Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Uh, good evening. I now call to order the April 20th meeting of the Picosen Planning Commission. Can I have a roll call, please? Commissioner Armen, present. Commissioner Hartley, present. Commissioner Hirs, present. Commissioner Pet, excuse me. Commissioner Peterson, present. Commissioner Joerger, present. Vice Chairman Gisinger present. Chairwoman Shot present. The quorum is present.

Thank you. Um if you're able this evening, if you would rise while we uh have our prayer as well as our pledge of allegiance, uh Mr. Hartley will be leading us in our pledge. After the prayer, let us pray. As we come together today, let us be mindful of the trust placed in us. May we carry out our duties with clarity, good judgment, and respect for differing perspectives. Help us to remain focused on what is right and beneficial for the community we serve. May our actions be guided by accountability, collaboration, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. Amen. Algiance 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. We are going to move to item C on our agenda this evening, which is the approval of the minutes. We do have two minutes that we are approving both for the March 16th meeting. One is the work session and one is the regular session. Um do I have a motion or any type of comments regarding the March 16th work session meeting minutes? Do I have a motion to approve?

Move we approve the minutes as submitted. Do I have a second? Second. Can I have a roll call, please? Commissioner Armen, I. Commissioner Hartley, Commissioner Hirs, I. Commissioner Peterson, abstain. Commissioner Jagger, I. Vice Chairman Gisinger, I. Chairwoman Shot, I. Chairwoman, the motion carries on a vote of 50 with two abstensions. Thank you. Next, we're going to move to our regular session minutes, also from the same evening. Does any of the commissioners have any changes that need to be made this evening?

Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve the minutes? I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. I'll second it. Can I have a roll call, please? Commissioner Armen, I. Commissioner Hartley, abstain. Commissioner Hirs. I, Commissioner Peterson, abstain. Commissioner Joerger, I. Vice Chairman Gisinger, I. Chairwoman Shaw, I. Chairwoman Shot, the motion carries on a vote of 50 with two abstensions. Thank you.

And now we're going to move right along to our audience for visitors this evening. This is a time that the public can come speak to us on a matter not related to our public hearings that we're public hearing, excuse me, that we have on our agenda this meeting. Would anybody like to approach and speak during this time? Seeing none, I'm going to close the audience for visitors and we're going to jump right into item number E, our public hearings. Um, and we are going to call on Mr. Randy Wheeler, city manager, who is going to make our presentation this evening.

Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the planning commission. I appreciate the opportunity to speak before you tonight. Uh, tonight I'm wearing not the city manager hat, but also the zoning administrator hat. Um, which is a a hat that I found out shortly after being hired, but I got to wear. Um, there are three bodies that can recommend an item for consideration to planning commission, yourselves, obviously, the city council, and a rare occasion, the zoning administrator. So, that's what I'm doing this evening. Um, as all of you are aware, over the last 15- 16 months, we you uh city council and staff have been working to review the comprehensive plan as it relates to the north side of Victory Boulevard to look at our underlying ordinances, but also right on its heels is a review of the central business district. Uh, one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent zoning classification in the central business district is the B2 zoning district. And in my review of that and in my work with uh with Mr. Horton, uh I came to the to the conclusion uh which is the subject of tonight that our definition in the B2 zoning district for medical treatment facilities is extremely broad. It can go anywhere from a single chair dentist office all the way to a hospital with an urgent care in between and much other things. And um it is listed as a buy right use. So what that means is that a normal process of a conditional use per permit for something that may be more impactful on the latter side of that continuum would be completely exempted from the process. So my recommendation to you is that we strike that from the by right category so that a conditional use permit would be required. Many of the uses on that

