PC Minutes 01-02-2024Planning Department
1003 Broadway • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
January 02, 2024
1. Call To Order. The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday,
January 02, 2024, 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: Vice -Chairman Philip Bagby, Mark
Evans, Missy Hefner, Jason Myers, Mason Shirey, Jay White, and Nathan Wilson. Commissioner Tiffany
Webster was absent. City Staff present were: Planning Director Wally Bailey, Commission Secretary
Jennifer Willoughby, City Inspector David Martin, City Attorney Jacob Howell, and Chris Coombes of
VBMU.
Present for Agenda Item #4: Applicant Keenan Winters. Present for Agenda Item #5: Joe and Keli Brown
of TEI Properties,
3. Approval Of Minutes From December O5, 2023. A motion to approve was made by
Commissioner Jay White and seconded by Commissioner Mason Shirey. The motion was approved
unanimously.
4. Rezone #1-2024-8 North 15th Street —Keenan Winters; Requesting Rezone From C-2
Thoroughfare Commercial District To R-2 Family Residential District. A motion to approve
recommendation to City Council was made by Commissioner Jay White and seconded by Commissioner
Jason Myers. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Winters wants to keep the property as asingle-family house and wants the zoning to match the land
use of the property. The property has always been used as asingle-family use. Mi. Bailey recommended
the rezoning be approved.
5. Public Hearing —To Review An Amendment To The Sidewalk Ordinance Assessment Fee.
hi November, the Planning Commission recommended an amendment to Ord. 5-2020 that would increase
the calculated rate of the payment in lieu of construction from $20 to $50. The City Council did not
approve the recommendation but tabled the item and sent it back to the Planning Commission for further
study. Now, the options for the Planning Commission are:
• Continue to study the cost of the payment in lieu of construction fee from the existing $20 per
]inear foot or let the existing $20 fee continue in place.
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• Begin a discussion to address the builder's proposal that sidewalks are not required for residential
infill development. The alternative is to leave existing ordinance in place that requires sidewalks
or payment in lieu of construction.
There was much discussion about inflation, current cost, and the rising cost of building sidewalks. During
the discussion Joe Brown addressed the Commission and stated that he would rather see permit fees raised
instead of paying the sidewalk assessment fee. Mr. Bailey noted that he has been preparing to discuss
raising the cost of zoning permit fees, building permit fees, and the sidewalk fund percentage.
A motion to table the amendment, keep the payment assessment fee the same until further review, as well
as review the entire permit fee schedule was made by Commissioner Mason Shirey and seconded by
Commissioner Jason Myers. Commissioner Mark Evans and Commissioner Missy Hefner opposed the
motion. The Chairman announced the motion to table failed. Since the motion failed, the status of Ord. 5-
2020 stays the same.
6. Election Of Planning Commission Officers. A motion to elect Mark Evans as Commission
Chairman was made by Commissioner Nathan Wilson and seconded by Vice -Chairman Philip Bagby. A
motion to re-elect Philip Bagby as Vice -Chairman was made by Commissioner Mark Evans and seconded
by Commissioner Jay White. Both motions were approved unanimously.
7. Appointment Of Planning Commission Member To Replace Andy Dibble. Mr. Bailey stated
that he would ask the Mayor to nominate a Commission replacement.
8. No O1dINew Business.
9. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Nathan Wilson and seconded by
Commissioner Jay White. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mark Mans, Chairman
Wally Bailey, Planning Director
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