HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-08-25 Minutes•
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THS
FAYETTEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION
A meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission was held on Monday
August 25, 1986 in the Board of Directors Room of the City Administration
Building, 113 West Mountain, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ernie Jacks, Sue Madison, Stan Green,
Butch Robertson, Frank Farrish, B.J.
Nash and Paul Skwiot
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
The meeting was
of the August 11,
MINUTES
None
Fred Hanna,
Dow, Julie
Larry Wood, Ervan Wimberly, Michael Crider, Mike
Price, Doug Hemingway, Don Grimes, Sandra Carlisle,
Tessi Franzmeier, members of the press and others
balled to order by Chairman Jaeks and the minutes
1986 meeting were considered.
Commissioner Madison made the following eorreetions: Page 2, last
paragraph, at this point...they...would open; Page 2, last paragraph,
if there were a request...they...may stay open, Page 3, paragraph
3, and if...there were...10 parents; Page 4, paragraph 5, minimal
amount of...things...; Page 5 and 6, ehange all tree's to...trees...;
Page 8, paragraph 1, they had that...sense... of lack; Page 8, paragraph
1, to speak...their...mind and now...they have been...denied that ehanee;
Page 10, paragraph 7, would they maintain...their...natural beauty;
Page 10, paragraph 10, better understand...their...objections and
felt...their...objeetions have been; Commissioner Skwiot asked that
the 7th full paragraph on page 10 be stricken from the minutes, there
was no action taken on this request. The minutes were approved with
these corrections.
PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING R86-14
SOUTH OF WEDINGTON S WEST OF DOUBLE SPRINGS ROAD - FIRST NAT'L BANE
The second item on the agenda was consideration of rezoning petition
R86-14 submitted by First National Bank and represented by Mike Price
for 1.97 aeres lobated South of Wedington & West of Double Springs
Road. Request is to rezone from A-1, Agricultural to R-2, Medium
Density Residential District.
Wood recommended rezoning to R-2 for the following reason:
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
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If this were vacant land R-2 District would not be recommended because
of the lack of sewer facilities and fire plugs. But since all of
the dwelling units are already in place and the requested zoning district
is compatible with the General Plan recommendations R-2 District is
recommended. If the Planning commission felt that R-2 District was
premature there was the possibility of R-1.5 District or conditional
use in R-1 District.
Madison asked what they Gould do with the land if it was rezoned to
R-2 that would not require the addition of sewer and fire plugs.
Larry Wood assumed the applicant would want to subdivide the property
into individual lots and sell the property off. R-2 would allow this
as well as R-1.5 or a conditional use under R-1.
Dow asked was the surrounding property zoned A-1 and Wood answered
"yes" all the adjoining property is zoned A-1. Wood stated the only
activity they have had in that area was at Rupple Road and 16 West
for the SpeeDee Mart, a church that was rezoned and a subdivision
on the North side.
Farrish asked if this had been recently annexed into the City and
Wood stated it had been annexed about 3 years ago. Farrish then asked
when land is annexed in what zone would it some in at and Wood stated
it would be A-1, R-1 or as the annexing ordinance specifies but it
he thought the ordinance said it would some in as A-1 unless otherwise
specified. Farrish then stated it appears this property was developed
as R-2 property before the annexation and his question was why hadn't
the property been annexed in as R-2 instead of A-1. Wood stated it's
more or less a City policy, the City would like to have more control
over what takes plane there. They like to put everything in A-1 and
then take a look at it as requested changes occur.
Madison asked if this was rezoned to R-2 with whatever the problems
they may have now with the property could it potentially compound
those problems. Wood replied if the property were zoned R-2 they're
eligible for any development activities under R-2. He noted if everything
burned down out there tomorrow, then they would be free to develop
as R-2 property which would be more dense than the duplexes are at
the present time.
Jacks opened the public hearing to anyone in favor of this rezoning.
Mike Price, 3460 N. College stated the bank had aquired this property
through a foreclosure and obviously they just want to sell it and
they have not been able to sell it all as one unit. They would like
to be able to divide it up and sell it to individuals. He said he
was advised by the Planning Office to rezone the property to R-2 because
the lots did not have enough frontage for R-1 and were mostly duplexes.
<5)
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 3
He then said some of those buildings were built as long as 20 years
ago. Prise said their second stage would be to file a subdivision
plat and go ahead and market off the individual lots.
