HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-14 Minutes•
•
•
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
A regular meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission was held on August 14, 2000 at 5:30
p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
ITEMS CONSIDERED
LS 00-24.00 Lot Split (Middlebrook, pp 140)
LS 00-25.00 Lot Split (Krueger, pp 255)
CU 00-19.00 Conditional Use (Krueger, pp 255)
CU 00-17.00 Conditional Use (Lake Hills Church, pp 255)
LSD 00-15.00 Large Scale Development
(Lake Hills Church, pp 255)
LSD 00-20.00 Large Scale Development (Cornerstone, pp 402)
CU 00-21.00 Conditional Use
(First United Presbyterian Church, pp 407)
LSD 00-21.00 Large Scale Development
(First United Presbyterian Church, pp 407)
AD 00-28.00 Administrative Item (Williams, pp 481)
MEMBERS PRESENT
Nancy Allen
Don Bunch
Bob Estes
Conrad Odom
Loren Shackelford
Lee Ward
Don Marr
Sharon Hoover
STAFF PRESENT
Tim Conklin
Ron Petrie
Dawn Warrick
Sheri Metheney
ACTION TAKEN
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
No Motion Made
MEMBERS ABSENT
Lorel Hoffman
STAFF ABSENT
None
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 2
Consent Agenda:
Approval of minutes from the July 24, 2000 meeting.
LS 00-24.00: Lot Split (Middlebrook, pp 140) was submitted by Mike & Gloria Middlebrook
for property located at 4110 N. Old Wire Road The property is in the Planning Area and
contains approximately 3.65 acres The request is to divide the property into two tracts of 2.24
acres and 1.41 acres.
Odom:
Welcome to the August 14, 2000, meeting of the Planning Commission. The first
item we have on tonight's agenda is the approval of the minutes of July 24, 2000
meeting and we have one item on consent. That is LS 00-24 submitted by Mike
& Gloria Middlebrook for property located at 4110 N. Old Wire Road. The
property is in the Planning Area and contains approximately 3.65 acres. The
request is to divide the property into two tracts of 2.24 acres and 1.41 acres. That
is the only item on the Consent Agenda and that item will be approved without
discussion unless a member of the audience or a member of the Planning
Commission wishes to pull that item for discussion.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Odom: Does any member of the audience wish to pull that Lot Split item for discussion?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Odom: Does any Planning Commissioner wish to pull that item? Seeing none, I'll ask
that you call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call Consent Agenda passes on a vote of 7-0-0.
Commissioner Shackelford arrived at 5:40 p.m.
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 3
LS 00-25.00: Lot Split (Krueger, pp 255) was submitted by Stanley Krueger for property
located at 3169 Skillern Road. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains
approximately 5 acres. The request is to split into two tracts of 3 acres and 2 acres.
Odom: The next item on tonight's agenda is item number 2 under new business. That
also is a lot split submitted by Stanley Krueger for property located at 3169
Skillern Road. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains
approximately 5 acres. The request is to split into two tracts of 3 acres and 2
acres. The staff's recommendation is approval subject to seven conditions of
approval. Staff do we have any further conditions of approval?
Conklin: There are no further conditions of approval. We do not have a signed conditions
of approval. They are asking for a variance request for the sidewalk along
Skillern Road. They do have a letter in the packet and will be making a
presentation with regard to that.
Odom. Okay. I will ask the applicant then to please come forward at this time.
• Meineke: Hi. My name is Jim Meineke. I'm supposed to address the variance request,
right?
•
Odom: Yes. That's correct.
Meineke: Okay. My dilemma is that the sidewalk that's proposed would be in my in-laws
front yard not in the front yard where I'm building a house. They don't want a
sidewalk. I'm trying to keep the City happy and keep my in-laws happy at the
same time. The way things work out, that can't be done. My best avenue to get
my house built is to try to get a variance on the sidewalk. I went out there and
looked at it. Can I show you a picture?
Odom: Sure. Go ahead and bring it up here and we will circulate it while we are talking.
Meineke: I'll just give you one since it's the most dramatic. That picture is from the west
side of the property. Basically, where that telephone pole is it's on the property
line and the Brookbury sign, the little rock sitting on top of that picture will be in
the center in of the sidewalk if it was extended to the west about three or four feet.
