Planning Commission Pre-Meeting Summary for November 13, 2025
Planning Commission Pre-Meeting and Public Hearing - November 13, 2025
The Planning Commission convened for a pre-meeting and subsequent public hearing on November 13, 2025, to review six applications, establish the agenda order, and conduct public testimony. The meeting featured updates on comprehensive planning, a new staff member introduction, and decisions on continuances and the consent agenda. The Commission ultimately approved the consent agenda items, which included two McDonald's drive-through applications, a pump station replacement, and a communication tower project.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the October 8, 2025, meeting minutes by unanimous consent.
- Placement of the following items on the consent agenda for approval:
- PLN-USC-2025-019: McDonald's Drive Through (1401 22nd Street) - Conditional use permit for outdoor amplified speakers and front yard setback deviations.
- PLN-SPEX-2025-003: McDonald's Drive Through (1401 22nd Street) - Special exception for parking and three points of access.
- PLN-USC-2025-035: Dozier's Corner Pump Station Replacement (1109 Keats Street) - Conditional use permit to replace the station; approved for concurrent advertising.
- PLN-USC-CT-2025-005: Jollif Road Communication Tower (2305 Jolliffe Road) - Conditional use permit for a 199-foot tower for the city's private LTE network.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Pillar Martin: Addressed agenda items 1 and 2 (McDonald's); indicated availability for questions only (position not explicitly stated in transcript, but participation confirms engagement with the items).
- Woody Gibson: Spoke in support of item number 4 (Jollif Road Communication Tower).
- Harvey Miller: Spoke in support of item number 4 (Jollif Road Communication Tower).
- Staff (Ms. Neal): Reported no letters of support were received from the South Norfolk Civic League regarding the McDonald's item during the pre-meeting.
Discussion Items
- Continuance Requests:
- Staff requested an indefinite continuance for PLN-TXT-2025-007 (South Norfolk Design Guidelines) to align zoning with historic guidelines.
- Applicant requested a 30-day continuance for PLN-SUBV-2025-003 (3233 Pioneer Lane Subdivision Variance) regarding reduced frontage depths; staff was amenable.
- Comprehensive Plan Updates (Mr. McNamara/Mr. Finn):
- Deep Creek Area Plan: Latest draft under review; public draft and community meeting anticipated for early January.
- Western Branch Area Plan: Finalizing RFP for consultant; project kick-off expected in early January.
- Master Transportation Plan: Minor changes being finalized; two community meetings scheduled for December 3rd (Green Bar Library) and December 8th (Major Hillary Library).
- New Planner Introduction: Enzo Lundy introduced as a senior planner focusing on infrastructure, connectivity, and the Western Branch plan.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Ms. Neal reported on a request to treat most zoning violations as civil penalties rather than criminal penalties.
- Meeting Cancellation: Discussion to cancel the November 26, 2025, meeting due to lack of business.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Continue Items: A vote of 8 to 0 carried to continue PLN-TXT-2025-007 (indefinitely) and PLN-SUBV-2025-003 (to December 10, 2025).
- Consent Agenda Approval: The consent agenda items (1, 2, 3, and 4) were approved by a vote of 8 to 7.
- Adjournment: The November 26, 2025, meeting was canceled by unanimous consent. The commission adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
- Next Steps: Consent agenda items will be heard by City Council on November 18, 2025. Public hearings regarding the items on the consent agenda will be forwarded to City Council next month.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. The planning commission pre-meeting for November thirteenth, twenty twenty five is now in session. Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight. Thank you for taking part in the business of our city. First order of business uh tonight is the agenda overview discussion. We have a total of six applications, of which right now one application is for continuance or withdrawal. So Mr. Bostwick, would you please uh provide the commission with an overview of the uh application? Yes, thank you. Good evening, Commissioners. Tonight the continuance item uh at staff's request is PLN dash TXT dash twenty twenty-five dash zero zero seven regarding the South Norfolk design guidelines, and staff is requesting an indefinite continuance. Thank you, Mr. Bostwick. Commissioners, uh anyone have any comments or questions regarding this item? All right, so without any objection, this item will be placed on the continuance portion of the agenda. I'm sorry, one word. Yes. And we did receive a request for a continuance for item number six, which is subdivision variants, and Mr. Hannigan will address that when it comes up in the pre-meeting agenda. All right, thank you, Mr. Bostwick. All right, so next we'll review the items, uh, the remaining items and determine placement on either our consent agenda or a regular agenda. So the first item, items one and two, McDonald's drive-through South Norfolk. Ms. Neal, any updates. Good evening, Commissioners. No updates on this item, and we didn't receive one letter in support from the South Norfolk Civic League. Thank you, Ms. Neal. Commissioners, any conflicts with these applications? Any questions for staff? Any discussion? Hearing none, any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda? All right, items one and two will be placed on the consent agenda. All right, next item is item three. Uh no updates, and we haven't received any public comment on that one. All right, thanks. Commissioners, any conflicts? Any questions for staff? Any discussion? Any objection to placing on the consent agenda? All right. Okay, great. Thank you, Ms. Ott. Any commissioners have uh conflicts with this application. Any questions for staff? Any discussion? Any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda? All right.
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