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PC Minutes 3-3-2020City of Van Buren, Arkansas Municipal Annex 111 North 12" Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 3, 2020 The Van Buren Plamring Conunission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 5:30 P.M., in the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex. Members Present— Chairman Andy Dibble, Vice Chairman Philip Bagby, John Symonds, Mark Evans, Tiffany Webster, Jason Myers, Jay White, Lynne Graham and Mason Shkey. Others Present -Planning Director Wally Bailey. David Martin, City Building Inspector, Candice Settle, City Attorney, John Karstens, Street Department Manager, Larry Yancy, Hawkins -Weir, Chad Brixey, Brxey Engineering, Willie Mooney, Rick Mooney and Ricky Hill, Satterfield Surveying. Approximately 40 people from the Legacy Park and Oliver Heights neighborhood. The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the last meeting. A motion was made by Jason Myers and seconded by Jay White to approve the meeting minutes. The motion was approved unanimously. Next item on the agenda was for public heating on the Master Street Plan. Planning Director Wally Bailey stated the original preliminary plat for Legacy Park included a connection between the Legacy -subdivisions and Northridge Drive. This is a vital connection necessary for the Fire Department to respond within the required response times. The Insurance Services Office ISO looks at response times when issuing a community rating. The city currently has a response time rating of 2 from a 4 rating. The Planning Director Wally Bailey presented in a power point with maps showing response time for the area including Legacy Park Heights, along with previously approved preliminary and final plats. He also presented seven (7) alternative routes for the proposed connection from Legacy to Northridge. Tim Arnold, Fire Chief stated the ISO rating starts at the parking lot of the fire station to generate a map. If you are not within the 1.5 miles, you are not within the response district time of the fire station. Wally Bailey and Tim Arnold expressed concern the ISO rating will either change the grade of the entire city or just the properties affected. The power point presentation to the public and commission included Legacy Park Preliminary Plats 2003 and 2009, Legacy Park, Phase I Lots 1 thm 81 and the Final Plat 2009 Preliminary plat. The final plat and preliminary showed Legacy Blvd being extended to Northridge E., and had these connections on the plats. The Planning Director stated the city owns some of that property now, around 14 acres. The history on these plats is where the problem was addressed, but never placed on the Master Street Plan stated Mr. Bailey. Another concern stated by the Planning Director is the Master Street Plan, which was developed and approved in 2015, are showing mountain bike trails going through some of the proposed street connection alternatives. Included in the presentation from the Planning Director Wally Bailey were road connection alternatives A through G. Mr. Bailey stated we need to get the proposed street on the Master Street Plan to show ISO the city plans to establish a route and to keep developers from building on a subdivision plan. Need to reserve for the city right of way. The following are the Alternative routes presented: Route A is off Durango Dr to Northridge Dr E. Route B is off Powderhorn and Vail Dr to Northridge Dr E. (vacant lots) sewer pump station. Conflicts with Master Park Plan. Route C is continuing Vail Dr to Northridge Dr. E. Route D is off Powderhom Dr to Northridge Dr E. vacant lots. Routc E is contunung Legacy Blvd to Northridge Dr. L. Route F is off Durango Drive to Northridge Dr E. This route is closer to the Master Street Plan. Mirrors the preliminary plan from 2003 and 2009. Route G is off Powderhorn Dr. vacant lot. Chairman Andy Dibble stated to the public in attendance to approach the podium, state your name and where you live. The following were the public comments: Ken Griffin stated he lives=by the pump station off Powderhorn Drive. He said, "The traffic will be horrible and Legacy Blvd and Durango Drive becomes increasing in traffic every day and people run the 4 way stop sign all the tune." He asked the question "When did our ISO rating change from a four (4) to a two (2)? And "Before fire station 4 was built, who responded?" Tim Arnold, Fire Chief stated fire station 1 responded and the ISO rating was from 10 years ago. ivlr. Griffin also stated, "I drove from my house to fire station 4 going to Oliver Springs Road and it took me 3 minutes and 42 seconds." "Phis seems a reasonable time." Mir. Griffin stated. Tim