The only reason I took that picture was just to illustrate that to get on that
sidewalk would be virtually impossible. The money is not an issue. I can put up
the money or Bill of Assurance or whatever it would take. All I'm trying to do is
postpone tearing up their front yard. Historically, my mother-in-law moved to
Skillern Road about thirty years ago. They lived in the Skillern house. They
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 4
lived in this house since about 1970. Of course all of that development has
occurred out there without any sidewalks. This is not her speaking it's me
speaking. I would love to have sidewalks. I'm for sidewalks. I don't mind being
first. I don't mind spending the money. My concern would be more that we are
toward the tale end of the sidewalk business out there. Savannah has already been
built. There is no sidewalk. It's about 50% of Skillern Road. It's about 1.1 miles
long. Savannah by itself is about 4/10 or 5/10 of a mile. Coming from Old Wire
Road going east there is not any sidewalk. That's been developed In the
foreseeable future I don't see a sidewalk there. The City owns the land to the east
as a green space between this lot and Savannah. I don't know when the City
would plan on putting sidewalk in there. All I'm trying to do is to delay until
there will be more sidewalks built and postpone disturbing their front yard.
Odom: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Odom. What I'll do now is ask if there is any member of the audience that would like to
• address us on this issue to please come forward at this time. Seeing none I'll
close the floor to public discussion on this issue and bring it back to the Planning
Commission and the staff for questions and comments.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Odom: Staff, do you want to give us Chuck's view or what the staffs position is with
regard to the requirement on the sidewalk?
Conklin: The Sidewalk and Trails Coordinator did make a recommendation for the
sidewalk to be built at this time. There is also a tract of land that was split a
month ago for Mr. Kirby Walker which we did also require a sidewalk to be built
at the time the lot develops up front. We did a tandem lot request also. Then we
do have our City park in between this and Mr. Kirby Walker's lot so it is staff's
opinion that a sidewalk is needed at this location today. The Sidewalk and Trails
Coordinator did report to our Subdivision Committee that he has seen recently
people walking on Skillern Road because there are not sidewalks. The position of
the City is to have the sidewalk built today
Odom: Staff don't we also have some type of overall plan to ultimately link
neighborhoods to City parks and schools as well?
• Conklin: That's correct. The focus has been with our sidewalk program to provide
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 5
sidewalks from neighborhoods to the schools and to our parks. This is consistent
with that overall policy.
Odom: Other questions or comments of perhaps the applicant or the staff? Commissioner
Ward?
Ward: Tim, if we did not require a sidewalk right now and we did take right-of-way and
required the applicant to put the money in some kind of fund. Would that be
something that would be appropriate to do as far as giving the okay now and
building it later? I know that we haven't in the past.
Conklin: That would be something new. We haven't typically done that in the past. If
that's something the Commission is going to consider, yes, I would only support
having the money here at the City in an escrow account and not a Bill of
Assurance if that's the decision you make. Once again the Sidewalk and Trails
Coordinator and my opinion too I think the sidewalk should be built today.
• Estes: Tim, if the sidewalk was constructed today approximately how many feet would it
set back from the present right-of-way of Skillern Road?
Conklin: It would sit back approximately 39 feet from centerline of the road.
Estes: That would put it in about the middle of Mr. Meineke's front yard or 2/3 of the
way into his front yard. Is that about right?
Conklin: I would have to look at the survey. Your statement was, would that put the
sidewalk 2/3 into his front yard. The sidewalk that's shown on the survey is
actually shown outside of the right-of-way. I think there was a misunderstanding
with regard to the ten -foot green space. That sidewalk actually goes into the City
right-of-way so it's on public property. I disagree with that it's more like
probably 1/4 of the way back into his yard.
Estes: It would be 1/4 of the way back into the lot or into the front yard?
Conklin: Into the front yard. Yes.
Estes: It would be approximately 1/4 of the way into the front yard?
Conklin: Yes. Right now they are showing it ten feet back beyond the forty-five feet of
right-of-way dedication. That sidewalk should be within that forty-five feet of
right-of-way dedication.
