PC Minutes 03-01-2022City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Municipal Annex
111 North 12"' Street • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
March 15 2022
1. Call To Order. The Van Buren Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 1,
2022, at 5:30 P.M. The meeting was held at the Municipal Complex in the City Council Chambers.
2. Roll Call. The following Commissioners were present: Chairman Andy Dibble, Vice -Chairman Philip
Bagby, Mark Evans, Missy Hefner, Mason Shirey, John Symonds, and Jay White. City staff present were Planning
Director Wally Bailey, City Inspector David Martin, and Secretary Jennifer Willoughby. Commissioners Jason Myers
and Tiffany Webster were absent. Present for Agenda Item #4: John Rogers of B&F Engineering. Present for
Agenda Item #5: Tiffany Poole and Niche Butt of 1309 N. 30th St, Connie and Marvin Mendenhall of 1303 Anna Sue
Rd, Doris and Billy Tounzen of 1303 N. 30" St. Present for Agenda Item #6: Chad Brixey of Brixey Engineering,
Steven Franklin of Franklin Construction, Raegan Clements of Clements Homes. Others present: Melissa and Kyle
Cation of E. Uniontown St, Robert Presley of the Crawford County Prosecutors Office.
3. Approval Of Minutes From February 1, 2022. A motion to approve was made by Vice -Chairman Philip
Bagby and seconded by Commissioner John Symonds. The motion was approved unanimously.
Recess Planning Commission
Convene Board Of Zoning Adjustment
4. Public Hearing For Variance #2-2022—Daily Queen—B&F Engineering; Address Variance. A
motion to approve was made by Vice -Chairman Philip Bagby and seconded by Conunissioner jay Wlute. The motion
was approved unanimously.
Recess Board Of Zoning Adjustment
Convene Planning Commission
5. Public Hearing For Conditional Use Permit #2-2022-1309 N. 30`"—Tiffany Poole and Nick Burt;
In -Home Daycare In R-2. A motion to approve was made by Commissioner John Symonds and seconded by
Commissioner Jay White. The motion was approved unanimously.
Commissioner John Symonds asked if the fire marshal approved the proposed in -home daycare site. City Inspector
David Martin. said yes that him and the fire marshal had met with Tiffany Poole to assess the building. The
commission asked Ms. Poole how many children will be there and whether she plans to expand the amount in the
future; her answer was 6 children at one time as DHS allows and that she will continue to comply with DHS
regulations. Chairman Andy Dibble asked if anyone in the public gallery would like to speak. Doris Tounzen of 1303
N. 30" Street spoke up against an in -home daycare in her residential neighborhood stating that it is potentially
dangerous for small children since there are 10-12 swimming pools located in the area and a pond across the street.
6. Public Hearing For Rezone #1-2022—Legacy Creek Future Phases—Brixey Engineering; R-2 To
R-3. A motion to table this agenda item was made by Vice -Chairman Philip Bagby and seconded by Commissioner
Mason Shitey. The motion was approved unanimously.
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Chad Brixey of Brixey of Brixey Engineering stated the intent of rezoning to R-3 is to have the same type of
development as the adjacent land and R-3 setbacks are 20' compared to R-2 which are 25'. Mr. Btixey said the greatest
need for the reduced yard setbacks is to allow construction of larger houses on cul-de-sac lots. Chairman Andy Dibble
said the problem is once the property is rezoned to R-3 it stays R-3; what happens in die future if another developer
owns the property and decides to build multi -family homes. Planning Director Wally Bailey noted that the City of
Fort Smith's zoning code states yard setbacks for cul-de-sacs are 20 feet. The commssion agreed doing a zoning
amendment on cul-de-sac setback requirements is a good plan going forward. Chairman Dibble asked Mr. Brixey
how he wanted to proceed with the rezone application now that the plan is to amend the zoning code to allow 20'
setback on cul-de-sac lots. Mr. Brixey requested to table the item.
7. Old/New Business
a. Discussion Item: Maximum Lot Coverage Requirements In Industrial Zoning Districts. Planning
Director Wally Bailey discussed how the zoning code provisions for the I-1 and I-2 zoning districts include
a provision for maximum lot coverage of 33'/z per cent of the lot area. Mr. Bailey believes when compared
to other cities, Van Buren's maximum lot coverage requirement is the most stringent, which translates to
a burden on potential Industrial developments. The commission agreed that an ordinance amenchnent
to the Industrial Zoning Code should be drawn up and presented for review.
b. Planting Director Wally Bailey brought up how unsightly the excessive number of old appliances being
stored outside a business at the corner of S. 4' and Wood Street looks to the public. Mr. Bailey will draw
up and present an ordinance to restrict the eye sore of mass salvage.
8. Adjourn. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Jay White and seconded by Commissioner
John Symonds. The motion was approved unanimously.
Wally Bailey, Planning Director
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