MINUTES OF THE STRASBURG PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 22 2008, AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL.

Planning Commission members present:  Chairperson Smith and Commissioners Cromer, Davis, Dean, Kepler, and Terndrup. Others Present:  Planner Amos.

Chairperson Smith asked for the approval of the following minutes:

            February 26, 2008 – Regular Meeting

            March 13, 2008 – Worksession

            April 10, 2008 – Worksession

The minutes were approved as submitted.

Consent Agenda:

            Shenandoah Green Boundary Line Adjustment. 

The consent agenda passed as presented.

Action Item:

            Shenandoah Green Entrance Corridor Sign

Chairperson Smith said this was originally to be placed on the Consent Agenda to be denied, but the applicant had presented changes to the sign which now conforms to our ordinance.

Commissioner Cromer moved for the approval of the revised sign design; second by Commissioner Kepler.  The motion passed unanimously.

Discussion Item:

Proposed Application to Shenandoah County; Industrial Park

Planner Amos explained this application was presented last year and was a rezoning from M-1 to B-2.  Originally the entire 72 acres was asking to be rezoned, but there were problems with VDOT on that plan. The revised plan asks for ~47 acres be rezoned and have a special use permit for the shopping center.  Chairperson Smith said the County is asking the Town for comments and the County will be voting on this in June, 2008.  Planner Amos read from the site plan what is being proposed which is a museum, bank, restaurants, shopping center, hotels, office space, etc.  This is for a special use permit, but the County would like to have proffers.  VDOT seems to be happier with this proposal.  The County previously did not like the proposal because they did not want regular traffic with industrial traffic.  Commissioner Kepler said he may not like the connection to Radio Station Road.  Planner Amos said the County feels Radio Station Road is an industrial road and should only be used for industrial traffic.  The property will be into Town into about six or seven years. 

Commissioner Davis wanted to see more of the plan and the Commissioners gathered to look at the site plan. 

Commissioner Kepler would like to have a “complete storm water management report with an adequate outfall evaluation for 100 year storm as it runs down through Town” and into the Town Run; serious drainage is going on in this development and he doesn’t want it to affect areas in the historic district.  Water quality should be looked into also.  The development should be LEED certified and no more parking than absolutely necessary unless it is pervious.  Chairperson Smith wants to make sure this matches the Town’s Entrance Corridor Guidelines and landscaping guidelines.  The Commissioners all felt there should be more entrances into the commercial development.  More comments can be gotten to Planner Amos within the next week.  Commissioner Kepler asked if names of potential businesses coming were known, but Planner Amos said this is not known now.  Commissioner Kepler would also like to see several acres dedicated to the Fire Department for a satellite station.  Planner Amos said it may be more beneficial to list what the Town does not want rather than what we do want.  Commissioner Davis said anytime you have a development like this, the downtown area dies.  He added this is a land use issue.  Commissioner Kepler also would like to see the Colley Block connection and a bridge over the railroad at the Colley Block crossing.  Commissioner Terndrup would like to know what the B-2 zoning allows and Planner Amos will email this to the Commissioners

Sign Regulations:

Commissioners received a copy of the revisions made at the last meeting.  Notes on the additional changes were noted by Planner Amos and attached here-to.  Some of the suggestions were that the sign height needed to be better defined and also not to use monument signs for home occupations in a residential area.  Commissioner Kepler does not want individual subdivisions to have signs at the entrances, but Commissioner Davis feels apartment complexes and condominiums need to have names posted.  Modifying the setback requirements in the commercial districts was also discussed.

Chairperson Smith asked about Mr. Herd and Planner Amos will check in with him.

Commissioner Davis asked about a 6’ high board fence in Oxbow Estate; Planner Amos will look into this.

Chairperson Smith will not be at the next meeting so Commissioner Kepler will be chairing.

Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.