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 6
Estes: The second question I have Tim, is in the Capital Improvement Budget are there
any plans at present to widen Skillem Road?
Conklin: No there aren't.
Estes: The tandem lot split that was done for Mr. Walker, has there been any
construction on the lot facing Skillern Road?
Conklin: No. Not as of today there hasn't been.
Meineke: Can 1 show a couple more pictures? This kind of shows where the sidewalk
would go. This is just a wider view of a shot of that sign. The sidewalk would
just go straight behind the sign. I have it marked. I've marked a few x's on that.
MOTION:
Estes:
It seems to me that at present there is no compelling and immediate need for the
sidewalk. With that in mind I would move that we approve LS 00-25 subject to
an amount of money being placed in escrow to be spent for construction of the
sidewalk once required by the City. With the amount of the escrow deposit to be
determined by the appropriate City agency.
Ward: I'll second that motion.
Odom:
We have a motion and second to approve lot split 00-25 subject to staff comments
with the additional requirement that an amount be placed into the City escrow
fund for the construction of the sidewalk.
Conklin: Typically, those guarantees for delayed improvements are at 150% of the cost. I
would recommend that it be at least that therefore in the future we do have enough
money to complete that sidewalk.
Odom:
I'd ask the applicant to please come forward. We are going to have to get your
comment on the Motion we have before us which is to approve this which would
require you to place money into the City escrow account for the construction of
the sidewalk and the amount that would have to be deposited into the escrow
would be 150% of the costs of the construction of the sidewalk.
Meineke: That would be fine. Anything to keep from tearing up the yard.
• Bunch: Since we don't have signed Conditions of Approval has the applicant have any
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 7
problems with any of the other Conditions of Approval? I notice that we don't
have on record signed Conditions of Approval.
Meineke: No. Personally, I don't but the Krueger's have asked me several times maybe you
can just clarify it now, you have asked for an additional 15 feet setback is that just
something that the City takes? Are they giving that to you at the time of the split?
I didn't know what to tell them.
Conklin: Yes. As a condition of approval our ordinances require that any time you are
along a Master Street Plan street, this happens to be a minor arterial, you are
required to dedicate that right-of-way. Yes, the City is asking that to be shown on
your survey as a right-of-way dedication and when that survey is filed that will
become City property.
Meineke: Okay. Thank you.
Hoover: I have a question about the Motion. When will the sidewalk actually be placed?
Is that a condition on when they widen the road? How is that determined is what
I'm wondering?
Conklin: I was assuming that would be at the call of our Sidewalk and Trails Coordinator
when he deems that appropriate.
Hoover: Wouldn't that be tomorrow?
Conklin: We have the money. Most likely, from what I'm hearing from the Commission,
they are saying that it's not needed today. That when Kirby Walker puts his
sidewalk in that most likely we will put this sidewalk in. I put that statement for
the record that, no I don't think we are going to get the money and go ahead and
construct the sidewalk. I think we will wait until the other sidewalk goes in.
Odom: Does that answer your question?
Hoover: Yes.
Odom. Personally, I'm for the lot split. I do feel that there is a compelling and immediate
need for the construction of a sidewalk. We have City staff who's specific job is
to examine these issues and has personally observed people and children walking
along Skillern Road and in my opinion that itself is enough reason to go ahead
and require the construction of the sidewalk. I don't want to speak against the
Motion because I'm for the lot split but I'm certainly against that portion of the
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 8
Motion.
Meineke: I just had one other comment. After being out there and driving up and down the
road looking at the likelihood of future sidewalks, I think just from knowledge
which I don't know what goes on in the City and workings and what leverage you
have over the subdivisions out there, but a reasonable and possibly achievable
goal for the City, as far as sidewalks go is, on that street would be to link up
Brookbury and Savannah. I think that's a reasonable goal. It would require that
the City put a sidewalk on their little peace of green space. To me I would be
very happy to build a sidewalk that's a short distance but would link the two
major neighborhoods on that street. I don't see how there could be any other
major sidewalk any where on the street. I would say it's 90% developed and I
don't foresee any lot splits. Savannah is not going to have any lot splits. To the
west I don't see any possibility of lot splits so that sidewalks will be built between
this lot and Old Wire Road You are really going to be, in my opinion, I don't see
much chance of having a sidewalk between Old Wire Road and this property. I
don't see any chance of making Savannah build a sidewalk for their 4/10 mile.