continuum would be welcome in this community but in some instances we may need through reasonable conditions to set conditions to allow it to sort of integrate into the district. Uh, a couple of other things. I just want to say that the uh, as I said, the the primary area where B2 is is in the central business district. There's also B2 zoning district at the end of Meset Point and uh, in the marina area at the end of Browns neck road. Um, those are our three concentrations. I think for all practical purposes, we're talking about the central business district. And I did want to take a moment to uh to help shed some light on what this isn't since I've shed some light on what it is. Uh if you were to approve this recommendation and ultimately city council did as well, this would not in any way impact any existing business in the city of Pakosa. Um it is a change that would be for future businesses and it wouldn't preclude them coming. It would just mean they would need to go through a conditional use permit process to make sure that they fit appropriately on within the business corridor where they located. So again, no businesses will be adversely impacted by this that exists in city of Picosen and it doesn't slam the door on any other potential use. It just moves it to a conditional use permit so that the community, yourselves, and the city council ultimately will have a say on on the addition to our community. And I'm here to answer any questions that you may have. I think it's fairly self-explanatory, but if it if it's not or if I wasn't clear, I'm glad to answer any questions you might have.

Um, Mr. Peterson, do you have any questions? No, I don't. I think it was very clear. Mr. Harley, that was very clear. Thank you, sir. Mr. Armp Trout.

Um I had uh just a couple comments. I was a little um concerned about, you know, as we're struggling in this city to attract commercial business that we're, you know, potentially sending out a message to um mentioned earlier in a lot of cases most of these uh medical practices or business would be welcome. I can think of a handful that maybe would not um you know substance abuse clinic u maybe a psychiatric treatment uh facility form um veterary hospital that would have boarding where animals would be boarded. Um but you far as the the dentists and you know general practitioner some specialists I would think we would want to welcome those here put them through the conditional use process or we maybe sent message that maybe uh want you here but I I know that's not a going through that pro difficult but I'm maybe a little bit concerned about the message send to a potential um business want. So, is there some particular things that are, you know, that we might be concerned about that are happening now that maybe we should know about that? Um,

trying to head those off for the future. So,

it really falls into that court. Yeah. Heading things off for the future. Um, if I can respond. Um it I understand the point that you made and there is a big difference between a hospital and a single chair dentist office. Um perhaps there would be time as you when we move to the central business district review to come up with some some byite definitions for land uses that are on that first half of the continuum that you mentioned. And that language could be reinserted at that time once you've had a chance to to discern sort of what you really want to be as by right because this particular definition is is this wide and if the planning commission through its work could customize it so it was tighter and this wide I think it would be very appropriate to put that back.

Mr. Gisinger. Um no I have no comments. It seems pretty straightforward to me. Mr. Hirs. Uh, no questions. Mr. Jagger. Uh, no questions. No, I have no questions. Thank you all. Thank you. If you could think of one. Great. Thank you. So, we're going to transition and open our public hearing this evening. Uh, is there anybody? We don't have any registered currently, but is there anybody that would wish to speak this evening? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing and I'm going to ask uh what the pleasure of planning commission is

be appropriate to offer a motion. Yes, it would be if if you so choose. Yes, I think that that would be good uh to uh offer a motion to uh approve I second it. Can we have a roll call, please? Commissioner Armen Trout. Hi. Commissioner Hartley, I. Commissioner Hir, I. Commissioner Peterson, Commissioner Peterson, sorry. Commissioner Joerger, hi. Vice Chairman Gisinger, I. Chairwoman Shot, I. Chairwoman Shot, the motion carries at a vote of seven to zero.

Thank you. Uh we are now going to move on to uh item number F, but we have no new business this evening and we're going to move to item number G, communications and correspondence. Horton,

thank you. Thank you very much. I would just like to mention that uh we will be having a planning commission meeting next month. We will be doing a work session to talk about the comprehensive plan amendments on the north side of victory and we will also have another text amendment uh to do with the B2 zoning you information on that uh shortly. Um, and uh I did want to let the planning commission know that the city council did approve the uh the get the use permit for the uh short-term rental and uh and uh he is aware that he has to do a site plan which I know was a concern that was voiced here and uh he is to his credit I think uh he's come in and talked with uh Miss news, Mr. Somerset, Mr. Failen, our city engineer, and uh so I think we're on the right track there.

