Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Standards Variances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors urge Planning Commission to deny variances for Powell Meadows proposal; staff notes several code failures
Summary
A Powell Meadows commercial site plan seeking multiple variances for materials, transparency and tree placement drew objections from commissioners who warned against rolling back recent design standards.
At a Lebanon Planning Commission meeting, staff described a request by Powell Meadows for site-plan approval of a nonresidential development on about 2.52 acres on South Hartman Drive and listed multiple variance requests, including use of manufactured stone veneer (not permitted), failure to meet street-facing transparency requirements, and proposed relocation of required street trees to a shared access drive.
"The manufactured stone veneer used to be allowed. It is no longer allowed in this district," staff said, adding that no valid hardship has been identified for that variance. The staff presentation also noted a transparency shortfall (code requires 30% glazing facing the street) and that fiber cement siding cannot exceed 25% without an approved deviation.
A commissioner objected to granting variances that would "revert back" to older, lower standards in a corridor the commission considers important; that commissioner urged denial of the variances. "This is an important area for us right across 11 High School and Hartman Drive. ... I really fear that if we provide these variances, we'll be reverting back," the commissioner said.
The applicant's representative was scheduled to return the following week for a more detailed discussion, staff said. No action was taken at the hearing; the item will return to the agenda for further consideration.
