MINUTES
OF THE
January 20, 2005
Planning
& Zoning Commission
Members Present:
John Atwood, Chairman, and members Chris Brownawell, Linda
Cheezum, Dan Swann and Tom Moore.
Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Tom
Hamilton, Town Planner, Zach
Smith, GIS Analyst, and Stacie Rice, Planning Secretary.
Staff Absent: None.
Mr. Atwood called the meeting
of the Planning & Zoning Commission to order at 1:00 p.m. The first
order of business was the approval of the December 16th minutes. Upon motion of Mr. Swann, seconded by Mr. Moore
the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the December minutes.
The first item discussed was 10-12 S. Aurora Street
requesting sketch PRD (Planned Re Development) review for a mixed
use (office/residential) project on three parcels of land. The project is located at 10-12
S. Aurora Street just south of Dover
Street. The applicant, Joe Riccio, and his agent,
Doug Edsall were present at the meeting.
Mr. Edsall explained that this proposal is to construct two buildings,
which will front on Aurora Street. Both buildings are proposed to be mixed use
with two apartments on the second floor and offices on the first floor. The allowed density is 20 units per acre, and
would permit 4.9 units on this 10,792.9 square foot site. Ingress to the site
will be via a one way traffic pattern from South
Aurora Street and egress will also be a one
way traffic pattern onto Locust
Street. The applicant is proposing a parking area
behind the buildings for 10 vehicles.
Mr. Hamilton explained that the
applicant will have to address storm water management for the site. The staff
feels this project is a great infill project, and suggests the Commission have
the Historic District review the PRD request.
While the site is not currently in the Historic District, the lots
adjacent are in the Historic District.
Mr. Hamilton felt that having the Historic Districts input would be
helpful, as this parcel is included in the proposed Historic District
expansion. The Commission felt this was
a good infill project and is an enhancement for the neighborhood. The Commission agreed they wanted the
Historic District to comment on the proposed project.
Upon motion of Mr. Moore,
seconded by Mr. Swann, the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the sketch PRD plan
conditioned on the applicant meeting with the Historic District to get their
feedback/comments on the project, and Storm Water Management being
addressed.
Planning & Zoning Meeting
Page 2
January
20, 2005
The next item discussed was 119/121 Federal Street requesting site
plan review of renovation of existing buildings into mixed use Hospital
Commission shop/Shore Health System
Administrative offices. The applicant’s agents, Bill
Stagg and Lauren Dianich, Architect were
representatives for the project. Ms.
Dianich explained they are requesting to revitalize two lots located on the
North Side of Federal Street. They are
proposing to renovate the old Gray Block Ribbon building and demolish the
current Hospital Commission Shop. The site is Zoned Cr which allows multiple
uses outright and does not require off street parking. They are proposing a parking lot where the
current Hospital Commission shop is, which will have 25 parking spaces. The proposed parking lot will connect with
the Town parking lot for vehicular traffic. The rear of the building will face
the Town Parking lot. Two facades will be brick and two facades will be a
stucco material. They are proposing a
descriptive plaque which will be on the building to give a description of the
sites history. They are proposing
display windows on the Federal Street side
of the building. The Commission was very
enthused with the revitalization project.
Upon motion of Mr. Brownawell, seconded by Mr. Moore, the Commission
voted 5-0 to approve the site plan review as submitted. The Commission was in favor of reducing the maneuvering
area from 27’ to 25’ and reducing the parking lot setback from 10’ to 5’. The Commission was also in favor of
eliminating three public parking spaces within the public parking lot. A letter will be sent to the Town Council in
favor of this parking reduction.
The next item was Lots 58 & 59 Carlton Business Park (29520 Canvasback Drive) requesting sketch site plan
review for 49,500 square feet of mixed use office/warehouse/climate controlled
storage. Bill Stagg, the
applicant’s agent explained that this is a resubmission of a project approved
in March 2004. Since the site plan
changed Mr. Hamilton felt the Commission needed to re-review the project. A
good portion of the site is obstructed with a wetland and the applicant has
redesigned the site plan reducing the impacts to the wetlands. Mr. Stagg
explained that the uses of the buildings have also changed from the original
application. The larger of the two
building is on a foot print from 14,000 square feet reduced from 15,000 square
feet and a third floor had been added. The smaller building is changing from
three flex space bay to a two story building with offices on the second floor
and the first floor is to be a warehouse.
Proposed architecture is metal prefabricated buildings, which is
consistent with adjacent buildings in this area. The parking has changed to required 42 spaces;
access to the site is same as before with 3 entrances/exits from Canvasback
Drive. No signage was proposed for this
site. Landscaping complies with the
Zoning Ordinance. The project still required permits from Maryland Department
of Environment (MDE) as it encroaches into the wetland and wetland buffer. Upon motion of Mr. Brownawell, seconded by
Mrs. Cheezum the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the sketch site plan
conditioned on the applicant obtaining all necessary MDE permits.
Planning & Zoning
Page 3
January
20, 2005
The next item discussed was 114 Bay Street requesting sketch site
plan review for a 2 story 29,950 square foot office building. The Commission previously approved a similar
project at this site. The site plan reduces the height of the
building and moves the access from a tunnel in the center of the site to the eastern
side of the building. The applicant’s
architect, explained that the proposed architecture makes the building appear
as though it is several separate buildings similar to downtown. They are proposing a tower on the building
which will have a clock at the top. They have added different style windows to
the building, added two doors to the front of the building and softened the
tone of the buildings. The Commission
was very pleased with the proposed site plan and architecture. Parking for the project will be located on
the rear of the site and accessed from Bay
Street. Proposed landscaping is per the Zoning
Ordinance. Upon motion of Mr. Swann,
seconded by Mr. Moore, the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the sketch site
plan.
The next item was from staff
concerning Zoning Classification for West Glenwood. The
Town Attorney asked the Commission to recommend a zoning classification for the
West Glenwood neighborhood. The property lies within the Critical
Area. The staff suggested the
designation of R-7A zoning and LDA for the area within the Critical Area. Upon motion of Mrs. Cheezum, seconded by Mr.
Swann the Commission voted 5-0 to support the zoning classification of R-7A and
LDA for the critical and make a favorable recommendation to the Town Council.
The next item also from staff
was the Architectural Guidelines.
Upon motion of Mr. Moore, seconded by Mr. Swann, the
Commission voted 5-0 to support the proposal submitted by David Gleason
Associates, Inc. Architects and make a favorable recommendation to the Town
Council and accept the architectural guidelines of David Gleason.
The
next item was the Historic District
Commission to discuss an expansion to Easton’s
Historic District. Roger
Bollman, Chairman of the Historic District gave a power point presentation explaining
the proposed expansion. Mr.
Swann during the Historic District presentation excused himself from the
meeting. Upon motion of Mr. Moore,
seconded by Mr. Brownawell, the Commission voted 3-1 (Mr. Atwood opposed) to
forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned
at 4:10 p.m. by motion of Mr. Brownawell, seconded by Mrs. Cheezum.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacie S. Rice
Planning
& Zoning Secretary