Dow asked could they market the
were R-1 with a conditional use.
get to sell these as individual
on what the zoning was. The bank
property any further.
property the way they wanted if it
Mr. Price said whatever they could
units would not make a difference
has no intention of developing this
Carlisle stated he would be forced to go to the Board of Adjustment
for a variance on the Bulk and Area Regulations if it were zoned R-1
because there is not enough required frontage.
MOTION
Nash moved to recommend approval of this rezoning from A-1 to R-2
to the Board of Directors, seconded by Green. The motion passed
8-1-0, Madison voting "nay"
APPROVAL FOR A FINAL PLAT OF SEQUOYAH PLACE
JAMES LINDSEY - HIGHWAY 45 EAST OF WHIPPOORWILL
The third item on the agenda was a request for approval of the final
plat of Sequoyah Place submitted by James Lindsey and represented
by Doug Hemingway. The 1.188 acres is located at Highway 45 East
and Whippoorwill and is zoned R-0, Residential Office.
Jacks advised this was reviewed by the Subdivision Committee at their
last meeting and a few changes were suggested and as far as Jacks
could tell that had been done. Jacks asked if they had not asked
for an assurance that lot 1 would aneess off of Whippoorwill and lot
2 would be the only assess off of Highway 45. Madison then asked
where the driveway would be off of Whippoorwill and Jacks stated there
was a 25' easement on the East side and they would enter on the North
end for assess to lots 1, 3 and 4 as a private drive.
Doug Hemingway stated there was at least 102' on the ROW with Whippoor-
will and there would not be any problems with the Highway Department.
Jacks stated he agreed with Commissioner Madison that the drive should
be as far South as they could get it as not to create a bad traffic
situation.
MOTION
Madison moved to approve this final plat with the stipulation that
only 1 driveway at most have access off State Highway 45 and in addition
to the driveway on Whippoorwill shall intersect Whippoorwill as far
to the South as possible, seconded by Dow and followed by further
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 4
discussion. Green asked what did as far South as possible mean and
Jacks assumed it would mean for the private drive to be as far away
from the intersection of Whippoorwill and Highway 45 as possible.
Upon roll sail, the motion to.approve the final plat passed 9-0-0.
LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT PLAN - ELKHART PRODUCTS CORPORATION (EPC)
3265 HIGHWAY 71 SOUTH - ERVAN WIMBERLY S MICHAEL CRIDER
The fourth item on the agenda was the Large Seale Development for
Elkhart Products Corporation (EPC) for a Tube Mill addition, located
at 3265 Highway 71 South. This property is zoned I-1, Light Industrial,
Heavy Commercial. This LSD was submitted by Elkhart Products Corporation
and represented by Ervan Wimberly of Northwest Engineers and Michael
Crider EPC Plant Manager.
Jacks, speaking for the Subdivision Committee, advised that the committee
had approved this LSD subject to: a waiver of the screening requirement
and a Bill of Assurance for a sidewalk along Highway 71 South. Jacks
stated the screening requirement would be on the North side of this
property. EPC now owns the adjoining 5.76 acres abutting this North
property line.
MOTION
Madison moved to grant a waiver of the screening requirement on the
North side of EPC with a substitution of 10% landscaping and accept
the existing tree line as the 10% and the existing line shall be
preserved, seconded by Nash. The motion to approve passed 9-0-0.
APPROVAL OF CONCEPT PLAT - H.H. HUDGENS
PROPOSED SUBDIVISION ON HOOT OWL LANE AND SMOKE HOUSE TRAIL
The fifth item on the agenda was a request for approval of a concept
plat for a subdivision submitted by H.H. Hudgens and represented by
Ervan Wimberly for property located south of Ozark Mountain Smokehouse
and west of Hoot Owl Lane. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density
Residential District.
Ervan Wimberly stated Mr. Hudgens had received approval for a lot
split on the southern piece of this property with the existing two-
story house. Wimberly stated there are 2 acres left on this parcel
with an existing house on lot 1. Mr. Hudgens would like to make 3
nice -sized lots in addition to the existing house on lot 1. Wimberly
stated that would create 4 lots and Mr. Hudgens would like to transfer
this property by lots to his children. Wimberly then noted Mr. Hudgens
is not a developer and this is not his intent. Smokehouse Trail comes
off of Hwy 62 and up to the east side of Frank Sharps Smokehouse and
up to the edge of the old Smokehouse with a few houses. Mr. Hudgens
has approximately 270' of frontage on Smokehouse and Hoot Owl Lane
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
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is a gravel lane that extends to the east side of the property and
services the existing house and one other parcel of land. Wimberly
stated if Mr. Hudgens had to bring either one of those two streets
up to City Standards or even his half, that parcel of land would not
be worth it, the cost of bringing those streets up to City standard
would be too great. Hoot Owl Lane does adjoin a large undeveloped
tract to the east which may develop in the future and if and when
it did, Mr. Hudgens would go ahead and dedicate 25' of ROW so that
at some point in the future a 50' ROW would be there. Wimberly stated
the existing gravel road that is noted on the plat is partially on
this other property and its a road of record and is not a dedicated
road. It does serve one other house on up the hill and he noted the
chances of Hoot Owl Lane ever being extended would be very slim.
