08-03-2017 Special Meeting (2)SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD
AT THE SMITHFIELD CENTER ON THURSDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF AUGUST IN THE
YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND SEVENTEEN
PRESENT:
Rex W. Alphin, Chairman, Carrsvilie District
William M. McCarty, Vice -Chairman, Newport District
Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District
Joel C. Acree, Windsor District
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark C. Popovich, County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Carey M. Storm, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Alphin called the special meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order at
5:00 p.m. to consider the following application:
Application of Greg Hayes of MSA, P.C., applicant, on behalf of Mary Callender,
representing the Isle of Wight County School Board, owner, to request site plan
approval, including exceptions from requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, for
proposed new accessory structures at Smithfield High School, on the property
located at 14171 Smithfield Circle, Tax Map Number 32-01-010A.
Richard Rudnicki, Assistant Director of Planning & Zoning, identified the
application's strengths and weaknesses and the Planning Commission's
recommendation of approval of the site plan contingent upon resolution of
outstanding staff comments on the waiver request and approval of the material
waivers to the ROTC field house and multi -use pavilion due to the structures not
being visible from Turner Drive. He advised the Planning Commission
recommended approval of the waiver for projection and recesses and the
architectural waiver for detailing on the football field house due to that building
being located so close to a 100 -foot trigger for that requirement and denial for the
waiver of materials on the football field house due to its visibility on Turner Drive.
Dr. James Thornton, Superintendent of Isle of Wight County Schools, appeared
representing the need of the School Board for a cost necessitated exception noting
any extra cost would cause the space of the building to be reduced and would no
longer meet the needs of the Jr. ROTC program. He advised that the budget had
been set prior to the design of the buildings which will not be visible from the
roadway.
Jeff Harris, RRMM Architects, addressed the type of metal proposed for the
building and explained the reasoning behind its use. He added that the building is
located a good distance off the road, shielded by fencing from the tennis courts and
will not be easily visible from the roadway.
Chairman Alphin inquired to meet the criteria standards, how much additional
money is required for all three buildings.
Rudnicki replied before certain waivers were removed by the Planning Commission,
the amount equaled $227,000 for all three buildings.
Supervisor Acree commented that the building is now less attractive than what was
presented before the waiver request.
Chairman Alphin commented that the fact that this is more of a campus than a
retail establishment should be taken into consideration.
Supervisor Grice spoke in favor of spending funds on the CTE program versus
spending them to enhance the appearance of the building.
Supervisor Jefferson commented that the County develops and adopts its
ordinances for a reason and if businesses are required to comply, the County and
School Board should also be required to comply.
Supervisor McCarty commented that a school is not a business and does not sell
items for a profit. He noted that none of the buildings under consideration are
visible from Route 10, Brewer's Neck Boulevard or Route 10, which are the main
thoroughfares through the Development Service District. He recommended that
the front of the building facing Turner Drive be bricked in keeping with the intent
of the ordinance.
Supervisor Acree commented that he had assumed that requirements under the
Comprehensive Plan had been taken into consideration when the funds were
requested for this project. He noted that businesses will be successful based on
their level of service and/or cost and not on the appearance of their building.
Supervisor McCarty moved that the recommendation of the Planning Commission
be accepted on the firsttwo buildings and that an exception be allowed on the third
building, the football field house, to be 100% brick on the front of the building that
faces the roadway. Approval of the site plan contingent upon a resolution of
outstanding staff comments which passed (4-1) with Supervisors Alphin, McCarty,
Grice and Jefferson voting in favor of the motion and Supervisor Acree voting
against the motion.
Supervisor Acree moved that the Board take a recess which passed unanimously
(5-0).
Jamie Oliver, Transportation Planner, provided an update on the Nike Park Trail
project and construction budget. She advised that only one bid had been received,
so the project was rebidded. She presented a budget analysis reflecting a shortfall
and requested direction from the Board for staff to move forward with the bids
received. She advised that the lowest bid received on the Nike Park Trail project
was $2 million more than the engineer's estimate and recommended transferring
the funding from other available sources.
She also advised that the bids for the Broadwater Road project were substantially
more than the engineer's estimates.
The consensus of the Board was to authorize the County Administrator to move
forward with moving the local funds available from the Broadwater project to Nike
Park Trail and investigate alternative funding strategies for the Broadwater project.
Supervisor Acree commented that there are locations along Route 460 which do
not have shoulders and he requested staff to relay his concern to VDOT.
Responsive to an expressed concern from Supervisor McCarty regarding how to
best respond to the public when questioned about any needed additional funding
for the Nike Park Trail project, County Administrator Keaton commented that the
improved economy is reflected in the proposed construction prices and based on
information that the County had at the time. When VDOT developed a detailed
analysis, bids received were substantially higher than anticipated.
Supervisor Jefferson commented that the County can either spend $2 million and
get nothing or spend $2 million and get something in return.
Supervisor Grice commented that the County is retaining its current debt level in
the best interest of County citizens.
County Administrator Keaton informed the Board that Mr. Robertson will be
contacting the press to review the information discussed at this meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
0MIA-
Carey 4ills St m, Clerk
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Rex W. Alphin, Chairman