Public Hearing. Mayor Duncan introduced the public hearing for Application 18-3, which requests an amendment to the Sugar Camp/Pointe Oakwood Master Plan.

Mayor Duncan explained that this is a resolution to approve a revised plan for the Russell Wealth Management corporate headquarters building, which has been proposed for the 4.3 acre parcel between Sugar Camp and the Pointe Oakwood residential neighborhood.

Mayor Duncan explained that although he is introducing this as a resolution “to approve,” City Council is required to hold a public hearing on this proposal. At the conclusion of the hearing Council may vote to approve the application, approve it with conditions, or deny it. If Council decides to approve it, Council will adopt this resolution as-is. If Council decided to approve it with conditions, there is space provided on the document to write them in tonight. In the event that Council denies the application, this resolution will be withdrawn altogether and the Law Director will be asked to prepare legislation consistent with Council’s decision to deny it.

Mr. Byington recused himself as he resides near the proposed development. He stepped down from the Council dais and took a seat among the audience.

Mayor Duncan asked Code Enforcement Officer Ethan Kroger to present the staff report.

Mr. Kroger referenced a PowerPoint presentation and explained that Synergy Building Systems, on behalf of Russell Wealth Management, is requesting to amend the site plan to construct a 16,600 sf, 2-story office building on the 4.3 acre parcel located east of Sugar Camp Circle, west of the Pointe Oakwood residential development, and north of W. Schantz Avenue. The Oakwood Planning Commission held a public hearing on July 11, 2018, and by a vote of 3-0, with one member absent and another recused, made a recommendation to City Council to approve the request, with the condition that a proposed monument sign be moved from the right-in/right-out roadway access point at W. Schantz Avenue to the intersection of Sugar Camp Circle and Russell Place, in the interior of Sugar Camp. City Council is holding a public hearing this evening, and by a majority will vote to either approve, deny, or approve with conditions the request for an amended site plan for Russell Wealth Management.

Mr. Kroger then reviewed the recent history of this parcel, sharing that in November 2017, City Council approved a special use request to construct a 3-story, 22,000 square foot office building to serve as the headquarters for Russell Wealth Management, which has lapsed.

Mr. Kroger then presented the summary of changes with the current application.

The applicant proposes a slightly different location for the building within the site. While the building would be substantially scaled down in size, it would be positioned closer to W. Schantz Avenue and would have a setback of 121.6 feet. The setback from the Pointe Oakwood neighborhood is 117.1 feet. The new Russell Wealth Management building would be moved 30 feet further away from the Pointe Oakwood neighborhood and 15.5 feet closer to W. Schantz Avenue.

The parking lot, which was located 41 feet from W. Schantz Avenue, will now be 97 feet away from the W. Schantz public right-of-way. Instead of being located south of the building at the W. Schantz frontage, the applicant wants to move it to the north and west, between the building and the remainder of the Sugar Camp campus. The number of parking spaces has increased from 30 to 33.

The originally approved 3-story 22,000 office building with a walkout basement would be scaled down to a 2-story, 16,600 square foot building with no walkout basement and minimal excavation into the hillside.

Primary ingress and egress to the site would be from Sugar Camp Circle, entering from the existing signalized W. Schantz Avenue and Kramer Road intersection. Secondary access is proposed from the existing curb cut off W. Schantz Avenue, although the developer requests that it be limited to a right-in/right-out traffic movement only.

The applicant had originally proposed to add a 6’ x 8’ monument sign located inside the existing curb cut along W. Schantz Avenue.