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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-08-09 Minutes• • • MINUTES OF A PLANNING COMMISSION FETING A meeting of the Planning Commission was held on Monday, August 9, 1982 in the Directors Room, City Administration Building, Fayetteville, Arkansas. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Chairman Ernest Jacks, Newton Hailey, Jr., Windell Cullers, Julie Nash, Don Hunnicutt, Melanie Stockdell, Barbara Crook Morton Gitelman, David Williams Larry Wood, Bruce Kendall, James Cramer, Lisa Lum, Lindel Townsley, Bobbie Jones, Suzanne Kennedy, members of the press and others The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting MINUTES of July 26, 1982 were approved as mailed. The next item to be considered was approval of the preliminary plat of Winchester Square Subdivision located south of Highway 16 West and east of County Road #650 (outside City); Johnie and Ora Bassett, owners and developers. Chairman Ernest Jacks stated this item had been tabled at the last meeting until Mr. Cramer, representing C 6 F Surveyors, could check back with the County regarding the street dedication and jog which had been discussed at the last meeting. Mr. Jacks said General Kendall had called him and said that the County was aware of the jog question and had said today that only Phase One was being considered, which is a commercial subdivision, over which the City has no jurisdiction. Mr. Jacks asked Bobbie Jones if there was any difference in the subdivision regulations in the Growth Area versus in the City in our jurisdiction between residential and commercial properties. Bobbie Jones said that the City ordinance does not differentiate between subdivisions in the City or the Growth area and that, in her opinion, the City subdivision regulations are applicable in this case. The subdivision regulations do not exempt commercial properties. Gen. Bruce Kendall was present to speak for the County. After some discussion and questions from the Planning Commission, Gen. Kendall stated that Winchester Road was not yet a county road, that the easement is on the map, that the county has approved the road on the basis of the jog, and that the road has not been dedicated. Bobbie Jones said she had been furnished a copy of an easement dated September of 1980. Gen. Kendall said that the County is more concerned about the area south of Highway 16, and that there are two reasons for leaving the jog: (1) in order to save 5-20 very large trees and (2) there is a possibility of leaving a few trees on the right-of-way. He stated that he thinks the Planning Commission, in the future, should send requests for waivers on subdivision plats located outside City limits directly to the County. Gen. Kendall suggested the Planning Commission approve this item so the developer can continue on. PRELIMINARY PLAT - PHASE ONE WINCHESTER SQUARE SUBDIVISION HIGHWAY 16 WEST JOHNIE AND ORA BASSETT 11.6 • • Planning Commission Meeting August 9, 1982 Page Two Barbara Crook pointed out that when the plat was originally submitted, it included all three phases, and that this may be how it began to be considered by the Planning Commission, and that the Commission subsequently had suggested backing up to Phase 1 only. Gen. Kendall stated the County has gone on record as approving this item. Don Hunnicutt moved to take the item off the table. The motion was seconded by Windell Cullers and passed, 7-0. Don Hunnicutt moved to approve Phase One only, subject to Plat Review comments. He said he thinks we should leavethe jog in the road to the County, as it is in their jurisdiction. The motion was seconded by Melanie Stockdell and passed, 7-0. There was some discussion about the need to clarify what standards are being used within the Growth Area for regulating development. The next item on the agenda was a conditional use request submitted by Lisa D. Lum to change a non -conforming use from a four-plex to a boarding house for a maximum of ten people at 1625 Giles Road, zoned A-1, Agricultural District. Lisa Lum and Lindel Townsley were present. Chairman Ernest Jacks stated that at the last meeting there was a petition submitted for a rezoning of this property from A-1 to R-3, and that the Planning Commission had denied the Petition and recommended the Lums submit a conditional use request instead. Bobbie Jones said the same adjoining property owners had been notified. Mr. Townsley stated that the intention was to open up doors in the 4-plex which had been boarded up and to create a home with a community cooking situation. There was no one present to speak further in favor of or in opposition to the request. Ernest Jacks mentioned that one person had been present at the last meeting to speak in favor of the petition. Barbara Crook moved to approve the conditional use request. Bobbie Jones stated that a non -conforming use can continue as it was when it became non -conforming, regardless of a change in ownership, as long as it does continue, but once it discontinues, the petitioner has six months to request a change of non -conforming use, or it must then become a conforming use. They may keep the non -conforming use for the duration of that use for this structure. The motion was seconded by Melanie Stockdell, and passed, 7-0. CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST TO CHANGE NON -CONFORMING USE 1625 GILES ROAD LISA D. LUM The last item on the agenda was a discussion of the General Plan Update. Chairman Ernest Jacks stated that at the last meeting, it was decided to call a special meeting of the Planning Commission specifically to discuss this topic. He said that he was unable to find a majority of Planning Commission to be present on the date that had been stipulated. He asked the Commission about another method to set up a meeting time. DISCUSSION OF GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Windell Cullers moved the Planning Commission get back to what they started with, which was to ask the City Board to give the Planning Commission $10,000.00 (this year) to give to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission to continue their update on our planning. 