Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Whoever wants the floor can have it. We're live. We are live. It's uh it is I tell you what. Would you mind going to the podium because we are miked now. So that would be wonderful. Any old you know we used to we didn't have to but Okay. Let's do that please. All right. Um, do you want me to start with the project or the Um, I want you to explain it to us like we are absolutely clueless as to why we're even here tonight. Okay. What you're doing uh when it broke down to where uh where you live, okay?

What your intentions are. Um, and then I want you to explain your hardship to us as to why you are wanting this. Um, and what is stopping you from doing it. Okay. and Okay. All right. So, yeah, hopefully I'll cover it all. That's fine. That's where we're going to ask questions.

I'm Lori Chagaser. I live at 29400 North Whistler Road in Atlanta. So, um, last road east, I guess, on the other side of Gun Club. And, um, we've owned our property since January 2016. And we did a little bit of remodeling and upgrading last year. And um uh we are looking to build a new garage, a secondary structure um a two-car garage 32 by 32 um and we are looking to place it on the norththeast um of our house. Um we have a Would you like one of your copies? Um I have it. Okay.

I have part of it. Um I just don't have all the photos, but um if you can see in the photos, we have a large uh parking pad. Um and we are looking for the structure to I think I have it even marked with a dot. Um with an X and a box.

Yep. Okay, perfect. [laughter] Um and so we're looking to build this structure here. Um and again, 32 by 32. We're um attempting and we'd like to build this. Um and the reason being where we're doing it is um my husband's truck and actually his other additional vehicle will not fit in our current garage structure. Um and so um one his truck is too tall and the other vehicle that we have his work vehicle also our garage is too short. Um so there's no way to get around it if we park in there. Um, and so to add the new garage would be for functional and just um to make sure it's functionally um consistent with our current homestead and what it looks like. Um, so I think there's some photos there, white and black, which is the scheme of our home. Um, so it would blend well. Um, and not looking to really overbuild or alter the character of the property. It's just our property is too um, while long skinny. Um so um the hardship that we're looking um for again specifically is our current garage will not fit um the vehicles and the layout of our property uh unfortunately is impossible for us to meet the setback requirements as well as the additional requirements for where the secondary structure sits. Um um we have a well and a septic system, a geothermal tile that occupy all of the places that we could put it. Um unfortunately to meet the requirements or come close to meeting um and so moving those systems, we've uh priced some of them has just become uh quite cost prohibitive um and will disrupt some of the other essential functions that are already there and the infrastructure that's there. um as well as it will um uh to place the um garage

structure if we were to be able to move all of those infrastructures, the well or the septic or the geo. Um it also um um sorry um it would block the access to our backyard which is our pasture in our barn area. um uh we have um a goat lot, we have some chickens, um and such. And so to be able to pull our vehicles in and out of the back, it would block our access to that. Um so relocating um the driveway or the utilities um or the infrastructure is just not feasible uh due to the cost and of those existing systems. And so um that proposed location uh preserves property access to the backyard that we need. um and avoids that interference with all of those critical systems um and that infrastructure there. Um so the hard or what we're asking for is a waiver or um I guess um the allowance uh the variance to allow us to shorten the setback. Um the projection if we go the 32 by 32 off of the drive there would put us I think at 15 feet off of the property line um instead of the 35. Um and then um uh also setting it uh again northeast of the property. I think one of the rules was setting the secondary structure technically in front of your home. If you look at that diagram, it's going to be like I don't know if very close I don't know how to describe it um to to um meeting that variance in that course that we would set at the front of our house on that northeast corner of that um parking pad that's there today. Um it would of course match uh the design um and such being the white and black uh feature. So it should blend in

seamlessly. It should enhance the property and curb appeal um and blend naturally with architecture um and should not obstruct any of our neighbors view um or the property access or anything of that sort. And so we've um made every effort to you know reasonably try to figure out how to functionally place it uh within but unfortunately um uh the hardships uh that I've outlined today are really what we're asking for uh the very so allow us to approve our property and remain consistent with the neighborhood and our current property. Believe I covered it all maybe except except for one thing.

