Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. I'd like to call the October 13th, 2025 Peach Tree City Planning Commission meeting to order. Citizens of the United States would please rise and join me in pledging allegiance to the flag of our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay. I'd like to welcome everyone this evening to again the October 13th meeting. Um we do have two items on the agenda for this evening. Uh, but I'm going to go ahead and start off uh the staff. Any announcements? No. No, sir. Not at this time. Would would we like to announce? Oh, yes. Please, please do so. Thank you. So, so we do have um we did have appointments, new appointments to the to the planning commission and those uh took effect basically the beginning of of October. Um, so we do have our newest commissioner, Hans Gant.

Um, like to welcome you to the planning commission. Uh, would you like to give a little bit of of background on yourself? Uh, sure. Um, my wife and I have lived in Peach Tree City since 2017. And we also have uh our oldest son and his family living here in Peach Tree City. Um, I retired from work in two in the year 2000. Um I spent the first years of my career as a city planner. Uh matter of fact I I ended up my planning career as director of city planning in Columbus, Georgia. Okay.

Uh after that I went to work for the private sector and was in real estate development and construction and but the most of most of my time in my career was in economic development. retired from the from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as the U senior vice president of economic development and that kind of ended my career. So that's that's a short Excellent. Thank you very much and and welcome to the commission. Thank you. Um and as you can see we have varying um varying experiences and backgrounds. Um and it's always great to have another person with a lot of experience and and background in in what we do here. So welcome. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any presentations? No sir, not at this time. Okay. Um agenda changes. Um yes, sir. I believe there's a discussion that we would like to um have a vote on the um co-chair.

That is that is correct. Yeah. And as we we do, we're going to do things a little bit different. Um but our our prior um co-chair um has moved into an alternate position. So, we have to go and elect a new co-chair for the remainder of this year. Um, in January, we will hold a full election um for chairman and and co-chair at that time or vice chair. Um, so what I'd like to go ahead and do is make a motion to amend the agenda to hold an election for the vice chair. Um, do we have a second? Second.

Okay, we have a motion to amend the agenda to vote for a co-chair and a second. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor of amending the agenda to vote for a co-chair signify by saying I. I I Okay. So, we're going to go ahead and u passes. We're going to go ahead and have an election for a uh a co-chair. Um and what I'd like to do, I would actually like to nominate Commissioner Andrew Cruz as co-chair. Um Commissioner Cruz, do you accept? I do.

Okay. So, we have a motion or we have a nomination to uh elect Commissioner Cruz as co-chair. Any discussion from the commissioners? Okay. If not, um all those in favor of electing You need a second for that. We can I think that's good. I'm I'm just moving right along. I'm sorry. Um want to get to those new agenda items. Yeah. Um, so, so we have a motion to, uh, nominate Andrew Cruz and a second. Um, all those in favor of electing Andrew Cruz as the vice chair signify by saying I. I. Okay, you are elected as vice chair, Commissioner Cruz. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Uh, next minutes. So, we have the minutes that submitted for the planning commission meeting from September 22nd, 2025. Hopefully everyone's had an opportunity to review those. Any additions, deletions, changes to that?

Yeah. Um, Mr. Chair, I I have one um on the second paragraph on page three of the agenda packet. Um, it reads that I move to add a text amendment regarding golf cart parking to the next planning commission agenda, but our uh our uh planning director has informed us that that actually should have been the city council agenda. So, I I guess I'd like to make a motion to make that change to change it to s from planning commission to city council.

Okay. Yeah, I believe that is correct. Um, so there's a motion to amend the minutes uh to change from the text amendment coming back to the planning commission to going to city council. And just a little bit behind that, um, we can go ahead and initiate a text amendment. Um, once we agree that we want to initiate that, that moves on to city council. City council will then discuss and debate that. If they are in agreement, um, they do have the, um, route to go ahead and and send that back to us. and then we would go ahead and put everything together based upon any input that they might have. So, um, so we have a motion to amend. Do we have a second? Second.

So, we have a motion to amend the minutes as stated and a second. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Okay. The motion to amend the minutes from September 22nd to change from planning commission to city council is passed or is uh is approved. Sir, chairman. Yes. May I ask for a point of clarity? Absolutely. Um so for that item, if um our new co-chair could explain exactly what he would like to see in that ordinance, that would also be very helpful. I think I have an idea, but I want to hear directly from you if possible. Yeah. You want me to do that right now? if you could just for the record.

