PLANNING COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 18, 2019
Chairman Jeffery Grotsky called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Commission members Morgan Ellis, Jane Richman and Paul Showalter, Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk) and guests.
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Mr. Grotsky asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of July 17, 2019. Mr. Showalter moved to approve the minutes as presented, was seconded by Ms. Richman and carried unanimously.
FINAL SITE PLAN – KRM BOSS MANUFACTURING BUILDING – CHESTERTOWN BUSINESS CAMPUS
Mr. Kevin Shearon of DMS & Associates and Kate Gray of KRM were present for the application.
Mr. Shearon stated that Dixon Valve BOSS Manufacturing was a subsidiary of KRM and was going to construct a new facility on lot 3 of the new business park. He said that there were not many changes to the plan since preliminary approval was given in June 2019.
Mr. Shearon stated that final construction documents were submitted with the package for the 100,000 square foot building, which sits on just over 10 acres. There is parking overfill due to the need for shift changes and future additional employees. There was room on the lot to the south for a future addition, which for the time being will be a lawn area. Entrances to the parking lot were at Warner Drive and Haacke Drive. There is a dedicated tractor trailer entrance to the east that goes directly to the loading docks at the back of the building.
Mr. Shearon stated that the preliminary plans did not have all entrances shown at the preliminary phase, but they are included in this plan. The grading plan was discussed, and Mr. Shearon noted that the parking lot slopes towards Haacke Drive and parking along the area paralleling Haacke Drive will be permeable pavers as part of the stormwater system.
Mr. Shearon stated that there will be a secondary stormwater system by the loading dock that will treat most of the parking lot, the building and all loading dock space. The outfall from the stormwater device will fall to the apartment lot with a temporary swale conveying the water to Scheeler road. He said that the stormwater was designed for 10- and 100-year storms. He said that when the apartment lots are developed another pipe will connect to it and everything will be piped to Scheeler Drive. Mr. Shearon stated that KRM would like to make the swale temporary at this time in case the apartment building plans were changed.
Mr. Shearon stated that since preliminary approvals were given, the stormwater profiles and calculations were finished and submitted to Soil Conservation with only minor comments. Mr. Shearon stated that when Haacke Drive Extended was designed there were sewer and water laterals specifications mapped out making for easy connections to the building.
Mr. Shearon stated that the landscaping plan was updated to include the sidewalk on the west side of the building. The area between the two parking lots is going to be a landscaped area with shade trees. Both parking lots will slope toward the grass and there are inlets that will capture the water which will convey to the larger stormwater facility.
Mr. Shearon stated that trees and shrubs were shown on the landscaping plan as were the updated architectural elevations. The northeast section vertical brick elements were not in place at the last meeting but were shown in this plan. Mr. Showalter asked if the windows were clear glass. Mr. Shearon stated that there were darker tinted windows with translucent windows in the middle to allow natural light into the facility.
Mr. Shearon explained that the lighting plan uses the same light fixtures approved in other areas of the campus for streetlights, pedestrian grade bollards and wall-mounted lights.
Ms. Ellis asked what lots have been developed to date. Mr. Shearon stated that the headquarters building (lot 2) and the manufacturing building (lot 4) are in the process of being built. The athletic center (lot 6) and the BOSS (lot 3) building are in the beginning phases of construction. The building discussed this evening is shown as two buildings on the master plan.
Mr. Showalter asked what “BOSS” stood for. Ms. Gray stated that the product line that would be manufactured in this building was called “BOSS”. Mr. Showalter asked what the increase in employment would be. Mr. Shearon stated that currently there are no new employees but that the large lot was necessary for shift changes.
Mr. Showalter asked how many loading docks were in this building. Mr. Shearon stated that there are three (3) on the plans right now, but more may be added, noting that the entire back of the building may have additional doors.
Mr. Showalter asked what Mr. Shearon meant by “temporary” for the swale going through the proposed apartment project. Mr. Shearon stated that temporary could mean until the lot is built upon. He said that the underground pipes in place are large enough to become permanent if the need arises.
Mr. Shearon stated that there was quite a bit of earth work to be done and they were looking forward to moving along with excavation for stormwater and prepping the pad site before winter.
Mr. Grotsky stated that he liked the tree planting schedule and asked if the trees were native. Mr. Shearon stated that all canopy and street trees are native and all but one of the understory trees are native. Mr. de Mooy stated that the Tree Committee will also review the landscaping plans for approval.
Ms. Ellis asked if plans for the other lots would come before the Commission in the near future. Ms. Gray stated that at this point there were no additional working plans, but they hope to submit a speculative building to attract other businesses.
Mr. de Mooy asked why the apartment buildings are not under construction. Ms. Gray stated that another party had plans to build apartments in Town at this time and there was no need for two apartment projects. KRM was stepping aside to let the other party build out their project. She said that KRM may look at the apartment site for another potential use if the other apartment building project moves forward.
Mr. Showalter asked what was going to happen to KRM’s building on High Street. Ms. Gray stated that nothing was set in stone, but KRM was speaking with Washington College about the property.
Ms. Ellis asked Ms. Gray if similar design standards would be necessary for any other builder who may want to construct on this site. Ms. Gray stated that KRM controls the covenants over the land and would be the landlord keeping any outside builder to a specific building standard if an outside party ever built on the land. Ms. Richman asked if the apartments are not built would that parcel be sold. Ms. Gray stated that she did not know the answer to that question, but she did know that whatever went in place of the apartments would be important to KRM because of their investment in the area.
Mr. Showalter asked how long KRM anticipated construction to take for the projects already underway. Ms. Gray stated that she thought it was approximately 18 months. Ms. Gray stated that the warehouse is complete, although some areas are not occupied to date. The office building discussed this evening was anticipated to be complete in June or July of 2020.
Mr. Showalter moved to approve final site plan as presented commending the applicant for their plans, was seconded by Ms. Ellis and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Mr. Showalter moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:56p.m., was seconded by Mr. Ellis and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Jeffrey Grotsky
Stenographer Chair