Arnold, Fire Chief stated that 3 minutes is a long time when something is burning His concern is to be safe and timely and in 3 minutes a house can be fully engulfed. Mr. Griffin also asked, "What happens to traffic after school opens?" Stanley Clark, Fire Marshall stated a lot depends on the time of day when they get: a call. Mr. Griffin stated, "My biggest concern, and everyone here agrees is the traffic." He also stated; "I bought my house 13 years ago, and asked about the plans, and the increase of the traffic." Chairman Andy Dibble stated he preferred the original plan of continuing Legacy Blvd to Northridge E and hat was the original plan from day one. Ryan Rose stated he lives off Powderhorn Drive. He asked the following referring to the power point slide "When the ISO went from the 4 to the 2, where there any other areas marked in gray?" and "Is there anywhere else in the city that has this issue with response time?" and "Was the rating given before fire station 4 was built or after?" Tim Arnold, Fite Chief stated there was some areas around Flat Rock and Vista Hills area and the rating almost 10 years ago. The Fire Chief also stated the rating was before station 4 was built. He also stated to keep the 2 rating we had to build station 4 and that he will do everything he can to make our city safe by providing quick response times to emergencies. Mt. Rose stated, "I am willing to pay extra in insurance, then have a road built through my neighborhood and cause traffic problems." Mr. Rose stated, "I appreciate your concern, but just on my street we have so many children." He also stated, "we don't go up to Durango because of all the traffic and running of stops signs." "Does the city have any concerns with more traffic when it's already out of control and not safe for kids?" Chairman Andy Dibble stated the problem of citizens not obeying the traffic needs to be addressed to the city police department and that's not what we are addressing here tonight. Candice Settle, who lives off Legacy Blvd, approached the podium, and stated "Yes, traffic is what we are address$ng." "I came to the city on Uehalf of our subdivision 10 years ago because of issues with traffic and children." "The city allowed stops signs to slow down traffic in the neighborhood." "It's a racetrack through our neighborhood." "We really need to consider the best route," "Would putting it through Legacy Blvd take traffic off Durango?" Planning Director Wally Bailey stated it would. Candice also stated, "Can we consider now what measures we can take with the road to reduce speed when the school opens?" "If you lived in my neighborhood and watched the traffic, it's awful." "How can we make them safer?" Mark Bartlett stated he lived at 2305 Durango Drive. "Based on what I've seen, stop signs are always run through and south on Durango we have a big dip and slows people down." "If Legacy Blvd goes through, they may use it to avoid traffic on 59 Hwy." Cary Schneider stated he lived on "Legacy Blvd where everybody runs the stop sign." "Given the cost. What s a realistic time frame of this street being built?" "Is 1.2 on low end?" "What is a realistic time frame for the toad being built?" Chairman Andy Dibble stated out purpose tonight is to recommend to the city council the road alternative, they will have the same conversation we've had here tonight. Please attend the city council meeting for your input. All we can do is make a recommendation. Ken Griffin asked the commission "If plan E road alternate is used, if response times is the factor, could you build an emergency access road?" Tim Arnold, Fire Chief and Wally Bailey, City Planner both stated the biggest issue is building a road that would hold the fire trucks, and we would spend the same amount as a regular road used by the public. Bob Beasley approached the podium stating he "lived on Sterling Circle and the traffic is unbelievable." "This new toad will become a highway." "Just a while back a Camaro came flying down the street and went off the road." "I just want to say the traffic is a real concern." Jeremy McBride approached the podium asking, "What are you all considering?" Chairman Andy Dibble stated he was going more along the lines of the original developed plan of Legacy Blvd to Northridge. A motion was made by Mark Evans and seconded by Lynne Graham to recommend for the Master Street Plan to reflect Alternate Route #E to the City Council for approval. The motion was approved unanimously. The public was encouraged to attend the City Council meeting at the end of the month, and to also call the city police to voice their concerns over the traffic safety in their neighborhoods. Next item on the agenda