Little chance that there will be any connected sidewalk anywhere further to the
east It is possible that you could link up Brookbury and Savannah entrances
although their entrances aren't compatible with a sidewalk. At least you could get
through that one small section. To me that would be a reasonable time to have me
put in a sidewalk and I would be happy to do that at that time.
Odom: Any further discussion? Will you call the roll?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LS 00-25.00 passes on a vote of 7-1-0 with Commissioner Odom voting no
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 9
CU 00-19.00: Conditional Use (Krueger, pp 255) was submitted by Stanley Krueger for
property located at 3169 Skillern Road The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains
approximately 2 06 acres. The request is for a tandem lot.
Odom: The next item that we have on tonight's agenda is related and that is a conditional
use submitted by Stanley Krueger for property located at 3169 Skillern Road.
The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately 2.06 acres.
The request is for a tandem lot. Staffs recommendation is for approval of the
conditional use subject to six conditions of approval. Staff do we have any further
conditions of approval?
Conklin: There are no further conditions of approval This is associated with the lot split
creating the tandem lot Brookbury Woods Property Owner Association did grant a
twenty-five foot access and utility easement through their privately owned
landscaped area to Brookbury Crossing. That will be the means of access to this
property. Staff is also recommending that they not be required that they build a
turnaround for the solid waste trash truck or build a screened trash container but
bring their actual cans to the curb during trash pick up days and then bring them
back after they are picked up. If they don't bring a can there will be nothing to
pick up. That's our reconunendation and once again that goes along the lot split
that was just approved.
Odom: Do we have a signed Conditions of Approval?
Conklin: No we don't.
Odom: I will ask the applicant to please come back before us Paging Mr. Krueger. Mr.
Meineke. Mr. Meineke, please come back in here. We have to talk about the
tandem portion of it. We have just gone over the tandem part of it and there are
six conditions of approval Have you had the opportunity to review those?
Meineke: No sir, I haven't.
Odom. You might want to look at them real quick because we are going to make a
decision.
Meineke: Is it on the agenda?
Odom: Yes it is.
Meineke: The only question I would have would be on number three The intersection? Is
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 10
it talking about the intersection of Skillern and Brookbury?
Conklin: It's talking about the intersection of your private driveway and Brookbury
Crossing. There would be a requirement that it be paved twenty-five feet back
from the street.
Meineke: My driveway would be paved. Yes.
Conklin: You should have no problem with that.
Meineke: No problem. They are all fine.
Odom: Okay.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Odom: Any member of the audience like to address us on the tandem lot issue? Seeing
none I will close the floor to public discussion and bring it back to the Planning
Commission for questions, comments or motions.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: I move for approval of Conditional Use 00-19.00 subject to staff
recommendations.
Allen: Second.
Odom: We have a motion by Commissioner Estes, second by Commissioner Allen for
approval of Conditional Use 00-19.00 subject to staff comments. Any further
discussions? Call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU 00-19.00 passes on a vote of 8-0-0.
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 11
CU 00-17.00: Conditional Use (Lake Hills Church, pp 255) was submitted by The Benham
Group on behalf of Lake Hills Church for property located on the east side of Hwy 265 north of
Township. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately 3.59 acres. The
request is for a church (Use Unit 4) in an A-1 district.
Odom:
The next item on tonight's agenda is item number four CU 00-17.00 which is a
Conditional Use of Lake Hills Church submitted by The Benham Group on behalf
of Lake Hills Church for property located on the east side of Hwy 265 north of
Township. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately
3.59 acres. The request is for a church (Use Unit 4) in an A-1 district. Staffs
recommendation is approval subject to six Conditions of Approval. Staff are
there any further conditions of approval?
Conklin: No. There are not.
Odom: I would ask the applicant to please come forward at this time.
Allen: I don't have a copy of the conditions but I'm assuming they are the same ones but
• you never know. Can I see one real quick? First of all we have two items on here
so my comments are going to overlap each other. I want to thank you for this.
