE 7.  Zoned PD:

Site Development (Master) Plan and Sketch Development Plan:  Planning Board: 1/15/2008

Site Development (Master) Plan and Sketch Development Plan:  Council: 2/12/2008

Preliminary Plat Review and Approval:  Planning Board:  5/20/2008

Edith Mason, on behalf of Tide Lines, LLC, is requesting preliminary plat extension for this 14 lot single-family subdivision located on Radio Island. The Planning Board approved the Preliminary Plat for this Planned Development in May of 2008.  The ordinance requirements under which this plat was previously approved required an extension be granted by the Planning Board within twelve (12) months of approval with no limit on the number of extensions.

The plan is identical to the one that received preliminary plat approval in May of 2008.

The NCDOT, CAMA, State Stormwater, and State Sedimentation and Erosion Control permits have been submitted and are still active.

            Planning Director Linda Staab introduced the request.              

            Attorney Edith Mason spoke on behalf of Tide Lines, LLC and requested approval of the extension request.

            No one spoke in opposition of the request.  

                       Curtis Fleshman made MOTION, seconded by Corinne Geer, to approve the Preliminary Plat Extension request.  The motion carried unanimously.

C.   Request from Cooper Development Company for Preliminary Plat Extension for Calico, 76 single-family lots located at 1601 North 20^th Street.  

Request from Cooper Development Company for Preliminary Plat Extension for Calico Subdivision, 76 single-family lots located off North 20^th Street.  Flood Zone Shaded X and X.  Zoned R15-CU:

Sketch Plan Review: Planning Board: 12/19/2006

Sketch Plan Review and Approval: Council: 1/9/2007

Preliminary Plat and Approval: Planning Board: 1/15/2008

Variance Review: Council: 2/12/2008 (Tabled)

Variance Review and Approval: Council: 3/4/2008

Trace Cooper, on behalf of Cooper Development Company, is requesting preliminary plat extension for this 76 lot single-family subdivision located on North 20^th Street. The Planning Board approved the Preliminary Plat for this Planned Development in March of 2008.  The ordinance requirements under which this plat was previously approved required an extension be granted by the Planning Board within twelve (12) months of approval with no limit on the number of extensions.

The plan is identical to the approval granted by Council in March of 2008.  The approval included a variance request from the paving/curbing requirement for two of the temporary cul-de-sacs due to state stormwater restrictions.

The NCDOT, State Stormwater and State Sedimentation and Erosion Control permits have been submitted and are still active.

            Planning Director Linda Staab introduced the request.             

            Trace Cooper spoke in favor of the request.   

            No one spoke in opposition of the request.  

           Corinne Geer made MOTION, seconded by Jackie Maucher, to approve the Preliminary Plat Extension request.  The motion carried unanimously.

D.  Request to amend Articles 4, 14, and 15 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to revise landscaping and buffering regulations.

The Landscaping Committee is forwarding its proposed draft landscaping/screening regulations to the Planning Board.  The Landscaping Committee met with landscaper Greg Garner and also gathered information from the County’s Agricultural Extension office during the review process. 

Listed below are the major changes:

• Reformatted for clarification;
• Removed the buffer option under buffers and screening;
• Allowed the opportunity to construct a berm as a screen;
• Required a minimum 6’ height of evergreens for screens in general and outdoor storage areas;
• Clarified that landscaping strips abutting vehicular access and parking areas may be planted along the perimeter of the parking area rather than along the property line;
• Reduced the number of shrubs required in side/rear landscaping strips and reduced the width to 2.5 feet rather than 5 feet;
• Allowed understory trees as an alternative to canopy trees in parking lot planters;
• Specified when protected trees (minimum 18” diameter at breast height) need to be preserved and what situations are exempt;
• Increased the tree credit for saving existing trees;
• Required Planning Board review of landscaping plans for parcels five acres or greater in area;
• Exempted parcels one acre or less from protected tree requirements.

            Zoning Enforcement Officer Joyce Veltman presented the revisions including some draft changes to consider:

1.  15-1.1(F) is weak, especially in light of wording of 15-1.4.3 which mentions preservation

      but the draft requires no rule.

2.  15-1.4.3(B)(6): Consider not allowing fill to be added, limiting fill.

3.  15-1.6.4(A): Consider requiring canopy trees.

