Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - April 21, 2020
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Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - April 21, 2020
The Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission met electronically on April 21, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. The meeting was closed to the public; residents watched on GTV9 or the city website and submitted comments via email or by registering to speak remotely. The commission considered eight agenda items, including rezoning requests, preliminary subdivision plats, and ordinance amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Unanimously approved minutes from the February 18, 2020, meeting (roll call vote).
- Continuances: Unanimously granted continuances for Item #3 (Amy A. Edwards ordinance) and Item #5 (Happy Trail Farms ordinance) at the applicant's request.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item #4 (Rezoning of 15.0936 acres from RA20 to R6ARU): Opponents, including representatives of People's Baptist Church, Greenville Christian Academy, and residents of Red Oak subdivision, raised concerns about increased traffic on Greenville Boulevard, safety for school children and church activities, potential crime, and decreased property values. They submitted a petition with 233 signatures and an email with 54 signatures. Supporters (applicant Ken Malpus, developer Rocky Russell, and property owner John Moy) argued the rezoning complies with the land use plan, would limit development to single-family and duplex homes, and that the church had previously failed to purchase the property.
- Item #6 (Preliminary plat for Barrington Fields, Sections 2-4): No public opposition was registered, but a letter from Mike Baldwin (representing an adjacent landowner) was read into the record opposing the lack of a required street stub-out for interconnectivity.
- Item #7 (Preliminary plat for Ridgeway Farms cluster subdivision): Concerns were raised by Providence Place HOA president Aaron Sear and by written comments about stormwater drainage, traffic on Thomas Langston Road, pedestrian safety, ecological impact, and flood risks. The applicant Brian Fagundis addressed stormwater detention and buffer preservation.
- Items #8, #9, #10: No public comments were received for the flood damage prevention ordinance, mixed-use institutional zoning district, or the future land use map amendment.
Discussion Items
- Item #4 (Rezoning – John F. Moore Sr. Heirs): Staff planner Brad Seve presented the proposal, noting compliance with the Horizons 2026 plan. The property is vacant and located south of Greenville Boulevard. The rezoning would permit medium-density residential (R6ARU) with restrictions limiting development to single-family and duplex homes. The developer planned a duplex community. After extensive public comment, the commission debated the relevance of private negotiations and land use plans. A motion to recommend approval passed 7-1.
- Item #6 (Barrington Fields Preliminary Plat): Staff explained that the plat lacked a required street stub-out to the western boundary for interconnectivity, as mandated by subdivision ordinance 9-5-81B. Staff recommended denial. The applicant argued that wetlands prevented the stub-out and that a waiver had been mistakenly approved by staff. The commission upheld the requirement and unanimously voted to deny the plat.
- Item #7 (Ridgeway Farms Preliminary Plat): Staff recommended approval, stating the plat met all technical requirements. The applicant noted the development would include 121 single-family lots plus a future multifamily tract, with stormwater detention and traffic impact analysis planned. After public comments, the commission approved the plat unanimously.
- Item #8 (Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Text Amendment): Stormwater engineer Daryl Norris presented updates to adopt new FEMA flood insurance rate maps and align with the state model ordinance. Optional changes to earn Community Rating System points included lowering the substantial damage/improvement threshold to 49% and requiring non-conversion agreements for elevated structures over four feet. The amendment was approved unanimously.
- Item #9 (Mixed-Use Institutional Zoning District): Staff presented a new zoning district for use by universities, hospitals, or similar institutional entities, primarily to support ECU's Millennial Campus. The district would allow mixed-use development under a master plan with additional oversight. ECU representative Fred Floyd spoke in support. The commission approved the amendment unanimously.
- Item #10 (Future Land Use Map Amendment – 320 Enterprises LLC): Staff planner Shantae Gooby described the request to bring 8.3 acres from Simpson's ETJ into Greenville's ETJ, splitting the property into commercial (3 acres) and high-density residential (5.3 acres). The property is adjacent to Walmart on East 10th Street; the developer plans multifamily workforce housing. The amendment was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item #4 (Rezoning – John F. Moore Sr. Heirs): Approved 7-1 (motion to recommend approval consistent with the comprehensive plan).