For this year and a half I have been here longer than some of you have and so I'll
make this very brief. We were offered this property before it came on the market
and we hastily did some work and talked to her a little and showed her what we
wanted to do. Most churches, as you are aware, usually build too small then they
add something later and then add something later. We had some consultants tell
us what was the maximum number of people we could ever serve on this property
given green space and access and all those things. They led us to around a 50,000
square feet building and that would give us enough space for parking and one
thing or another. Also, because it was more building than we needed we proposed
to have a little wing of three low -impact offices, possibly an insurance agent, an
architect and a piano teacher and that would give us some rental income until we
were large enough to need the space. In which we would turn it into a Sunday
school space or church offices or something. So we asked to have the property
which is A-1 zoned to R-0. Alett Little said that it looked like a good deal with
multiple use. The least used parking lots in America are church parking lots. We
were protecting the green space and all of that. Based on that, we bought it and
one thing led to another. We came then for the formal thing and we were
basically told it wasn't going to work and that our best shot at it was to withdraw
our request. In the numbers of times we have come back the original conditional
• use permit called for a building of 10,400 square feet. In fact that was the
footprint of the building because it had a second story in it of about 5,000 feet.
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 12
One of our neighbors objected to how high the building was so we redid
everything and put everything on one floor and lowered the height of the building
and did some excavations to lower it even more. There is actually the same
15,000 feet there has always been it's just that this calls for an increase in the
technicality of them. I spoke to Mr. Conklin the night we received our
conditional use permit because it was sort of one of those things that just showed
up. That is based on the original square foot of the building as opposed to the
footprint of the building so it's always been right at 15,000 square feet. There is
one other issue I want to talk about. Does anyone want to ask me anything about
the square footage or did I make myself clear?
Odom. Typically, what we do is that we have your presentation, then we open the floor to
public comment, then we come back with questions and comments of our own.
Allen:
I was just trying to help. The other thing is about this is our church has owned
this property for a year and a half, more or less, and since our church has been in
session we have met in hotel conference rooms and rented office space. We have
rented space from other churches. We presently rent Sunday morning space from
a school. If you count up the conference rooms and rental offices and homes and
swimming pools and parks that we have met in our church has met in 37 different
places. Our motto has been "If you can find us you can go to church with us."
We are hoping that this will be the final approval of this. We have taken it good
natured when someone suggested that all of our attempts to re -zone this property
are so we could sell it at a profit and move on. Someone suggested that somehow
we have been less than candid with the City because what we really wanted to do
was something else. Suggestions were to build a museum, library, or ajail. I
understand why people might raise those objections but believe me our only
desire is to build a church building. It's the hub of our various ministries of our
church. Our church is a corporation. Our congregation voted unanimously to buy
this property and to build on it. Even if I wanted to do something else, I couldn't
do it. We bought this property and selected it in part because it has a sort of forest
appearance and we have made great effort to save all of the trees that we possibly
can. More than half of the trees are going to remain on the property untouched.
We have made dozens of accommodations to the neighbors. I explained to you
that a neighbor was concerned about the height of the building and as you are
aware when you go from two-story to one-story it increases your cost
considerably but we did that and lowered the height of the building. Our original
plans called for a steeple, we dropped that. We have placed our driveway on the
north edge of our property so that the driveway traffic would not flow the side of
the property on the south because the owner of that property has plans to develop
or something. Our children's playground, you will see in the drawing, is shielded
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 13
from both the neighbors on the north and east and also the neighbors on the south
because there is the corner of the building and it's fenced in. I doubt either our
neighbors on the north or any future neighbors we might get on the south will ever
see or hear a child in that playground. Our plans also show that we built on the
far western end of the property to keep our building as far as possible from the
neighbor to the north In short, this is not the design we wanted in the beginning
and there has been at least another dozen versions of our plans that would have
met our needs better but we are willing to do it this way to accommodate the
concerns of our neighbors. From the very beginning we wanted to be good
neighbors and make this an asset to the community. The last thing I want to say
about this is this is not just a private enclave for our little Christian club or some
sort of a monistic. This is a place where we will serve only our own members but
the people of our community. The facility obviously would be open to everyone
and it's our absolute commitment that we want to be a positive influence on our
neighborhood and we don't want to do anything that will impact our neighbors.
