MEETING OF THE EATON PLANNING BOARD
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2008
AT 7:00 P.M., IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
The Eaton Planning Board met in regular session in Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
John Ott, new member of the Planning Board, was sworn in by Mayor Stonecash.
The roll was called and the following were found to be:
Present : John Ott
Stanley Spencer
Tim Lane
Harold Geeting
Steve Deffner
Gary Wagner
Tom Jordan
Also in attendance were Projects Manager Joe Ferriell, Mayor Bob Stonecash, Law Director Jill Allen and Public Works Supt. Andy Eddy.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the January 8, 2008 meeting were read. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Tim Lain and seconded by Harold Geeting. The motion passed as follows:
Ayes: Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (6)
Nays: None
Abstain: Ott (1)
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.
Z-08-01 - Zoning Amendment - H & F Real Estate Holdings - 200 Eaton-Lewisburg Road:
The applicant has applied for a Zoning Amendment to rezone lots 1714 and 1715, from ‘R-3’ Multi-Family Residential to ‘C-1’ General Commercial District.
Ernest Hatmaker was present to represent this application. Mr. Hatmaker told the Board that their plans for the building are to turn it into an office complex. There will be no residents in the building, only offices.
Joe Ferriell, Projects Manager, gave the staff review and said that it would be a good fit for the new zoning district. He stated that the Comp. Plan also stated that the recommended use for this area to be Suburban Regional Commercial and Office. Fire Chief Royer has looked at the application and parking provided and has no concerns.
The Board indicated that having this building occupied would cut down on the vandalism that has been a problem with it sitting empty. It would also have a positive impact on the area.
Gary Wagner made a motion to give a favorable recommendation to Council for the change. The motion was seconded by Steve Deffner and passed as follows:
Ayes: Ott, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
PB-08-01 - Conditional Use Application - Paul Shyers - 816 E. Main Street:
The applicant has applied for a Conditional Use permit to be allowed to sell fire arms at 816 East Main Street. The present zoning at this address is ‘R-1B’ Suburban Residential and used as a home.
Mr. Paul Shyers was present to represent his application. He has sold fire arms out of catalogues from his home for 35 years. Due to health problems he failed to correctly renew his fire arm license in the time allotted. In order to get a new license he was required by ATF and by the City of Eaton, to have a Conditional Use approved by the City Planning Board. He is the only person conducting this business from his residence.
Projects Manager, Joe Ferriell, gave staff review and he is following the requirements of the Unified Development Ordinance for the City. This would be a one (1) year approval and renewed for three (3) year periods thereafter. This Conditional Use does not transfer to a subsequent owner of the dwelling, nor shall it transfer with the owner to another location.
Stanley Spencer made a motion for approval of the application. The motion was seconded by Harold Geeting and passed as follows:
Ayes: Ott, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
MR-08-01 - MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION - LAYMASTER/ BRANDENBURG - 101 Rocky Run Drive:
The applicant has applied for a Minor Subdivision to split Lot #138 from the existing lot and sell a new tract to Eaton Compressor. The new track will be accessible from Rocky Run Drive and will be sold as a new building site.
Brad Kramer of Kramer & Associates was present to represent this application. Charles Brandenburg, Willard Laymaster, Doug Kramer of Kramer & Associates, Matt Cain, proposed buyer and John Buckley, builder, were also present.
This will be a 10 acre tract that will include the present fairgrounds drive. The proposed 10 acre trace will have frontage on a public road, Rocky Run Drive. Rocky Run Drive was part of the original subdivision that was created 10 years ago. The new tract will house a new 40,000 sq. ft. facility for Eaton Compressor. There will be a relocation and reconstruction of the present fairgrounds drive, which has been planned for some time. It was part of the proposal, ten years ago, to relocate that drive; it was never intended to be there on a permanent basis. It has always been considered a private drive with an easement to the fairgrounds. The new drive would be a private drive, named for Marvin Cain, Matt Cain’s late father, and would also carry the same easement as it now does. This would all be drawn out at a later date in the final site plan for this project.
The plans are to leave as much of the natural buffering that they can and to add some evergreens to enhance the area next to the homes on Wynona Drive. The road improvements will come around the curve and align with the existing north south alignment of the driveway.
Alice McMann, executive director of the Council of Aging, addressed the Board with her concerns about some time in the future, needing another egress from their property on East St. Clair Street. The Council of Aging want to make sure that they still have the option to have this additional exit away from the Nation Avenue traffic.
