(Aug. 20, 2015) The Berlin Planning Commission approved final site plans for new Arby’s and Royal Farms stores during a meeting last Wednesday at Town Hall.
Approval included the layout and the look of the buildings, along with landscaping, parking and traffic flow, according to Planning Director Dave Engelhart.
Both stores, owned by Steve Black, would be located at the corner of Friendship Road and Route 50.
Engelhart said he’s spoken with the contractor and guessed construction would begin soon, with fire marshal inspection and necessary additional permitting possibly adding a few weeks to the start date.
“I know the architectural and building plans are done, but I haven’t received them yet,” he said. “I have not received a permit application as of yet, but I assume I will in the next couple of days.”
The commission also approved site plans for the Ocean’s East apartment complex on Seahawk Road, subject to an amendment to the town zoning code. Currently, the code only allows 12 units per building.
“They have ones drawn with 24 and 36 [units],” Engelhart said. “They’re broken into 12, but they’re connected with breezeways and stairwells. Technically that’s one big building if it’s connected.”
Engelhart has advertised the public hearing during the next planning commission meeting, Sept. 9. If the amendment passes, the Town Council would also need to hold a public hearing and vote on the matter.
He did not anticipate any problems.
“Basically that text amendment still keeps the 12 in the 12-unit wide restriction in place except where general convenience, welfare, safety or proper planning application warrants it,” he said. “They can make that change if it’s a better way of doing it.”
The commission also touched on the grant application filed by the town to install public restrooms at William Henry and Stephen Decatur parks.
“There’s nowhere in the ordinance that says, ‘you’ll approve site plans in the parks,’” Engelhart said. “It’s only in the commercial areas and these are not commercial areas. So, we kind of agreed it’s not a big deal.
“They’re in favor of going through the process with them and approving the site plan – where it’s going to go in the park – and it’s just transparent for everyone that someone did look at it instead of the town unilaterally putting it wherever they want,” Engelhart added.
Approval included the layout and the look of the buildings, along with landscaping, parking and traffic flow, according to Planning Director Dave Engelhart.
Both stores, owned by Steve Black, would be located at the corner of Friendship Road and Route 50.
Engelhart said he’s spoken with the contractor and guessed construction would begin soon, with fire marshal inspection and necessary additional permitting possibly adding a few weeks to the start date.
“I know the architectural and building plans are done, but I haven’t received them yet,” he said. “I have not received a permit application as of yet, but I assume I will in the next couple of days.”
The commission also approved site plans for the Ocean’s East apartment complex on Seahawk Road, subject to an amendment to the town zoning code. Currently, the code only allows 12 units per building.
“They have ones drawn with 24 and 36 [units],” Engelhart said. “They’re broken into 12, but they’re connected with breezeways and stairwells. Technically that’s one big building if it’s connected.”
Engelhart has advertised the public hearing during the next planning commission meeting, Sept. 9. If the amendment passes, the Town Council would also need to hold a public hearing and vote on the matter.
He did not anticipate any problems.
“Basically that text amendment still keeps the 12 in the 12-unit wide restriction in place except where general convenience, welfare, safety or proper planning application warrants it,” he said. “They can make that change if it’s a better way of doing it.”
The commission also touched on the grant application filed by the town to install public restrooms at William Henry and Stephen Decatur parks.
“There’s nowhere in the ordinance that says, ‘you’ll approve site plans in the parks,’” Engelhart said. “It’s only in the commercial areas and these are not commercial areas. So, we kind of agreed it’s not a big deal.
“They’re in favor of going through the process with them and approving the site plan – where it’s going to go in the park – and it’s just transparent for everyone that someone did look at it instead of the town unilaterally putting it wherever they want,” Engelhart added.