11/12/02

<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> <B>11/12/02</B>   |   <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>   |   <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1/27/03"><U>1/27/03</U></A>   |   <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>11/12/02</I></div> <div> When I arrived at the Planning Commission meeting of November 12 Jon Grimm, Director of Planning and Zoning was telling the Planning Commission that their input on the County's Capital Improvement Plan is an attempt to do strategic planning.  The Planning Commission will provide recommendations after the first of the year.  Planning Commissioner Jim Raley said the ‘03 budget has already been approved.  Does the new Board have flexibility to change it?  Chief Financial Officer Elaine Kramer said to the extent we have a commitment for construction no, there is no flexibility.  In the design phase, the County could simply not go forward with the construction.</div> <div> Grimm said we are implementing a Lexington Park Plan and its items have higher priority.  Planning Commissioner Frank Taylor asked about money for the extension of Pegg Road.  Grimm replied that it's in the Lexington Park Plan.  Public Works and Transportation Director George Erichsen said the first two years of that project are for environmental studies.  Planning Commissioner Larry Greenwell asked about surface treatment and relocation of obstacles and was told the relocation is mostly things that would impede sight lines of roads.  It was noted that money for All Faith Church Road and Baptist Church Road will not be needed as the County was able to squeeze them into last year's work.  Jim Raley asked how much land the $358,000 for agricultural preservation would buy us and was told about 125 acres or 25 development rights.  Donna Sasscer of the Department of Economic Development noted that there are other funds for preservation including the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Fund, the Rural Heritage Program, the County's Purchased Development Rights Program, and a Critical Farms Revolving Loan Fund.  Jim Raley asked about the fire and rescue fund and was told it began in FY ‘00.  Frank Taylor asked about the $8 million in FY ‘05 and was told that $5.8 million was for phase III of the College of Southern Maryland and $1.5 million was for Tudor Hall.  Greenwell asked why  Mechanicsville Road was moved to ‘04.  Erichsen said the culverts needed replacing.  Asked about the connection between Wal-Mart and K-Mart, Erichsen said that was in last year's budget and was awaiting finalization of easement agreements.  </div> <div> Questions about the South County Pool brought Recreation and Parks Director Phil Rollins to the microphone.  Rollins said that project has been replaced by the pool being constructed at no expense to the County on Great Mills Road.  Rollins noted that the original concept for Chaptico Park was $7.9 million, but there was not money for that kind of park so it was reduced.  Rollins also mentioned some proposed changes, the addition of the 3 Notch Bike Trail, and other recreational facilities.  Richard Rohrbaugh, Capital Facilities Manager, said the new meeting room funds have been transferred to the College of Southern Maryland to replace their HVAC systems.  The governmental Center Building is also in need of HVAC replacements because of the inability to control humidity in the building.  Jim Raley asked if we own the armory (drill hall) and was told yes and it's only one floor.  Raley asked how much Project Open Space the County might receive.  He was told in prior years we have received $500,000, but this year, perhaps $250,000.  There is federal money for the bike trail and some money from impact fees.  Raley asked where the hotel tax goes and was told by Elaine Kramer that it goes into the general fund.  Grimm concluded the Capital discussion by saying that next year they hope to move consideration up to early fall.</div> <div> <B>The Callaway Plan </B>was the next item on the agenda.  Grimm said he has written the introductory chapters and obtained demand information for such commercial development from the Department of Economic Development.  There are ideas for separating the growth areas from intervening rural areas and the zoning is the May 13 zoning.  By the Planning Commission meeting on the 25<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> he expects to have their comments and then do a possible community meeting.  Planner Jeff Jackman added that they are looking at housing and environmental constraints.  The small gray area in the middle is up for grabs.  Jackman asked if he needed to say more about the separation of the area.  The opportunity for further change is mostly in adjusting the buffer, he added.  Frank Taylor asked if tonight is the work session shown in the plan and was told yes.  There will be meeting(s) in Callaway, then a public hearing said Grimm.  Planning Commissioner Tom Watts, who owns property in Callaway, said there have been a lot of meetings and a lot of public input.  