I'm asking you to grant this approval and actually the one to follow and I'll
answer any questions you have but my objection to the Conditional Use Permit as
it stands now is, we have been doing this for a year and a half and no one has ever
raised any questions about a daycare facility until this previous week when we
were at the Subdivision meeting. Item number six is "No for -hire schools
including public, secondary or daycare.) Well we never wanted to have a public
school. We never wanted to have a high school or anything like that but we have
always had in our hearts a desire to have a child care. I was a little stunned last
week and I'm still kind of struggling with the reasons for this. We certainly
would like to see this permit approved as it stands except item number six. We
would like to see that one word daycare, scratched out. Other than that we have
no reservations about it.
Odom: Thank you. What I'll do now if there are other members of the audience that
would like to address us on this request to please come forward at this time.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Tatge:
My name is George Tatge I'm technical support for the College of Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering. I would very much like to see this church
built. We have worked long and hard and as the Pastor said, our only goal is to
serve the community both as a church and with the possibility of having a daycare
center at some point in the future. Thank you.
Odom: Thank you sir.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 14
Mr. Rimbey:
Odom:
Tidwell:
Odom.
Scoggin:
Odom:
Mr. Rimbey.
Hi. My name is James Rimbey. I live at 2870 Crossover Road which is to the
north of the property. Could I see a copy of the Conditional Uses. Can I ask for
that now or is that in the next item?
Are there other members of the audience that would like perhaps to talk while he
is reviewing the Conditional Use? I would ask that those that would like to talk,
if you would please go ahead and come up to the podium and stand behind each
other so we can sort of save a little time that way.
My name is Ellen Tidwell. I would like to speak in favor of the daycare. I have
made several phone calls today to over a dozen day -cares and found six openings,
none of which would take both of my children. I think that speaks to the need of
daycare in this city not only for our church but as Pastor Allen said as a service to
the community as well.
Thank you.
Hi. My name is Cliff Scoggin. I am a member of Lake Hills. I want to say I am
looking forward to having our church built. I am also the CFO of Dent -A -Med
which is a credit card company here in Fayetteville. We have about 75 employees
and daycare has become a real issue for the young families. It's got to the point
where I am hearing, instead of calling mom first when they have a child
expecting, they immediately call the day -cares and try to get on the waiting list
there. We are hoping that we can have this service and it will be one that will
benefit not only the members of the church but a community as a whole.
Thank you.
James Rimbey again. Crossover Road I would like to just make a statement that
I was going to make and then add two things to it. The statement that I was going
to make is that we have had concerns about various aspects of this project. I
would like to offer our thanks to the City Planning staff and the Commissioners
who worked on the Subdivision Committee and reviewed the large scale
development and working with us and with Lake Hills Church. At that point, I'd
like to say the reason we have had concerns is that each time we are introduced to
a plan or a development of the Lake Hills facility there is something different.
I'm hearing now support for a daycare center. We have been dealing with a
church all along and I suppose that it could be argued that a church and daycare
center are the same thing, I don't know. This is new. This idea of putting a
daycare center into it. The next statement I was going to make if Lake Hills holds
to their representations they have made to us and the City then our concerns have
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 15
been addressed. I would like to suggest that we now move forward and get the
project underway. But again I am speaking for a church. I have no idea what the
daycare center is. I don't know whether it's a daycare center for all the children in
Fayetteville. I don't know if it's a daycare center for the members of the church.
I don't know what to say. Once again we have been, I don't like to use the word
blind -sided but I did not know that this was ever a part of the proposition. I
apologize but I don't know what to say. I'm digesting it. Thank you.
