MINUTES
Planning and Zoning Commission
March 29, 2023
The Clarkson Valley Planning and Zoning Commission, pursuant to notices published in the West Newsmagazine on Wednesday, March 8th, the bulletin board, the City’s website and letters mailed to residents living within 500′ of the proposal on March 9th met in person on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, to consider one agenda item and to make a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.
Planning and Zoning Commission Members present:
Steve Howard, Chairperson
Honora Schiller, Alderperson, Ward 2
Karl Hussey
Jack Hauser
Commission Members Lee Reid, Brad Johnson and Andrew Low did not attend this meeting.
The City Clerk, Michele McMahon, took Minutes and the City Attorney, Patrick Butler, attended fifteen minutes late due to a previous meeting he attended.
The Chairman opened the meeting, introduced the Commission Members and asked the representatives of the petitioner if they had objections to any of the Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, to which he responded they did not.
The Chairman explained that we are proceeding with the application received and are present tonight to ask this Board to consider if circumstances exist to recommend a new Paragraph 18 under the Special Use provision at Section 405.120, to allow a safety net under certain conditions.
The Chairman then gave the floor to General Manager, Emma Gore, who was representing Forest Hills Country Club (FHCC). She thanked the Board for holding this meeting and she introduced the Club’s Maintenance Manager, Scott Reynolds, saying he would also be speaking for the Club. She explained the current 12’ tall net no longer acts as a barrier – mostly because the equipment has gotten so much better. She then brought a sample of the netting material to the Commission Members saying this will be used on the project, with the exception this was this netting is black, and they would be using green to blend in better with the landscape.
Scott Reynolds said the netting was originally installed in 1994 as an LPGA requirement. He said the driving range is 280 yds long and long drive can reach 280 to 290 yards, this net no longer works. He said they’ve tried different balls, too, but all seem to clear the net, going into the maintenance shack. He said he has had four of his personal vehicle’s windows broken. He said they also have balls that travel from this area onto the 9th fairway.
Mr. Reynolds says Forest Hills Country Club normally use Meadowbrook Golf Course as their benchmark. Meadowbrook has a 60’ tall net. He said if Meadowbrook went any taller than 60’, there are requirements for metal poles instead of wood. He concluded by saying they want to get this net high enough to help the situation, but not make it an eyesore.
The Chairman called for opponents and no one spoke.
The Chairman called for proponents and Brian Bomkamp introduced himself saying he lived at 25 Forest Club Drive (which is across the street from this proposal and down a house or two further toward the clubhouse. He is also one of 11 notified because they were within 500’ of the proposal). He said he was totally in favor of this net. He said his neighbor has heard the balls hit the maintenance shed, which verifies the need for this.
Mr. Alan Dorch, who lives at 1 Peakmont Lane and also received the notification from the City, stated he was completely okay with this proposal.
There were a few questions from Commission Members, e.g., how did you settle on the height of 40’ and not higher or lower; to which Scott responded that this net is 66% higher than what is constructed now. Another question from a Commission Member stated you are requesting a new section of netting that will be 297.7 feet long, but Mrs. Gore corrected that statement by saying the current 12’ tall net is that exact distance long and there will not be a new section. (Note: This was also verified Wednesday morning by the Building Commissioner.) Another question asked was if the wood posts were going to be white, like the posts are now, which their response was the whiteness of the posts is an aging issue. Another question was asked about what wind velocity would take the net down. Mr. Reynolds said the contracting company that will be installing these is all they do.
There were several club representatives in attendance along with a subdivision trustee and a few other FHCC employees who did not speak. There was one more person in attendance, who lives 2,800’ away from the safety net and he did not speak either.
Chairman Howard made a motion to make an affirmative recommendation to the Board of Aldermen to consider the change to the Zoning Code to allow the safety net and adds a new Paragraph 18 to the Special Use provisions in Section 405.120, seconded by Commission Member Karl Hussey. A roll call vote was taken with the following results: Ayes: Hauser, Howard, Hussey, and Schiller. There were no Nays. Chairman Howard declared an affirmative recommendation would go forward.
The City Attorney, Patrick Butler said that in addition to having an ordinance to consider adding a provision to 405.120 for a new paragraph, the Board will also consider Bill No. 0522 which would grant a Special Use Permit allowing the 40’ safety net to Forest Hills Country Club with any provisions listed by the Members of the Board of Aldermen at their April 4th Meeting.
The Commission Members thanked those residents and Club Members for attending and invited everyone to consider attending the April 4th Aldermanic Meeting.
Chairman Howard made a motion to close this Hearing, seconded by Mrs. Schiller. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele McMahon
City of Clarkson Valley