Yes sir. I need to know how far in front of you the house you're going for legal reasons. Yeah, you said it pretty close or a little bit. I need to know how much you're asking. Yeah. I can't depends on what you qualify the front of the house. If we're going from the garage, if you look at the diagram of our house that it's from the front door. From the front door, then it is if you that's a 32 by 32 garage. Yes, sir. That's 32 feet in front of the garage or front of the house. That is uh is it really or does it by your box? Yes. Yes. You're wanting to put that even that back wall even with your front wall your house.

Which still leaves us about 200 yards to the front edge of the road I believe if we measured it correctly.

I'm still confused where it's at. Do you I can come over and point to you. Is that okay? Yes. So, this is um where we're looking to build it. Um this is the front door. So, it would be this even with Exactly. Yeah. And then it would set 32 feet um still sitting on the path. And what is this? This is our neighbor's property. This is our property line um on this side. And so, we would be I think it's about 15 feet between our property line from your neighbor. Yes. Or property line. Does that help? Yes.

Okay. See, I need those numbers because when you get this bill, if anyone sits and we got to make sure that no one has any issues. They can't come back on the town for approving this. I mean, that's why I that alarmed me, Bill. I was like, yeah, I'm like, Lori, I'm like, wait a minute. I need to know that we have we have to vote on specifics. Yeah, it would be 32 feet. That exact drawing is where it would marry up and so it would go. We drew it to scale exactly coming off of that pad. And so it would be um on off the corner, correct? Is what you're wanting to go for that look 32 forward. Yes, sir.

Okay. These trees behind you, are they going to stay or are they is that going to come down? Um so the trees would come down to not have too much in my in the gutters and such. would be taking the trees out to here. Um, so it would have clearance. Um, and then our neighbor sits about their back of their house is right here. Okay. Yes. Do you want me to point that out to everyone? Would that be helpful? Oh, I I I see what you're saying. Okay. By your All these trees would stay. Absolutely. And is um is this where Jeff and his wife live on that side?

Yes. Their back of their house. Um, again, looking at the diagram, the back of their house is about, if you see our row of trees and then you see those four. Yeah. They're I think the back of their house is like right there at that second one. Might be at that last one, but that's the back of their house. Okay. Have they opposed this or what's No. Um, I believe they called up. They spoke. When I talked to her, she said they weren't they didn't care. Well, they picked up a packet. They they did come back and pick up a packet. Okay.

Yeah. No, we have not heard from them. Uh we did talk to Stacy Sweatzer, the next one down, and she said no issue. And then he spoke, I think, with Mike and Jackie on the other side of us and said no issue. But I think she called you Robert's wife. Yes. Y and spoke with him. So, So, it looks like to me that the new garage would be almost in line with the Is that the chicken poop or what is that? Sorry.

Um Yeah. Uh um this is our um garden area and then this is our back barn area that we need the access to. Oh, so how are you going to get back there? So, we'll come off the drive like we do today and come there's an access point right here. We can see where you guys did drive before. You're putting it right where your old your where you would drive to the gate. Correct. Yeah. We'll be able to still come off of the drive though and get back there. We enter to the west side where the basketball hole at on there. Yeah. Make that turn.

[laughter] Best of intentions.

I looked at your mail and it looks like everybody sent back. Um, we did not receive from Stacy and I assume it was I spoke with her and told her what it was going to be and she worked so I doubt she made it up to get it. And then Mike and Jackie I think as well just said they weren't home. They weren't going to get it. And then I think there was one there were two deer Myers Trust John Dean. Yeah. Well, post office work. Derek got his