Meredith: Hi. My name is Ladonna Meredith. I'm a member of Lake Hills Church and I'm
also the secretary. I have been for the past six years. For the past few years I
have prayerfully supported this project and I would really like to see us be able to
have a building just for ourselves and for our church, like Pastor Allen said, and
for an outreach to the community. I would also like to say I support the idea of
the daycare. I talked to the Northwest Arkansas Childcare Referral Center today,
we have a copy of the letter. I believe her name is Pat, she speaks about the need
for more daycare in Northwest Arkansas, particularly on that side of town. I think
we have enough copies for everyone if you would like to see that. Thank you
Johnson: I'm Wendy Johnson I'm a teacher at Fayetteville High School and I attend Lake
Hills. I just wanted to ask for your support for our building. We do minister to
the community now but it will be so much easier when we have a building.
Thank you.
Elston: Hello. I'm Susan Elston. I have lived in this community for about fourteen years
I have been a social worker and therapist in the community for about seven. Of
course, personally, 1 stand in support of having a home for our church because we
have moved around like Pastor Allen has said. I think that's just pretty normal for
everyone to have a home finally. As far as the inclusion of the daycare with that
again to me is the norm with the church. As a social worker, linking families with
area resources which, one thing about Fayetteville that there are so many
resources, this is just one more that is going to have a positive investment in
children. That's going to be a direct correlation with what type adolescents and
children that we do have in this community. The daycare along with the church is
open to the community so it's not going to just serve these members but the
community at large. Thank you.
Heaton: I'm Nancy Heaton and I work for the American Heart Association here in
Fayetteville. I am a member of Lake Hills Church and I would like to see us to be
able to go forward with building this church. We have many dedicated members
that go and set up at the school that we meet at, on Saturday night and we put
down on Sunday. We take care of the school and we have done many ministries
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 16
T. Walker:
Smith:
within the community that a lot of people don't know about and we could do a lot
more if we had our own facility. The dedicated people will take care of it. Thank
you for your time.
My name is Tara Walker. This year I'm going to be a senior at Fayetteville High
School. I have been supporting this project for a couple years. I have been
attending Lake Hills for about two and a half years now. I'm getting ready to go
away to college and I was really looking forward to our youth group having
parties and things at our new church. It's taken so long that now I may not be
able to see our new church built before I leave for college. I really ask that you
support this so that we can get this done for the upcoming youth members so that
they can have fun and reach out to the community and help out also. Thank you.
I'm Nell Smith. I'm the oldest member of Lake Hills. I would like to convince
you that it would be a good idea to have child care at our church. I think some of
you can even think back to your Sunday school classes a long time ago for some
of you that Jesus said "Let the little children come unto me." He thought it was a
good idea too.
Mrs. Rimbey: My name is Marilyn Rimbey. I live on the north side of where the church will be
built The objection that was raised in large scale development, to childcare, was
not the fact that it was childcare but the fact that the area is so congested at that
point in the moming when they would have to drop off children. If you have ever
been at that intersection you know at that time in the morning it is really backed
up. When they would pick up their children is backed up. There are times when I
have to wait quite a long time before I can even turn into my own driveway. It is
a three lane road. It has been termed that middle lane as "suicide lane". Anyone
that is turning out when I'm trying to turn into my driveway, we are both trying to
occupy the same space at the same time. That's one of my concerns. Every time
I do, at this point, turn into my driveway, someone else comes into that lane to
make a turn. That was the concern. It wasn't the concern that whether he should
have childcare or not it was the location and the traffic problem. Thank you.
J. Walker:
Joel Walker. Professor at the University of Arkansas. Our church is trying to be a
visible and viable part of the community. That is why we are trying to locate in a
location that is visible. You heard it said earlier that our plans have changed a lot.
That's because we are trying to be accommodating and trying to work with the
City and work with the neighbors and trying to develop these plans to something
that's functional. I believe it's time now, if you can help us, to get this plan
underway. We would like to have a home for our church. I have seen this in my
own life The church has a profound effect on my life and I've seen it have a
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 17
Hughes:
Slusarek:
Dawson:
M. Walker:
Odom:
profound effect on others. I've seen ministry to marriages, ministry to those
whose marriages have failed and many other ways this church affects the
community. This church and other churches are a very viable part of the
community and actually create community. We would appreciate it if you could
help us get this started.
Hi. My name is Shannon Hughes. I'm a member of Lake Hills Church. As Joel
has said, it has had a profound effect on life. My husband and I started attending
when our daughter was six months old and she's three and a half and we now
have another child that's a year and a half. This is the only church that they have
been in and they love it. They look so forward to going to Sunday school classes.
