PC Minutes 04-01-2014City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Annex
111 North 12th Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 1, 2014
The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting April 1, 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 the minutes from the last meeting.
2. Public hearing on Indoor Firing Range Code Amendments
in addition, adding to the Conditional Use Legend.
3. Public hearing on updating the Fire Prevention Code.
4. Any other business that comes before the commission.
Members Present- Vice Chairman Philip Bagby, Mark Evans, Jason Myers, Scott Morgan
and John Symonds.
Members Absent- Chairman Andy Dibble, Sue Moore, Tiffany Webster and Jay White.
Others Present- Joseph Hurst Planning Director, Lisa Franklin Planning Assistant, David
Martin Building Inspector, Candice Settle City Attorney, Stanley Clark Van Buren Fire
Marshall and Justin Bates, Times Record.
Vice Chairman Philip Bagby is acting chair for this meeting and called the Van Buren
Planning Commission meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
The first item on the agenda is to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Mark Evans
motions to approve the minutes and Scott Morgan seconds. The minutes are approved
unanimously.
The second item is the public hearing for Indoor Firing Range Code amendments and
adding it to the Conditional Use Legend.
Joseph Hurst Planning Director explains that the City Attorney Candice Settle has
composed the proposed language regarding requirements for the owner operators of an
indoor firing range facility and this is included in their commissioner packets for review.
John Symonds expressed concerns and the commissioners discuss the sound level
measurement in item A sec. 7.48. John Symonds recommended and the commissioners
agreed to clarify this. This should be changed to say; if problems are found to exist
(exceeding eighty (80) decibels) from exterior wall, to state that sound exceeding eighty
(80) decibels should not be heard 10’ from outside the exterior wall.
There is question and discussion regarding the noise level restriction being included for
firearms when there is no city noise ordinance adopted. The commissioners agree with
City Attorney Candice Settle’s suggestion, the sound requirements are already in the
ordinance for this application and should be included.
City Attorney Candice Settle suggests that the requirement for a background check for
owner/operators and the statements about voluntary and involuntary commitment are
very important and should be included in the proposed Amendments to 7.48.03 Indoor
Firing Ranges. Candice states that this is the same requirements for a conceal carry
permit in the State of Arkansas.
Johns Symonds agrees with Candice that we should leave the already mentioned
qualifications on sound since they are already there. Scott Morgan agrees with the
qualifications of the owner operator to be in line with the Arkansas conceal carry law.
John Symonds asks for the clarification of the proposed new language to replace item B.
Mark Evans suggests striking item D, and states that this is a building issue not an
ordinance issue and the state will enforce the lead issue.
The commission agrees upon these amendments and vote to accept this ordinance. John
Symonds makes a motion to approve and Mark Evans seconds. The commission
approves this ordinance unanimously.
The next item is to amend the Conditional Use Legend to add the Indoor Firing Ranges to
the legend. Jason Myers suggests they be zones I-1, I-2 and Mark Evans makes the
suggestion to include C-2.
Philip Bagby asks for a motion to approve the Conditional Use Legend amendments to
include Indoor Firing Ranges in I-1, I-2 and C-2. Jason Myers makes the motion to
approve the amendments and Scott Morgan seconds the motion. The amendments to the
Conditional Use Legend approved unanimously.
The third item on the agenda is the public hearing to approve the Fire Prevention Code.
Stanley Clark Van Buren Fire Marshall gives an overview on the changes made to the
code and he states there are small changes but they have added more clarification.
Stanley also explains that the new code has a specific section for day cares. He says that
it addresses specifics with day care facilities one example is that the day care facilities
have to remove all paneling material from their buildings because of the fire hazards
involved with it.
Stanley explains that adopting this just brings us up to date with the state and ensures we
are all on the same page. David Martin adds that we had the 2007 code and the state
adopted the new 2012 code therefor everyone is adopting the 2012 in order to stay
consistent.
Philip Bagby asks for comments from the public. There were no comments from the
public therefore Mr. Bagby asks for a motion to pass the new 2012 Fire Prevention Code.
Jason Myers makes a motion to accept the amendments to the Fire Prevention Code, John
Symonds seconds the motion and the 2012 Fire Prevention Code passed unanimously.
Vice Chairman Philip Bagby asks if there is any further business before the commission,
and with no further business, is there a motion to adjourn. Scott Morgan makes the
motion to adjourn, Mark Evans seconds the motion and with no further business before
the commission, the meeting adjourned.
Andy Dibble, Chairman Joseph Hurst, Planning Director
PROGRESS IS
OUR PROJECT