4.  15-1.6.4(B)&(C): Consider larger planter sizes for canopy trees.

5.  15-1.6.4(E): Consider allowing pruning for tree health and longevity.  Change wording to

      prohibit unnecessary topping.

6.  Consider adding: Nellie Stevens Holly, Japanese Black Pine, and Savannah Holly.

7.  Consider adding pecan, magnolia, and live oak as protected trees.

8.  Make clear that only protected trees count towards tree credits.

9.  Consider retaining alternate buffer language.

          Ms. Veltman shared an e-mail and a letter sent to the Planning Department from concerned citizens.

          Roberta Johnson of 127 Carefree Lane in Brandywine Bay spoke in favor of the revised regulations.  She stated that she supports the draft fencing requirements,

           but she is still concerned about noise and stormwater runoff.

          Tom Lockwood of 125 Carefree Lane in Brandywine Bay spoke and shared his concern that fences are not required around stormwater ponds.  He agreed with           Roberta Johnson’s comments.

          Nancy Veitch of 3407 Taylor Street spoke on behalf of the Carteret County Tree Awareness Group.  She commented that the group is in favor of the revised           regulations, but the section devoted to protecting old, native trees is very weak.

          John Fussell of 1412 Shepard Street spoke in favor of the revised regulations but recommended using native species for the tree list.  He said that he would                      provide his list to Ms. Veltman.

          Sandra Kunkle of 914 Lord Granville Drive spoke and said that in addition to the letter she sent to the Planning Department, she wanted to share her concern about           using mulch/fill around tree roots.

          Jackie Maucher commented that she would like a buffer option left in the ordinance.

          Corinne Geer made MOTION, seconded by Jackie Maucher, to recommend tabling the request and sending the regulations back to Committee for further review.             The motion carried unanimously.

           E.   Request to amend Article 19-5.4 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to revise requirements for sign illumination in residential districts.

An inventory of existing signs in Morehead City has revealed that there are a number of sandblasted signs located within 200 feet of residential districts which are externally illuminated.  An example can be found along the North 35^th Street corridor.  Upon review of the ordinance, and realizing that there are no restrictions on parking lot lighting, the following amendment is being proposed which would allow both internal and external lighting, provided that it avoids glare/reflection into the residentially-zoned property.  This provision would mirror the provision that restricts externally lit signs from interfering with traffic safety.

Current:

19-5.4 Signs within two hundred (200) feet of a residential zoning district shall be internally illuminated signs that allow only the sign characters and logos to emit light, except that signs located in a CD or DB district within one hundred (100) feet of a residential zoning district shall be internally illuminated signs that allow only the sign characters and logos to emit light.  For the purposes of this subsection, property on the other side of a public right-of-way other than a controlled access highway shall be considered adjacent property.

Proposed:

19-5.4 Signs within two hundred (200) feet of a residential zoning district may be illuminated from within or from an external source, but such illumination shall be in a manner that avoids glare or reflection into a residentially-zoned property.

           Planning Director Linda Staab presented the request. 

           No one spoke in opposition of the request.  

           Jackie Maucher made MOTION, seconded by Curtis Fleshman, to recommend approval of the request.  The motion carried unanimously.

           REQUESTS/COMMENTS:

            A.  Pelican Point Mobile Home Park - Corinne Geer commented that the roads are horrible and the ditches need to be cleaned out.  Linda Staab said that the            City will conduct an investigation.

            B.  Affordable Housing Task Force - Ms. Staab asked for volunteers.

            C.  2010 Census Compete Count Committee - Ms. Staab asked for volunteers.

            D.  LID Workshop - Ms. Staab said that an ordinance addressing rain gardens is in the works.

            E.  Wind and Solar Ordinances - Ms. Staab said that new ordinances are being developed.

            F.  Hazard Mitigation Plan - The updated draft will be mailed to PB Members in the next week.

            G.  Crystal Coast Thoroughfare Plan - The Planning Department is working on updating the Plan to make it a comprehensive Transportation Plan.

            H.  Postponing/Withdrawal Policy - The recommended policy is going to Council on April 14^th.

            I.  DMCRA Harborline - There is a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 24^th at 5:30pm.

           ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further requests or comments, the meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

             __________________

              Jeannie Vaughan,  Secretary