Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-11-08 Minutes• • MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, November 8, 1982 in the Continuing Education Center, Room 107, Fayetteville, Arkansas. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Chairman Ernest Jacks, Barbara Crook, Melanie Stockdell, David Williams, Don Hunnicutt, Julie Nash, Windell Cullers, Newton Hailey, Jr., Morton Gitelman None Bryce Davis, Gen. Bruce Kendall, Udell Luttrell, Millard Goff, Charles Forbes, Ervan Wimberly, Al Harris, Bobbie Jones, Suzanne Kennedy, members of the press, and others The first item of business was to consider the minutes of the last Planning Commission meeting of October 25, 1982. Barbara Crook asked that the vote recorded on page 8 of those from 7-1 to 7-0-1, to correctly reflect the abstention. With the minutes were approved as read. The next item of business was to consider approval of the preliminary plat of Winchester Square Subdivision, Phase II, located south of Highway 16 West and east of County Road #650 (outside City Limits); Johnie Bassett, owner and developer. (Tabled at the October 25, 1982 Planning Commission meeting) Chairman Jacks stated that at the last meeting it was decided to ask the City Attorney for an opinion on the question of whether the City or the County has jurisdiction over drainage improvements for subdivisions in the planning area. Jacks quoted from a letter prepared by Attorney Jim McCord: "...that the territorial Jurisdiction of the City shall be exclusive within the City's designated planning area." and "The county courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters relating to ... roads, bridges ..., and in every other case that may be necessary to the internal improvement and local concerns of the respective counties." Jacks said it was pointed out in the footnote that our "...Ordinances provides that certain improvements, including storm drainage facilities, shall not be required in a suburban subdivision which is not adjacent to the City's corporate limits, where the installation of said improvements is not necessary to conform with existing development in the general neighborhood..." There was some discussion as to how the annexation of this property affects the Jurisdiction question. Bobbie Jones stated City Attorney McCord informed her the annexation is supposed to become effective in thirty days, but will not actually be effective until he has recorded it in the County Court. It was the opinion of Ernest Jacks that McCord meant for the Planning Commission to consider the jurisdiction question as if the annexation were not yet effective. MINUTES minutes be changed that correction, PRELIMINARY PLAT WINCHESTER SQUARE SUBDIVISION PHASE II OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS JOHNIE BASSETT 159 Planning Commission November 8, 1982 Page Two It was Windell Culler's opinion that by the time this subdivision reached the final plat stages, the property would be within the City Limits, so that it would not be fair to base the Planning Commission's actions as though it were outside the City Limits. Morton Gitelman pointed out that, if the Commission approves the preliminary plat, at the time the annexation becomes effective it becomes A-1 zoned property and a commercial subdivision would not be permitted without a rezoning. He stated he thought McCord meant for us to treat it as outside the City Limits for drainage purposes only. Mr. Forbes, speaking for the developer, stated they would be willing to be treated as though under the City's jurisdiction. Morton Gitelman pointed out the City Attorney's letter tells us we can apply the City's drainage standards in either case. Forbes stated they would prefer to conform now since they would have to later. He said the owners are concerned about how far they are responsible to the drainage downstream, and how far they are responsible for the drainage problem as it already exists. He said that it would not be economically feasible for them to do what they talked about at the last meeting to correct the drainage and, if necessary, they would prefer to let those lots go. He said the drain tile across Highway 16 was somewhere on Lot 3, on the left-hand side. He said they would like to work something out with the adjacent owners and control the drainage because as it is draining now they would want to move it. He said the drain tile goes underneath Highway 16. Millard Goff, adjacent owner, said he had received a letter from the engineering firm assuring him the drainage would be handled in a certain way, and he expressed his dismay at Forbes' statement that this would not be feasible now. Forbes stated they have said they would not worsen the problem that is already there. Goff asked how they could build without accelerating water runoff. Forbes stated they will try to control the water flow with a catch basin (to be designed for 100 -year flooding), (a small pond) which would hold runoff and then they would drain it. Goff asked why the City would annex a piece of property where there is a known problem and then approve it under the County rules that would never work under the City rules. He stated in his opinion the drainage pattern has already been altered a few feet. Don Hunnicutt moved to approve the preliminary plat of Phase II subject to Plat Review comments and the developer to design a storm MOTION drainage system to be approved by the City Street Superintendent. The motion was seconded by Melanie Stockdell. There was further discussion about how the annexation when it becomes effective will make this property A-1, and it was clarified that the motion is for approval of the