Madison asked where the new house is located that Mr. Hudgens built
and Wimberly stated he has not built as yet but it would be immediately
west of the existing two story house and was not included in the plat.
Madison then asked how would it have access and Wimberly stated Hoot
Owl Lanes extends on up and it was covered in the lot split that was
approved earlier. Madison asked if lot 4 had required frontage or
was it a tandem lot and Wimberly stated it was a tandem lot.
Farrish questioned the intent of what Mr. Hudgen's wanted to do and
asked if his main concern was to bring those two roads up to City
Standard and Wimberly stated that was Mr. Hudgen's only concern.
Farrish asked how Mr. Hudgens would feel about a Bill of Assurance
that would say if and when those roads are brought up to Standard
by the other people surrounding him, would he pay his proportional
share. Wimberly stated that would be acceptable but they would rather
not encumber the property with a Bill of Assurance like that but if
necessary, yes they would accept. Wimberly asked if there would be
a time limit on this Bill of Assurance and Farrish stated he would
not propose any time limit because he liked the idea of Mr. Hudgens
coming in with a plat showing the subdivision requirements and the
alternative would have been to come in and ask for another lot split.
Farrish felt there should be some consideration given to the approach
taken on this concept plat.
Madison asked if proof of notification had been submitted the Planning
Office and Wimberly stated all adjoining property owners had signed
the plat and Sandra Carlisle had received it.
Green stated they always fall bask on Bills of Assurances as to the
answer for everything they don't want to make anybody do right now
and he felt that was not right and over a long term it would be a
cloud over that property and the City would probably never improve
that street. Green stated they have the ability under the ordinance
to make a judgement tall. Green noted the ordinance said one of the
conditions for a waiver is that a subdivider may petition the Planning
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
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Commission for a waiver of off-site improvements requirements in whole
or in part on one or more of the following grounds. The first one,
Green stated, is that the City had no plans for upgrading the substandard
street or road which off-site improvements are proposed to be required
by the subdivider. Green said they were avoiding making a decision
by going with a Bill of Assurance and in that situation he could not
see that any harm would be done to anyone by not having a Bill of
Assurance. He could not see that the City would ever want to improve
either one of those two streets and as Evan Wimberly pointed out,
once they get to the top of that hill there is no where to go.
Farrish asked if they wanted an indication from tonight's meeting
if a Bill of Assurance would be required or not and Wimberly answered
"yes".
Hanna stated Hoot Owl Lane ends at the end of Mr. Hudgen's property
and Hanna said when he looked at it when the lot split was approved
it seemed to him that Mr. Hudgens had probably improved and maintained
that Lane at the side of his property. Wimberly stated Mr. Hudgens
had done more to maintain that lane than anyone else in that area.
Jacks asked Mr. Grimes if he felt the City would be pressured at some
future date to some in and pave that street when this property had
been subdivided and built on. Mr. Grimes stated "somewhat", and what
same to his mind was Sunrise Mountain Road. They did no improvements
when the property was developed and the City is forever being pressured
by those property owners to improve the roads. However, he could
see where Mr. Hudgens was coming from and he wished there was some
middle ground or they could insert a clause stating they would not
come after the City to improve the roads in the future.
Green stated he would have felt differently if they were talking about
10 or 12 houses in there but they are talking about 3 houses maximum
on this plat over and above what's already been approved in the past
and it seemed like a minimal risk to him.
Dow said she did not think any development would happen right now
but she did not think that the City could perceive that development
would not happen at some point in time.
Robertson stated why not do what Mr. Grimes has suggested as to a
clause stating the City would not be responsible for any improvements
as it developes.
Madison asked if that would be noted on the Deed and Sandra Carlisle
stated it would be noted on the final plat and then filed with the
Court House and that would hold them to it without a Bill of Assurance.
