Planning and Zoning Commission

MINUTES OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

October 11, 2007

A meeting of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission was held in City Hall on the evening of October 11, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.  Chairperson Bair; Members Albert, Palmer, Beaver, and Graham; City Attorney Walsh; Manager of Planning & Development Davis; Comprehensive Planner Hynes; City Administrator Wolf and County Planner Graf were present.

On motion of Ms. Albert, seconded by Ms. Palmer, the minutes of the meeting of September 20, 2007 were approved as presented.

Chairperson Bair opened the floor to nominations for Chairperson of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Beaver nominated Chairperson Bair. Ms. Albert motioned to close the floor for nominations with a second by Ms. Palmer. By unanimous consent Ms. Bair was elected to the position of Chairperson. Chairperson Bair nominated Ms. Palmer to Vice-Chairperson with a second by Mr. Beaver. By unanimous consent Ms. Palmer was elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson.

Mr. Davis presented the final plat for the Union Hill Subdivision, located on Uniontown Road for approval of the Commission. Mr. Davis said that it meets the requirements for subdivision. The engineer, Randy Petkus, explained to the Commission that it is a large lot that will be subdivided into 3 smaller lots: 1 for the existing house and 2 for 2 new houses. Chairperson Bair addressed her concerns with setting precedence in Westminster in which residents lose their front yards for lots. Ms. Palmer added that she was concerned with adding an additional driveway onto Uniontown Road. Mr. Beaver pointed out that this project could be considered infill. The Commission was in agreement that they were not ready to make a decision on the approval of this plat. Chairperson Bair made a motion to defer the Union Hill Subdivision Final Plat to Staff for further work.

Mr. Davis next presented the final plat for the site plan for Richter USA for the West Branch Trade Center, located on the corner of Tech Court and West Branch Road, in Westminster, Maryland. Mr. Davis explained that the site is for industrial use and will feature a warehouse. The proposed business to be located at the site will be a furniture and fixture parts distribution business. Mr. Davis added that the site plan includes a future expansion. Ms. Graham was concerned over the water use of this proposed business. Mr. Davis said that it would use less than 200 gallons a day so it is a low water use business. Upon a motion by Ms. Graham and second by Ms. Palmer, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan for the Richter USA - West Branch Trade Center.

Mr. Davis then presented the site plan for Shoppes at Meadow Creek, located on Meadow Creek Drive, Westminster, Maryland for approval of the Commission. Mr. Davis described the workability of the site to the Commission. He explained that the Planning Staff worked with the developer to create a quality and pedestrian-friendly shopping site. In addition, the new lane on MD-140 should help with the additional traffic to be generated by the new site as well as the existing traffic congestion. Mr. Davis said the Planning Staff recommends approval for the Shoppes at Meadow Creek shopping center. Clark Shaffer, the attorney for Shoppes at Meadow Creek, told the Commission that the Planning Staff comments helped to improve the workability of the site as well as ability to compete with neighboring sites. John Mayers, the developer, described the specific changes to the Shoppes at Meadow Creek site plan that have occurred since it was last before the Commission. In addition, Mr. Mayers showed the color version of the site plan as well as the architectural elevations. Ms. Albert asked about the signage of the site. Mr. Mayers said that the signage would keep the architectural integrity of the shopping center. Chairperson Bair pointed out that within the motion the Commission needs to make sure that the road improvements coincide with the construction of the shopping center. Mr. Mayers asked for 50% occupancy to be the point at which the road improvements must be constructed and substantially complete. Upon a motion by Ms. Graham and second by Ms. Palmer, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan for the Shoppes at Meadow Creek with the condition that the developer can not open more than 50% of the Shoppes at Meadow Creek without the completion of the road improvements on MD140.

 The next agenda item was discussion of the Special Exception Case No. 07-5, the request to operate a drive-through pharmacy in the Neighborhood Commercial District. The Rite-Aid, to be located in the Shoppes at Meadow Creek Shopping Center, is requesting a drive-thru pharmacy. Mr. Davis asked the Commission, on behalf of the Board of Zoning Appeals, for a recommendation or to make comments. Ms. Albert made a motion to recommend the special exception with a second by Ms. Graham.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M. on motion of Ms. Palmer with a second from Ms. Graham.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa K. Hynes

Comprehensive Planner