PC Minutes 1-7-2020111 North 12 Street • Van Buren, Arkansas / 2956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
January 7, 2020
The Van Bu en Planning Corm mission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 5:30 P.M., i n
the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex.
Members Present— Chairman Andy Dibble, Vice Chairman Philip Bagby, Mark Evans, Jason Myers, John
Symonds, Lynne Graham and Mason Shirey. Others Present -Planning Director Wally Bailey. David Martin,
City Building Inspector, Candice Settle, City Attorney, Joey Marone, Jerry Williams Jr., Rick Wilkins, Chris
Belt, Chad Brixey, Ragan Clements, Tony Bragulla and Chris Hosier.
The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the last meeting. A motion was made by
Lynne Graham and seconded by Jason Myers to approve the meeting minutes. The motion was approved
unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was for preliminary plat review on Legacy Place, Phase I, Chad Brixey of Brixey
Engineering, for Gaither Management Trust. The preliminary plat indicates the subdivision will be developed
in two phases. Phase I is shown to be Lots 1 through 21. Phase 2 will be Lots 22 through 63. The zoning of
the property is Residential-2 which permits one- and two-family dwellings. All lots meet the minimum lot
size requirements for a one to two family dwelling. Mr. Brixey indicated all lots will be used for the
development of single -fain ly dwellings. He also indicated he will analyze the existing detention pond and
make plans for any necessary revisions. This will be submitted with the construction plans and engineering
design for Phase 1. The subdivision review committee consisting of city staff and franchise utilities met with
the Engineer on December 18, 2019. An additional 15' utility easement was requested by franchise utilities
on the back lots 35-43 and 13-21. City staff has drainage questions that need to be addressed on Phase I and
a flood study is required for Phase 2. A 20' easement will be shown along all street frontages except the
north side of Aster Street. That frontage will maintain the original 15' easement that was proposed. Mr.
Brixey is requesting the preliminary plat be approved with the condition they be allowed to address concerns
with Phase I and submit those lots for a final plat approval. The request is that the flood study be conducted
with Phase 2 and the city staff concurs with the request. A motion to approve was made by Mark Evans and
seconded by John Symonds to approve the preliminary plat. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was a public hearing for Conditional Use Permit#1-2020, I{evin Bell and Mason
Shirey, 2321 Industrial Park Road, representing Lakewood Properties. The proposed use of the property is
for a bus depot with Jefferson Bus Lines. Currently they are using Walnut Street for a temporary address until
the remodeling of 2321 Industrial Park Road. The hours of operation are from 2:00am to 6:00pm, 7 days a
week, 1-2 employees and approximately 6-10 passengers per bus stop (6 per day). The manager of the
proposed bus depot has conveyed that they do not allow any loitering. The Planning Director Wally Bailey
stated the proposed Industrial Park Road location appears to be compatible with surrounding land uses it is
neat Interstate access. The property appears to have adequate access and parking for the bus station/depot.
No public present for comment. A motion to approve the conditional use permit was made by Mark Evans
and seconded by Jason Myers. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next item on agenda was for a public hearing on Rezone#1-2020, Jerry Williams Jr, 1322 Cedar St, C-2 to R-
2. The existing house on the property was recently destroyed by a fire. The owner is proposing to build an
1800 sq. It duplex, one-story frame structure. Planning Director Wally Bailey stated the land use plan
classification and the master street plan classification for Cedar Street more properly fit the R-2 zoning
district. A motion to approve the rezone was made by John Symonds and seconded by Lynne Graham. The
motion was passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was for a public heating on Rezone#2-2020, J&S Construction, 232 S. 26th St,
C-2 to R-3. Joey Marone, J&S Construction, requested a rezone of this C-2 property to It multi -family so he
can build three duplexes. Planning Director Wally Bailey stated the proposed R-3 zoning is more compatible
with master land use plan and the master street plan than the Commercial zoning. The 3-duplex multi-
family development seems consistent with the existing development next to this property. A motion to
approve the rezone was made by Jason Myers and seconded by Lynne Graham. The motion was passed
unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was a public hearing for an amendment to the cunt of of access regulations.
Planning Director Wally Bailey stated the proposed amendment to the Control of Access Regulations is the
Article 6 — Hardship. Thus section is the provision allowing a developer of a proposed development to
request a variance from the literal interpretation of the ordinance. The changes to this Article are as follows:
Include residential developments to the list so that a variance request will be available to all
developments.
Correct a misspelled word (tiot with not).
Add clarification that the variance request permitted by this section will be reviewed by the Planning
Commission and the procedures for the variance application.
A motion to accept the changes and proceed to the city council fox approval was made by Philip Bagby and
seconded by Mason Shitey. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next item on agenda was new/old Uusiness: Planning Director Wally Bailey asked the Planning Commission
about a future proposed amendment to the Sidewalk Ordinance. The Planning Commission agreed and
asked to see the amendment at a future meeting.
A motion was made by John Symonds and seconded by Jason Myers to adjourn.
Andy ibble, Chairman Wally Bailey, Planning Director