MINUTES OF THE
February 21, 2002
Planning & Zoning Commission
Members Present: John Atwood, Chairman, and members John White, Charles Goebel, Chris Brownawell, and Dan Swann.
Staff Present: Tom Hamilton, Town Planner, Lynn Thomas, Assistant Town Planner, and Stacie Sauca, Planning Secretary.
Staff Absent: Mike Kenney, Current Planner.
Mr. Atwood called the meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission to order at 1:00 p.m. The first item of business was the approval of the January 17th minutes. Upon motion of Mr. Brownawell, seconded by Mr. White the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the January minutes as revised by discussion.
The first item on the agenda was the Annexation of Norris Ford. The property is owned by UP Associates, a Maryland General Partnership. The property is located on the east side of Rt. 50 at Black Dog Alley. Mr. Bill Stagg, the Applicant's agent explained that the site is improved with the Norris Ford Automobile dealership (4.068 acres), and a triangular shaped parcel (2.17 acres). The 2.17 acre parcel is surrounded by public roads and is improved with an office trailer and a used car display area. The balance of the annexation is 16.846 acres consisting of the public right-of-ways Rt. 50, Rt. 309, and Black Dog Alley. Annexation of this parcel would create a "strange" town boundary, as the parcel mainly consists of 3/4 of a mile of the Route 50 roadway stretching north of the Town Boundary at Kennedy Street to the location of the Norris Ford property. Actually, the closest point of the Town boundary is only 157.36 feet east of the site at Norris Ford. As proposed the area west of Route 50 and North of Kennedy Street will remain outside the Town and will form a peculiar panhandle, which might lead to other problems during the annexations in this area. The panhandle area is proposed for annexation pending the receipt of grants to extend sewer into the residential community. Mr. Hamilton stated that Mr. Karge, Town Clerk determined that any revenues which the Town might receive from the proposed annexation would be property tax revenues which would be around $5,436.00 annually and Personal Property Tax which would be about $3,243.00 annually. Mr. Hamilton stated that he doesn't believe that there should be any cost to the Town. This annexation is unique in that the site is already developed. It would seem that this annexation is an opportunity to improve the aesthetics of the Norris Ford site. Upon motion of Mr. Brownawell, seconded by Mr. Swann the Commission voted 4-1 (Mr. Atwood opposed) to have the applicant re-submit drawings for their March meeting to show concept landscaping, and improvements to the site.
The next item on the agenda was from staff concerning a Mobile Catering Business. The applicants, Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser explained that they would like to locate an attractive pitbeef /barbecue trailer somewhere along the route 50 corridor in the Town of Easton. The trailer would be set up during lunchtime hours only. This type of business is prohibited by the zoning ordinance in the Town of Easton, and they were asking the Commission to amend the zoning regulations to permit such a use. After much discussion the Commission determined not to support the request to amend the zoning ordinance to allow a portable catering business in the Town of Easton.
Planning & Zoning Meeting
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February 21, 2002
The next item on the agenda was discussion of Comprehensive Plan ("Major Retail Standards"). Mr. Thomas discussed the comprehensive plan with the commission. Specifically, discussion was centered on the possibility of revisions to the big box (Major Retail) policies as outlined in the plan. The commission agreed that this was an appropriate item for discussion but the proper time to do so is in the normal course of the Comprehensive Plan update.
Mr. Goebel excused himself from the meeting at 3:10 p.m.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. by motion of Mr. White, seconded by Mr. Brownawell.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacie M. Sauca
Planning Secretary