Yeah. I mean, so as I was discussing, I think the last time in the last meeting when we brought this up is I'd like to see um a provision that allows an applicant uh that's coming to us with a site plan to uh substitute up to five required parking spaces with uh golf cart parking spaces. So, an incentive. Um yeah. Yeah. It's it's basically just allows because right now the way it's worded, if you only have you have to have a certain number of spaces

and if you if you don't have room for additional golf cart spaces, it it doesn't it doesn't allow that developer that that property owner to put to to to to substitute, if you will, the golf cart parking for um regular vehicle parking. And so I' I'd like to see at least five spaces allow for a substitution so that when it's a tight a tight fit, we've seen that several times here on the planning commission that uh we can we can allow we can we can uh you know approve uh such a such a request. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah. Okay. So, uh, I I'll I'll move to, uh, approve the minutes from the, uh, September 22nd planning commission meeting as amended. Okay. So, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion to approve as amended and a second. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor of approving the minutes as amended from the September 22nd, 2025 planning commission meeting signify by saying I. I. Minutes approved as amended. Okay. Uh item seven, old agenda items. We have none. Is that correct? That's correct.

Okay. Okay. So, item eight, new agenda items. The first is the conceptual site plan white oak dental 500 Stevens entry. And I'll go ahead and turn that over to staff.

So, this is an interesting parcel. Is this not on? Is it? Is it? Okay, there we go. Just to get close. Um, this is an interesting parcel. Um, the the um the property is made up of two parcels. One is in the Oops. How do I get it to There we go. One is in the front that borders uh the road and then one is behind. And this was reszoned um in 2014. because they wanted to uh subdivide the property, but they wanted to do it in such a way that the building and parking setbacks did not apply to the uh to the middle uh property line there that would divide the two parcels. And there was also a stipulation in the conditions of the resoning that the new building um I so at the time that they reszone and we we get to the site plan I I'll show you uh there was an existing building and the idea was to have a new building on that second parcel in the back and it could not exceed 4,881 square feet. So here we have let me point out what was existing or what is currently existing existing conditions are this building and all of this parking already exists and currently there's a little uh turnaround here for the parking. The proposal is for the new building at 4,880 ft. So it does meet that zoning condition and they would like to uh remove this turnaround and add golf cart 10 golf cart spaces right here where the red the red mark is uh just to reiterate. So along this property line there are no uh setbacks associated with it. So the front setback is out

here at the street uh not affecting this parcel. Uh the rear setback is 20 feet and on the sides is 10. Uh there are uh on on the new parcel there will be 29 parking spaces, regular parking spaces for autos and 10 golf cart parking spaces. And overall there will be a total of 70 parking spaces between the two lots and 10 golf cart spaces. Uh just as a side note, uh this portion of Stevens entry that runs between State Route 74 and Peach Tree Parkway is considered a village collector, thus one of our major thorough affairs. And it will require an architectural review in the future. And that's all I have for you.

Okay. Thank you, staff. Do we have the applicant for representative? Come to the microphone and please state your name and who you represent. Is this on?

All right. Jeff Collins with Rochester DCCM. I'm a civil engineer representing White Oak Dentl. Um Lord did a fine job summarizing. I'll hit a couple of key points. Right. It's a pad ready site. Infrastructure is there previously uh designated for medical office use. Uh that's what we're doing here is trying to build what was uh planned for previously right within the square footage uh allowed uh on there uh taking advantage of existing parking and existing infrastructure and again adding the 10 uh golf cart parking spots. Um certainly want to address any kind of questions you guys have but don't want to overdo it either. She she handled it very well.

Thank you. Okay. Hey, I'm going to open up to uh to questions of either the applicant or staff and Commissioner Halverson. What am I not seeing? In other words, were the utilities already there? Is that why you cited the building where you did? Yes. Primary infrastructure is is available. You talking about the orientation of it? Yeah. I mean, it just seems a little Yeah. forced in there. Well, certainly with the with the setbacks and everything

from a functional standpoint, the way the halls need to roll to fit the way we run our clinics, that's kind of how it had to sit. And when you're coming up the road, you can see the front better angled that way. Gotcha. So when you're when you're coming up that it's an uphill. So when you're coming up that drive, if it was kind of spun, you wouldn't see it. Okay. So that that's part of it. And then the way our halls, we got to hide the unhap the kids that are unhappy to see us kind of around. So we're kind of limited on that's why it's catticorn. Gotcha.

Visibility and just straight function. We have two other clinics with a similar floor plan. So, we're just doing the same thing that we have a unit here. Gotcha. Thanks for that explanation. That helps quite a bit. Yeah, for sure. If you see the internal layout, that'll make a lot more sense. Okay, that's it. Better than the civil explanation. For sure. I'm sure there's a great wed. Commissioner Chris.

Uh, yeah. I have just a question for staff with with eliminating the uh the turnaround, does that need to be assessed by like the city engineer or the fire department to make sure that there's sufficient space? Correct. So when we get to the construction drawing reviews, the the fire marshall is part of that and he will assess that. Great. So there may there may they may have to come back to us if things change after that review. Is that correct? or if it was a significant change perhaps, but if it's something minor um then then probably not. No. Okay. Yeah. No, no, no further questions for me.

