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PC Minutes 11-5-2019City of Van Buren, Arkansas Municipal Annex 111 North 12� Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 12956 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES November 5, 2019 The Van Bueen Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on "Tuesday, November 5, 2019 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, Jay White, Lynne Graham and Mason Shirey. Others PresentWallyBailey, Planning Director, David Martin, City Building Inspector and Ricky Hill, Satterfield Surveying. The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the last meeting. A motion was made by Jay White and seconded by Lynne Graham to approve the meeting minutes. The motion was approved unanimously. Next item was a plat review for Sun Valley Acres, Lots 25A, 25B and 25C, Satterfield Surveying. Ricky Hill was running late so Chairman Dibble moved to #5 on the agenda. The next item on the agenda was for public hearing to discuss parking and access restrictions on collector and arterial streets as classified on the Master Street Plan. The subjects discussed were subdivision regulation and access ordinance amendment prohibiting driveways from single family and duplex properties on a collector or arterial street; parking restrictions on all collector and arterial streets, and along Northridge Drive between Oliver Springs Road and Fayetteville Road. After a time of discussion with the commission and the Planning Director, a motion was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Lynne Graham for the Planning Director work on the proposed amendments and present back to the commission. The motion was unanimous. Next item on the agenda was for public hearing to discuss zoning code amendments related to development of design guidelines and landscaping requirements. Mr. Wally Bailey, Planning Director, stated that during the last 31 /2 month she has had discussions and input from citizens that the City of Van Buren needs to consider development regulations that will improve the appearance of the community. Mr. Bailey has been working with the Chamber of Commerce Strategic Planning/Economic Development Committee: This group is working on the #ForVanBuren plan. Mason Shacy, Planning Commissioner and the Planning Director currently serve on one of the subcommittees. The subcommittee is working on issues within Goal#1 of the #ForVanBuren plan which is "Van Buren will significantly improve the community's attractiveness for citizens, visitors, and existing and new businesses." Development guidelines can take many levels of regulation to improve the appearance of development in a community. Researching development guidelines from other communities has led the Planning Director to find guidelines that may be more than what is practical or feasible for Van Buren. The purpose of the discussion tonight is to begin the process with the Planning Commission so that we can find the right mix of development guidelines that will best serve the community. Mr. Bailey presented a PowerPoint presentation with examples of different landscaping along property frontage, parking lots and parking lot screening. After a time of discussion with the commission, a motion was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Lynne Graham to recommend the Planning Director to work on a proposal and present back to the commission. The motion was unanimous. f'he next item was for public hearing to discuss zoning code amendments related to accessory buildings, structures and towers. Mr. Wally Bailey, Planning Director, stated that accessory buildings and structures need to meet criteria which need to be established in the text of the zoning code. Setbacks, permitted and prohibited locations height, size, and permitting are all features that need to be reviewed. The Van Buren Zoning Code currently has a definition that says "Accessory uses or building a use or building customarily ncident azid sublimate to the actual principal use or building and located on the same lot with such actual principal use or building." The code does not go any further to add additional requirements other than what is contained in the defitnition. With this definition and the building code it might seem there is not a problem because buildings and structures must meet setbacks and be issued budding permits. However, this is where we have some missing pieces to out ordinances. The currently adopted building code for the City of Ban Buren includes the three (3) volumes Arkansas State Fire Code (fire, Building and Residential). Volume II (Building) and Volume III (Residential) exempt certain items from building permits unless there are other laws or ordinances of the jurisdiction. Volume II (Building) exempts an accessory structure that is 150 square feet or less. Volume III (residential) exempts an accessory structure that is 200 square feet or less. Without any criteria portable storage buildings exempt from budding permits could be installed at any location on a property including within the front or street side yard setbacks. After researching ordinances in other Arkansas cities it is apparent that this issue is addressed with specific ordinances. Currently, we do not issue building permits for towers (commercial and non -=-commercial). Neither the Van Buren tower ordinance not the building permit ordinance specify or state a fee for towers nor is it mentioned that a building permit is required. A comparison of other cities with tower ordinances shows that the other ordinances have specific language and in some cases specific fees for the towers and even for changes to the tower such as additional antennas. The Van Buren tower ordinance is part of the zoning ordinance. Again to enforce the provisions of the zoning ordinance we need to have a permitting process in place. Mr. Bailey suggested the city establish a requirement for permits with a fee schedule. Mr. Bailey has not prepared a specific ordinance amendment since it might be best if this is discussed more in depth at the next meeting. A motion was made by Philip Bagby and seconded by Mark Evans for the Planning Director work on a proposal and present back to the commission. Next item was the plat review of Sun Valley Acres, Lots 25A, 25B and 25C. Ricky Hill, Satterfield Surveying presented the review plat to the commission. A motion was made by Mason Shiey and seconded by Philip Bagby to approve the plat. The motion was unanimous. A motion to adjourn by Philip Bagby and seconded Uy Mark Evans, Dibble, Chairman Wally Bailey, Planning Director