1\7 Planning Commission Meeting oU August 9, 1982 23 Page Three •t7tz d Ernest Jacks said that the Commission had originally started to do this, but the question came up about advertising for services, and the City Manager, Don Grimes, agreed to discuss this with the Board. The Board then asked the Planning Commission for a resolution recommending that to them. At that point, a full study by Jim Vizzier was proposed, and the Mayor called Ernest Jacks O. saying the Board did not know what all was going on, and was not anxious to spend money for a full study unless the Planning Commission made a strong case Cl. for it. Ernest Jacks explained that the $20,000.00 figure originated because Larry Wood had made a list of items to be updated, and the City Board subse- quently appropriated $10,000.00 this year with the idea of $10,000.00 for next year for this work. Larry Wood said at one time there was some discussion of CD funds, but the Regional Planning Commission thought they could do the work for the City for $20,000.00 in addition to the money the City is already putting in, so they would not be charging for all the work they would be doing. He said he expected the work to take from 1 to li years, that the work could encompass 24 normal meetings and possibly special meetings in addition. There was discussion about the time length to be involved, and concern expressed by some members of the Planning Commission about an update taking this long. Larry Wood stated that he expected the update to include goals and policies, subdivision regulations, zoning ordinances and maps. He said that two members of the Regional Planning Commission staff would probably assist in the work. • Windell Cullers stated that the City Board can decide at any time to change planners or add one to the staff, and it is his view that the Planning Commission should just recommend continuing for the time being with the status quo. Barbara Crook stated she feels the City has asked the Planning Commission to describe what needs to be done, and that it should then be the City's job to decide who will do the work. She pointed out that the special meeting was to be called for the purpose of deciding this issue. (-3 Julie Nash seconded Windell Culler's motion and stated she felt that a planner is needed to do a quick update to help in the next couple of years, and to we cannot wait several years for a comprehensive, long range study. She thinks Uan additional motion would be in order to suggest the Board take bids for a tg comprehensive long range study. CD Windell Cullers restated his motion that the Planning Commission ask the a Board of Directors to allocate the. $10,000 budgeted to the N.W. Arkansas Regional Q Planning Commission for an update on the General Plan. Julie Nash seconded the restated motion. «3 There was further discussion during which Windell Cullers suggested a two- part motion, the second part including a recommendation to the Board to consider 9 the possibility in the near future of authorizing a comprehensive restudy of the U General Plan. U. There was also discussion about what should be included within the update a being recommended. There was discussion about making sure to pay particular attention to a capital improvement plan versus simply clearing up areas of conflict in the present regulations and ordinances. Larry Wood recommended that the work be done in pieces and not be tackled all at one time. 411/Windell Cullers agreed to forego the addition of a second part to his motion at this time. I!8 Planning Commission Meeting August 9, 1982 Page Four The motion passed, 6-0-1, with Melanie Stockdell abstaining. There was further discussion regarding whether or not to suggest to the City Board that there is a need for a restudy of the General Plan. Some members expressed the opinion that an additional expense would be a waste of money. Others expressed the opinion that some issues desperately need to be studied, such as capital improvements, public improvements, drainage, parks, economic trends, community facilities, street layouts and water lines, and that these issues should not wait until 1990 to be resolved. Larry Wood said he did not think a restudy of the economic trends in the present Plan is needed and they have never been used. He said that in specific terms, the goals and policies were not based on economic trends. Ernest Jacks asked if the Planning Commission wished to call a general meeting on the issue of the General Plan or if a committee should be appointed. It was generally agreed to establish a committee comprised of the three senior members of the Planning Commission who have had the most experience. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:50 P.M. 111