He knew about it, knew what it was, and he had gone up to the post office two or three times, but they Nobody was there or they were here. Yes. Yeah, that's there was u we ran into the same thing. They the lady retired or whatever. So, we had stuff up there. We had to Yeah. And we had to uh And they can do that. We had to go up two or three times in order to get our stuff. Now, there was somebody there, so I figured they replaced it or somebody was just filling in. One day that he did get in. He got off work early to go in. He said he walked in there and he said nobody was in there and

doors locked and No. Well, he got he got in but nobody was in the office. He said he got in but Saturday. Nobody was there. Was it on a Saturday? I don't know what day because they had trouble about a month of Saturday. So the girl didn't show up. But I've shown you mine if he has whatsoever. Okay. So, right now the rule is that the front of their newborn would have to be even with their front door. Yeah. They're asking for 32 ft on the front and they're asking

it's usually a 35 ft set back and excuse [clears throat] me, they're wanting to stay off of that property line by 15 ft. So, they're over here. Yes. So, is that a lot of footage in your experience? Yeah, usually it's 5T. Okay. 10 ft in it, right? It's usually I It's alarming to me, but I understand what they're doing. I understand it and what they're look going for their look.

Um, I always am more concerned in this situation, Luke. Me personally, my personal opinion is encroaching on your neighbor. That's always my biggest thing. Do not encroach on the town. That's our number one thing. And do not encroach on your neighbor.

We are here to protect everybody and then help those that want to get something accomplished on their property. That's just the way I've always felt on this board. So that I think it's just more alarming that I didn't I just didn't pick up on it. That's all. But I'm looking at it. I think it'll look nice when it's done. And I [clears throat] don't see where you're treading on anybody. And that's my number one thing. Me personally, speaking for Kevin, I don't want you encroaching on Roberts or on your other neighbors. Uh there's, you know, for a fact there's nothing in in there as far as uh

power, ditch, underground ditch. for themselves. Uh, okay. Uh, and I know you want to stay away from your well. You know, you got your septics, you got your well. I understand that you're locked in on those things, but making sure that there's there's no gas lines in there. No. You've already had 811 out a couple times and all of them to make sure we've marked it and no one's there. Okay. How long have those neighbors been behind you or beside you or whatever? Uh they are actually I think one of the first houses that were built other than the one on the corner of Whistler in 296 and so I don't have their property card but I know it's been they've been there the whole time. Yeah, they've been there since.

I mean it's got a potential that they're going to be moving. Oh no, she's retired. I think he's close to retirement. They'll they're there. [laughter] They decide to sell and then you've got a neighbor that's going to not like this and you have trouble. That's the only thing. Agreed. I think they're probably the robers. Yeah. Yeah. They're not moving. [laughter] Settle this. Jeff's [clears throat] Jeff is 59, I think.

I think he went to Oh, he went to school with Steve Wood, I think. My boss. Um, yeah, actually I know they did. They were in the same class. And uh you know he's I mean his next move will be in you know 50s and older or something cuz that's a nice area. Very blessed. Robera, you got any questions? No. Neil, I've asked everything I can. You done great. You took over the meeting. I appreciate

Luke. You have anything? uh to to question to add to um uh no I think Neil had a good question. Um it's interesting to me. Um obviously I don't get a vote this meeting but yeah pretty neat. No question. So and uh just so you know Luke's first time first meeting um like the structure of the of the building and everything. It's um How tall is that garage?

Um did you guys shorter than the house actually? Um it would run in line pitch with the garage so it would not be taller. It would be actually a little bit shorter. Um so what's the next

I just want to make sure that we see like in town here there's there's a maximum It's shorter than the existing garage because they're going to put a shower 1012. Yeah. So that's not going to have a loft in it. What's that? Not going to have a loft in it. It's not going to be basically where it could be a twotory. No, that was not our intention. Standard garage. Standard garage. They have a platform in there.

Yeah. Not worried about it. And it's far enough back off the road. It's not really seen. I will I do that for Yes, they do. They absolutely do. It was so peaceful the last month, couple months though because they were working on the uh bridge. [laughter] I could walk without being in danger. Me and my dogs.