Commissioner Allen. Oh, yep. Commissioner Gant, just one question. Sure. Um are the number of parking spaces shown does that meet the building permit requirements? It was zoning requirements. Yes, it does. There was a a chart on your on the second page. I don't know if you have it uh with you. The uh parking ratio for medical offices offices is one per 250 square ft and therefore um it comes up with a total of 38 spaces required. They're providing 70. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Any any other questions? No,

Commissioner Allen. I don't have any questions. I don't have any either. Um, Commissioner Gan, I'll go ahead and come back to you. Any comments? No comments. I'm sorry. Okay. Commissioner Allen, any comments? Negative. No, Commissioner Chris. Yeah, I just just happy to see further development on the site and uh well, you know, welcome to the city. I think it's going to be a great addition to that area. Happy to see it. Commissioner Halverson,

no further comments. And the only comment again is is same. Um I'm familiar with that area and it's nice to go ahead and and see development in there. Um you know, especially from a medical standpoint. Um I think we all realize that you know, we're I don't excuse me, I don't want to say lacking, but but there is always a growing need for for medical facilities um you know, in every way, shape, or form. So it's nice to see that 40% of our office lives here. 40. These proceedings are filmed and recorded. Could you get up to the microphone for us so everybody can hear you? I appreciate. Thanks.

I was going to say 40% of our noon and patient population lives here. So they drive over to see us. So great. We're excited to come and feeling a lot of pressure from them to get here quick. So understand. Yeah. Great. Thanks. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Anything else? Any other questions or or comments? No. So, looking for a motion from the dis. We have a motion for approval. Would you like for approval? Okay. So, we have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? Second.

So, okay. So, we have a motion to approve and a second. Um, any other comments, questions? No. As such, uh, all those in favor of approving, uh, the conceptual site plan, White Oak Dental 500 Stevens Entry, signify by saying I. I. I. Okay. The conceptual site plan is approved. Thank you very much.

Okay. Moving on to building elevation modification, dental offices, 100 gates entry, and send it back to staff. So, just to remind you um where this is located, we're on the very south end of town up in the Stars Mill area. At the um head of the uh gates subdivision, there are two office parcels. This one was constructed not all that long ago. This is 100 gates entry currently under construction and it is zoned uh oi office with conditions. when it was reszoned, it had um conditions put on it. So, uh the architects have come back to us. They would like to uh change modify the stone that was originally approved for the facade of the building. And we'll we'll flip back and forth between these two. So right here we have the um and again these colors do not show up very well on the screen. Uh they were probably a little bit better in your packet but you can see that the only thing that's changing. So the brick is the brick remains the same and these these colors here it this is the stone that's changing again doesn't read very well but the um existing stone I believe it's Harbor Jefferson. What does that say? Forgot to write it down, am I?

Harbor Bluff. Harbor Bluff.

Oh, there it is. Harbor Bluff. Thank you. And the proposed stone is called Silver Dunes. Um, I did bring We can hold them up if you'd like for uh video purposes, but I set down there in front of that table the the two on the left is the originally approved stone and on your right is the new is the new stone. audience can see what we're looking at. This is the Harbor Bluff approved. It's got a little more color in it, which is basically all doesn't In the picture, the actual sample

picture shows more pink. Uh so just to reiterate some uh architectural requirements that were established for these parcels uh during the resoning was one the architectural design building materials and color selection shall be residential in character to complement the homes within the subdivision. And then secondly, all sides of the office buildings and associated structures shall include similar architectural deal detailing, building materials and color selection. So again, the only change is to change from one stone to the other. Uh still residential in character. Let me jump back to the renderings for you. And that's all I have.

Okay. Thank you, staff. We have the Applant or Applant rep. Could you please give your name and who you represent? Jefferson Brown and I represent this project, Peach Tree Professional Center. Um, we did a large scale mockup and by time we ordered the original samples that you have here and then the lot that was provided and was built on site, the clients weren't really happy with. So they asked for the alternative which was uh that was the original first choice that we brought back and it is available in production now. It's complimentary to Dr. Bgasa's office. The configuration would be the same. Uh the buildings we want them wanted them to be different but we wanted them to be complimentary. Uh the neighborhood HOA has been out and looked at the samples too and and we felt like this was close enough that it's like paint. Let's bring it back. Uh it's pro we're probably being overcautious but wanted to be cautious enough keep the neighborhood informed and let them know that we've made a uh recommend the owner would like to make this change and we thought we'd just better bring it here and let you know why.

