August 17, 2005

Mrs. Elizabeth Brice, Chairman, called the August 17, 2005 meeting of the Centreville Planning Commission to order at 7:04 p.m. in Meeting Room A. of the County Annex Building. The following members were present: Elizabeth Brice, Penny Lins, Rob Babbitt, John Beskid, Mary Roby and Dan Worth. Royden Powell, Town Manager, Steve Kehoe, Town attorney, Judge Porter, Zoning Inspector and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide, and Chris Rogers of URS were also present. Donna Turner, Council liaison was unable to attend. Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Council member, was present in her absence.

Review of Minutes from Last Meeting - The minutes for the July 20, 2005 meeting were approved as printed.

Appearances

Jonathan Hodgson, Esq., Request for Preliminary Site Plan Approval of Wharf Landing. Mr. Powell presented a Memorandum in summary of the meeting held on August 10, 2005 with the following people present: Jonathan Hodgson, Dave Powers (McCrone), Mark Keeler (Traffic Engineer), Keith Lippincott (Fire Protection Engineer), Royden Powell, Chris Rogers (URS), Matt Ehlinger (URS), Nathan Powell and Wayne Bloodsworth (Goodwill Fire Company), Judge Porter (Town Zoning Inspector), Norman Pinder (Council member), Steve Kehoe (Town Attorney). This memorandum is attached to the minutes and made a part thereof.

By way of review, Mr. Hodgson read item numbers 5 and 7 from the URS letter dated June 14, 2005 which were addressed in the August 19, 2005 meeting. Mr. Hodgson reported that the “Traffic Impact Brief” prepared by Traffic Concepts, Inc., a qualified traffic engineering firm, addresses these issues and supports the proposed three point arrangement of ingress an egress. The entrances on the north and south sides of the development are two-way while the one in the middle is one-way only. The “sight lines” of 400 feet are deemed more than sufficient. All other concerns in the letter from Chris Rogers dated June 14, 2005, have been answered. The Preliminary Site Plan has been endorsed by the Goodwill Fire Company after its review and finding that the proposal meets national standards. The GWFC requested assurance that the second story windows of the condos would be accessible by ladder and agreed that extending the decking over the stormwater management area would satisfy their concerns. The agreement to install sprinklers in the buildings was also reassuring.

Mr. Babbitt asked if the Memorandum prepared by Mr. Powell summarizes what occurred at the August 10^th meeting and if all questions have been adequately addressed. Mr. Powell advised that discussion continued after the actual meeting adjourned and that the GWFC letter (attached) was based on that additional discussion, i.e., the statement: “It is our position that the current side plan, with three access points from Watson Road, is the most acceptable plan presented at this time. These three access points provide the maximum accessibility for fire equipment to the structures.” Chief Lippincott commented for the record that he approved the plan with the changes that were made. Mr. Ed Novak stated he thought McCrone has done a very good job in addressing all concerns. Matt Ehlinger indicated that, as traffic increases on Watson Road in the future, some problems could develop in terms of disruption to the flow of traffic to and from the Wharf Landing project. It was explained that this could occur as adjacent land in the County is developed, however, Mr. Hodgson did not think the three points of access will have an impact on Watson Road.

Mrs. Lins asked what would happen if permits were not approved to provide public access by way of a boardwalk around the development. Mr. Hodgson responded that the Planning Commission can’t deny the right of the property owner to develop his property, but he confirmed that he wants the entire community to benefit from the project. He advised he would do all that is necessary to provide a boardwalk and to get the necessary permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Mrs. Lins and Mr. Babbitt both emphasized their opinion that the provision of public access is fundamental to the project being approved. Mr. Rogers reminded the commission members that this is a preliminary site plan, not a final site plan. At the conclusion of discussion, it was moved and seconded by Mr. Babbitt and Mr. Novak, respectively, to approve the preliminary site plan as presented based on the response of the Goodwill Fire Company and the additional information presented. Mr. Babbitt, Mrs. Roby, Mr. Beskid, and Mr. Novak voted in favor of the motion. Mrs. Lins and Mr. Worth were opposed. The majority ruling, the motion passed and the preliminary site plan was approved. Mr. Hodgson inquired if he could begin work with Mr. Rogers of URS to meet the technical issues. The answer was yes.

Wm. Thomas Davis, Jr., PE, DMS, Final Site Plan Submittal for Proposed Commercial Office/Retail Building, Lands of Danny & Gloria Sager, Located MD 18 at MD 213 Mr. Tom Davis noted that the preliminary site plan was approved at the May meeting of the Planning Commission and that Queen’s Court, a similar project for the site, was approved in the early 1990’s. He is now requesting conditional site plan approval contingent on addressing all URS technical issues and State Highway requirements. Mr. Davis noted that changes have been made to improve drainage by enlarging the stormwater management system. “Neighborhood shopping center” guidelines have been used to determine the number of parking spaces for the proposed office/retail complex. Mr. Davis described the proposed traffic pattern, reciprocal access between Champion Realty and the Sager lands. It is proposed to plant a hedgerow on the western perimeter to deflect headlights. Chris Rogers asked if there are any easements needed by the State Highway Administration. Mr. Davis said there are no records to support an easement or right-of-way.

Mr. Worth asked what is to prevent the present use becoming all office and requiring more parking. Mr. Davis said the plan is for retail with office above. The Town will govern what use is allowed and determine if there is sufficient parking for the proposed use. It was moved and seconded by Mr. Worth and Mr. Beskid, respectively, to approve the Final Site Plan for lands of Danny and Gloria Sager located at MD 18 and MD 213. All being in favor, the motion passed.

Old Business

Mrs. Brice asked about the status of the Comprehensive Plan update. Mr. Powell advised that a draft contract from U.R.S. has been sent to the County Commissioners for acceptance.

New Business

Mr. Powell presented a spreadsheet entitled “Project Chronologies” as extracted from the Planning Commission minutes to track the pending projects that require water/sewer allocations. Mr. Rogers advised that it might be wise to give developers a time limit to address technical comments, so they will not “drag their feet.” Mr. Powell asked, “How long do we guarantee a w/s allocation?” Mr. Rogers described the process of review. Once a final site plan is approved with contingencies, it doesn’t normally come back to the Planning Commission. The Town Council has to approve projects and ascertain that all technical issues have been addressed. The Public Works Agreement, if needed, is one of the last things done and approved by the Town Council. Plats are recorded once all criteria are met. In the final analysis, the Capacity Management Plan governs the percentage of allocations that are available. Mr. Babbitt requested that the PC members receive a copy of the letter giving the results of the technical review.

Zoning Issues – Discussion.

Concern was expressed about grass on certain properties that has overgrown and not been resolved. Mr. Pinder advised that in the past the Town has, on occasion, cut the grass and sent the owner a bill.

Mr. Dan Worth will attend the Growth Forum at Chesapeake College on August 25, 2005. It is an urban planning course sponsored by the Maryland Department of Planning.

Miscellaneous Business/Correspondence. None

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide

(05 August 17 pc minutes)