Callaway hasn't changed much.  We should be able to go directly to public hearing, he added, without additional public input.  Grimm asked if Mr. Watts wanted to go directly from step 3 to step 7 and then have a public hearing.  Watts said we have plenty of data.  We can save time and expense to the taxpayers, he continued.  Frank Taylor said he doesn't want to miss an opportunity for public buy in.  John Taylor said if we are to use existing data, then we ought to have that data.  Grimm said there is some video.  He (Grimm) has tried to summarized the data.  He could count the houses.  Planning Commissioner Julia King said she would worry that without the comment input the Planning Commissioner wouldn't support for the plan.  Jim Raley said the community meeting should be held.  Watts replied he is concerned that citizens are criticizing the Planning Commission for its timidity.  John Taylor also supported having at least one public hearing.  Larry Greenwell asked if the data mentioned is still active.  Grimm said some is.  Greenwell said if the baseline has changed he wants a community meeting.  Grimm said there would be a single community meeting.  Raley asked how soon.  Grimm said it's not a top 5 community work session item.  Frank Taylor then asked where the Planning Commission is in the process and was told block 2.  Watts apologized.  He thought the second block could be up to 6 months.  He then said he agreed with the others.  Larry Greenwell said he had some problems.  He couldn't find table 3.  Jackman said he inadvertently removed it.  Grimm noted the Planning Staff will do some more work with the proposed Plan.  Frank Taylor asked if a buffer to the RPD could be done as part of the study area and was told they had mandate to study a one mile circle, so yes it could be done.  Watts asked how realistic the buffer is, and Jackman replied there are some interesting environmental conditions that may make the buffer self regulating.  They agreed to hold the public meeting.</div> <div> The next item was the <B>changes to the May 13 Zoning Ordinance.</B>. Grimm noted that the Planning Commission is reviewing the Zoning Ordinance at the request of the BOCC.  The proposed changes to the Subdivision Ordinances and the Zoning Map must be approved by the Planning Commission.  Grimm began with the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.  He explained that the new ordinance requires use of the high school service areas.  He has decided to include 130 seats from the Tech Center in the capacity of each High School.  He noted that the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APF) can be the sole reason a project is denied.  He intends to use 100% of the State capacity as described in the existing Zoning Ordinance and add the 130 seats to that.  Grimm then asked Brad Clements and Kim Howe of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools to come to the table, which they did.  Clements said the schools will continue to grow even if development is denied because of neighborhood revitalization with younger families and houses on existing approved lots.  Frank Taylor asked how much difference 2% would be and was told 140 students.  Kim Howe pointed out that for the elementary schools we have a County capacity which is lower than the State capacity and it would make the elementary schools even more over capacity.  Brad Clements said 500 children will be in trailers at the elementary level.  Frank Taylor said he was trying to strike a balance.  Brad Clements noted that 140 students is 6 relocatables.  Taylor said there ought to be a quantitative way to measure the effect of 102%.  Greenwell asked if there is a way to put the 140 kids in the development district.  Grimm said maybe the high schools attendance  area shouldn't be the service area.  Grimm said he could do a lot of things administratively.  He could change the student yield.  Watts said all housing is not equal.  Retirement homes don't create the load that starter homes do.  In his mind we don't need schools until we have the kids.  If we limit growth to 100% of capacity, we can lose funding he continued.  This situation with no mitigation we could have no kids because no housing gets built.  Lots of record could go to permits, Grimm said.  Watts asked how the inability to put resources where we want growth will affect schools.  Brad Clements said the schools system does enrollment projections and aligns schools construction to meet the needs.  Clements said the question is not does the schools system want 102%, the question is how fast do you want to grow?  If you wish to use the high school attendance zones, fine, he added.  But should schools drive development?   I can't tell you the answer, Clements said.  Jon must answer how.  Kim Howe added that up to now we've had the funds to build the schools as needed.  Clements reiterated that revitalization of old neighborhoods and development on existing lots will take schools over 100% even with a complete moratorium.  