- Item #6 (Barrington Fields Preliminary Plat): Denied unanimously due to failure to provide required street stub-out.
- Item #7 (Ridgeway Farms Preliminary Plat): Approved unanimously.
- Item #8 (Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Text Amendment): Approved unanimously.
- Item #9 (Mixed-Use Institutional Zoning District Ordinance): Approved unanimously.
- Item #10 (Future Land Use Map Amendment – 320 Enterprises LLC): Approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
We're live? Yes, sir. Great, great. Everybody, welcome to the April 21st. Uh Planning and Zoning Commission. We're operating under some new procedures, so please be patient with us, and we're going to read some instructions to you right to begin with. In compliance with the fourth proclamation of emergency COVID, Section 3 that was issued by Mayor PJ Conley on April 13, 2020. The planning and zoning meeting shall be closed to the public and held by electronic means. Tonight, the commission will adopt procedures as to how public comments will be received. This is item number two on the agenda. Members of the public can watch the meeting live on GTV9 or via the city's website at Greenville NC.gov. Staff has forwarded comments to the commission members that will receive via email. Speakers that wish to address the commission will be held in queue and will speak in order that they registered with the clerk's office. If a person participating remotely willfully disrupts the meeting, then upon direction by the chair, the person may be removed from electronic participation, or his or her email may not be read. To our members and staff to avoid crosstalk, please announce your name and be recognized by the chair to speak. Each member will be polled individually for their vote. The roll call order will be used to record votes. If a member does not vote, then that vote will be recorded as a vote against the motion. The planning and zoning commission is a public body established by the Greenville City Council pursuant to North Congenal Statute. The commission makes final decisions on preliminary subdivision plots and makes recommendations to the city council on rezonings, text amendments, ETJ extensions, street closings, street name changes involving honorary designations, and comprehensive plan amendments which include text and map amendments. The planning and zoning meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 o'clock p.m. The format we will follow. There are nine total members on the planning and zoning. There are seven regular members of that nine. Two are alternates. We must have five for a quorum and a simple majority to pass on any motion. The alternate motion, excuse me, the alternate members only vote in the absence of a regular member. The chair only votes in the event of a tie. For each agenda item, a hearing public will be held not to exceed 30 minutes for each item from each side. The staff will first be requested to present background information and facts relative to the item of business. Then the applicant will have a total of five minutes to present his or her case. Staff comment uh can comment for additional comments if they if they choose to do so. Then those that speak in favor of application will have three minutes each to speak. Then the opposition can have a designated representative speak for a total of five minutes, and then each person thereafter in opposition will have a total of three minutes to speak. There will be no rebuttal time, and the comment should be uh kept to new information so as not to be repetitive. Please note that reference to a specific plan of development or specific land use, either verbally or by way of illustration, is not relevant and will not be considered. And with that in mind, I'd call us to uh for the invitation, and if you would please uh bow your head. Lord, we thank you for this day and opportunity to once again gather. We ask that you be mindful of those who are sick and and and from the disease of COVID 19, but also others. We ask that you give your blessings to each of those. We ask that you give us patience and the wisdom to make the correct decision after weighing all those who have an interest involved. We ask that you give your special blessing to all the first respondents that operate on our behalf, including the EMTs and the firefighters and law enforcement officers and medical staff and doctors who are on the front lines combating this COVID-19. We ask that you give those special blessings to all of those and keep them safe. We ask you keep all the members of our community safe and healthy and well that you come for those that are in need. In your precious name we pray, amen. All right, uh, Miss Smith, would you please do the roll call? Here can you hear me? Yes, Chris Darden here. Les Robinson here, Michael Overton. Hat Maxwell, Brian Collins.
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