1/27/03

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0968dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Planning Commission Meeting Notes Occa"><U><B>Planning Commission Meeting Notes  - Occasional Meetings </B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=130 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbeck</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbec"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11/12/02"><U>11/12/02</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11/25/02"><U>11/25/02</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12/9/02"><U>12/9/02</U></A>   |   <B>1/27/03</B>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" 3/10/03"><U> 3/10/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3/24/03"><U>3/24/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9/8/03"><U>9/8/03</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=350 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>1/27/03</I></div> <div> When I arrived at the Planning Commission meeting they were discussing signs.  Present were John Taylor, chair, Larry Greenwell, Jim Raley, Lawrence Chase, Julie King, Steve Reeves, Joe St. Clair.  Steve Reeves was asking if the Planning Commission would be able to readdress these signs.  He was concerned that they would give status no signs that were put up “in the moonlight”. John Taylor said signs that are illegal have no standing under this proposed change.  The change is an attempt to protect the County from an economic disaster. </div> <div> Next came a 16 lot subdivision called Helen’s Retreat.  Larry Greenwell asked if Recs and Parks has yet resolve the issue of fee in lieu.  Billy Hicks said he has provided an outparcel of 1.4 acres for the homeowners’ association.  Jim Raley asked if there is an agreement in the plat.  Billy said they have large lots and people don’t want a rec area on large lots.  They will clear ½ acre around the stormwater management pond.  We don’t want to force them to have a recreation area.  On small lots they need a rec area, said Taylor, on larger lots they may not want it.  </div> <div> Larry Greenwell made a motion that indicated that stormwater management was met and he moved that the subdivision plan be approved with no further requirement.</div> <div> Next was the concept plan for a 12,000+ sq ft to talk about the Northern Senior Center in the Charlotte Hall Town Center zoned TMX.  Gary Whipple came to make the presentation.  Grimm said he believes that it meets the requirements.  It will have adequate public facilities by the time it is ready for final review.  Mr. Whipple is the project manager.  Gene Carter has been involved along with Jennie Paige and the North County Senior Center Council.  Daily attendance is higher at the North County Senior Center than at any other senior center in the County.  It will be a full service senior center.  He recited the history of the senior center.  There is 36 acres in the 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> Election District.  There is a two lane entrance drive, 55 parking spaces, stormwater management, the extension of public water, phone lines and electric water.  There will be an on site sewage disposal system.  Larry Greenwell said the north end of the County is long overdue.  Then he asked if they are using a stormwater management pond.  They said the final decision hasn’t been made.  He hopes we would use bioretention systems.  He is concerned about buffering for property owners.  It looks like there is “pretty good buffering”.  He wants those two properties well buffered.  Jim Raley asked how big the property is, and was told 37 acres and 4 ½ acres will be cleared.  He said the drawing looks like you have access to Route 6.  Whipple said the property has a 50 ft piece to Route 6, but this project won’t use that property.  Raley asked where they are meeting today and was told at All Faith Church.  They hope to issue a grading permit this spring and completed by Jun of FY ‘04.  The Budget is $2,000,000 Raley was told.  He asked if they are in need.  Pat Myers said they were at Mt. Zion, but now they are using a small hall and parts of a trailer.  They have a lot of activities running simultaneously and the noise is hard to deal with.  Raley asked if there had been any analysis of an interim location.  Pat said they tried to find other locations.  Julie King asked the capacity at peak use.  They don’t know.  They have many activities for short period of time.  Gene Carter said peak use would be a special event.  There could be as many as 150 people there at one time and there could be 4 or 5 of those events a year.  Carter said day to day there would be 40 or 50 at a time.  Carter said a substantial number of people who come are transported by STS.  He told King that 55 parking spaces should be enough.  Comm St. Clair asked where the number of handicapped spaces came from and was told there were 5.  St. Clair said his handicapped child has trouble getting a space.  He thinks there should be additional handicapped spaces close to the building.  Whipple said they could use the two end spaces.  Taylor said that staff has taken care of the questions of adequate facilities.  Gene Carter said the participation of the end users in the process helps to make this facilities more useful.  They spent weeks and months gathering signatures on a petition.  They looked at senior centers to identify the elements they wanted in their senior center.  Then they prepared their own floor plan.  They advocated for their place.  Mr Quade expressed his concern about a blind turn.  The increase in traffic on that road is a concern.  A public works truck came out of the driveway.  There seems to be a sight line problem.  He has a shallow well that didn’t fail.  He would hate to see that go bad because drain field problem.  Shelby Guazzo said it was time for this project.  The traffic has been a concern on this property.  She believes when other parcels are opened, the Whelan Road entrance should be opened up.  Whipple said the County conducted a meeting to address a whole host of issues.  The Department of Public Works did a traffic study and concluded that the visitors would not create a significant problem.  Level of Service B would remain Level B.  Jim Raley asked about the Quade property.  He said he wants to understand the dimensions of this property.  He was told the driveway will be 25 feet wide.  Raley asked if there were a way to work the proximity of the driveways out.  John Taylor said that’s the best you can do.  Taylor asked for a motion.  St. Clair said if this is a project that should return and Greenwell agreed.  Grimm said there is an issue about speed limits on this road.  