PC Minutes 03-04-2014City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Annex
111 North 12th Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
March 4, 2014
The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting Tuesday, March 4, 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 on sign ordinance amendments
3. Discuss indoor firing ranges as conditional use
4. Any other business that comes before the commission
Members Present - Chairman Andy Dibble, Mark Evans, Jason Myers, John Symonds, Jay
White, Scott Morgan, Sue Moore, Tiffany Webster
Members Absent - Phil Bagby
Others Present - David Martin, Joseph Hurst, Lisa Franklin, City Attorney, Candice Settle and
Ryan Zaloudik with Clear Channel Outdoor.
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. Jason Myers
makes the motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting and Jay White seconded. The
minutes approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda is the public hearing for the amendments to the sign ordinance.
Jason Myers inquires about the community event or personal event signs and is concerned that if a citizen
has more than one child the ordinance would prevent promoting all of their children’s events.
The discussion of these signs and the one sign per event being adequate language and acceptable for
these type of signs leads to Jason asking if there have been complaints about these types of signs?
David Martin states that these types of signs are not currently included in the sign ordinance at this time
and since they are not included in the ordinance, they are not legal. He also says he does
receive several calls regarding these types of signs and is concerned about the misuse of them to battle or
bash the neighbor and such.
The commission continues the discussion and directs the question on the limitation of these types of signs
to Candice Settle. Candice explains that there was some concern about them in regards to economic
development. Tiffany Webster had brought up if someone is a potential new resident looking at homes
in Van Buren and the neighborhood lawns and street corners are cluttered with signs that would not make
the best presentation of our community. Jason and Sue Moore state they feel like it may also show that
the community supports their children and Community.
Candice states that this was the compromise reached regarding the signs however; she has no problem
revising it if the commission feels it is too restrictive.
After discussion by the commission, Mark Evans suggests to strike the number of signs per lot limitation,
restrict the signs to non-commercial signs and agree to leave the one sign per event in place. The
commission agrees that this is acceptable. Mark Evans makes the motion to accept the sign ordinance and
Scott Morgan seconded. The sign ordinance revisions passed unanimously.
Next on the agenda is the discussion on Indoor Firing Ranges. Planning Director Joe Hurst brings the
discussion to develop and incorporate indoor firing ranges as conditional use. The growing popularity of
these facilities and the interest of the general public and potential entrepreneurs to plan a facility have
been the motivation to address the Indoor Firing Ranges.
Discussion regarding zoning and where this type of facility would be allowed, hours of operation, noise
levels and what qualifications and background investigations on the business owner themselves should all
be considered are all in agreement by the commission. The commission also felt that being specific in
defining noise levels would be important.
Candice Settle will assist with research and the commission will continue the discussion regarding indoor
firing ranges the next meeting.
There being no other business before the commission the motion to adjourn was made by John Symonds
and is seconded by Scott Morgan. This meeting adjourned.
Andy Dibble, Chairman Joseph Hurst, Planning Director
PROGRESS IS
OUR PROJECT