Madison questioned if there had been any comments from the staff on
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 7
this concept plat and Carlisle stated the plats were sent to the staff
but she had not received any comments. Madison then stated it seemed
to her they were relaxing their normal standards simply because of
the financial situation of Mr. Hudgens.
Wimberly stated it would not be feasible for anyone to build a road
up through there be it the City, property owners or anyone else.
Farrish stated the financial situation of anyone had nothing to do
with this and Farrish stated they have 4 lots, its a small development
and what else could happen to that piece of land initially unless
you leave it there. There is a tremendouse amount of footage around
this land that does not need anything done to it regardless of what
their financial situation is at this point in time. Farrish said
a question comes up about the future and the suggestion Commissioner
Robertson gave takes dare of the problem in the future.
Madison asked if the Planning Commission would take any action on
a concept plat and Jacks said he thought Mr. Wimberly would like some
expressed opinion. Wimberly said they would like to have some action.
Green stated he did not feel the Planning Commission was relaxing
their normal standard because what they would be doing is in accordance
with the ordinance. He said the ordinance was not an arbitrary thing
to be applied to every ease that would dome in.
Madison stated the tandem lot bothered her and she felt it should
be required to have street improvements and Wimberly asked why a tandem
lot would bother her. She stated all tandem lots bother her.
Dow asked where the tree line fell behind the tandem lot. She said
there was a fence row of trees and Mr. Hudgens stated if they were
standing up at the south property line looking north Frank Sharps
forest or woods would be on the west line and then some people by
the name of O'Neal have timber on the east side.
Hanna stated he felt it probably would be better if there was a Bill
of Assurance for Smokehouse Trail and a stipulation that the City
would not have to develop Hoot Owl Lane. Hanna stated when Hudgens
builds his new house and splits the other 3 lots, and if they did
build 3 houses, then eventually the water would run down Smokehouse
Trail and he felt at some time in the future there may be a need for
curb and guttering on Smokehouse Trail. If there was a need, it would
be because of the development of this land.
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
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MOTION
Hanna moved approval of this concept plat as presented with the stipula-
tion that a Bill of Assurance be given on Smokehouse Trail and the
stipulation being put on the plat that if Hoot Owl Lane is ever improved
it would be at the expense of the property owner and not the City.
Seconded by Nash, followed by futher discussion. Green stated he would
vote against the motion, because he felt the concept was fine and
a Bill of Assurance was not necessary. Upon roll Ball, the motion
to approve passed 8-1-0, Green voting "nay".
DISCUSSION OF THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
The sixth item on the agenda was a discussion of the proposed Subdivision
Ordinance.
Jacks stated there were two unresolved items which were fees and off-site
improvements. He said they have had two meetings now between the
Subdivision Committee and the Board of Directors Street Committee,
the last meeting having been held on Friday, August 22, 1986. He
said they had talked about off-site improvements to some extent.
Jacks stated it turned out the City does not want to forego in any
way the requirements that developers pay for what they develop, including
off-site improve-ments. After considerable discussion it was decided
that they get together with Mr. Burch to try and develop a check list
of information to be given then to the Planning Commission to make
a judgment in each ease about the appropriate amount of off-site improve-
ments.
Green stated it was his impression they agreed that mechanical application,
as to how much they widen, eurb and gutter and everything that touches
the property. He then said it would probably not be appropriate justi-
fication and would really be a judgment Ball that would be up to the
Planning Commission to make.
Jacks stated there were several things involved as how to do it such
as acreage, traffic count and street frontage. All these things had
some bearing although none of them were fool proof. Jacks then stated
the question for tonight is to receive some comments from the Planning
Commission members and ultimately see if they were ready to give this
to Jim McCord to draft a legal amendment on which they could hold
a public hearing.
Green stated he was not sure what was good and what was bad. He said
they had one set of regulations submitted by the Engineer that the
City hired and another set that was marked up by the Planning Office.
Carlisle stated the set that was submitted 4 weeks ago had everything
except for one sheet on the storm drainage which she issued as a handout
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 9
to substitute for the existing sheet she said Ervan Wimberly and Mel
Millholland had prepared in upgrading the storm drainage.
Jaeks explained what was handed out with the last agenda with the
exception of the one sheet on storm drainage was under eonsideration
Jenks then said those sheets refer to all the information.
Madison stated she took those sheets and inserted the eorreetions
and found it was a little trieky to figure out. She then said on
page 2-1 of section 2 the procedures for Subdivision under eoneept
plat called for 20 copies of the Plat and everywhere else it ealled
for 18 copies, her question was why a eoneept plat needed 2 more copies.
