ORD NO 20-2019 CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS
ORDINANCE NO.:: e.)-2019
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE CITY OF VAN BUREN,
ARKANSAS,AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS, ADDING REGULATIONS CONCERNING
ACCESS TO ARTERIAL AND COLLECTOR STREETS,
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, the City adopted Ordinance 07-2003 for the purpose of adopting subdivision
regulations establishing regulations governing development of land in the City of
Van Buren; and
WHEREAS, notice of a Public Hearing was duly published,and a Public Hearing was conducted
by the Van Buren Planning Commission to consider these proposed amendments;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes herein were recommended by a majority vote of the entire
Planning Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS,THAT:
SECTION 1: Paragraph (C), Article IV, of the Subdivision Regulations is amended to read as
follows:
1. Size — As referenced in the Van Buren Zoning Ordinance for the Zoning
classification of the proposed development.
2. Area — As referenced in the Van Buren Zoning Ordinance for the Zoning
classification of the proposed development.
3. Width — As referenced in the Van Buren Zoning Ordinance for the Zoning
Classification of the proposed development.
4. Collector or arterial streets—Any lot that includes a single-family dwelling,row
house,or duplex shall not have access along any street designated on the master
street plan as a Principal Arterial, Minor Arterial, Collector Street Class I, or
Collector Street Class II.
5. Corner lots — Single family dwellings, row houses, or duplex lots shall have
access from the lowest classified street according to the street classifications of
the Master Street Plan. If the streets have the same classification, the dwelling
unit may have access to either of the streets.
6. Double frontage lots — When a residential lot has street frontage on the front
and back of the lot, driveway access is permitted on only one (1) street and the
access must be from the lowest classified street as classified on the Master
Street Plan.
SECTION 2: Severability: The various provisions and parts of this Ordinance are
hereby declared to be severable, and, if any section or part of a section,
or any provision or part of a provision herein, is declared to be
unconstitutional, inappropriate, or invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or affect the remainder of
this Ordinance and to that extent the provisions hereto are declared to be
severable.
SECTION 3: Emergency Clause: The passage and approval of these amendments to
the Van Buren Ordinance 07-1963,as amended,will protect the City and
its citizens by prohibiting residential driveways from backing into streets
with higher volumes of traffic and at faster speeds. Therefore, an
emergency is declared to exist and this Ordinance, being necessary for
the preservation of the public health,safety and/or welfare shall be in full
force and take effect immediately upon after its passage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of Van Buren, Arkansas, by its City Council, did
pass, approve, and adopt, by a vote of 62 for and C.) against, the
foregoing Ordinance at its regular meeting held on the 16th of December
2019.
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Jose. '. Iurst
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ATTESTED: AP ' :OVED AS TO FORM:
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City Clerk/Treasurer City Attorney
Cityof Van Buren Arkansas
Municipa' ex
111 North 12th Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
VAN BUREN CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR JOE HURST AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WALLY BAILEY, PLANNING DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBDIVISONGULATIONS AND THE CONTROL
OF ACCESS ORDINANCE
DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2019
The Planning Commission has recommended the subject amendments for the City Council's consideration.
These amendments concern driveway access for residential lots that have frontage on an arterial or collector
street as classified on the Master Street Plan.
The issue single family/duplex lots utilizing an arterial or collector street for access is how the typical traffic
movement occurs from these developments. Cars usually back out of the driveway on to the street which will
slow or stop any traffic.
Arterial and Collector streets carry more traffic than local streets,are often multi-lane roads,and can have
higher speed limits.Restrictions to traffic flows are frustrating for citizens but can also be a public safety issue
for our Fire and Police Departments as they need to travel as quickly as possible to their respective service
calls.
A collector street is a low-to-moderate capacity road which serves to move traffic from local streets to arterial
roads (Examples are Northridge Dr,Alma Blvd, and North 11th).An arterial street delivers traffic from collector
roads to interstates,and between urban centers at the highest level of service possible.As such,many arteries
are limited-access roads,or feature restrictions on private access. (Examples are Fayetteville Road and Alma
Highway)
The amendment to the Subdivision Regulations will require all future residential lots to be platted with
frontage on a local street which is where the driveway or access to the lot will be required.The amendment to
the control of access ordinance will add the residential design criteria to the ordinance.The control of access
ordinance currently has design criteria for commercial and industrial developments.
The Planning Commission approved these recommendations but did not want to make the requirements
retroactive on existing properties.The proposed ordinances include a section that states these amendments
only pertain to any lot that is part of a subdivision which has been approved and filed following the adoption
of the proposed ordinances. Please contact me if you have any questions.