Minutes 11-23-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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45 cars per acre are permitted in the economic development districts in the general commercial district. He said the proposed amendment is a compromise. Chair McKee said there should be equity between the lots. He referred to the two examples in the packet and said it would seem more reasonable to allow a bit more density in the number of vehicles rather than forcing the owner to go through what he would assume is a Class A special use permit process to change a business to a commercial zone. Michael Harvey said a number limit had to be chosen and if the Board would like to see a higher number, it should direct staff and the Planning Board accordingly. Chair McKee asked if there is an existing commercial property designation. Michael Harvey said yes and would require going through the rezoning process. Chair McKee said this is to what he was referring. Michael Harvey said this would require a property owner to petition for a legislative hearing asking the Board to rezone their property as general commercial. Commissioner Burroughs asked if there are challenges that exist with the lots having excess cars, such as emergency vehicle access or parking cars over septic tanks. Michael Harvey said concerns include access, use of required parking spaces for the display of vehicles, adequate buffering and open space, quantity of impervious surfaces, etc. He said it is a balancing act between allowing a business to flourish and insuring that there is adequate area to support the business. Commissioner Burroughs said the question is to find the right number of vehicles. Michael Harvey said it is more about finding the right percentage of land usage for cars that can allow for the business to safely operate. Chair McKee referred to one of the properties in the PowerPoint presentation and asked if the storage area would be screened. Michael Harvey said yes. He said the cars in the screened area would be those that are not yet ready for sale and would allow them to be screened from view. Chair McKee said he accepted the rationale for the screening but does not necessarily agree with it. Michael Harvey said the goal of the screened area is to provide a space for vehicles that are not counted in the number of allowable allotment of vehicles displayed for sale per site. Commissioner Rich asked if the building on page 36 is a person's home. Michael Harvey said no, it is a commercial business with a residential property next door. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the idea behind this text amendment is that it is currently too difficult to enforce the existing rules to keep people from parking in the right of way or encroaching on neighboring properties. Michael Harvey said no, the problem is two-fold: the first issue is that there is a feeling that the 12-vehicle limit is too arduous; the second issue is to determine what number of vehicles is acceptable. He said staff picked a number that it deemed reasonable which could be more or less. He said a middle ground is being sought. He said it is also important to insure some level of equity across zoning districts. Commissioner Dorosin asked if a complaint came in regarding the number of cars in an area, where is there is currently no regulation on the number of cars, is there an enforcement mechanism by which the County can go out and address the concern. Michael Harvey said yes. Commissioner Dorosin asked if this is being done. Michael Harvey said yes. Commissioner Dorosin asked if it would be easier to have no vehicle limits across the board and simply respond to concerns as they arise. Michael Harvey said easy is a loaded word. He said this idea would help address the equity issue and would be viewed as more reasonable. He said allowing a storage area for