Carlisle then noted what they have now is 18 copies of the concept
plat and there would be no need for the 20 copies. Madison then stated
the only real issue she had was a stipulation for sidewalks to be
set back from the curb and not the ROW line. Farrish thought it said
they could be planed anywhere in between those two areas and Madison
said it says on page 4-4 //9 all sidewalks should be loeated at the
ROW Wimberly stated that was the line where she wanted the sidewalk,
the ROW line was back away from the street and not the curb line.
Madison then stated she would not have a problem if Mr. McCord looked
at this now.
Green said the only problem he had was if someone could take the original
draft Mr. Reynolds submitted and make the ehanges that have been recom-
mended and go through this process again and tell us what to change
from the current Subdivision Regulations.
Jacks stated the final form that would eome to us for approval for
a publie hearing would be as amendments to the existing Subdivision
Regulations. Jaeks then said one idea would be to send it on to Mr.
McCord and let him incorporate all of it but it would be a lot of
work. Green agreed it would be a lot of work but it's almost impossible
for him to incorporate all these ehanges and eventually someone would
have to do it at some point.
Jacks stated there were not more than 5 or 6 ehanges with the added
drainage requirements. Green stated these ehanges should be incorporated
into the orginal draft. Jacks then said the subsequent ehanges would
be street widths, changes on the structural number, drainage requirements
and lot splits and Jaeks noted that Mr. MeCord would have to ineorporate
all of these ehanges before they could hold a public hearing.
Madison asked if the Board members would be concerned if they addressed
temporary drainage on-site and Jacks said what they asked about was
retention and it was suggested, not required. Wimberly stated on-site
retention was either reeommended or suggested. Again, he said that
would be up to the Planning Commission or Board as to whether they
would want to ineorporate that into the draft or not.
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Planning Commission
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Wimberly stated on Commercial and Industrial sites Springdale required
retention of the excess flow created by the improvement. The City
of Rogers also leans that way very heavily and Bentonville has an
ordinanee that requires retention. Wimberly explained that retention
is to retain the excess run-off on a piece of property with a holding
basin, pond, large ditch, etc. for the duration of a storm.
MOTION
Madison moved to have further diseussion on the revised Subdivision
Regulations on the next agenda, seconded by Nash. The motion to plate
bask on the next agenda vas approved 9-0-0.
LETTERS REGARDING TREE ORDINANCE
Jacks advised there had been a number of letters reeeived in the Planning
Offiee asking for the Planning Commission to hold a publie hearing.
Jaaks said there had been a lot of impressions given that certainly
were not good for the Planning Commission's publie relations, in that
they have appeared to be immature in a lot of ways. There seemed
to be an impression on the part of a lot of people that the Planning
Commission had been sort of high handed for voting against a publie
hearing and even though Jaeks disagreed and voted the other way at
the last meeting, he said the Planning Commission had the right and
he would defend that right, to raise subjects, study it and finally
to vote whether or not to take it to a publie hearing. That was what
the Planning Commission did as far as he was eoneerned. He then said
it simply got into a semanties problem and he would like to think
they could talk about a Public Hearing from a legal aet on a document
that would be a legal amendment to the ordinanee. Jaeks then said
the Board of Directors had directed them to hold a publie hearing.
He had had a conversation with the Mayor and a eouple members of the
Board and they all seemed to agree that a publie meeting would probably
be more appropriate. Jaeks' own view of this was they were not ready
to hold a publie hearing but what they needed to do was hold a public
meeting to get the citizen's input as requested by the Board of Directors.
He then said they had reeeived a number of letters in support of the
Tree Ordinance and also letters in opposition of the Tree Ordinanee.
Jaeks stated his view of this was to go ahead and hold a publie meeting,
get the citizens testimony and see where it goes from there.
As far as he was eoneerned, at this point the Planning Commission
had very legally deeided to stop the tree ordinance at their last
meeting and sinee that time they had been directed by the Board of
Directors to hold a publie meeting.
Skwiot said he felt betrayed by the aetion that the Planning Commission
had taken last Tuesday at the August llth meeting. He had been embarrassed
by the way people had been handling themselves and thought it was
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 11
very childish and thought they had planed this eommission in ridicule
in the public's eye and compounded this thing into polarization or
whatever they wanted to tall it. He really failed to see how it could
be resolved, short of the 4 of them tendering resignations as he did
not see how they could work together. Skwiot stated when Jacks said
publics meeting, as they were having a publics meeting then, did he
mean to hold a publics meeting to have citizen's input. Jacks said
yes and it would not be planed on a regular Planning Commission agenda
but would be a separate advertised meeting.
