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4 <br />ORDINANCE <br />: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS <br />PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE <br />: INCREASE IN FEES FOR SITE PLAN <br />APPROVALS <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, said that the <br />zoning review was initiated by the Council. He said the Planning Commission <br />recommended clarifying the preliminary site plan process and shortening the time to <br />process affordable housing projects. He said there is no resolution on entrance corridor <br />review changes at this time, but it is still being explored to see if there is a middle ground. <br />He said the second item will add a $1 per property fee for mailings and will charge for <br />ads for site plans. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked about the rationale for the recommendation for the 60% AMI <br />requirement, and Mr. Tolbert said it could be amended to 80%. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he supports the 60%. <br /> <br /> The public hearing on the fee increases was opened. <br /> <br /> Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, said the fee increases are negligible and <br />she understands the desire to streamline the Planning Commission meetings, but her fear <br />is that if more responsibility is given to staff then citizens will lose. She asked if citizens <br />will still be able to come to site plan review meetings and comment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charlie Armstrong, Chair of the Housing Advisory Committee of the Blue <br />Ridge Home Builders Association, said that both groups have discussed and support the <br />streamlining and affordable housing changes. He aid the entrance corridor review is still <br />the longest piece. Regarding the 60% versus 80% AMI, he said that in some cases too <br />much may be required and a lot may not be able to be taken advantage of. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said that all neighborhood associations and properties within 500 feet <br />of a site plan will be notified and citizens can still attend. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown made a motion to amend the ordinance to read 80% of the AMI rather <br />than 60%. He said he wants it to be a tool that is frequently used. Mr. Taliaferro <br />seconded the motion to amend and the ordinance was amended by the following vote. <br />Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. Absent: Mr. <br />Huja. <br /> <br /> The ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REORDAINING <br />CHAPTER 34 (ZONING), ARTICLE I (ADMINISTRATION) AND ARTICLE VII <br />(SITE PLANS) RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS,” as <br />amended, was offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br /> On motion by Dr. Brown, seconded by Ms. Edwards, the ordinance entitled “AN <br />ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE <br />SCHEDULE OF FEES (RELATED TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL FEES) <br />APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS SERVICES AND FUNCTIONS ADMINISTERED BY <br />THE CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES” <br />was offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: FIRE DEPARTMENT <br /> <br /> Mr. Charles Werner, Chief of the Fire Department, said that the department was <br />started in 1856 as a volunteer organization. He said it is internationally accredited and <br />has an Insurance Services Rating of Class 2 (on a scale of 1 – 10). He said it is both a <br />career and volunteer department. He reviewed the services offered by the department. <br />He said that the EMS issue has been resolved and the County has deployed an additional <br />ambulance which has addressed capacity need, so a City staffed ambulance is not needed <br /> <br />