PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, March 24, 2004 Present: Mr. Brush, Mr. Harman, Dr. Walker, Ms. Russell, Mr. Bruguiere, Mr. Hoffman Absent: Ms. Proulx and Ms. Hunt PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION REVIEW/MARCKEL - Applicant Charles Marckel has submitted a plat to divide approximately 25.51 acres into 3 parcels - Parcel A 4.00 acres; Parcel B 4.56 acres and Parcel C 18.94 acres. The property is located at 20 Hedge Lane (approximately 600' from Rockfish Valley Highway - Rt.151). The property is zoned M-1 Limited Industrial. In addition, the applicant is requesting an exception from the Board of Supervisors for relief from upgrading Hedge Lane to County Road Standards (Class I). Besides the 3 parcels, an additional parcel has already been divided off and sold to a warehousing business. There is a residence also using Hedge Lane as their only access. With no public comment, Mr. Brush said that with industrial operations using the road, it could need improvement but said that that could wait for a site plan from the new owners. He said that improvements to the road could depend on what goes in there in the future. Ms. Russell asked if there is an existing road maintenance agreement. Mr. Marckel said that there is. Commissioners asked that that agreement be submitted for review with the final subdivision plat. Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the preliminary plat and to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they grant the road exception with a note on the plat that no building permits are to be issued for Parcel B until the road is brought up to county standards. (Parcel C is accessed from Mill Lane.) CORPORATE TRAINING CENTER DEFINITION - Following the Planning Commissioners' discussion at their March 10 meeting, Mr. Boger asked Mr. Payne (County Attorney) for clarification on the language of the draft definition. The new draft definition reads as follows: 1. Amendment to Appendix A, Zoning, Article I, adding Sec. 2-23.1, Corporate Training Center: Sec. 2-23.1 Corporate Training Center A commercial facility in which are offered instructional programs addressing organizational leadership and fostering organizational cohesiveness. Such facility may include lodging, dining and recreational amenities for those in attendance. (The maximum number of patrons at any given time shall not exceed fifty. 2. Amendment to Appendix A, Zoning, Article 4, under Subsection 4-1-a, entitled "Uses-Permitted by conditional use permit only" adding 4-1-20(a) Corporate Training Center. After discussion of the use of the word "commercial" and whether 4-1-20(a) is the correct section, Commissioners voted 6-0 to authorize staff to advertise the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance for public hearing. Commissioners then took public comment on the proposed amendment. Mr. Jim Raup asked the Commissioners to make sure that the definition would not allow any loopholes. Noting the recent article in the Charlottesville paper in which a representative from Orion said that their Corporate Training Facility could not operate without the Shotgun Sports Center, Mr. Raup said that the training facility is a façade behind which the shotgun sports center sits. CONCEPT PLAN/JENNY CREEK, LLC - Mr. Boger presented a concept plan for 29 lots ranging in size from .92 acres to 1.5 acres off Jenny Creek. Mr. Boger said that he wanted to get the Commissioners' thoughts on the plan prior to the applicant's submission for review. Dr. Walker asked whether the land would be cleared for the development and Mr. Boger said that is nothing there now. Dr. Walker said that the concept is unattractive and flies in the face of everything the county is trying to do. Mr. Bruguiere said that given the price of land in Nelson, this would be something that Nelson residents could afford. He said that it might not be desirable, but something the county might have to consider. Dr. Walker said that it is a fine idea for lower cost housing, but that she wished the developer would spend some of that profit to give the residents a chance to live in a good environment. Dr. Walker called the concept an urban ghetto in a rural area and said that we would end up with something that will be a drain on the county. Following a discussion of water requirements for the subdivision, Mr. Bruguiere noted that the plan for Piney River Phase III might include water, which could be close enough for the applicant to tie into that system. Mr. Boger noted that the applicant's previously submitted plan had included information on water availability for the subdivision. Meeting adjourned. The next meeting of the Planning Commission will be a Zoning Work Session on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00pm at the Courthouse. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OF INTEREST: -Final phase of the second annual "March on 56" takes place Saturday, March 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. The section of Rt. 56 between 151 and the Blue Ridge Parkway will be "un-littered." Keep Nelson Beautiful asks that volunteers meet at 9 a.m. at Fleetwood Community Center or Flippin Seaman to collect bags and register for prize drawing. Volunteers on this last segment are invited to stay for a light lunch at noon in Massies Mill, provided by the Blue Ridge Sierra Club. For more information, call Susan at 434-263-6714 or Paulette at 540-377-5754. - Benefit Dinner &Dance Party - Saturday, March 27 - Rockfish Valley Community Center to benefit The People United (info@thepeopleunited or 434.361.0243). Jamaican Dinner 6:30-8:30 by donation &Dance Party 8:30-12:30 sliding scale $3-$15. - Meeting of the Virginia Independent Consumers & Farmers Assocation - a discussion of promotion and preservation of free trade between farmers and consumers - in Shipman at 1:00pm on Sunday, April 4. Call 263.4946 for directions and information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This report, sent to over 550 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 (622 Front Street) Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 Email: info@ruralnelson.org www.ruralnelson.org