Auburn Planning Commission
May 9, 2016 – Packet Meeting
MINUTES
The Auburn Planning Commission (PC) met on Monday, May 9, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. in the Development Services
Building at 171 North Ross Street
PRESENT
Wayne Bledsoe, Sarah Brown, Phil Chansler, Marcus Marshall, Charles Pick, Mark Yohn
ABSENT
Nonet Reese, Warren McCord, Matt Rice
STAFF PRESENT
Forrest Cotten, Thom Weintraut, Katie Robison, Tyler Caldwell, Judd Langham, Jeff
Ramsey, Alison Frazier, Dan Crowdus, Eric Carson
OLD BUSINESS
CONSENT AGENDA
Thornton Annexation
PL-2016-00298
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for annexation of approximately 1.0
acre into the City limits. The subject property was located at 330 Lee Road 22 (Mill Creek Road). This annexation
would help to eliminate a partial enclave because the property was adjacent to the corporate boundary of the City
o on two sides and part of an unincorporated area that was entirely surrounded by incorporated land. The request
met criteria for annexation, and staff recommended approval.
Dowdell Annexation
PL-2016-00313
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for annexation of approximately 0.67
acres into the City limits. The subject property was located on Lee Road 18, south of Persimmon Drive and west of
South College Street. This annexation would help to eliminate a partial enclave because the property was adjacent
to the corporate boundary of the City on one side. The request met criteria for annexation, and staff
recommended approval.
O’Leary Annexation
PL-2016-00315
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for annexation of approximately 1.3
acres into the City limits. The subject property was located at 2210 Estate Drive. The annexation would help to
eliminate a partial enclave because the property was adjacent to the corporate boundary of the City on one side.
The request met criteria for annexation, and staff recommended approval.
Mr. Pick verified that any property outside of the City limits that abutted the lake would be eligible for annexation
based on the contiguity requirement.
NEW BUSINESS
CompPlan 2030
MS-2016-00017
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for adoption of map amendments to CompPlan 2030, Chapter Three: Land
Use. After Planning Commission’s recommendation of the Zoning Map changes consistent with the Auburn
Downtown Master Plan, the City Council adopted the zoning changes on March 22, 2016, with two adjustments
made prior to the adoption. Additionally, staff recognized after the adoption of the Future Land Use Plan and
Auburn Planning Commission Packet Meeting
May 9, 2016
Page 2
Zoning Map that there was a boundary irregularity between the two maps. The adjustments and the oversight by
staff caused the Zoning Map and the Future Land Use Plan to no longer be identical. Staff recommended
realigning the two documents to maintain a cohesive policy and ordinance relationship. Staff recommended
approval of three adjustments to the Future Land Use Plan. The first two amendments addressed adjustments
made by City Council prior to their adoption of the most recent Zoning Map changes. The last amendment
remedied the discrepancy between the Zoning Map and the Future Land Use Plan.
Mr. Chansler asked why the City Council removed the Mike and Ed’s property (307 North College Street) from the
recommended Urban Core zoning district.
Mr. Cotten said there was some concern regarding the potential intensity of future development.
Mr. Pick added that the property adjoined the North College Historic District.
Highlands Subdivision, Sector 3
PL-2016-00347
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for preliminary plat approval for a performance residential development (28
lot single family detached subdivision) located north of Farmville Road and west of North Donahue Drive in the
Limited Development District (LDD) zoning district. The subject property comprised 8.98 acres with the remaining
portion of the property located to the south to be subdivided administratively into three lots. There was one
detention pond located on the portion of the property to be subdivided administratively. The area was largely
already cleared and partially vegetated with trees. The plat met subdivision requirements, and staff recommended
approval.
Stoker Estates Subdivision, Redivision of Lot 4
PL-2016-00353
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for preliminary plat approval for a performance residential development (23
lot single family detached subdivision) located on the west side of Runningvine Lane in the Comprehensive
Development District (CDD) zoning district. The proposed open space was shown as 690 square feet less than
required and would have to be revised before the final plat could be approved. The plat met subdivision
requirements, and staff recommended approval.
Mr. Pick noted the staff comment related to low water pressure in the area. He asked if this would provide
problems for Public Safety.
Mr. Carson explained that the pressure was sufficient for emergency needs.
North Gay Street Self-Storage
PL-2016-00337
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for amended conditional use approval
for a commercial support use (climate control storage facility) and a road service use (fast food restaurant with
drive-thru) located at 312 North Gay Street in the Corridor Redevelopment District – Urban (CRD-U) zoning district.
The applicant also sought a waiver to increase the maximum ISR from 70% to 81%. The initial conditional use
request was approved in October 2015. At that time, the plan contemplated a 101,024 square foot four story
building with a 96,824 square foot climate control storage facility, a retail component consisting of 3,000 square
feet, and a fast food restaurant with drive thru that would be 1,200 square feet. Since then, the plan had been
revised to reduce the overall size and height of the building as well as modify the gross floor area of each use. The
current request was for a 94,890 square foot three story building with 91,560 square feet of climate control
storage (including a 900 square foot storefront office); the gross floor area of the retail component had been
reduced to 1,510 square feet; and the fast food restaurant with drive-thru floor area had increased to 1,820 square
feet. The building height was also reduced from 45 feet to 37 feet. Staff recommended approval.
Ms. McGowen stated this was the final design for the project.
Auburn Planning Commission Packet Meeting
May 9, 2016
Page 3
Mr. Pick asked if the request would again require City Council approval.
Mr. Cotten said yes.
The Tiger’s Tail Sports Bar
PL-2016-00356
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for conditional use approval for a
commercial and entertainment use (lounge) located at 2514 South College Street, Units 101-102, in the
Comprehensive Development District (CDD) zoning district. The proposed use was similar to previous uses that
had been granted conditional use approval at this location. However, the space had been vacant for over 18
months, which meant the use lost its vested status. Staff recommended approval.
Tuscany Hills Street Renaming
MS-2016-00018
Mr. Cotten summarized the request for a recommendation to City Council for renaming of a portion of Sophia Way
to Sophia Court (south from the current terminus to Tuscany Hills Drive). The subject property was located in the
Development District Housing (DDH) zoning district. Originally, Sophia Way was designed to be a loop road;
however, the loop was never fully constructed. Due to a variety of physical constraints on the property, and a
change of ownership, the roadway configuration had changed. This, in turn, affected the addressing scheme
previously desired. The developer did not intend to restore the loop road configuration, which would resolve all
addressing issues. Rather, the developer wished to extend the eastern portion of Sophia Way north, and create
another T-intersection that would allow the western portion of Sophia Way to terminate into the eastern portion.
To avoid confusion for emergency responders in the future, the applicant desired to change the name of the
eastern portion of Sophia Way to Sophia Court. The eastern portion would start at Tuscany Hills Drive and extend
north past the proposed T-intersection before terminating. The request affected nine properties, and the owners
of those lots had been notified.
OTHER BUSINESS
CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATION
STAFF COMMUNICATION
Mr. Cotten stated there would be a work session on June 24, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss prohibiting parking in
front yards (on unimproved surfaces). This was an issue the City Council directed the Planning Commission to
study in order to determine if formal enforcement measures were needed.
ADJOURNMENT- With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:44 p.m.
_______________________
Mark Yohn, Secretary
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Sarah Brown, Chair