was for public hearings on Variance#1-2020, Lots 16A, 16B & 16C and Variance#2-2020, Lots 15A 15B, 15C & 15D, Brixey Engineering, Legacy Valley, Chad Brixey. The Planning Director, Wally Bailey, stated the recently approved Ordinance amendments to the Subdivision Regulations and the Control of Access ordinance states "Any lot that include a single-family, row house, or duplex shall not have access along any street designated on the master street plan as a Principal Arterial Collector Street Class I or Collector Street Class II." Oliver Springs Road is designated as a Principal Arterial street, and Northridge Drive is designated as a Collector Street Class I. The replat of Lot 16 will allow one additional driveway on Northridge and one driveway on Oliver Springs Road. The teplat changes the access from 2 driveways on arterial/collector streets to 7 driveways on arterial/collector streets. The applicant indicates that strict enforcement of the ordinance will render Y4 of the property as undevelopable and prevents practical utilization of the property. The Planning Department recommends a consideration of a variance on Lot 16 that combines the proposed Lots 16A and 16B into one lot with a driveway on Northridge Drive. The Planning Director also stated to the commission any variance approval should include a condition that any driveway on either street must include a turnaround that will allow the cars on the lot to maneuver so they do not back into the street. The replat of Lot 15 will allow one additional driveway onNorthridge and two 92) driveways on Oliver Springs Road. The Planning Department recommends:a variance on Lot 15 that combines proposed Lots 15A, 15B, and 15C into one lot with a driveway on Northridge Drive, also with the condition that any driveway on either street must include a turnaround. Mr. Brixey stated to the commission that the reason for the variances was that the developer was wanting to get as many houses on the lots with the R-3 zoning, Chairman Andy Dibble asked if Mr. Brixey had receivedany comments from the utilities? Mr. Brixey said they had not sent out the plats for utility comments. The Chairman stated the water and sewer will be crowded and will be surprised if its allowed. Commissioner Jason Myers stated allowing for the driveways off Oliver Springs Road sets a bad precedence. A motion was made by John Symonds and seconded by Jason Myers to deny the variance as presented. The motion was unanimous. An amended motion was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Jason Myers to approve the variance with the condition of replating the existing 15A, 15B, 15C &15D into two lots of 15A & 15B, making it administrative, and subject to the Planning Department, with access onto Northridge Drive and to include turnaround driveways. The motion was approved unanimously. On Variance#2-2020, Lots MAO &16C, a motion was made by Jason Myers and seconded by John Symonds to deny the originally proposed variance. The motion was unanimous. An amended motion was made by Jason Myers and seconded by John Symonds to approve the variance with the condition of replating the existing 16A,16B & 16C into two lots of 15A & 15B, making it administrative and subject to the Planning Department, with access onto Northridge Drive and to include turnaround driveways. The amended motion was approved unanimously. Next item on agenda was for Alley Closing for Vista Place Addition, Satterfield Surveying, Ricky Hill. The Planning Director Wally Bailey stated to the commission the petition was from Jason Harrell and Scott Rice. The purpose of this petition was to combine several lots separated by an undeveloped and non-functional alley so to facility the construction of a new house. The Van Buren City Council has set the public hearing for March 23, 2020. The Planning Commission needs to review the request and offer any comments or suggestions to the City Council. The Planning Department will notify all property owners of the platted alley by mail of the public hearing. A motion was made by Mason Slvrey and seconded by John Symonds to approve the recommendation of the alley closing to the City Council. The motion was approved unanimously. New/Old Business: Chairman Dibble stated to the commissioners that they have a wealth of knowledge corrng from the Planning Director, Wally Bailey, and would like to make a formal request that he continue to review and revise the city ordinances and regulations. The commission appreciates all that Mr. Bailey is doing and will do for the City of Van Buren. A motion to adjourn was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by John Symonds. Andy Dibble, Chairman Wally Bailey, Planting Director