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PC Minutes 07 06 2017 PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Thursday, July 6, 2017 MINUTES VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Planning Commission met on Thursday, July 6, 2017, in the General District Courtroom, Chatham, Virginia. Mr. Stowe, Chairman, called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. Mr. Stowe called the roll. PRESENT Morris Stowe Tunstall District Richard Motley Chatham-Blairs District Janet Mease Callands-Gretna District Curtis Arthur Staunton River District H. F. Haymore, Jr. Westover District Brian Horne Dan River District Joe Davis Board of Supervisors Representative Odie H. Shelton, Jr. Director of Code Compliance/Zoning Administrator Greg Sides Assistant County Administrator/Director of Planning ABSENT Dr. Charles H. Miller, Jr. Banister District HEARING OF THE CITIZENS No citizens came forward to speak. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Motley, seconded by Mr. Arthur, and by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent), the June 6, 2017, minutes were approved as presented. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT There was no Chairman’s report. THE ZONING PRECEPTS WERE READ by Mr. Stowe TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING at approximately 7:05 p.m. Case 1, E And E Of Virginia, LLC, R-17-021 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that E And E Of Virginia, LLC, had petitioned to rezone a total of 8.35 acres, four (4) parcels of land, located off State Road 668/Grit Road and on Nine Lots Road in the Staunton River Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to A-1, Agricultural District. Mr. Shelton also stated once the properties are rezoned to A-1, all uses listed under Section 35-178 are a permitted use. Thomas Eades was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. During the discussion, it Planning Commission July 6, 2017 Page 2 was stated these parcels are adjacent to properties zoned A-1, Agricultural District and this is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. A motion was made by Mr. Arthur, seconded by Mr. Motley, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case 2, Kay S. Geyer, R-17-022 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Kay S. Geyer had petitioned to rezone 1.85 acres, located on U.S. Highway 29 North, in the Chatham-Blairs Election District from R-1, Residential Suburban Subdivision District to B-2, Business District, General. Mr. Shelton also stated once the property is rezoned to B-2, all uses listed under Section 35-365 are a permitted use. Lynn Williams, Ms. Geyer’s sister, was present to represent the petition. She stated she had nothing to add except this would be for a low cost spay and neuter clinic and there is a big demand for this service. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. During the discussion it was stated there are businesses on the other side of the highway and this is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. A motion was made by Mr. Motley, seconded by Mr. Haymore, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case 3, Larry Barrett & Myrtle M. Barrett, R-17-023 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Larry and Myrtle Barrett had petitioned to rezone 37.09 acres, located on U.S. Highway 58/South Boston Road, in the Dan River Election District from A-1, Agricultural District to B-2, Business District, General. Mr. Shelton also stated once the property is rezoned to B-2, all uses listed under Section 35-365 are a permitted use. Larry Barrett was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add except he wanted to construct a building on his property. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. During the discussion, it was stated this property should be zoned for business, and another property located on Highway 58/South Boston Road was recently rezoned to B-2, Business District, General. A motion was made by Mr. Horne, seconded by Mr. Davis, to recommend the Board of Supervisors grant the rezoning request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). This concludes the Rezoning cases. Case S-1, Jeffrey A. LaRocco - S-17-004 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:14 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Jeffrey A. LaRocco had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 12.97 acres, located off State Road 869/Stony Mill Road (on Woodfinch Circle), in the Tunstall Election District to allow for placement of a 2000 model single-wide mobile home to replace his home destroyed by fire. Jeffrey LaRocco was present to represent the petition. He stated he lived on the property part time and could only afford a single-wide mobile home at this time. It was clarified that this farmhouse was not his home but was on the property when he purchased it. He also stated the house was destroyed by fire approximately three (3) years ago. There was no verbal opposition to the petition; however, each Board member received a copy of a letter of opposition received from adjacent parcel owners who lived out of town and were unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:19 p.m. During the discussion it was stated this would allow the petitioner to replace the home on his property that was destroyed by fire. A motion was made by Mr. Motley, seconded by Ms. Mease, to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-6, Neelimaben & Harshkumar Parikh - S-17-009 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:20 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Neelimaben and Harshkumar Parikh had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 5,200 +/- square feet, located on U. S. Highway 58 West/ Planning Commission July 6, 2017 Page 3 Martinsville Highway, in the Westover Election District. He further reported Shentel would remove an existing 83’ wood pole telecommunications tower from the adjacent lot and construct a new 150’ steel monopole tower. Kelsey Chase, Zoning Manager with Network Building + Consulting, was present to represent the petition. She stated she had nothing to add. Jim White spoke in opposition to the petition. His concerns included, but were not limited to, the following: health and safety issues. Ms. Chase offered a rebuttal and stated Shentel is compliant with the FCC. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:26 p.m. During the discussion it was stated the new replacement tower will be more stable and safer and a study conducted by the County found no health issues as a result of telecommunications towers. It was also stated there are other cell towers along Highway 58. A motion was made by Mr. Haymore, seconded by Mr. Motley, to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-2, Jesse Leroy Shumaker, Jr. - S-17-005 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:34 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Jesse Leroy Shumaker, Jr., had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 10,000 square feet, located on State Road 630/Hodnetts Road, in the Banister Election District for a 195’ self-supporting telecommunications tower within a 100 x 100’ (10,000 square feet) leased compound area for Shentel. Dale Hill with Apex Towers, LLC, was present to represent the petition. He stated this tower was to provide coverage in dead areas and was a much needed site. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:36 p.m. A motion was made by Mr. Motley, seconded by Mr. Horne, to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-3, R. Kent & Ann F. Brown - S-17-006 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:37 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Kent and Ann Brown had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 10,000 square feet, located on Route 40/East Gretna Road and on State Road 917/Ray Mill Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District for a 195’ monopole telecommunications tower within a 100 x 100’ (10,000 square feet) leased compound area for Shentel. Dale Hill with Apex Towers, LLC, was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:38 p.m. A motion was made by Ms. Mease, seconded by Mr. Haymore, to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-4, Jane M. & Thomas M. McLean - S-17-007 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:39 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Jane and Thomas McLean had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 10,000 square feet, located on State Road State Road 626/Smith Mountain Road and on State Road 779/Liberty Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District for a 195’ monopole telecommunications tower within a 100 x 100’ (10,000 square feet) leased compound area for Shentel. Dale Hill with Apex Towers, LLC, was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Steve Ashton, an adjacent parcel owner, stated he was in favor of the cell tower, but he wanted to know the location of the tower. Mr. Hill then showed him a map of the proposed site location of the tower. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:43 p.m. A motion was made by Ms. Mease, seconded by Mr. Motley, to recommend the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). Case S-5, Edward E. & Mary J. Hancock - S-17-008 – Mr. Stowe opened the public hearing at approximately 7:45 p.m. Mr. Shelton, Director of Code Compliance, reported that Edward and Mary Hancock had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on 10,000 square feet, located on State Road 773/Wade Road, in the Callands-Gretna Election District for a 195’ self-supporting telecommunications tower within a 100 x 100’ (10,000 square feet) Planning Commission July 6, 2017 Page 4 leased compound area for Shentel. Dale Hill with Apex Towers, LLC, was present to represent the petition. He stated he had nothing to add. There was no opposition to the petition. Mr. Stowe closed the public hearing at approximately 7:46 p.m. During the discussion, it was stated there have been numerous problems with cellular phone coverage being dropped in the area. A motion was made by Ms. Mease, seconded by Mr. Arthur, that the Board of Zoning Appeals grant the Special Use Permit request. Motion passed by a 7 to 0 vote (1 member, Dr. Miller, was absent). This concludes the Special Use Cases. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Shelton and the Board discussed limiting the amount of information (paper copies) in the Board packets regarding cell tower applications. Mr. Shelton stated these materials would be kept on file in the Zoning office and that the applicants brought the materials to the meetings. The Board agreed to limit the materials to cut postage costs and excessive usage of paper. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:48 p.m. _____________________________ Morris Stowe, Chairman _____________________________ Kathy H. Belton, Clerk