Planning Commission Minutes April 4, 2017l
111 North 12"' Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 4, 2017
The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 5:30
P.M., in the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex.
Members Present — Chairman Andy Dibble, Vice Chairman Philip Bagby, Mark Evans, John
Symonds, Jay White, Lynne Graham and Jason Myers. Others Present Joe Hurst, Planning
Director, Julie Copple, Planning Commission Secretary, Candice Settle, City Attorney, Ahmad Saroji,
Saku-Saku, Richard Combes, Travis Rogers and Larry Yancy, Hawkins -Weir Engineering.
The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. A motion was
made by Jason Myers and seconded by Jay White to approve the minutes. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was a request for a 30 day mobile vendor permit extension, Salm-Saku
hibachi grill. Mr. Ahmad Saroji approached the commission and requested an extension for his
mobile vendor permit. A motion was made by John Symonds and seconded by Jay White to
approve the extension for Saku-Saku. The motion was approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was for the rezone applications that were tabled from the March meeting.
Applications #2-2017, #3-2017 and #4-2017, from R-2 to C-2. Mr. Aaron Newell, 425 N. 26'
Street, Aaron's Two State Towing, Mr. Richard Coombes, Coombes Trucking, 505 N 26`h, and Kent
Stone, 506 N 26`h, were requesting to rezone from R-2 to C-2. Documentation from the cities old
zoning map shows the parcels originally zoned C-2 (Commercial Thoroughfare). A motion was
i made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Jason Myers to recommend to the city council an ordinance
to correct all the proposed proper ties be amended on the zoning map. The motion was approved
unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was for a public hearing on variance application #2-2017, Larry Yancy,
Hawkins -Weir Engineering and Surveying, Rena Road Sidewalk variance. The request is for a
variance to construct a 5ft wide sidewalk adjacent to the curb along the north side of Rena Road.
The presence of existing construction and utilities in the proposed sidewalk alignment creates a
hardship where it will not be possible to accommodate greenspace between the sidewalk and curb.
A motion was made by Jason Myers and seconded by Jay White to approve the variance. The
motion was approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was for a public hearing on variance application #3-2017, Travis Rogers,
900 N. 15'h, Van Buren, Arkansas. Mr. Rogers approached the commission and requested a variance
for the front yard setback from 20' to 17.3'. The commission stated no hardship was presented and
suggested building a smaller structure to fit the current setbacks allowed. A motion was made by
Jason Myers and seconded by Jay White to deny the variance. The motion was denied unanimously.
Mi. Rogers was informed he could appeal the decision to the city council.
The next item on the agenda was for the public hearing on amending the mobile vending and
commercial trailer ordinance. Joe Hurst, Planning Director, stated the main reason for amending this
ordinance is to allow for a food truck court in the downtown by the park and the current ordinance
does not allow it. No public present for comments. A committee was formed from the commission
to review and amend the ordinance before next meeting. Members of committee are Jay White,
Mark Evans, Phillip Bagby and Andy Dibble.
A motion was made by Phillip Bagby and seconded by Jason Myers to adjourn. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Joe
Planning Director