PC Minutes 09-05-2023City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Planning Commission
1003 Broadway • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
September O5, 2023
1. Call To Order. The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, September
05, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. The meeting was held at the Van Buren Municipal Complex in the City Council Chambers,
2. Roll Call. The following Commissioners were present: Chairman Andy Dibble, Vice -Chairman Philip
Bagby, Mark Evans, Missy Hefner, Jason Myers, Tiffany Webster, Jay White, and Nathan Wilson. Commissioner
Mason Shirey was absent. City Staff present were: Planning Director Wally Bailey, City Inspector David Martin,
City Attorney Jacob Howell, and Commission Secretary Jennifer Willoughby.
Present for Agenda Item #4: Applicant Heather Johnson of Head Start Child and Family Services, Inc. Present
for Agenda Item #5: Applicants Tom and Sue Moore; Katie Walton at 102 Vista Hills Blvd, Mary Ann Dodd at
94 Vista Hills Blvd, Kurt & David Braun at 1013 Pernot, and Ronald Knight at 96 Vista Hills Blvd. Present for
Agenda Item #6: Applicant Barry Wilson of Toms's Heating & Air. Present for Agenda Item #7: Applicants Chad
Brixey of Brixey Engineering, Steven Franklin of Franklin Construction, and Ronald Clements of Clements
Homes. Present for Agenda Item #8: Neal Morrison of Neal Morrison Consulting, LLC.
3. Approval Of Minutes From July 11, 2023. A motion to approve was made by Vice -Chairman Philip
Bagby and seconded by Commissioner Mark Evans. The motion was approved unanimously.
4. Conditional Use Permit #5-2023-302 W Pointer Trail —Head Start, Inc; Requesting Conditional
Use Permit to Allow Preschool in C-2 Thoroughfare Commercial District. A motion to approve was made
by Commissioner Jay White and seconded by Commissioner Nathan Wilson. The motion was approved
unanimously.
5. Rezone #7-2023—Lots 3 & 4 Pernot Addition —Tom Moore; Requesting Rezone from 12-1 Family
Residential District to R-2 Family Residential District. A motion to deny recommendation to City Council
was made by Commissioner Jason Myers and seconded by Commissioner Tiffany Webster. Vice -Chairman Philip
Bagby abstained. The motion to deny was approved unanimously by remaining Commissioners. The motion to
deny the rezone was made because it would create an R-2 spot zone surrounded by R-1 zoning.
Neighboring property owners Mary Ann Dodd, Kurt Braun,. and Ronald ICrright all spoke in opposition to the R-
2 rezone that would allow a duplex to be built on each lot. Ms. Dodd opposes the rezone because there is an
existing drainage problem that she believes will only get worse once property is developed. Mr. Braun opposes
the building of duplexes in their single-family neighborhood. Mr. Knight didn't give a specific reason for
opposition.
6. Rezone #8-2023-410 Northview Street—Tom's Heating &Air; Requesting Rezone from R-1
Family Residential District to C-2 Thoroughfare Commercial District. A motion to approve recommendation
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to City Council was made by Commissioner Jay White and seconded by Commissioner Tiffany Webster. The
motion was approved unanimously.
The proposed addition to the existing non -conforming buildings necessitates the rezoning of the property. Mr.
Wilson said that the building additions would allow Tom's Heating and Air to clean up the property and store
equipment inside.
7. Legacy Creek II —Final Plat Review—Brixey 1 ngineering.
A. Variance #&2023—Requesting Variance From Approval Procedures
B. Final Plat Approval
A motion to approve recommendation with contingencies to City Council was made by Commissioner Jason
Myers and seconded by Commissioner Jay White. The motion was approved unanimously. The approval is
contingent upon all test results, inspections, as-builts, performance bond, etc. or full completion of final plat are
provided to Planning Department before the September City Council meeting. Chad Brixey ofBrixey Engineering
and Steven Franklin of Franklin Construction both agreed and stand behind that commitment.
8. Amendment to Drainage Standards. A motionto approve recommendation with contingencies to City
Council was made by Commissioner Jason Myers and seconded by Commissioner Mark Evans. The motion was
approved unanimously. The approval is contingent upon certain clarification being made to the presented
standards. Those changes included the following: Commercial or Industrial property owners being responsible
for the maintenance of detention ponds; access to detention ponds being 25ft wide with the option to allow for a
more narrow width of access if developer can justify the reason; guardrail requirements should instead be held to
the current Fire Prevention Code,
9. Old/New Business. There was no Old or• New Business to discuss.
10. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Missy Hefner and seconded by Commissioner
Jason Myers. The motion was approved unanimously.
Wally Bailey, Planning Director
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