MOTION
Skwiot moved to refer the ordinance bask to the committee, that subsequent
to the first meeting in September at the regular Planning Commission
meeting the following Monday an advertised public meeting be held
to receive citizen input and then following the first meeting in October
to hold a public hearing and reeeive the proposed ordinance and make
some sort of recommendation. Seeonded by Madison and followed by
further discussion.
Madison felt that whatever the Board meant it should stay a public
hearing. She would be happy to do both but they had been directed
to hold a public hearing. She also said they should hold a public
meeting to receive input from the citizens and she felt obligated
to do something about a public hearing.
Jaaks then stated if they held a publie hearing then the draft would
have to go to Mr. McCord and then tome back to them with an amendment
to the existing ordinance.
Green stated as far as he was concerned he has heard about this for
a year, virtually everyone of the letters they had received so far
had been from someone who had been at a publie meeting and he did
not feel like any decision was made without publie input. He said
he thought it was probably made with more public input than virtually
any item that had been discussed since he had been on the Planning
Commission. Green stated he read in the newspaper how they were all
going to vote and it did not seem like it would be particularly productive
for this body to hold a publie hearing, if they do indeed already
know how they would vote. He suggested saving the citizen's who would
show up for this publie hearing a trip to City Hall and recommending
to the Board that the Board hold a publie hearing or public meeting
whatever they want to hold, because the decision would ultimately
be before them. He had not seen anything as yet from the Board telling
the Planning Commission to do this and he said he would have felt
differently if they would have indeed told them to do this. Green
stated he would vote against this motion.
Madison asked eould the Board of Directors hold a publie hearing and
c
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Planning Commission
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Page 12
Green said there was absolutely nothing that said this body must hold
a publie hearing on anything other than an amendment to the zoning
map The City Board can initiate changes without a publie hearing.
Madison stated she watched the meeting on television, she asked Mr. Grimes
if the Board asked the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing
on the Tree Ordinance and Mr. Grimes answered "yes". Green then stated
his response would be to recommend the Board hold the publie hearing
and Madison said she felt some responsibility to hold a publie hearing
if the Board told the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing.
She said she would hope there are some things she eould learn from
the people of Fayetteville about the tree ordinance that she had not
thought of yet and Green said if the Board wanted them to hold a publie
hearing after they reeeived this suggestion then they would certainly
hold a public hearing.
Dow said as a member of the Tree Committee she would really like to
hear what people have to say about the ordinance. Dow stated there
had been so much controversy that she would like to hold a publie
meeting as Skwiot said initially to get the input. If the publie
does not want it, fine that's what she wants to know. If they do
want it, fine. If they wanted to give some direction as to which
way to go with the Tree Ordinance, if they want a Tree Preservation
versus something else, that's what she would like to know, She said
she had a feeling as to what the citizens wanted but she would like
to hear it from them and she thought they should have a right to say
it.
Farrish asked Dow if they should hold a publie meeting and a publie
hearing both and Dow stated she thought that would be helpful and
Farrish asked what would they accomplish by having those two hearings.
Dow said she wanted input as a committee member not as a Planning
Commission member, she wanted input as to whieh direction those people
wanted to go. Farrish then said the question he had was they had
wrestled with this thing back and forth for a long time and there
have been people in to say they do not like the tree ordinance and
there have been people in saying they remember College Avenue before
it was redone and his opinion was that's what they would get again
when they hold a public meeting without a doeument.
Dow stated Skwiot's approach is giving them a chance to do both of
those. If they eould get the input and then do what they think people
would want and then put together a final draft if they did get a final
draft and then they could speak on a speeifie ordinanee. Farrish
asked if Dow meant to hold a public meeting and have all those people
come in and incorporate all those ideas into a ordinanee. He added
they would not suoneed because what they would have would be a large
segment of the community for it and large segment of the eommunity
against it and he did not see how they could reeonaile the two
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 13
irreconcilable differences.
Jacks stated at this point the Planning Commission had voted not to
continue the study of the tree ordinance and the City Board had directed
them to hold a public hearing and that was what they had before them
right now. Jacks said Skwiot had added another point, to refer the
ordinance back to the committee and Jacks stated he would not be ready
to vote for that as yet and would like to hear what the public had
to say before he felt it would be appropriate to send it back to the
committee.
