MINUTES

August 9, 2001

6:30 p.m. Council Chambers

Members Present: M. Templeton, J. Lattanzi, B. Rasmussen, P. Esposito, T. Miller, K. Martis, E. Skriner.

Members Absent: J. Kraley, M. Paparozzi and R. Hicks, Jr

City Staff: Jim Wood, Planning Director and Lisa Martin, Assistant Planner

CU01-13 / WV Hitt LLC / 22 Walnut Street: Request by Michael Corrigan, on behalf of WV Hitt LLC, for conditional use approval for a condo unit at 22 Walnut Street. Tax Map #26A, Parcel #16, a B-4, General Business District.

J. Wood read the staff report. He stated that Mr. Corrigan has proposed renovating the first floor into one additional condominium which will be consistent with the previous two in that it will be renovated with the original wood floors, exposed beam ceilings, and interior brick walls. J. Wood stated that an issue at the previous meeting was a concern that residential units were not permissible on the ground floor in a B-4 district. Another issue was if the proposed unit was on the ground floor or at basement level. J. Wood stated that it is his opinion that this unit is at basement level, and found no prohibitions in the zoning ordinance concerning residential units on ground floors.

Michael Corrigan presented his request to the Commission.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

No discussion ensued.

Motion by J. Lattanzi to forward a recommendation for approval, seconded by P. Esposito. Motion approved unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

CU01-16 / Christopher Snively / 5000 Green Bag Road: Request by Christopher Snively for conditional use approval for Restaurant – Private Club License in a B-5 District. Tax Map #48A, Parcel #2, a B-5, Shopping Center District.

L. Martin read the staff report.

Applicant was presented but made no additions to the staff report.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by T. Miller to forward a recommendation for approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals, seconded by E. Skriner. Motion approved unanimously.

CU01-17 / Connelly / 228 Walnut Street: Request by Bernard Connelly, Jr. for conditional use approval for home occupation at 228 Walnut Street Apartment B. Tax Map #29 Parcel #415, a B-4, General Business District

L. Martin read the staff report.

Applicant was present but made no additions to the staff report.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by E. Skriner to forward a recommendation for approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals, seconded by J. Lattanzi. Motion approved unanimously.

CU01-18 / Kincaid / 156 Clay Street: Request by Russell Kincaid for conditional use approval to allow shared parking in the Wharf District, a B-4 General Business District.

J. Wood read the staff report. He stated that Mr. Kincaid is required to have twenty-eight (28) stalls for the restaurant, and would like to utilize the top floor of the building by converting the space into four (4) one-bedroom apartments. He also added that the addition would require Mr. Kincaid to provide four (4) more parking stalls. J. Wood added that since residential uses and restaurant are both nighttime uses under the Shared Parking Ordinance, the maximum reduction in parking is 25%, (15% for sharing the lot and 10% for public transit proximity. He stated that the normal total parking requirement for both the restaurant and the residential is thirty-two (32) spaces, and reducing that by 25% would yield a new requirement of twenty-four (24) spaces.

Russell Kincaid presented his request to the Commission.

No discussion ensued.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by P. Esposito to forward a recommendation for approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals, seconded by T. Miller. Motion approved unanimously.

TX01-05 / Child Care / text amendment : City initiative to amend section 19-E-5, Home Occupation Family Child Day Care Facility, of the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to home-based child day care for four (4) to twelve (12) children as a home occupation. This amendment would allow one person who does not reside at the residence, to be employed to work onsite to assist in the daily supervision of children.

J. Wood explained the text amendment. He stated that the amendment would permit operators of Child Day Care Centers, when operated as a home occupation, to employ one (1) outside person to assist in the provision of child care.

T. Miller discussed the importance of having an additional worker help with child care.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by P. Esposito to forward a positive recommendation to City Council, seconded by B. Rasmussen. Motion approved unanimously.

F0-05 / Ali Baba / 345 High Street: Façade review request by Elias Hishmeh for approval to install a new awning and façade work at 345 High Street, Tax Map #26A, Parcel #105, a B-4, General Business District.

J. Wood read the staff report. He stated that Mr. Hishmeh would like to bring the recessed façade forward, remove existing signage, and add an awning the same style and color as the Mediterranean Market at 350 High Street.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by J. Lattanzi for approval, seconded by B. Rasmussen. Motion approved unanimously.

S01-09 / BB&T Bank / 466 Chestnut Ridge Road: Request by BB&T Bank for plans review approval to enlarge a six (6) stall parking lot to a nineteen (19) stall lot. Tax Map #56 Parcel #1, a B-1 Neighborhood Business District.

L. Martin read the staff report. She stated that BB&T proposes to replace an existing six (6) stall parking bay with a nineteen (19) stall parking lot located to the side of the building on Chestnut Ridge Road.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

A representative from BB&T stated that the reason for parking expansion is due to additional personnel.

Motion by P. Esposito for approval with the conditions listed in the staff report, seconded by T. Miller. Motion approved unanimously.

RZ01-06 / Whitman – Augusta Morgantown, LLC / 3590 Collins Ferry Road: Request by Whitman-Augusta Morgantown, LLC to rezone property located at 3590 & 3584 Collins Ferry Road from R-1, Single-family Residential to B-1, Neighborhood Business. Tax Map #51, Parcel #4.

P. Esposito excused himself from discussion and voting on this issue due to a financial conflict of interest.

J. Wood read the staff report. He stated that the applicant proposes to rezone property located on Collins Ferry Road.

Chris Barnum, representative from Whitman-August Morgantown, LLC was available for questions and concurred with the Planning Director’s analysis of the request.

M. Templeton asked for public comment. There was none.

Motion by J. Lattanzi to forward a recommendation for approval to City Council, seconded by T. Miller. Motion approved unanimously.

Public Comments- None

Commission Comments-

J. Lattanzi asked the City Planner to investigate first floor residential in the B-4 Distritct in more depth and to incorporate the findings in the new zoning ordinance.

Discussion ensued on zoning on Beechurst Avenue.

P. Esposito commended City Council for allocating additional funds for the Zoning Ordinance rewrite.

M. Paprozzi was nominated to set on the Monongalia County Planning Commission liaison.

J. Wood asked for volunteers for a subcommittee to review consultant proposals for the rewrite of the Zoning Orginance.

T. Miller, B. Rasmussen, J. Lattanzi volunteered to set on the subcommittee.