PC Minutes 01-07-2014PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 7, 2014
The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 5:30
P.M. in the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex. The following items were on the
agenda:
1. Approval of minutes from the last meeting
2. Public hearing for zoning code variances at 102 North 15th Street. Application by Bobby
Davis with Five Star Construction, Management, Inc
3. Discuss working group meeting on new digital billboard ordinance.
4. Any other business that comes before this commission
Members Present – Jay White, Tiffany Webster, Sue Moore, Mark Evans, Phil Bagby, Scott
Morgan, and Chairman Andy Dibble
Members Absent – John Symonds, Jason Myers
Others Present – David Martin, Joseph Hurst, Kyle Salyer, and City Attorney Candice Settle.
Planning Commission Chairman Andy Dibble called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. The first
action by the commission was to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. A motion was
made by Scott Morgan and seconded by Jay White to approve the minutes. The motion was
approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was a public hearing to discuss a variance request at 102 North 15th
Street. The variances included: reductions in the front setback, side setback, lot size, and lot
width. There were no comments from the public on this hearing. Kyle Salyer from Hawkins
Weir Engineers represented the variance request. Mr. Salyer stated that he wanted to build a
duplex on a 50’ X 145.11’ lot. They will be taking down the existing building. He claimed that
there was an existing hardship in the property due to the small size, a size that wouldn’t
accommodate a duplex. Mr. Salyer also stated that 5 Star had constructed similar sized homes.
Building Inspector David Martin mentioned that he believed their previous variance requests
were only for setbacks and not lot size or width. Commissioner Mark Evans stated that this
building is just too small for the lot and it is not feasible to construct a duplex there. It makes
more sense to put a single family home there. Scott Morgan agreed with Mr. Evans that it was
just too small. Commissioner Phil Bagby suggested that he would be more likely to approved
setback variances instead of lot size. Mr. Salyer asked to table the item so he could talk to his
client about doing a single family house and research if the commission had passed similar
variances for lot size in the past. City Attorney mentioned that just because the commission
possibly erred in allowing such a variance does not mean they would be required to vote the
same way in the future. A motion was made by Scott Morgan, and seconded by Tiffany Webster
to table the variance request. The motion was approved unanimously.
Planning Director Hurst discussed forming a working group to study a new digital billboard
ordinance. This group would talk with a representative from Clear Channel who submitted
language for an ordinance to introduce new regulations allowing for digital billboards in the
City. Tiffany Webster, Jay White, Philip Bagby, and Sue White volunteered for the working
group.
Chairman Dibble and Commissioner Morgan discussed forming a new group from the planning
commission to work with members from the Chamber of Commerce and City Council to focus
on economic development. In the near future the Chamber will be working with UALR to
conduct an economic assessment of the City. Then these groups would discuss the public
sentiment and bring back the public’s recommendations that would be translated into policy. Mr.
Morgan said that this is a long term approach and everyone would need to work together with the
public to bring about the best possible solutions to encouraging fresh ideas that would translate
into improving our economy and quality of life. Volunteers for the group were Andy Dibble,
Scott Morgan, Mark Evans, and Tiffany Webster.
A motion was made by Phil Bagby and seconded by Sue Moore to recommend adjournment.
The motion was approved unanimously.
With no more business, this meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ _________________________
Andy Dibble, Chairman Joseph Hurst, Planning Director