Farrish stated the committee that worked on this did a very good job
on a recommendation. He said they had public meetings, public input,
advertisment and all those things. He said they drafted a proposed
tree ordinance to be brought to the Planning Commission and since
all that had already been done, why go through that process again.
Why not hold a public hearing on the proposed tree ordinance that
the committee recommended to the Board the first time. Madison asked
which one and Farrish stated the only one that came out of the committee.
Farrish stated they would be giving the public an opportunity to speak
on what the committee did. He said he never offered any changes on
this and if they are going to go back and rework it then are they
going to want your changes, my changes and everybody's changes and
in time it would get adopted.
Madison stated she had been naive enough all along to think that they
could work together on getting the bugs out of this thing and fine-
tuning it, but everytime she read the ordinance she could find some
problems with it. She did not mean that she would want to dictate
her feelings, but she would like to bounce it off her fellow Commissioners;
problems like do they want a tree ordinance or not. She said Farrish
had found some problems in the tree ordinance and when she looked
at it she appreciated his concern for the obvious gap in the tree
list. She said these are some of those issues that they could talk
about and work out some of the bugs without throwing what she considers
to be an old draft in front of the public. Farrish stated the old
draft is the only draft that name out of the Committee and the Planning
Commission had been critisized by Director Orton for whittling down
the ordinance. He thought they should not hold something for the
public to hear with the perception that 4 guys on the Commission had
whittled down anything and he thought the public should see it in
all its glory.
Green stated this whole thing had been voted down at least one time
and it seemed to be a misperception of exactly what their responsibilities
were because he did not think their responsibilities necessarily supported
any idea that anyone on the Planning Commission same up with. He
said he had tried to voice his opposition to this entire concept since
day one so it should be no surprise to anyone that he would not make
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 14
•
much of a contribution to help put this thing into shape because in
his opinion, the only way this could be put into shape would be to
drop it entirely. Green stated they mould go on with this forever
and they had already gone on with it forever but Parrish had a valid
point. Green said he still would not be in favor of a public meeting
and to the best of his knowledge the only thing that had been approved
by this Committee of people they call the Landscape Committee, some
of whom were for it and some of whom were opposed, was that very first
document. The rest had been revised by the City Attorney and changed
by, to the best of his knowledge, a member of the Committee without
a full meeting. Green stated there is no way they would be able to
draft a ordinance that would satisfy everyone in Fayetteville and
that was part of their responsibility; to sort through all these fasts,
figures, circumstances and opinions and come up with something that
would work and that's why he had been so adamantly opposed because
he saw no way it would work. Green said as far as he was concerned
he liked his first suggestion of letting the City Board hold the public
hearing because they ultimately would have to make the decision and
he felt this thing has taken all of the Planning Commission's time
it should take.
• Madison asked why not hold this public meeting on the philosophy of
a tree ordinance.
•
Jacks stated the City Board felt, and he felt too, that there had
been so much adverse publicity about this matter that the Commission
needs to square themselves with the public whether they agree with
the way things have gone or not. This Commission had been directed
to stop further action and now have been directed by the City Board
to hold a public "whatever". Jacks stated Skwiot's motion recognizes
that with a further point that the ordinance be referred bask to Committee.
Green asked since the Planning Commission stopped further action,
what would they do if they hold a public hearing. Jacks stated he
did not know.
Nash stated at this point she saw no reason to try to punch holes
in each other's positions and said the fast of the matter was they
had been told by the Board of Directors to hold a public hearing and
that Mr. Skwiot had made a motion for two meetings, one for public
testimony and refer it back to committee and then a public hearing.
Green stated there was not a legal requirement for a public hearing.
Dow stated she felt they are ultimately responsible to the citizens
of Fayetteville, and she felt that getting more than enough input
was better than getting not enough input. The more input they can
get the better.
Farrish asked if they were going to hold a public meeting with no
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 15
document and were they just going to sit there and let everyone come
and tell them what they think. Nash answered "yes" and Farrish said
we do that and then what happens. Jacks answered he did not know.
Farrish then said another point was after it went bask to the Committee
then they would hold a public hearing which they had already voted
not to have. Farrish then asked if they could vote on these things
one at a time and Skwiot stated he would let his motion stand.
Jacks stated he would not vote for this motion either. He said he
would vote for a motion to hold a public meeting and receive input
and he said as far as he was concerned the tree ordinance was stopped.
The Planning Commission voted to drop it and he respects that decision.