I I think the safest thing we can do for this meeting tonight, we're going to we're going you guys are all going to get another set of papers, okay? It's going to be -2 and we're going to uh we're going to vote on decide encroachment and we're going to we're going to vote on being in front of the of the house because I can tell you with being in front of the house there'll be some conditions as to exactly I want to put down exactly what you're telling me because there's not any there's not numbers. So that makes me nervous

as far as some kind of layout that I can put with the file as to what you're saying here tonight. Uh because we don't want to come back to another meeting. We don't want we want this to be done tonight. I want to make sure it's clear as a clear as a bell what you guys are. And I don't I do not think you're being malicious. I'm just thinking we need to clarify um you know the side encroachment. That's one thing, but definitely uh on both of them, I plan on stating on mine that it is a singlestory garage with an 8 12. I think it's an 812 and I believe it says it's

see we we don't have these numbers here. So that's kind of it's like okay now now the plan because what's going to happen I'm just putting that on there for me but the planning commission can stop you. So I have to clarify what we're holding on here tonight and it's going to be and the only reason I say that Phil and Lori is because I don't have some numbers here in front of you. So that's why it's like okay I I want to make sure that we're clear on what we're voting for here and no no muddy water. It's it is specific to what you are asking us to vote on. Are you guys okay with that? Yes. And that way we've split the two. And if there's an issue, then we can better address it in the future.

Okay. I understand that. Yep. Okay. All right. I laid these out just for this reason.

I do have a front and back elevation. I guess I didn't include it of the um pitch. Um we had it. It was 1012. Oh, sorry. One one. Okay. That's a one. Yes. One and one. Do you want this? I'm sorry. What do you got? I have front elevation. And then it's a dash two then the pitch and the eliminate like what those would be if that helps. Oh, that's excellent. Well, sorry. We didn't we didn't know what to include, so we didn't have It's okay. I'm going to make copies of this so you can keep your copy. Okay. And [clears throat] I'll put this copy in the file so I don't have to be specific on that. This is very helpful.

Okay. So, oh sure what all to include. Deans, do you guys have any questions? Anything to ask?

This is the I've seen Cindy in years. [laughter]

Bring some spice into my life. I'm sorry. I'm sure your numbers are tiny.

Oh, yeah. Trust me. Get the readers out. Would you like to see this elevation for any reason? [clears throat] [clears throat]

Yeah, I want to see it. Well, he's afraid I'll have a question. No, I'm not. I love your questions. You know that more questions, great answers. What's your project name on this? Just garage. Garage. Hills feature man cave. Yeah.

Or cut. I have one that's helped me stay married the past 25 years. Not for my sanity, hers. Is that the secret? Yeah. She's just like, "You got something to do, don't you?" Okay. He's got the barn already, so he goes out there and fiddles. That does you got a place to go?

Yep. Let's find something. Where's Chris live now?

I was corrected tonight and I'm fine with that. that straight north of So, how long you lived over there from over here on County? Yeah, it was. Every time I passed by there, I thought I knew who lived there. Chris. No, it's not.

Okay, we want to go through these questions. They didn't change, did they? No, they're still backwards. Yeah. [laughter] Okay. So, this this is fine. Okay. All right. So, the first question is the proposal will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community. You if you agree with the statement, you put yes. If you disagree, you put no. Okay? It's kind of backwards what you think you would just you think you're answering the question. What you're going to do is agree or disagree with the question. Got it. Okay. Got it. All right. So, you guys are you doing one or two?

I We're going to do one. Oh, okay. I don't need to read the rest. Do you want me? Okay. I just wanted for Luke especially for minor. You're either going to agree with the statement or you're going to disagree with it. It's not what you think. If you're either going to agree with it, so if you agree with that statement that it's not injurous to the public health, safety, morals, then you're going to say yes, it is not injurous.

And I never could say that. If you were to if you were to think that it was harmful to the public health, you would put you would say, "I do not agree with that."

Did you read those? Flip side on your brain. Mhm. Now, which one are we going to make the number one is going to be on? Put the variance of setting back. The side sideyard setback. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

On what? Um on one. Yes. And I'm going to put that parenthesis sideyard set back. How about you guys do the same? I'm just doing it up there at the project name.

