ATTACHMENT 1

 

REVISED CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW SUMMARY MINUTES

COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION

JUNE 26, 2007, 7:00 P.M.

 

Chairperson Jonathan Whitney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissions attending the meeting were Mark Broadwell, Mary Margaret Carroll, Gretchen MacNair, Laura K. Moore, Glenn Parks, Amy Ryan, and Jonathan Whitney.  Staff members present were Senior Planner Kay Pearlstein and Planning Technician Kay Tapp.

SANCTUARY AT COBBLESTONE CREEK (File No.9799-46-5105)

 

   The Town has received a request for a Revised Concept Plan Review which proposes to construct a multi-family development including 24 dwelling units (26 dwelling units previously proposed) in 12 duplexes (single family dwellings were previously proposed) including 50,000 square feet of floor area on approximately 3.5 acres. A pool, clubhouse, and playground are also proposed. Vehicular access is proposed from Legion Road via a private street. Demolition of two existing dwellings is proposed. The Community Design Commission previously reviewed a Concept Plan for this development on January 24, 2007 and Council reviewed the concept Plan on February 19, 2007. The site is located on the south side of Legion Road between the American Legion Post #6 and Turnberry Condominiums (see area map on back). The site is located in the Residential-4 (R-4) and Residential-2 (R-2) zoning districts and in the Resource Conservation District (RCD). The site is identified as Orange County Parcel Identifier Numbers 9799-46-5105 and 9799-45-6975.

REVISED CONCEPT PLAN PRESENTATION

The Revised Concept Plan presentation for the project showed the proposed layout design for the development that proposed 24 dwelling units attached as 12 duplexes. The vehicular and pedestrian circulation proposed with the revised Concept Plan was different than the previous Concept Plan. The applicant explained that changes from the first Concept Plan were a response to the Community Design Commission and Council review comments.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS

  1. Virginia Gray, a resident of The Meadows, asked about the proposed buffer adjacent to The Meadows and expressed concern about the “tree fence.” She wanted to know additional information about the type, size, and maintenance of the buffer adjacent to The Meadows. 

 

  1. Scott Baker, a resident of The Meadows, supported the efforts of the applicant and his efforts to work with the neighbors. However, he noted that the same numbers of trees were proposed to be removed with the revised Concept Plan and the same amount of building area. He was concerned with the amount and speed of stormwater likely to be generated with the amount of vegetation removal proposed. He did not think that the plan had changed that much.

 

Mr. Baker expressed concern about the traffic problems with 24 homes on the proposed 1-way street.

 

He also expressed concern with the traffic circle proposed within the Resource Conservation District (RCD) and the turning radius for emergency vehicles.

 

3.   Bruce Turner, a resident of The Meadows, asked about the stormwater drainage system including the catch basins. He was concerned about standing water and mosquitoes.

 

Mr. Turner was also concerned with the 1-way road proposed within the development. He believed that emergency vehicles could have trouble navigating the turns, especially if exiting traffic was backed-up.

 

4.   Art Englebaldt, a resident of Turnberry Condominiums, stated that his neighborhood supported the development. He stated that Legion Road was becoming a major thoroughfare and thinks that this development will be an improvement to the neighborhood. He believed that the applicant will continue working with the neighbors and working with them.

 

5.   Lynne Kane, a resident of The Meadows, stated that this was a terrific project. She lived adjacent to the proposed development and believed that the proposed 26-foot buffer was more than adequate. She believes that there is an exaggerated concern with trees. She stated that the landscaping proposed is no better than what The Meadows is currently installing for landscaping in their own development.

 

She believed that the proposed development will add needed reasonable price housing to the area and will also clean up the scrubby-looking lot.

 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

  1. Commissioner Glenn Parks wanted additional information on the retention ponds.

 

  1. Commissioner Amy Ryan applauded the applicant’s demonstrated efforts working with the neighbors of the project.

 

She endorsed pushing the housing away from Legion Road but still saw potential problems for exiting and entering the site and asked the applicant to work further on a solution. She also thought that the proposed road appeared to be wiggling around with tight curves and wondered why. She suggested straightening the road out.

 

She supported the change from single dwelling units to duplexes and the revised larger buffer adjacent to The Meadows.

 

She noted a major problem with the circular road within the RCD. The proposed bridge will be expensive to construct and wondered if it was financially sound to develop the rear of the lot. She liked the circular road at the rear of  the lot that was outside of the RCD.

 

  1. Commissioner Laura K. Moore echoed the concerns of the road crossing the RCD and also suggested straightening the road.

 

  1. Commissioner Mary Margaret Carroll asked about sidewalks in front of the houses. The applicant replied that a sidewalk was proposed on one side.

 

Commissioner Carroll was concerned about left turns onto Legion Road. She believed that left-turning traffic would back up into the development in the mornings when everyone is trying to turn left. She stated that she travels Legion Road in the mornings and the road is already crowded.

 

  1. Commissioner Mark Broadwell asked the applicant to reduce the impact on the RCD and did not believe that the circular road at the rear of the lot would work.

 

  1. Commissioner Jonathan Whitney supported the revised Concept Plan and liked the way the plan has evolved with the input from the neighbors.

 

Summary

The Commission complimented the applicant on his time and efforts to include the neighbors’ concerns in the re-design of the development. They believed overall the revised Concept Plan was an improvement over the first one. They supported the increased distance from Legion Road, the duplex design, and the increased buffer adjacent to The Meadows.

 

The Commission continued to express concerns about the 1-way traffic and wiggly road. The proposal to cross the Resource Conservation District with a road was a concern for many of the members.

 

Prepared for:   Jonathan Whitney, Chair

Prepared by:    Kay Pearlstein, Staff