Gastonia City Council Meeting May 19, 2015 – 6:00 P.M
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Page 169 Page 169 GASTONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 19, 2015 – 6:00 P.M. GASTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE PUBLIC FORUM ROOM – GASTONIA, NC Mayor Bridgeman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in the Gaston County Courthouse Public Forum Room, Gastonia, North Carolina. Councilman Gallagher opened the meeting with prayer and Mayor Bridgeman led the audience in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Ms. Virginia L. Creighton, City Clerk, recorded the minutes. PRESENT: Mayor John D. Bridgeman Mayor Pro Tem Brenda B. Craig Council Members: David R. Kirlin Walter A. Kimble James Gallagher Todd Pierceall Porter L. McAteer City Manager Edward C. Munn City Attorney L. Ashley Smith ABSENT: None ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Councilman McAteer made a motion to adopt the agenda as printed. Councilman Pierceall seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously. AWARDS, CEREMONIES, AND PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE (1) 2015 Student Achievement Awards Councilman Kimble recognized the following recipients of the 2015 Student Achievement Award, and yielded to school personnel for the purpose of introducing and highlighting the accomplishments of each recipient: Mr. Atondi Graham, Southwest Middle School – Introduced by Ms. Rebecca Huffstetler, Principal. Mr. Samuel Boyles – Ashbrook High School – Introduced by Mr. Joey Clinton, Principal. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 1.) Mr. Scyler Hanif, Grier Middle School – Introduced by Ms. Loretta Reed, Principal. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 2.) Ms. Ashlyn Sawyer, Highland School of Technology – Introduced by Mr. Justin Beam, Assistant Principal. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 3.) Ms. Madison Elizabeth Moore, Hunter Huss High School – Introduced by Mr. Torben Ross, Principal. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 4.) Mr. Thomas George Heracklis, Webb Street School – Introduced by Ms. Kelli Howe, Principal. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 5.) -169- Page 170 Page 170 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 19, 2015 Ms. Ayauna Rivas, York-Chester Middle School – Ms. Rivas was not able to attend the meeting due to having a band concert this evening. Ms. Lorinda Brusie, Principal, highlighted Ms. Rivas’ accomplishments. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 6.) Following their introduction, Councilman Kimble presented a plaque and a gift to each student. The students thanked the Mayor and Council for this recognition and thanked others who have been an influence in their lives. (2) Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council Senior Recognition Councilman Pierceall asked the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council members to come forward. He presented a brief overview of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council and highlighted some of the community service project activities in which they were involved. He said tonight he and Mayor Bridgeman are pleased to present the senior class members of the Youth Council, who represent some of the finest young people that the City has to offer. He then introduced the following senior students: Ms. Breanna Howe, Ashbrook High School Ms. Roshini Amarasinghe, Forestview High School Ms. Jenny Badra, Forestview High School Mr. Max Flores-Palacios, Forestview High School Ms. Kaelan Forbes, Forestview High School Mr. Jeffrey Friday, Forestview High School Mr. Adam Roney, Forestview High School Ms. Gray Heath, Gaston Day School Ms. Ginna Suarez, Highland School of Technology Ms. Maddie Moore, Hunter Huss High School Each student was presented a plaque and a gift. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 7.) (3) Recognition of Hunter Huss Wrestling Team, North Carolina State 2A Champions Councilman Pierceall congratulated the Hunter Huss Wrestling Team on winning the North Carolina State 2A Championship. He introduced the following team members, managers, and coaches: TEAM MEMBERS Thomas Benson Matthew Merrington Kendrick Brooks Zackary Merrington Jonathon Carpenter Kurron Moore Paul Carson Slade Moss Brian Goodson David Murphy Kaleb Hendren Austin Ray Tristin Hendren Marvin Reynolds Dalton Jenkins Chance Roberts Joseph Lewis Darius Smith Charles McCombs Darion Thompson Keshon McLean MANAGERS Cheyenne Gibson Karigann McCurry Emily Wilson -170- Page 171 Page 171 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 19, 2015 COACHES Michael Kennedy, Head Coach Larry Hendren Henry Lewis Each team member, manager, and coach was presented a certificate. (4) Proclamation – “National Public Works Week” – May 17-23, 2015 Councilman Kimble read the National Public Works Week Proclamation and presented it to Mr. Matt Bernhardt, Director of Public Works and Utilities, and Mr. Michael Peoples, Director of Enterprise Services, who were accompanied by a number of Public Works and Enterprise Services employees. Mr. Bernhardt expressed appreciation for this proclamation. He commended the Public Works/ Utilities