This meets the requirements.  Taylor said it’s a matter of rights.  They met the requirements.  Raley said he would like to see further discussion on the ingress and egress.   Dennis (?) from DH Steffens said he would need guidance.  If he’s painted into a corner, he said, and he meets the ordinance, he may be wasting their time.  Larry Greenwell said they need bioretention.  Dennis said they haven’t done the soil borings for the bond.  They found 18 - 20 ft of gravel.  If he hits groundwater, he can’t drain the pond.  Taylor said they want the applicant to revisit biorention and sight lines.  Dennis suggested additional handicapped  parking spaces be included in the motion.  Jim Raley finally decided to try the motion.  He included that the project meets the requirements, final site plan approval should be conditioned on a smoother entrance-exit, that bioretention be included, That handicapped parking be increased, and the project returned to the PC for final approval.  </div> <bR> <div> The next item was the capital improvement program.  This year the process is to be different.  You’ve seen these programs in prior years so you should require a presentation.  They want direction in the form of a motion from the PC.  I left the room for a minute.  When I came back they were talking about the roads projects.  Mr. Erichsen said they approached the Reeves for an easement.  They have redesigned the road to meet a ten year storm and they won’t have to obtain and easement.  The rustic road program was only an idea at this time.  Other communities designate some roads as roads we don’t intend to improve.  Jim Raley said what is a rustic road.  Erichsen said that some roads won’t be improved.  Raley asked about the South County outdoor pool.  Phil Rollins said because the pool is being donated, the project in the capital budget has been deleted.  Mr Raley asked about a meeting in the higher education center.  One of the things about it is that if we held it at the local high school, we pay for it.  Does that show up as income in the Board of Education’s Budget as income.  Grimm said he thinks so.  Erichsen there is a feasibility study to take care of Pegg Road.  There are wetlands and wild lands issues.  Julie King asked about construction of the pool and wellness center at the College of Southern Maryland.  She was told it would be open to the public but managed by the College.  St. Clair asked about the Banneker Elementary School Roof renovation.  Brad Clements said they will reroof the sloped roof that has aged.  Grimm introduced Barne Wheeler and Steve King to talk about the Water Policy Task Force.  Barne said they are here to talk about three projects.  He thinks the Water Policy Task Force’s problem is that they report to the Commission on the Environment.  They were supposed to be on the BOCC agenda.  He offers them a briefing on the County’s potable water situation.  He said the Bottom line is that 2020 is when the County will reach a critical point with respect to water.  The project is to meter private wells.  The Maryland Geological Survey uses MetCom’s wells for decision.  Hanson of MGS said he needs to know how much water comes out of private wells.  The $4,000+ is to meter water.  He would like to have this in the mid year funding process.  The second project is an impoundment reservoir study.  The Corps of Engineers has 50% match money for this project.  This study will look at where impoundment reservoirs could be placed. $96,000+ will be required, but the Corps will pay half.  Project number three should be scheduled for 2005.  Dr. Hansen expects to complete the study in 2004.  Hansen will complete his models and then tell us how much water we can take from the aquifer without a crisis.  He thinks it will cost $30,000, but has $80,000 in the budget.  John Taylor noted that other counties use our aquifer.  Wheeler said other counties use the aquifers.  Taylor said how much good will it do if the other counties are using.  Wheeler said other counties should also be metered.  Steve King said the model would mostly benefit St. Mary’s County.  Taylor asked how many wells he wanted to meter.  King said 50 wells.  MetCom would install the meters and read them.  King said they don’t want to delay the Upper Patapsco Study.  Wheeler said the Water Policy Task Force has not gone to Hansen because they don’t know where the money would come from.  Raley said where does this money come from.  Wheeler said that he thought the item would be included in the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.  Grimm said he wanted to have Mr. Wheeler make the presentation.  He said if you want to make a recommendation for the mid year capital budget, that would get things under way.  Wheeler said the metering project is what he wants included.  Grimm said the Sewer and Water Plan calls for defining the water supply.  Greenwell asked if Hansen has the $34,000 and was told yes.  Raley asked whose problem is it?  Grimm said the Sewer and Water Plan is his.  Wheeler said there is not staff agency who is responsible.  King said this issue is a planning issue and should be under the auspices of Planning and Zoning.  This will impact land use when you talk about the size of the reservoirs.  Grimm said we have a model and he could recommend this project.  He thinks the Planning Commission can recommend this project, but someone has to present to the BOCC.  Taylor said he thinks it should be Planning & Zoning who get the money.  Taylor said we need to have Planning come back with a recommendation.  Grimm said putting this under the umbrella of the water and sewer plan is appropriate.  Greenwell said why only do the metering program.  We are behind the 8 ball on this.  Mrs. Kramer can find $44K.  Raley asked if it’s premature to make contact with Charles and Calvert.  Barne said he would do it.  Raley said he would like to have this go forward.  How important is the Feb 10 deadline, he asked.  Grimm said pretty important.  </div> <div> The next topic is historic preservation.  Julie King said historic preservation issues have been in the news.  She wanted to ask the Planning Commission to invite the Historic Preservation Commission to make a preservation.  She wanted to ask permission of the PC.  She noted that Mr. Jackman was supposed to do that but it got lost in the summer.  </div> <div> Next came Grimm with a policy that equates lots on private drives with dwellings on private drives.  He wants to ask them is they would consider making this like the 5 units in the Zoning Ordinance.  Mr Taylor said he received notice that the court has reversed the Board of Appeals on the McIntosh subdivision. The meeting was adjourned.     </div> </td> </tr></table></body>