|
TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
|
FROM: |
J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director Gene Poveromo, Development Coordinator |
|
SUBJECT: |
Concept Plan: Gateway Bank and Trust at Meadowmont (File No. 9798-04-5854) |
|
DATE: |
March 19, 2007 |
Attached is a proposal for Concept Plan review for the Gateway Bank and Trust at Meadowmont. The Council has the opportunity tonight to hear this applicant’s presentation, receive a set of comments from the Community Design Commission, hear public comment, and offer suggestions to the applicant for consideration as further plans are drawn. At the conclusion of the evening’s discussion, we recommend that the Council adopt a resolution (Attached) transmitting comments to the applicant.
This Concept Plan proposal involves construction of a 9,000 square-foot bank and office building. The proposed project is located on the southwest corner of Barbee Chapel Road and Hwy. 54, adjacent to Finley Forest on the south (see area map - Attachment 4). Vehicular access is proposed from Barbee Chapel Road or from Friday Center Drive across a shared driveway on The Courtyard at Marriott Hotel property. The proposed project includes a drive through window and 42 parking spaces. The 2.34-acre site is located in Durham County, in the Residential-5 (R-5) zoning district, the Watershed Protection District, and is encumbered by the Meadowmont Master Land Use Plan.
The Meadowmont Master Land Use Plan identifies the site as Commercial/Office use with a building of 19,200 square feet of floor area. No drive-thru window was identified; therefore, a modification to the Meadowmont Master Land Use Plan will be required.
A Concept Plan for this site was initially reviewed by the Community Design Commission on January 24, 2007. A copy of Community Design Commission comments from the January 24, 2007 meeting is attached (Attachment 1).
The proposal reviewed by the Community Design Commission on January 24, 2007 is different from the proposal before the Council tonight. Please refer to Attachment 2 for the applicant’s list of differences.
This development proposal does not meet land use intensity thresholds requiring Town Council review, but the applicant has requested Town Council review of their Concept Plan proposal. On January 22, 2007, the Council agreed to review the proposal.
The Land Use Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Plan, identifies portions of the site adjacent to Hwy. 54 and Barbee Chapel Road as parks/open space and the remainder of the site as Commercial. The site is identified as Durham County Property Identifier Number 9798-04-5845.
The Town Council and Community Design Commission, in examining development applications, are to consider the various aspects of design, with special emphasis on whether the proposed development is consistent with the Town’s Design Guidelines and the Goals and Objectives of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Concept Plan review process does not involve staff evaluation of the proposal. Review of the Concept Plan submitted is conducted by the Community Design Commission and, in some instances, Town Council.
We recommend that the Council review this Concept Plan, receive comments from citizens, and adopt a resolution transmitting comments to the applicant.
