DRAFT
Planning
and Zoning Board
Minutes
Thursday,
August 16, 2007
7:00 p.m.
The Blowing Rock Planning and Zoning Board
met on Thursday, August 16, 2007 for their regular scheduled meeting. Chairman
West called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were Ron Mace,
Ada Webster, Nelda Miller, Albert Yount, Sue Sweeting, Web Alexander and Jim
Steele. Staff members present were Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, Town
Manager Scott Hildebran, Town Engineer Andy Lovingood and Administrative Assistant
Sherrie Pitts.
Ms.
Sweeting made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Mr.
Alexander. All members were in favor of the motion.
CUP
# 2007-08 Holli’s House of Biscuits Restaurant
Mr. Rothrock gave the staff report to the
board in reference to CUP# 2007-08. Mr. Wil Bailey is requesting a conditional
use permit to renovate the former Pearl China Restaurant into a new restaurant
named Holli’s House of Biscuits. The property has some nonconforming situations
such as parking lot landscaping, sidewalk and underground utilities that will
be improved to more closely meet the Land Use Ordinance. The coin laundry will
no longer be in operation with the proposed restaurant. The subject property is
zoned GB, General Business and is located at
Mr. Yount asked about the coin laundry that
had been in the lower level. Mr. Rothrock advised that it would not come back
in the building under this proposed CUP.
Mr. Yount inquired if the directional
driveways would conform to Department of Transportation standards. Mr. Rothrock
stated that it would meet the standards.
With no other questions of staff the floor
was opened to the applicant.
Mr. Wil Bailey, applicant, gave some
background about his family and the restaurant. Mr. Bailey explained what his
plans were for the proposed restaurant.
Mr. Steele asked if there were steps to get
from the upper parking lot to the lower lot or if patrons would have to walk
down the driveway. Mr. Bailey stated that there were concrete steps down the
side of the building.
Ms. Sweeting questioned if the back steps
were to be used. Mr. Bailey commented that they would not be used but would be
an accessible fire exit. The step foundation would be repaired.
Ms Sweeting asked if the dumpster would be
screened. Mr. Bailey advised that it would be screened and includes a gate
across the front.
Ms. Sweeting had questions about the handicap
parking spaces and the handicap ramp.
Mr. Bailey said that the ramp is already
there but will be adjusted to meet the code. The parking spaces will meet code.
Mr. Yount wanted to know if a time frame was
planned for the dumpster to be emptied. Mr. Bailey advised that he had talked
with the GDS trash service and had it arranged for pickup on Mondays when the
restaurant was closed.
With no other questions of the applicant the
floor was opened to the public.
Mr. David Cox, resident, had some questions
and comments about the laundry mat, impact fees and the concern that it will be
cost prohibitive for any other laundry to return to the Town.
Mr. Hildebran, town manager, addressed the
question of impact fees and that at the time they paid what was required. There
is no transfer on those fees to other property.
With no other comment or questions the floor
was closed to public comment.
Ms. Sweeting made a motion to approve with
the stipulation that the propane tank is screened or painted. Ms. Webster
seconded the motion. All members were in favor of the motion.
Mr. Steele proposed the subcommittee study
parking issues such as number of spaces, square footage of spacing and required
spaces per business type in the CB district.
Mr. Rothrock mentioned that a consultant had
been hired to look at the Land Use Code ordinance and help clean up verbiage
and repair problem areas to make the code easier to read and understand. Mr.
Rothrock also asked the board members to look over the book and provide their
own list to the zoning subcommittee.
The zoning subcommittee planned a meeting
date for Monday August 27 at 3:00 pm.
Mr. Mace asked what had happened with the
news racks at the Town Council meeting.
Mr. Rothrock told the board that three
locations had been chosen; 1- Gossip Park, 2- Post Office, 3- Museum at the
edge of the park. The boxes will be modular and all other boxes in CB and OI
have to be removed by January 1 2008.
Mr. Rothrock also advised that the tree
ordinance was adopted with one change of no restriction to tree cutting in the
single-family districts.
Ms. Sweeting made a motion to adjourn. Mr.
Yount seconded the motion. All
members were in favor.
With
no further business the Planning Board adjourned at 7:55 PM.
______________________________
______________________________
Jim
West, Chairman Sherrie
Pitts, Administrative Assistant