Green stated he wanted to make a point so that he was understood perfectly
and clearly that he did not want to argue with the City Board. That
was not the point of his suggestion. The point he was suggesting
pure and simple was to offer the City Board an alternative that would
accomplish two things: 1) it would get this off of the Planning Commis-
sion's banks and basically a 5 to 4 vote is good as a tie to him 2)
let the City Board have the benefit of all the input because it's
clear they would ultimately have to make the final decision. Green
stated he could not agree more that they need to get on with their
business and he sincerely had been thinking about this a lot and what
he was suggesting is the best way.
Nash asked Green if he was
the time of public hearing
suggestion was to offer the
with the work that had been
that have been drafted with
want to hold a public hearing
saying return this to the City Board at
or for the ordinances. Green said his
City Board an alternative; present them
done, present them with the ordinances
the totals; and let them pick what they
or public meeting on.
Jacks stated they had a motion before them and he was ready to vote
for this motion.
Skwiot stated his reason for refering the ordinance bank to Committee
was he was trying to leave open the possibility of someone coming
up with something valuable to say, that they would want to make some
changes and so forth. He said if it were essential to make a success
out of this motion, he would like to rephrase it to be referred back
to committee after the public hearing for any pertinent changes.
Skwiot said hold an advertised public meeting the off Monday after
the first meeting in September and then refer the ordinance bank to
Committee to make any pertinent changes with the Committee delivering
the ordinance to the commission by the first meeting in October.
After that first meeting in October they would hold an advertised
public hearing. Jacks then stated he thought that was the original
motion and Skwiot answered "right" and Jacks then said "so it's not
changed" and Skwiot answered "right".
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 16
The question was called. The motion was to hold an advertised public
meeting the off Monday after the first meeting in September; then
refer the ordinance back to the landscape committee to make any pertinent
changes with the committee delivering the ordinance to the Planning
Commission by the first meeting in October. After that first meeting
in October an advertised public hearing would be held. Motion failed
4-5-0, Skwiot, Madison, Nash and Dov voting in favor of and Farrish,
Jacks, Green, Hanna and Robertson voting "nay".
MOTION
Madison moved to schedule an advertised public meeting on the tree
ordinance at the same time as Mr. Skwiot's motion with the option
after that public meeting of proeeeding further with this ordinanee
and Jacks stated he did not understand what she meant by option of
proceeding further. He said according to the City Attorney they have
the authority to reconsider anything they had done at any time.
AMENDMENT
Madison amended her motion to
advertising public meeting for
by Farrish. The motion to
Farrish, Nash, Jacks and Dow
Robertson voting "nay"
schedule an advertised, 15 days of
September 15, 1986 at 7:00 p.m., seconded
approve passed 6-3-0, Skwiot, Madison,
voting in favor of and Green, Hanna and
Hanna stated he wanted to reply to Skwiot's request for his resignation.
Hanna said he thought Mr. Skwiot had shown propensity to be a trouble
maker, and if there was to be a resignation, Hanna submitted that
Skwiot should offer his resignation. Hanna stated he did not think
any of them had tried to aause trouble and they tried to be decent
to one another. Hanna said they did not betray Skwiot, it was his
own free choice not to attend the last meeting and Hanna had no idea
Skwiot was not going to be there and he wished he had been. Hanna
stated he thought there were things they could throw out that would
probably mandate Skwiot's resignation if it were brought to the public
but Hanna said he did not believe in doing things that way. Hanna
stated Skwiot had said too much about too many people and he thought
Skwiot ought to change his attitude or step down.
OTHER BUSINESS
Robertson suggested that the special meeting be held in the Continuing
Education Building. Sandra Carlise said she would make the arrangements
for the special meeting in the CEC building for 7:00 p.m. on September
15, 1986.
Green stated he had something he would like to bring up. He said
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Planning Commission
August 25, 1986
Page 17
the meeting tonight provided all the more evidence why something appeared
like this in the Board meeting. Green said the Fayetteville Board
of Directors have standard conduct for their meetings and he felt
that was something that the Planning Commission should consider adopting.
Green said part 82 was all he was proposing that they put on a future
agenda. He said that under "public meetings" do not really call for
anything other than common sense and eourtesy. Green said the 4th
paragraph was the one he found particularily interesting where it
said all members of the Board would shall have the utmost courtesy
to each other, City employees and members of the public appearing
before the Board, they shall refrain at all times from rude or derogatory
remarks, reflections as to integrity, abusive comments in statements
as to motive and personalities. Board members are to confine their
questions to that particular matter before the Board and Jacks stated
he did not think anyone could argue with that.
Green asked this be put on the agenda one month from now.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.