Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2017City of van Buren, ,i, iii, ,
Municipal Annex
111 North 12' Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
March 7, 2017
The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 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, Sam
McCain, John Symonds, Tiffany Webster, Jay White and Jason Myers. Others Present -Joe Hurst,
Planning Director, Julie Copple, Planning Commission Secretary, Candice Settle, City Attorney,
Shailesh Gopal, Best Western Hotel, Kent Stone, Aaron Newell, Richard Combes and Ricky Hill,
Satterfield Surveying.
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 John Symonds to approve the minutes. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was an appeal for a sign permit from the Best Western Van Buren Inn. Mr.
Shailesh Gopal is requesting approval to replace existing signs to the Best Western Van Buren Inn
with their new logo. The new signs are crowned shaped and will replace the rectangular signs. There
is very minimal change to signs, with only a slight variation. A motion was made by Mark Evans and
seconded by Philip Bagby to approve the sign permit for the Best Western. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Next item on the agenda is for a public hearing on rezone applications #2-2017, #3-2017 and #4-
2017, from R-2 to C-2. Mr. Aaron Newell, 425 N. 26`h Street, Aaron's Two State Towing, Mr.
Richard Coombes, Coombes Trucking, 505 N 26`h, and Kent Stone, 506 N 26`h, are requesting to
rezone from R-2 to C-2. Mr. Newell stated he has been operating as a commercial business for over
18 years and never knew his property was rezoned to residential until he went to apply for a building
permit and was told it was zoned R-2. Marls Evans and several commissioners stated their concern
about extending commercial zoning into residential. Chairman Andy Dibble asked for public input
for or against. Ms. Kelly Jackson, 516 N 24", is concerned about the noise level and truck traffic
through the residential zone. She is also concerned about her property value depreciating. The
commission asked the properties owners if accessing the property through Alma Hwy would be
feasible. Mr. Richard Coombes said he would check on it. After further discussion, the Planning
Department will do some research and see if properties were originally zoned commercial. A motion
was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Jay White to table rezone applications #2-2017, #3-
2017 and #4-2017 until next month.
The next item on the agenda is for a public hearing on rezone application #5-2017, Randy Bottoms
and Ricky Hill, Satterfield Surveying. The request is for rezoning Tract 1A & 1B, one acre tract from
R-2 to C-2. Mr. Bottoms is building a wedding chapel/community building. Chairman Dibble
asked for any public input. None stated. A motion was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Sam
McCain to approve the rezone upon the recording of the plat. The motion was approved with 6 in
favor and 1 opposed.
Next item on the agenda is the preliminary plat for the Mackin Estates, Lots 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and
2A. Mr. Mark Mackin stated to the commission he divided the west end of the property into 6 lots
to build single family residences. Joe Hurst stated the preliminary plat has gone through the process
of the subdivision review committee and everything is good. Mark Evans stated the lots are small
and not consistent with the other lot sizes in the neighborhood. Mr. Mackin stated he divided the
lots according to the minimum square footage for the current zoning of R-1. A motion was made
by Sam McCain and seconded John Symonds to approve the preliminary plat. The motion was
approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda is for the public hearing on amending the city sidewalk ordinance #10-
2015. No comments stated from the public. No major proposed changes to the ordinance. The
ordinance needs to be amended to allow for a variance process. Tiffany Webster mentioned the
need to allow builders to pay a fee instead of building the sidewalk. Made Evans, Jason Myers,
Tiffany Webster, John Symonds and Andy Dibble will form the work study group and meet together
sometime to draft up a variance for the commission to review.
A motion was made by Jason Myers and seconded by Tiffany Webster to adjourn. The motion was
approved unanimously.
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F:iboble,
Joe st, planning Director