and the Enterprise Services employees on the job that they do. Each employee present introduced themselves. Councilman Pierceall made a motion to adopt the National Public Works Week Proclamation. Councilman Gallagher seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously. (Proclamation as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 8.) PRESENTATIONS (1) Mr. Steve D’Avria, District Executive Director, Gaston Family YMCA Re: Request for In-Kind Services – Grizzlies 5K – July 17, 2015 Mr. D’Avria briefly explained the Grizzlies 5K event. He requested in-kind services for this event, as noted on the application contained in the exhibit book. Councilman McAteer made a motion to approve the requested in-kind services for the YMCA Grizzlies 5K on July 17, 2015. Councilman Kirlin seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously. (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 9.) PUBLIC EXPRESSION No one had signed up for Public Expression. CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 1: CELL TOWER LEASE AGREEMENT EXTENSION BETWEEN THE CITY OF GASTONIA AND AMERICAN TOWERS, LLC – EAGLE ROAD (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 10. Agreement on file through City Clerk’s office.) ITEM 2: SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GASTONIA AND GLOBAL SIGNAL ACQUISITIONS, LLC – TO LEASE ADDITIONAL LAND – 2031 ECHO LANE (Reference as contained in Exhibit Book 7 to Minute Book 104 at Page 11. Agreement on file through City Clerk’s office.) Councilman Gallagher made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilman Kimble seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously. -171- Page 172 Page 172 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 19, 2015 PUBLIC HEARING – JOHN AND ANNE WILSON Subject hearing involves considering the rezoning of roughly 4.89 acres from PD TND, Planned District Traditional Neighborhood Development, to RMF CD, Residential Multifamily Conditional District. The property is located at the corner of New Hope Road and Bethlehem Church Road, and is owned by John and Anne Wilson. (The Gastonia Planning Commission voted 7-1 to deny the rezoning. This item was appealed to City Council.) Mayor Bridgeman advised that the guidelines for this public hearing will be as follows: Staff will have 12 minutes to make a presentation, excluding questions. The applicant will have 12 minutes to make a presentation, excluding questions. The neighborhood will have 12 minutes to make a presentation, excluding questions. The applicant will have 3 minutes for rebuttal. The opponents will have 3 minutes for rebuttal. Council will close the public hearing. He then declared the public hearing to be open and recognized Mr. Jason Thompson, Planning Director, for the purpose of making the presentation. Mr. Thompson said the applicant is requesting a rezoning to allow for a 50-unit apartment complex. The subject property is located along New Hope Road at Bethlehem Church Road, and is immediately adjacent to the Bethesda Oaks Planned Residential Development. This rezoning is required to change the underlying zoning district from the current Traditional Neighborhood Development designation that was originally approved in 2001, to the RMF CD, Residential Multifamily Conditional District to allow for the development of this apartment complex. Included in the agenda is a brief list of conditions which specify that, if approved, the development would be consistent with the included site plan, the conditions as written in the agenda, and other items, such as the representative building elevations that are part of the applicant’s application. One important condition to note is the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) always weighs in on these types of requests when it goes through the standard staff review process. In this case, NCDOT requested that the applicant agree to installing right and left turn lanes in New Hope Road if this project is to be developed. He displayed the rezoning map and noted the zoning designations of the surrounding properties. He said the Future Land Use Map within the 2025 Comprehensive Plan indicates mixed uses in this location. That is reflective of primarily that previous zoning designation that was on the majority of the Bethesda Oaks site, as well as this site. That original Traditional Neighborhood Development, large-scale mixed-use project, covered not only the subject property, but a small piece of property just north along New Hope Road. That is labeled PD TND and it also includes the entirety of the Bethesda Oaks project. Following that rezoning to TND, someone else came in and rezoned to the PRD, Planned Residential Development, which is Bethesda Oaks. In this particular case, given that mixed-use designation in the Comprehensive Plan and the applicant’s request for multi-family development, the request can be considered consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, because multi-family development is something you would very often typically see in that type of a mixed-use setting. Mr. Thompson said the applicant has indicated that he intends to seek tax credits through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to help fund this project.