[snorts] [clears throat]

See what do the conditions make us like we did with the gas station. What you're trying to do is come up with which we did for the gas station came up with four standards and they have to stand for something like on the on the gas station which I felt like was important. When you put that and tied that, they had to record that recorder's office, tied it to the land, not to the ownership. Because if they tied it to the ownership, what they had to do is sell to your brother. So that's why we didn't that's why they got their hold of B. Or they already changed. So that's what you agreed on, right? Those are the rules, right?

So, um, that's why with the with the with the residents, we we don't sweat that too bad. But you do in there any cause for alarm or to protect the town or this board's name. So that's why I put that on. Okay. You you can and and they have to agree to it. Once they agree to it, it's a done deal. Okay. Okay. Do they close at 10? Huh? Do they close at 10? No, I don't think so. That's what I've been told. I think killed by several people and there's no citations. There's nothing being done about it. So, that's all going to come. Nobody's complaining like they did.

Oh, yeah. No. Yeah, they are. Yeah, they Yeah, that's another story. That's not for tonight's uh meeting. Yeah. Um I I hear about it a lot. Um okay, you guys ready to vote on this? Do we have any conditions or down here on the bottom? What I put on the conditions on the number two was we were told this is Oh, wait a minute. On the number two,

we can do it on both. I'll do it on both. Okay. Uh we were told that this garage is a standard height, no second story. Just plain. Here's the thing, too, guys. Uh they're they're not saying anything about it. I thought I thought about that. I was a little overcautious about for us. I'm still going to put it on there, but they can't build it. the planning commission. They did not specifically ask for that. They asked for and it's recorded. They're asking for two specific things. So, if they were to find out that their garage is too tall when it's inspected, then then there's they're going to have to do this all over again. You see what I'm saying? So, um I don't want that to happen. Uh it's just more money. But [clears throat] um I don't think they are. I really don't. But we're protected because they they'll they'll stop them. They'll flat out stop them. They can't build that. Rick's going to have to approve that. And he's been around a long time. You'll know that's too tall.

Well, they look too tall. No, I don't. That's why I'm saying that. That's why I said that. I I I I was being overly cautious. Yeah.

And because I don't want any bad judgment here and trying to teach Luke a thing or two tonight, but I'm just um then I I thought about it more and more. That's know if they start building that and it's off, they'll have to change their plans. Can't have it that high. There's standards on that. Agricultural is really funny because your setbacks are huge, but you can build a barn, you know? I was like, that's the weirdest thing. Uh, it was explained to me once and it made sense, but I can't reexplain it and make sense why they did that. Part of that was for them not to develop farmland. They made they make it hard.

Makes sense. They they they do. I mean, it's why why would you complicate it for standards? Slows it down. It been easier if you said this was a barn, I guess, instead of a a garage, right? So, good question. Yeah.

So, we'll we'll put that on there just to cover our butts, but that's what we're being told. Um, and then the the uh and the first one's for the setback on the sideyard setback. Okay. Um, you good to go? Yeah. Okay. Are you doing the conditions? I will. Did you vote no for anything? No.

All right. So, you passed that with the condition that is a singlestory garage. You are at the 15t mark. Um, which is what you're asking for. And, uh, no second story on that garage. And we have the we have the plans here. So, that's all we go by. It doesn't show anything as far as that goes. does kind of look like barn. Like an old barn, you know, it's got the lean on it on that where you put the side. Yeah.

No. Yeah. We had a barn like that. So, somebody make a motion that we abstain. All right. So now somebody makes a motion that we approve with this condition. Yes. Well, we're all in agreement, but yeah.

Okay. Yeah. I'll make them I'll make the motion. Anybody second it for a second? Okay. I got to write mine down here. Actually, uh, I want to do I do want to add something else to that. Standard height, no second story, and is shorter than the garage now standing. The other garage standing. Yeah. And then the existing We ready for number two? This one is the uh encroachment the setting in front of the of the house.