Thank you. Doesn't Mr. Hurst, do you have comments? No, just welcome to everybody that's here. Good to see all the faces out there and uh glad you're here. I would just like to thank our city manager, Mr. Wheeler, for presenting tonight. um it was easy to understand and follow. So I appreciate that. Uh also thank you for the clear presentation and and all the prep that again I you know uh great job on the presentation. It was very clear easy to understand and uh you made our jobs really easy. Thank you

echo the same. Thank you, Mr. Binger. Yes, we we appreciate your time. Um certainly your attention to um the details in this matter and um their presentation was done well. I also agree. Thank you for your clear presentation and and your letter to me and so we could disseminate that and that was very helpful. So I appreciate that this evening. So we have no other future business. Um, and I was wondering if I could have a motion to adjourn the meeting. I'd like a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second. Second. Roll call, please. Commissioner Armen Trout. I. Commissioner Hartley.

I. Commissioner Hirs. I. Commissioner Peterson. I. Commissioner Joerger. Hi. Vice Chairman Gisinger. I. Chairwoman Shaw. I. The motion carries. We are adjourned. Thank you for joining us this evening.

We have a lot of Mr. Mayor. I see. Thank god.

Good evening. Welcome to all. This Picosen City Council special session meeting is called to order. And right from the onset, I'd like to extend a very special word of appreciation to our planning commission. Uh all seven of them were with us earlier and would also like to thank our staff who as often the case worked all day long and is back out here again supporting us for meeting uh in the evening. So thank you very much. But just want to recognize the commissioners uh by name. Uh Chairwoman Heather Shot of course uh Commissioner George Jagger, uh Commissioner Steve Gisinger, Commissioner Mike Armond Trout, uh Commissioner Jonathan Hirs, Commissioner David Peterson, Commissioner Chaz Hartley. I think I've got them all. I wasn't checking them off as I go. Did I miss anybody?

Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Uh so thank you all for your efforts tonight and the support that you provide. Uh we really appreciate the close work and relationship that we have. And with that uh if you can please rise for the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Lord Jesus, we come to you in prayer tonight to express our appreciation for all the love and blessings that you have bestowed upon us. Thankful for your mercy and for your grace. Lord, we're thankful for the freedoms and liberty that we so enjoy. And help us to remember always those that have sacrificed on our behalf. We're thankful for our Constitution that was written with divine inspiration and help us to always do our part do our duty even at the local level to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Name we pray. Amen. 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.

Thank you all for your support. And we'll move on now to item C on the agenda, our audience for visitors. Uh at this time, we will open the floor for public comment related to the city. Uh but unrelated to the public hearing that we're going to have in just a few minutes. So at this time the floor is open. Seeing none, we will close the floor and we will move on to item D, which is a public hearing. At this time, we will open the public hearing and our city manager, Mr. Randy Wheeler, is going to have some comments for us on this ordinance. Uh afterwards we'll have an opportunity for council members to make comments or ask questions. At that time we will open the floor for public comment being a public hearing and afterwards uh we'll call for a motion in a second uh related to this ordinance. Uh so with that uh Randy uh the floor is yours.

Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of council. Each of you was in attendance uh about 10 minutes ago when I made this presentation to the planning commission, but for those at home, I'll go ahead and and do a summary version. Um the item before you this evening is a proposed change B2 zoning district ordinance. Um I'm proposing that change in my capacity as city zoning administrator. As council is aware, over the past year and a half or so, we have been reviewing along with planning commission the comprehensive plan specifically as it relates to the north side of Victor Boulevard, the supporting ordinances that support that, the zoning district specifically. And as staff, we are in the process of getting ready, which is the second part of your strategic initiative in that area, which is the review of the central business district. As part of that review, um I focused on the by right elements of the B2 district and one of those elements uh medical uh facil medical blanking on the name right now medical treatment facility, excuse me. uh was in my opinion very very broad and it could span everything from a single chair dentist office all the way to a hospital with urgent care and lots of other things in some of which would be an easy and and very welcome. Others might require reasonable conditions to help them fit and and others might be so significant that a planning commission uh public hearing and and city council public hearing might be the best course to review that. For that reason, uh I asked the planning