Great. Thank you. Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and start with Commissioner Gant. Any questions? Second question is what what kind of a response did you get from the community? They they enjoy that that one and they feel it's actually closer to uh the pallet that got built uh was very very brown. Um so it really it didn't complement as well as we as this sample does that we brought today. Commissioner Allen. No, I don't have any questions. Commissioner Cruz, no questions. Commissioner Halverson,

I don't have any questions, but I do appreciate you being upfront and actually going through the process, even though you may not have had to. So, it's it's very much appreciated that you want to bring it back forward again just to make sure before spending all that time and money. Yes, sir. So, that's excellent. Absolutely. Any other comments, Commissioner Chris? No, it looks great as always. Thank you, Commissioner Allen. No, good luck. Thank you.

Okay. No, and and again, Commissioner Halverson said, "Thank you for bringing that back in front of us." Um, I agree. It is it is enough of a change, but not that much. Um, and it does look good and and if I remember correctly, it does complement um the other building that was was built. Um, so that that is great. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Um, we have a motion. I'll move to approve the building elevation modifications for the dental offices at 100 gates entry. Second.

Okay. So, we have a motion to approve the building elevation modifications dental offices 100 gates entry and a second. Any other comments, questions? No. Okay. All those in favor of approving the building elevation modifications dental offices 100 gates entry signify by saying I. I. Okay. Okay. The building elevation modifications, dental offices, 100 gates entry are approved. Thank you. Thank you. Can you all please take your samples with you? I don't want to carry him back upstairs. I don't want my wife to see him. Something else I got to do with that. Thank you.

Okay. So, we have no public hearings this evening. Um so member staff topics um did have a a comment or a question from Commissioner Chris um concerning a a prior public hearing. She wanted to ask a question of of staff. Sorry about that. So the the the the public hearing that we were supposed to have at the last meeting um there was a little um discontent from the audience about that not happening. Just for their for their edification, can we give them some clarity on when that will come back to the planning commission? So we don't have that information before us. Okay. Okay. So right now we just don't know is the answer. Okay. Thank you for providing that.

Yes, sir. Okay. Appreciate that. Thank you. Um, so right now we don't have any agenda items for October 27th. Um, I know that was the next UDO also. Um, so we'll have to discuss that to see if we want to have a UDO if we don't actually have a commission meeting. Okay. I would propose that we just postpone the UDO to the following meeting. Well, that would then push it to the Well, we we would not be having a meeting on December 24th. Yes, that's correct. So, we will have to discuss then when the if there are items for the second December meeting. Um, well, we've got November

second November. I'm sorry. I'm I'm a month ahead. The second November meeting. So, that would be Yeah, November. I was thinking December. November 24th, not December 24th. Yeah, that is correct. It would be the second one. That's Thanksgiving. But yeah, that is Thanksgiving. That is true. So, we would have to move that meeting um one way or the other if we had agenda items for that. So, I think we probably need to have a little bit more discussion to see how the how the items are are looking for those meetings. Yes, sir.

Um and and Commissioner Gant, I don't know how much detail or information you have on the UDO. Do you have any Okay. So, unfortunately, Commissioner um Hamner is not here this evening with us. Um, Commissioner Hamner is the is the chair of the UDO. So, what we are working on u as a commission and it basically started off as a you might as well call it a grassroots effort um is to develop a unified development ordinance for Peach Tree City. Okay.

Um you know working doing this for a number of years working with staff um there was an attempt made a couple years ago to to do it. Unfortunately it just did not work out. Um, but we see a need for it. Very much a need. Um, so that's what we've been working on for goodness, how long has it been now? Over a year. It's It's been over a year. It has. Um, and and we're making we're making progress, albeit, you know, slowly because it is such a monumental undertaking really. Um, and you know, we actually had the representative from Fagville come in. They they did it. Um but they have a lot more staff. Um it was handled internally.

Um and we're basically working with staff and and the planning commissioners who are on the UDO to do this. So it is it is quite a like I said monumental uplift to do it. Um so when when Commissioner Hamner comes back, he can definitely provide a lot more details as to how things are going, what things are looking like. Um, but your your experience, your expertise, um, will definitely be beneficial to this effort as as we move forward. So, just a little little teaser as to to what's going on on the UDO. So, okay. Um, anything else staff? Anything? Oh, sorry. Yes.

One question. We had a topic come up uh in the past about landscaping. Mhm. And then we had a discussion uh whereas Commissioner Hammer was going to do some additional writing for our position. When will that topic come back up for discussion? So I believe once he has that file completed, we'll we'll know more then. Um because I know he's still doing some finalization on that file and then once he does, I'm hoping it can go before you in November. Right. That's what my hope is. But I'm sure he'll have it prepared soon. So, thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir. Great. Good question. Thank you. Okay, if there's nothing else, um, do we have a motion to adjurnn? So, moved. We have a motion to adjurnn. Do we have a second?

Motion to adjurnn and a second. All those in favor signify by saying