Minutes 09-15-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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78 applying to go under 1-40 is the same amount of water in Cates Creek a mile down the road, and the Applicant is refining FEMA's model, which has an impact on the actual flood plain on the property. Commissioner Price referred to the design elements, and said she is concerned about the weakness of that language. She said it is important to have buildings that are compatible with the surrounding areas. She said she is also concerned about buffers, which were recommended to be 100 feet by staff, but the Applicant says will be 50 feet. She asked if the Applicant would consider having 100-foot buffers, as recommended by staff. Michael Birch said no, as there are significant sire reasons as to why this cannot happen around the entire property. Commissioner Price asked if that is due to a desire for maximum build out. Michael Birch said no, it is due to other site constraints, the location of features on the site, like the flood plain and the Duke Energy easement to the south. He said the impacts are significant when applying 100-foot buffers, given things that cannot move. Commissioner Price said the Applicant could decrease its floor space. Michael Birch said the project has already committed to 25% of green space, which is more than is required. Commissioner Price referred to the property on Davis Road, and said to assume Davis Road access was not permissible. She asked if this land would still be developed, just without the road. Michael Birch said yes. Commissioner Price said there is buffer and land in the middle, and asked if there is a way to connect these two to allow for a bio-corridor. Michael Birch said there is a north south connection due to the tributary, and the County's enhanced flood plain buffer. Commissioner Marcoplos referred to the southern plot of land that is currently zoned rural buffer/residential, and that the Applicant would still want to use that land even if the road access is denied. He said this portion of land was not part of the original EDD, and it is zoned residential 1. Chair Rich asked if it is zoned rural buffer. Michael Harvey clarified by using the map, by saying there is a 26,000 square foot portion of the property is zone rural buffer. He said the majority of the land is zoned rural residential. He said the Applicant has said this portion of the property will remain rural buffer. Commissioner Greene said she is still concerned about the Davis Road property. She said there is a future land use map for this area, that has the two parcels in the EDD, but has the Davis Road parcel zoned as a suburban use. She said she would like to know more about the building that is going to be in the Davis Road parcel, and if it will be a warehouse, more office like, and if there is a reason it has to be 60-feet tall. Michael Birch said the Applicant would work with staff to work on reducing the height of that building along Davis Road. Commissioner Greene said if truck traffic can be diverted off of Davis, then the next step is to insure that the building near Davis has a more office/suburban feel, rather than warehouse. Commissioner Greene said it is 11:07 p.m., and she wants to make sure the Board will have opportunity at the next meeting to go through these conditions with a fine toothcomb. Chair Rich said yes, the agenda for October 6I" is mostly dedicated to this conversation. Chair Rich said it is important that there be fairly opaque buffers on the southern and western parts of this property, to allow a clear separation. Chair Rich said there appears to be a committee of property owners that will discuss what kinds of designs are used, along with conditions recommended by the Applicant. She asked if further clarification can be given about this committee, and possibly some building samples for the Board to review, at the Board's next meeting.