Placement in front of the house.

Yes. Thank you. I'm going to put on here as a as a condition due to picture it is set off the corner of the existing concrete pad. Okay. Good. So, your garage door is going to face your house.

Okay. So you'll draw through the grass to get in. Turn the pad follow. Okay. [clears throat] The doors will be z. So the side of their garage is facing the road. It won't really look like a garage

cuz you won't really see the doors. Kevin, do we put a name in here? [clears throat] Project name. I put Traaser's garage. Well, no. The

And then a place a property. Well, that's Phil and Lorie Tragasser who own that name. Oh, and and we have to put the address. Yes. So, sorry. Here you go. I have it right here. I apologize. Lori or both of them or how you do Phil and Lori Bagaser. But here's the address.

I'll just use initials. PNL. That works. I was planning on doing that but got to talking started filling them out. When you going to plan on starting everything goes through? Everything goes through hold. So he's ready to come and do a site inspection and give us the finals hopefully. [laughter] True.

We got little chipmunk squirrel, the baby squirrel at his last [clears throat] truck. So that's what caused us to get a new one. They don't eat this one, too. I heard one other. Do you know why they do that? Is it interesting? Again, [clears throat] I can't repeat things worth a darn, but it's the coating on the wire that is attractive to the squirrels. And I think it's soy if I remember right. It's soy. Am I right, Deings? It's the soy in them.

And and GM, I think it [clears throat] was GM that had the biggest problem with it. Does that sound correct? [laughter] Or was it Dodge? Yeah. Yeah. Lee has a Ford and they ate his though, too. So, Ford definitely has it as well. Yeah, that's crazy. That was the last one. So, we switched to Chevy. And it's the the the so everything's soy based. I mean, they figured out how to use soybeans to I mean, they're great, but

you're going to have to do something different. Put in some hot sauce on that soy or something. It's like [clears throat] walks away. Peppermint actually does it actually keep ants away. It deters it. It does not stupid sugar ants and I tried that this year and I put down someh some peppermint, you know, drops on the on the countertop, but they stopped them in their tracks, but they just go around it. But I was just like, well, it works, but I don't Am I going to paint the countertop? I mean, you know what else? Stop saying [clears throat] chalk. Chalk. Yes.

Huh. And they will not cross a chalk line. Oh. If you draw Oh, yeah. And a Sharpie, too. If you draw a line in front of them, they stop until they learn. Finally. Eventually, they learn. No, they they they won't go across the line. You take If you got a circle, you draw a circle around it. Yeah. And we sat up at the music hall one night for three hours watching and they would not move [laughter] on. Wow. Die of grass for three hours. And they walked across the grass. Yeah. [laughter] But not the chalk. Three hours.

Uhhuh. We sat there showing a bunch of them old men. Oh my god. Sit there watching. That's hilarious. See what you do for diversion. Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] I got something to look forward to. Yeah. She I'm watching an ant. We start out with kids. I'm burning them and now we're just drawing trunk around them.

Yeah. Yeah. We don't burn them anymore. Just draw them in. Once I realized how torturous that was, I was kind of like, "Oh, that does suck. I don't think I'd want to do that. That's terrible." All right, we ready to vote on this second one. Did we vote on the first one? Yeah, we voted. Oh, okay. [laughter] You did. [laughter] Um,

I approve. I approve. And again, [clears throat] the conditions are the same as the first one. And the garage is set off the front corner of the existing concrete pad. See existing. So you pour new. Rick's going to know. All right. He said it's right there on that money. And and of course all all this will be in the file. So this is everything we agreed upon tonight. Okay. You guys good with it? Dean's good with it? Great. I just want to see how the democratic process work really really so many meetings being on the school board. I just want to see how you guys

This was pretty This was pretty laidback. I mean if it's a real bad meeting we're just going to go over there and watch ants school board meeting and I'd rather watch Yeah. Yeah, I've uh let's call this meeting. I'll make a motion we adjourn the meeting. I second it.