Katie Worthington, of the Preble County Prosecutors Office, was present to represent the County Commissioners. At this time they are the ones with the easement rights from Rocky Run to the fairgrounds. The only concern of the Commissioners is that they always have that access and it will be available the week of the Preble County Fair and the weekend of the Preble County Pork Festival.
Matt Cain addressed the Board and said that he has been in discussion with Brookville, Ohio they already have the roads and infrastructure already in place and said that he, and many other people in Eaton, are wondering why the City can’t provide similar options. Chairman Jordan stated that this would have to be discussed in other meetings, tonight the Board is limited to only reviewing the Minor Subdivision Application.
Projects Manager, Joe Ferriell, informed the Board that staff doesn’t have any problems or concerns about the split. It meets all of the requirements for a preliminary Minor Subdivision.
A motion for approval of this application was made by Gary Wagner and seconded by Harold Geeting. This motion passed as follows:
Ayes: Ott, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
MSP-08-01 - Major Site Plan Application - Eaton Compressor & Fabrication - 101 Rocky Run Drive:
The applicant has applied for approval of a major site plan (preliminary), to construct a building for Eaton Compressor, located at 101 Rocky Run Drive. Currently the location is a bare lot. The new building will be approximately 40,000 sq. ft. on a newly created lot of approximately 10 acres.
Brad Kramer of Kramer & Associates will also represent this application for Matt Cain, CEO and President of Eaton Compressor. Everything is preliminary at this time and the final engineering has not yet started yet. Mr. Cain wants to make sure that what he is proposing will be approved by this Board and that everyone involved with this thinks it is a good idea and venture.
With the location of this new tract they will be able to access the utilities that are needed. There will be more than enough space to provide storm water detention. In this 10 acre tract there will be room for future expansion of the building, plenty of room to provide tractor and truck turn around and more than enough space left for employee parking. This preliminary approval will be contingent upon engineering staff approving the final construction drawings.
After some discussion with the Board, the board determined that final approval would be done in house by the engineering staff.
Gary Wagner made a motion to approve the Major Site Plan and to have the final Site Plan to be approved by City Staff. The motion was seconded by Harold Geeting and passed as follows:
Ayes: Ott, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Brad Kramer approached the Board representing Jim Frizzell, Frizzell Construction, with a new project they are undertaking to develop 60 acres of recently purchased land on East Avenue just north of Lexington Road. At this time the land is in the County and would require annexation before the project would go further. They are approaching this Board to get guidance or recommendations as to what the City might like to see. The first phase would involve just part of the 60 acres to see if there is really a need in the community for this type of housing. City utilities are all in reach, water, sanitary and storm. They are discussing having a Home Owners Association for this project.
The Board did discuss that if this project went forth, they would like to have a traffic sturdy done on East Avenue. Doug Kramer said that one had been done when they were putting Buckeye Drive in and that it might be a good idea to do it again. He feels that the two lanes that are presently there would be able to handle all of the traffic this subdivision would produce.
They are planning on having $150,000 to $180,000 being the price points for these homes.
City Manager, Dave Daily, address the Board to discuss the Comprehensive Development for this development. We are at this time doing studies to discuss proposed future zoning of the land around the northern portion of the City. A traffic study is being conducted at this time. Mr. Daily stated that he will come back to the Board with a draft and discuss the findings of the study and discuss making some changes to the Comprehensive Development for the City.
He also indicated the need to be careful when thinking about doing any future annexation. We need to look at the water system and the sewer plant. Changes have been made to the Water Tower that will take the City 20, 30 years in the future, but we still have an aging waste water plant. We have started to do a study on that. Right now there are approximately 500-600 acres of undeveloped land within the limits of the City.
OLD BUSINESS:
PB-06-04 - Conditional Use - Norma J. Stapleton - 112 East Main Street - Restaurant/Tavern:
Gary Wagner made a motion to resend this Conditional Use due to the facts that the applicant failed to meet the requirements of the Conditional Use. Harold Geeting seconded the motion and it passed as follows:
Ayes: Ott, Spencer, Lane, Geeting, Deffner, Wagner, Jordan (7)
Nays: None
The Draft for changes to 1105.05 - Historic District, was passed out. Board members were asked to review them and prepare to discuss the changes at the next scheduled Planning Board Meeting.
Harold Geeting said that he discussed the concept of the Planning Board taking over this duty and no one had any problem with it. Due to fact that there are very few requests, it is hard to get the Historical Review Board together on short notice. Having it be part of the Planning Board should help everyone.
ADJOURN:
A motion to adjourn was made by Tim Lane and seconded by Steve Deffner. Motion passed and meeting was adjourned.
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Secretary Chairman