MINUTES OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING

August 11, 2005            

A meeting of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission was held at Westminster City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, on the evening of August 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.  Chairperson Bair; Members Albert, Beaver, and Graham; City Attorney Walsh; Manager of Planning and Development Davis; Assistant Town Planner Fisher; County Planner Graf; and members of the public were present.

On motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Ms. Graham and duly passed, the minutes of the meeting of July 14, 2005 were approved as presented.

Mr. Fisher presented the sign permit for Advance Auto Parts.  Mr. Fisher stated that the application proposes the installation of two signs on the northwest corner of the Crossroads Square Shopping Center.  Mr. Fisher stated that the signs would include corporate lettering, a logo, and red fascia panels.  The square footage of the front sign would be 783 square feet, and the side sign would be 480 square feet in area.  Mr. Fisher stated that staff recommends denial of the sign permit application, noting that the Commission lacks jurisdiction to approve signs greater than 250 square feet, and that the proposed signage is not compatible with the character of the surrounding area.  Ms. Courtney Norak, a representative of the applicant, withdrew the application and submitted a revised sign package without the red fascia panels.  Under the revised package, the front and side signs would each total 133 square feet in area.  Mr. Fisher remarked that the revised package would achieve compatibility with the area, and recommended approval of the revised signage.  Ms. Bair recounted the Commission’s history of sign permitting at the shopping center, offering several examples of past proposals that were modified to enhance compatibility with the rest of the shopping center.  On motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mrs. Albert, the revised sign permit application for Advance Auto Parts was approved.

Mr. Fisher presented the Site Plan for General Dynamics.  Mr. Fisher stated that the plans propose the construction of a 135,000 square foot research and development facility on Lot 2 of the West Branch Trade Center.  Mr. Fisher described the layout of the building, parking areas, loading and storage areas, and landscaping.  Mr. Fisher noted the installation of a perimeter security fence, stating that the fence would not extend across the front façade of the structure.  Mr. Fisher also noted that a continuous evergreen screen would be planted along the rear fence to screen the proposed industrial use from the adjacent residential property.  Staff recommended conditional approval of the site plan subject to agency review and comment.  Mr. Andy Brough of Conewago Enterprises, the developer of the site, stated that the building would house a machine shop, two-story office area, and assembly space.  The new building would house approximately 200 employees.  Ms. Bair remarked that the timing of the industrial property developing prior to the adjacent residential property was fortunate.  Ms. Bair requested that staff research additional screening options for sites requiring special security considerations in the future.  On motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mr. Beaver, the Site Plan for General Dynamics was conditionally approved, subject to all agency review comments being adequately addressed.

Mr. Davis presented the Site Plan for an expansion at Target.  Mr. Davis stated that the 11,000 square foot expansion is proposed for the north side of the existing retail structure.  The existing row of parking along the side of the building would be replaced with a landscaped area.  Mr. Davis stated that the plan would also shift the site entrance on Center Street slightly east of its current location.  Staff recommended conditional approval of the plan.  Ms. Bair favorably commented on the additional trees proposed for the site.  In response to a question from Ms. Bair, Mr. Davis stated that the site would still meet the minimum parking requirement upon completion of the expansion.  On motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mrs. Albert, the Site Plan for the expansion of Target was conditionally approved, subject to the satisfaction of all agency review comments.

Mr. Fisher presented the Site Plan for New Windsor State Bank.  Mr. Fisher stated that the plan proposes the construction of a 2,563 square foot bank at the Westminster Marketplace.  The bank would offer drive-through service and would access the road network via a connection to the private road serving the adjacent BJ’s Wholesale Club.  Mr. Fisher reviewed the landscaping and parking schemes for the site.  Staff recommended approval of the site plan subject to the satisfaction of agency review comments.  Representatives of New Windsor State Bank provided further details and answered the Commission’s questions in regard to building architecture and projected employment and services to be offered.  On motion of Mr. Beaver, seconded by Mrs. Albert, the Site Plan for New Windsor State Bank was conditionally approved, subject to the satisfaction of agency review comments.

Mr. Davis presented the Revised Preliminary Plan for Lots 20 – 23 of the West Branch Trade Center.  Mr. Davis stated that the plan would reconfigure portions of the original Preliminary Plan located near Magna Way and West Branch Road.  In most cases, the reconfigurations would combine several previously approved lots into fewer larger lots.  Mr. Martin Hill, developer of the project, noted that the purchasers of the lots shown specifically requested larger lots.  Mr. Hill expressed his preference that lots be recorded once users are identified.  Mr. Davis stated that staff recommends conditional approval of the revised preliminary plan.  In response to a question from Mrs. Albert, Mr. Davis identified the users of the existing lots in the industrial park.  On motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mrs. Albert, the Revised Preliminary Plan for Lots 20 – 23 of the West Branch Trade Center was conditionally approved, subject to the satisfaction of agency review comments.

Mr. Davis presented the Final Plat for Lot 20 of the West Branch Trade Center.   Mr. Davis stated that the plat would be used to record the subdivision proposed by the preliminary plan.  Staff recommended conditional approval of the plat.  On motion of Mr. Beaver, seconded by Ms. Graham, the Final Plat for Lot 20 of the West Branch Trade Center was conditionally approved, subject to the satisfaction of agency review comments.

Mr. Davis presented the Final Plat for Lots 21 and 22 of the West Branch Trade Center.  Mr. Fisher stated that the plat currently assigns the stormwater management facility to the City of Westminster, and that the City does not accept commercial and industrial stormwater management facilities.  Mr. Davis stated that staff recommends conditional approval of the plat.  On motion of Mr. Beaver, seconded by Ms. Graham, the Final Plat for Lots 21 and 22 of the West Branch Trade Center was conditionally approved, subject to the reassignment of the stormwater management facility to a private entity and the satisfaction of all agency review comments.

Mr. Davis presented the Final Plat for Lot 23 of the West Branch Trade Center.  Mr. Davis stated that staff recommends conditional approval of the plat.  On motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mr. Beaver, the Final Plat for Lot 23 of the West Branch Trade Center was conditionally approved, subject to the satisfaction of agency review comments.

Mr. Davis notified the Commission of an upcoming certificate course in urban planning offered by the Maryland Department of Planning and the University of Maryland.

Mr. Graf stated that an informational presentation on the Westminster Environs Community Comprehensive Plan is tentatively scheduled on the August agenda of the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission.

Ms. Bair suggested that a member of the Commission consider serving on the board of the Maryland Citizen Planners Association.

Mrs. Albert expressed her dissatisfaction with the proliferation of advertising on utility poles in the City.

Members of the Commission commented on the benefits of neighborhood block parties.

Ms. Graham stated that the Celebrate Local Heroes Festival would be held Sunday, August 14 at Dutterer Family Park.

On the motion of Ms. Graham, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

ERIK N. FISHER
SECRETARY