preliminary plat only and would not be an approval of the uses of the property. Gen. Kendall, speaking for the County Planning Board, asked if the County was beingrelieved of any responsibility for building the road. Hunnicutt stated that was not the case. He said, according to the City's ordinance, the Planning Commission must rule on the drainage. Gen. Kendall said anytime the City wants to come up with a master drainage plan, as suggested by McCord, the County will be glad to cooperate and work on that. He said at the County Planning Board's last meeting, they approved the subdivision's preliminary plat and it shows the roads for the second and third phase. He stated it seems the City is going to approve the plat on the basis of IQ A • • lanning Commission November 8, 1982 Page Three its being in the Growth Area, but that inevitably a commercial subdivision would not be allowed there. He said the reason the owner went through all three phases was to sell those commercial lots. He said there was a moral implication involved here, in that the Planning Commission can now put it off and rezone the property or not. He thinks it would be better to turn down the plat right now. Cullers agreed and stated the opinion that a request for rezoning to commercial would probably not be voted in. He thinks it would not be fair to the owner to approve the plat now, that we should at least let him be aware of what we think is going to happen in the future. Jacks pointed out that today we have before us consideration of approval of a preliminary plat. The owner has chosen not to withdraw it and the Commission is faced with a decision on it. Bryce Davis, adjoining owner, stated he doesn't believe the subdivider should be allowed to change the direction of the drainage and cause somebody else a problem. Jacks stated, if that were to happen, it would be a problem for the court, that the Commission today must look at the drainage for approval or disapproval, and stated the motion has been worded to cover that. Forbes stated they were not changing the direction of the drainage now. Gen. Kendall said if the County's approval of the road has changed the . direction of the drainage, they want to know about it. The motion was voted on and passed, 8-1, with Windell Cullers voting "nay". Bobbie Jones pointed out that today's approval is to be for Phase II only. Gen. Kendall said the County had approved Phase II but had to look at Phase III in order to do so. Bobbie Jones also reminded the developers they must submit a drainage plan to the City Street Department for approval. David Williams advised the developer to discuss potential rezoning with Bobbie Jones, and also said, based on past experience, the likelihood of rezoning to commercial for that area is small. The third item on the agenda was to consider approval of the final plat of Northview Heights Addition located south of FINAL PLAT NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS ADDITION SOUTH OF ROLLING HILLS F, EAST OF N. COLLEGE J. B. HAYS Rolling Hills Drive and east of North College Avenue; J. B. Hays, owner and developer. Ervan Wimberly and Al Harris were present to represent Northwest Engineers. Don Hunnicutt, Chairman of Subdivision Committee, reported that the committee recommends approval of the final plat with one change. Ervan Wimberly explained his position that, if there is a choice between using a 50 foot building setback and 35 feet with landscaping and no parking between the building and the street, he prefers to indicate 35 feet on all his tracts. Don Hunnicutt moved approval of the final plat, subject to Plat Review comments, with one change to be made before the MOTION plat is recorded, that a 35 foot building setback be shown with landscaping and no parking between the building and the street on all tracts, and with a note to be included on the plat stating this. The motion was seconded by Barbara Crook. 161 • Planning Commission November 8, 1982 Page Four Bobbie Jones pointed out the setback requirement for landscaping and no parking between the building and the street was worded to be 25', not 35'. Ervan Wimberly stated he would not try and change to 25 feet, that 35 feet would be acceptable. Bobbie Jones said she had not had an opportunity to read over the Covenants. Morton Gitelman read these over, and mentioned that nothing was indicated in the Covenants about never developing in the common areas. Ervan Wimberly agreed to check into this. The motion passed, 9-0. Chairman Jacks reported that the OTHER BUSINESS Update Committee had met and they are UPDATE COMMITTEE working to see whether they want to recommend ERNEST JACKS to the City Board a restudy of the General Plan. One thing that came out of their meeting was the possibility of some "clean" industrial properties being along the Bypass. Bobbie Jones asked if Larry Wood had brought up the fact that the new interchange off the Bypass between 112 and the old Johnson Road is not designated a controlled access highway. She also asked about the fact that the service roads constructed by the Highway Department differ from the service road map, an item which needs to be brought into agreement at some time. She asked if the Planning commission needs to study the question to designate a controlled access highway or should it go with the amendments to the Master Street Plan to the TAC committee. She said there were three ordinances involved, (1) which sets up regulations for a controlled access highway and (2) and (3) which designate Highway 71 from the north end of the Bypass to the north City Limits and 71 Bypass as controlled access. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 P.M. 142