Kim Howe noted that the Town of Leonardtown has no Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and could overcrowd the schools.  Watts pointed out that the more restrictive we are the less flexibility there is.  Clements noted that State mandates combined with an unexpected student load have caused glitches in their plans.  He added that the County has more live births than the State allowed, and his plans must, by law, be within 5% of the State's projections.  He went on to say the capital plan will be adjusted to meet the needs.  Grimm added that neither he nor Clements knows if 102% or 105% is the right number.  Frank Taylor asked how we can quantify without the right number.  Jim Raley said it looks like there is some level which triggers the need.  Grimm said the question is what percentage is in the Zoning Ordinance.  Clements noted that the schools system has been successful in planning and funding up to now.  Raley said the reaction time is shorter now.  You can meet the reaction time, Raley continued.  But the Planning Commission could plan to reduce growth.  Raley noted that the school impact fee won't do what is needed.  Howe remarked that if you set a rate then all schools will grow at that rate.  John Taylor said we need to look at the planning process.  He added that if Great Mills is overcrowded and there is room at Chopticon, we shouldn't stop development.  </div> <div> Frank Taylor asked if there is a way to borrow capacity from one area to another.  Grimm said that's how having the County as one whole system worked.  The key question, Grimm added, is do we want to turn down growth because of schools?  John Norris, III came to the microphone to say that the BOCC could adjust the areas if they wanted.  All lines could be moved without the Board of Education being involved.  Raley asked Clements for additional information.  Clements asked if he wants to know what's over capacity.  Raley said he doesn't want today.  Clements said he would like to have from the Planning Commission their history and planned development for the future.  Raley said he thinks if he had the history, he could tell.  Frank Taylor asked what's required.  You have specific testimony.  You should respond.  We shouldn't he added be not directing growth to the development district.  Raley asked for some input.  Grimm said schedule 70.5 will require more detailed information from applicants.  Clements said he could give Raley the past 5 years within a week.  Asked if the development district could have a different set of requirements, Grimm said he would have to clear some hurdles, but he thinks it could be done.  Julia King asked if there's a way to have different capacities and Grimm referenced changes to the Charles County Ordinance.  Asked if we were about to turn down development, Grimm said we are close.  Watts asked about PUD’s.  Grimm said any project which meets the grandfathering requirements, including PUD’s, can go forward.  Watts said everything is demand pulled.  He asked his colleagues if they were prepared to turn down if schools are inadequate.  Grimm replied you may not have the information you need to make a decision.  In 1996, we wrote a plan with growth targets and it was rejected.  John Taylor noted that the policy in the Comprehensive Plan says meet the demand.  Frank Taylor said he doesn't think the Planning Commission wants to restrict growth.  John Taylor said if we're not going to restrict growth why have service areas.  Frank Taylor said they didn't want the growth area hamstrung, but don't know what growth rate is wanted.  Greenwell asked what we are accomplishing with services areas.  Raley said we are locked down.  He continued I am not good at having circles around me.  It's the same as public water and sewer.  He thinks we ought to say it on paper.  It's a growth area.  Grimm said he couldn't recommend what the service areas are to accomplish what is wanted.  He doesn't know what the right boundary is. Watts asked who would approach the BOCC for a change.  Grimm said that's a concern.  He thinks the redistricting may have to take place so we can see how it works.  Raley said we don't have a recipe.  We would look at it and be willing to change.  Clements said in the past five years growth has been about 2% per year.  Frank Taylor said we need more information to do service areas.  Grimm asked them to look at the amendments.  They approved the establishment of student yields by the BOCC.</div> <div> Grimm said he will have the Three Notch Trail and the Callaway Plan on the next Planning Commission agenda.  Raley asked if the footprint of buildings has been changed as recommended and was told no.  Raley asked how many development rights there are available in the County.  Grimm said he doesn't have numbers.  Raley said he doesn't either.  Grimm suggested he could word the resolution to hold back certain items.  He would do that if they agreed and the Chair could sign the letter.  That action was approved. </div> </td> </tr></table></body>