commission to consider removing it as a byite use. Um they ultimately voted 70 to recommend that to you. By removing it as a byright use, it does not negatively impact any business city. Um, it would only apply to prospective businesses in the B2 district which is pulled in the central business district along with some B2 propert districts. Uh what it would mean for a future medical treatment facility type business is they would need to come and make application for a conditional use permit. There was some discussion at the planning commission about a future amendment to the definitions to um add more precise language to those things that were small and and not very impactive as future additions uh as a as a possible reintroduction as by right. Um and then u separating the more significant uses that would still remain as a I think the planning commission is going to pursue that and that I'll stop talking and be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you Randy. Council members any questions comments? Uh yeah, I I'll reinforce the comments from planning commissioners. Uh very clear, very well done. Thank you, Randy, for that. And with that, we'll open the floor for public comment related to this ordinance. Okay, seeing none, uh we will close the floor. I'll ask for a motion in a second, please.

Mr. Mayor, I propose an ordinance amending article 10 zoning ordinance B2 which is business district um regul second. Thank you very much. Uh Christie, call for vote, please. Councilman Southpaw, I. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman Hubard, I. Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Councilman Fi, I. Councilwoman EMTT, I. Mayor Hubs, I. Mr. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of second. Thank you, Christie. So, we will close the public hearing and we will move on to item E on our agenda, comments of the city manager. Randy,

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, members of council, thank you for coming out. Uh, this evening uh to support this this effort. Um, just a couple of things for the people that may be watching us at home. Reminder that next week will be our regular what would be our regularly scheduled city council meeting in this room beginning at 6 pm with a joint work session with school board to be followed by your regular meeting at 7. The most principal feature of which will be the uh the budget public hearings related to the FY27 budget. That's uh thank you Randy. So moving on to council dire. I don't have any Mr. Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Freeman. just thank planning for getting right on this issue and getting it out to us. Always great to be so efficient. Much appreciated. Uh Angie, uh just want to let the community know that the Picosen Kuanas annual pig will be occurring on May 2nd at the Old Wells Fargo building. Uh that's a Saturday. It'll be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Uh, and that's the one where you can either sit there and we'll have the tent set up so you can either dine in or take out and cash and uh credit cards will both be accepted.

Thank you, Angie. Mr. Salaul, uh, yes, I'd like to thank everyone who came out here tonight to pay attention to the city council. Everyone should do that and thank everyone at home who are watching. It's very important. I encourage you all to file for the various boards and councils that the city has. Uh we could always use your help and there's always a vacancy coming up. I'd encourage everybody to vote by tomorrow if you haven't voted and I'm going to vote no. Thank you, Mr. South Hall. Jeanie, no comment tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Keith. Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but as Angie brought it up, everybody can go to the Kuano's barbecue after the clean the bay day, which that morning. So,

thank you. Double reminder there. That's sir.

Thank you, Keith. And just like to to welcome Keith back this evening, as well as our assistant city manager, Tanya Okonnell. Missed y'all both at the last meeting. And uh thank you good Lord for safe travels and good to have y'all back with us. So, uh much appreciated. for my comments. As always, I'd like to thank Jason Ernson uh for helping us with the IT support. And Christie reminded me to remind public that this week uh April 19th through the 25th is National Library Week. So, please come out and support our library. And uh just a reminder that last year our our library right here in Bossen was recognized as the number one library in the state of Virginia. So we're very thankful for that and very very proud. That concludes my comments and with that we'll move on to item G adjournment. Ask for a mo motion and a second please.

So move Mr. Mayor. Second. Thank you. Uh, Christie. Councilwoman EMTT. Hi, Councilwoman Hubard. Hi, Councilman Fi. Hi, Councilman Southh Hall. I, Vice Mayor Bunting, I, Councilman Freeman, Mayor H. I, Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of 7 to zero. Thank you, Christie. We are adjourned.