Planning and Zoning Board Report
VOLVO OF CARY
Project Number:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
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The site is located west of NW Maynard Road, north of Neo-China Restaurant, south of Maynard Crossing Court, and approximately 1,300' north of the intersection of NW Maynard Road and High House Road. The plans propose a one-story brick Volvo sales and service facility containing 18,834 square feet. The site contains 3.3 acres, is zoned Business-2 Conditional Use District (B-2 CU), and is inside Cary's town limits. According to Section 8.14.4(e) of the Cary zoning code, automotive sales and rental is a major special use in the B-2 District and must be approved by the Town Council. |
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PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD RECOMMENDATION: To be completed following the Planning and Zoning Board meeting. P&Z Comment: |
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the plan with the following conditions:
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STAFF REVIEW OF ZONING REQUIREMENTS
Staff Contact:
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Bob Benfield Phone: 469-4045 Email: bbenfiel@ci.cary.nc.us |
Zoning & Land Use Plan Compliance
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Excluding a proposal to reduce the 30' southern buffer to a 20' buffer, the plan complies with all zoning requirements. The plan also complies with all conditions associated with the conditional use zoning, and general zoning requirements. |
Landscape
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Excluding a proposal to reduce the southern 30’ buffer to 20’, the plan complies with all other landscape requirements. The site will continue the current landscape theme established during the construction of the Neo China Restaurant. |
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Staff Conclusion: The southern 30' buffer is a required condition of major special use approval. The condition specifies there must be at least a 30' opaque buffer between an automotive dealership and any adjoining business. Neo China Restaurant has provided a 10' buffer, and the plans for Volvo of Cary propose an additional buffer of 10’ - for a total buffer width of 20'. The plans for the Volvo of Cary dealership propose to reduce the total required buffer width from 30' to 20'. The Town's legal staff has determined the buffer requirement may be reduced by the Town Council. According to Cary's appearance regulations, the Neo China Restaurant and the Volvo of Cary dealership are both considered class 6 uses. Under normal circumstances (non-major special use), a 20' intermittent buffer would be required. The Volvo of Cary plan, however, has proposed a 20' opaque buffer. It should be noted that the original 30' buffer requirement associated with automotive sales lots was designed to discourage the placement of automotive sales lots in existing parking lots that are associated with shopping centers and office buildings. The Volvo of Cary dealership would not be part of an existing use, or existing development. Based on the above facts, staff feels the proposed 20’ buffer would meet the intent. |
Building Elevations
| The building would be constructed of red-brown brick and contains 18, 834 square feet. The building would use the same primary brick color and accent brick as that used on the Maynard Crossing Shopping Center and on Neo-China Restaurant. A drive-through canopy is proposed on the north side of the building in a service reception area of the site. The building would utilize a flat roof. Natural colored E.I.F.S. (Exterior Finish Insulation system) would be used to create a storefront fascia and band at the top of the parapet wall that would extend around the building. |
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Staff Conclusion: The building would utilize the same materials and colors as those used on the Neo China Restaurant building and on other buildings in the Maynard Crossing Shopping Center. |
TRAFFIC
Staff Contact:
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Dick Moore Phone:462-3937 |
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Email: dmoore@ci.cary.nc.us |
A dealership of 18,748 sq. ft will generate 701 daily trips. An AM peak hour volume of 41 trips and a PM peak hour volume of 52 trips will be generated.
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Staff Conclusion: This development does not require a Traffic Impact Study. |
ROADWAY DESIGN
Staff Contact:
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Tammy Spivey Phone:462-3933 |
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Email: tspivey@ci.cary.nc.us |
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According to the Town’s current Thoroughfare Plan, outside lanes 14’ in width are required on Maynard Road to allow for bicycle traffic. Maynard Road currently has 12’ wide outside lanes. However, the site plan shows a 2’ right-of-way dedication along Maynard Road, and the developer proposes to make a payment-in-lieu for future bike lane construction. Pursuant to a Town Council decision in August 2001, developers have the option of making a payment-in-lieu for bike lane construction, if their projects front thoroughfares that have been constructed to full width except for the 2’ of additional pavement for the bike lane. |
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Staff Conclusion: The plan complies with current Thoroughfare Plan requirements/Town Council directive. |
UTILITIES
Staff Contact:
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Shuyan Tian Phone:469-4381 |
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Email: stian@ci.cary.nc.us |
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The proposed development would connect to public water and sewer systems of the Town of Cary. |
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Staff Conclusion: Proposed utility connections meet town standards. |
STORM WATER
Staff Contact:
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Tom Horstman Phone:469-4347 |
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Email: thorstma@ci.cary.nc.us |
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All of The Stormwater requirements of the Town of Cary have been addressed with this project. |
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Staff Conclusion: The plan complies with Town of Cary stormwater standards and policies. |
PROPERTY OWNER CONCERNS
Adjoining property owners and nearby residences within the Weatherstone Subdivision were notified of the proposed Volvo of Cary development plan. The following concerns were expressed:
The applicant has agreed to address the homeowners’ concerns through the following conditions:
1. That No drive-through traffic originating from the Volvo of Cary dealership shall be allowed through the Weatherstone Subdivision;
2. That no exterior speaker systems or intercom systems shall be allowed at the Volvo of Cary site; and
3. That all site lighting shall be designed and installed so as to prevent off-site glare.
Staff recommends that the above conditions be associated with the major special use as opposed to the site plan. The Council will be asked to require these conditions with the Major Special Use.
APPEARANCE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
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The Appearance Commission supported staff recommendations. |