October 15, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

Meeting Archive

Regular meeting: October 15, 2013

A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held October 15, 2013 5830 Falmouth Court. Members present were Michael Jones (Planning Commissioner), Jo Ann Bierman, Bryce E. Jacob. Lisa J. Morris and Jacalyn Slemmer were absent. Also present were Robert and Katherine Watts, George Cleary (Cleary Company), Briggs and Barbar Hamor, Mark Fitzharris (MB Construction) and Josh Mehling. Pamela M. Colwell served as Clerk. The Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

1. The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of September 9, 2013 were not read since each member had received a copy. Jacob moved and Bierman seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 3, Bierman, Jacob, and Jones: Nay, None. The Motion carried 3-0.
2. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance for Roger and Katherine Watts at 256 Melbourne Place to add a great room between the house and garage in the back, with a 3’8â€� variance to align the addition with the existing house and garage. The application was amended to include a variance of the 40% lot coverage to 49.4% total lot coverage. George Cleary assisted the Watts with the presentation. The Commission expressed their reluctance to consider the variance for the lot coverage since the existing lot coverage (approx. 44%) was already over the maximum of 40% as specified in the Village’s ordinances. The variance for the side set back was not seen as a problem but the major issue was the lot coverage. The Watts noted that the addition would not be seen by anyone but their next door neighbors and they approved of it. The Commission said they had a responsibility to follow the laws of the Village and the Village set the standard of 40%. The applicants and the Commission discussed various options to reduce the total coverage including reducing the size of the addition, removing part of the driveway, and replacing the driveway with green permeable pavers. The Watts asked for more time to look into their options. Bierman moved to table the application and Jacob seconded the motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 3, Bierman, Jacob and Jones: Nay, None. The Motion carried 3-0.

The Commission took no additional action. Jacob moved and Bierman seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm.