MEETING OF THE EATON PLANNING BOARD
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006
AT 7:00 P.M., IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
The Eaton Planning Board met in regular session in Council Chambers on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at 7:00 p.m.
The roll was called and the following were found to be:
Present: Ron Coleman
Stanley Spencer
Tim Lane
Harold Geeting
Steve Deffner
Gary Wagner
Tom Jordan
Also in attendance were Projects Manager Joe Ferriell, Mayor Bob Stonecash and Acting Law Director Rebecca Ferguson.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the August 8, 2006 meeting were read. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Ron Coleman and seconded by Harold Geeting. The motion passed as follows:
Ayes: Coleman, Lane, Geeting, Wagner, Jordan (5)
Nays: None
Abstain: Spencer, Deffner (2)
SWEARING IN:
All members of the audience anticipating to testify before the Board were asked to raise their right hand and be sworn in. The secretary administered the oath or affirmation to the audience.
PB-06-04 - Conditional Use - Norma J. Stapleton - 112 East Main Street:
The applicant has applied for a Conditional Use permit to be allowed to construct a Restaurant/Tavern from the existing structure in the ‘C-3’. Central Commercial District. Current use Business/Retail/Upper level residential.
Dirk Earley was present to represent the applicant. The owner of the building has a liquor permit from a previous business and would like to utilize it here at her new business. Under the new UDO the sale of alcohol constitutes a Bar/Tavern use instead of a Restaurant and would require a Conditional Use application. At this time the building is rented to the Preble County Democratic Party for the next couple of months, so renovations would not take place until after the election in November.
Their plans are to create something like an old 50’s café/diner that would serve food and alcohol would also be available.
The fact that the Bar/Tavern would be required to be in a fully enclosed sound-resistant building was discussed. Per Mr. Earley, at this time they do not have any site plans drawn up but, the side walls of the building are 12” to 16” inches of masonry. They are just planning on using the front two units of the building for the Bar/Tavern.
Chairman Jordan was concerned as to how many patrons would be allowed in the building at one time. Mr. Earley said that without a design plan to show the exact square footage, Mr. Wehrley had guessed somewhere around 30 to 35 people. It will be a small establishment.
No signage plans had been presented to the Planning Board at this time nor had the proposed sign been presented to the Historic Review Board. Mr. Earley said that they were aware of these requirements but he had not received anything from the applicant so far. He understands that it will basically be the same thing as the previous sign for the carpet store.
Chairman Jordan asked Mr. Earley if there was someone living in the rear of the building and using it as a residence? Mr. Earley said that as far as he knew, that was not true. It was made clear that having a residence in the back would be illegal.
Mr. Earley told the Board that their plans were to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then close early in the evening. They are not going to be open for late bar hours.
Mr. Wagner stated that since the building is rented for the next two months and since they did not have a sign for the Historical Review Board to approve, the application should be tabled for this month. They will not be starting any renovations until November and this would give them a chance to do what they need to do properly. Once everything is complete it could be put back on the Board’s agenda for October or November.
Chairman Jordan said that the sign, sound-resistant building, hours of operations and what kind of activities will take place there, such as bands will need to be spelled out before anything is approved. They will need to get with the Building Department and show us that they will be able to have and contain that type of activity in that small of a structure.
It was brought to the Board’s attention that if this was just a restaurant and would not serve liquor, then it would not have to come before the Board for a Conditional Use because the restaurant would be a permitted use. However, they want it to be known as a restaurant that serves liquor. They do plan to open it for breakfast, lunch and early dinner and to have the décor the same as the old ‘Sweet Shop.’ They are thinking of being open from 6:00 a.m. until around 7:00 p.m. and they are aware that the Board can restrict the hours.
Gary Wagner made a motion to table this application until the October Planning Board meeting so they have ample time to comply with the above requests of hours, sound-resistant building, design plan and the signage that needs to be approved by the Historical Board prior to the October meeting. Ron Coleman seconded this motion and it passed as follows:
Ayes: Coleman, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Coleman asked if there was anything new on the house to the south of Fifth Third Bank on North Barron Street? Mr. Ferriell will look into this and be back with the Board at the next scheduled meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
None
ADJOURN:
Harold Geeting made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Tim Lane and passed as follows.
Ayes: Coleman, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
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Secretary Chairman