As far as the daycare, I would like to say, my mother owns a daycare facility in
Fayetteville and she has quite a large space and she is full to capacity. For the
space of her building she can not take anymore kids. I've been there and heard
her actually have to turn people away on the phone. There is a need for the
daycare. She says she also knows of several other daycare owners in this area that
are in the same situation. They can't take anymore children that she's turning
away especially the infants up to eighteen months of age. Thank you.
Hi. I'm Matt Slusarek. My family owns the property to the south of the Lake
Hills property. I guess I just wanted to make it kind of clear that we've never
really been against the church building on that property. We've never had an
objection to them building a church. I guess our concern is obviously with the
daycare. Like the Rimbey's said before is that this kind of came as a surprise. It
has never been an issue before and had never been brought up that that was an
intention that they wanted to include with their church property. 1 think more than
anything it was kind of a surprise to us. Again, we are not really clear on whether
the daycare is going to be just for the church members or going to be more like a
business or commercial venture. That was mainly our concerns that we had at this
point. Thank you.
Good evening. I'm Randy Dawson. Local businessman, citizen of Fayetteville, a
voter and father of five. I just wanted to say that in a lot of ways we have been in
the wilderness on this project for a while. We feel like it is time to put it to bed
and the cost has been tremendous to us both financially and emotionally. We
would like to see it resolved. Thank you.
My name is Margaret Walker.
We've got the whole Walker family now huh?
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 18
M. Walker: I'm a high school English teacher. I actually teach in Rogers. I've taught English
in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers for the last twenty years. I'm not sure why
the objection is being stated. Teaching high school, I know that kids need
discipline but they also need the daycare that brings them to that level, that grade
level in high school where we work with them hopefully in a much better
atmosphere because of the good daycare that they get. We hope that you will
offer this opportunity for Lake Hills to minister in the community. We know that
it is much needed and I hope that you will support it.
Odom: Thank you Mrs. Walker.
Ballinger: My name is Todd Ballinger. I'm also a high school teacher. My wife and child
are standing outside, he was talking a little too much. We were starting to go to
church there as it was growing because we would like to be part of a growing
church. We were surprised as well when they said there might be a potential there
couldn't be a daycare. It seems like most of the churches we have been in in the
past and in this case, it's part of the church. I was surprised when our church
might be could not have that same potential. We are in favor of that with our
family as well.
Odom:
Thank you. Any other member of the audience like to address this at this time?
Seeing none, I will close the floor to public discussion and bring it back to the
applicant for questions and comments.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Marr:
Allen:
I have a question for the applicant. In terms of the desire for daycare, how large
of a daycare operation are you looking at in terms of the number of individuals
that would be there on a daily basis.
I can give you a rather precise answer. When we designed this latest version of
the building, we submitted the plans to the folks in charge of daycare for the state
in Little Rock, Arkansas. They reviewed our plans, we've added some potty's
and a few things so that it would meet all of the state standards. They came back
and said that we could have as many as sixty children in this daycare We talked
about it and we said we don't want to do that because, in fact the conclusion was,
we really don't want to have more than thirty because during the course of a week
if we have something going on we have to have space to take care of the children
of people who are there working on mission committees or who knows what. So
we just sort of in our mind set up for thirty. The concerns that Mr. Rimbey
expressed and Matt expressed, I'm kind of sympathetic with them because until
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 19
this last Subdivision meeting nobody ever suggested that we wouldn't be allowed
to have a daycare. For us, we put that in the same category as if somebody had
said "I'm sorry you won't be able to baptize anybody here." Or whatever else,
Sunday school, or vacation bible school. That was just part of our plan from the
beginning. As you drive around the City you notice, I don't know about half or
whatever, the churches have daycare. We have enough people in our church to
fill those thirty spots but we have a commitment to help especially single mothers
but families who are kind of under economic distress and so we are going to save
a certain percentage of those spots for free or subsidized daycare. I can dust tell
you this, we had a group of mothers that were organized before I found out about
it, they were going to come here tonight and paint this place with kids. That was
the way they felt about it. We have tried to deal with this responsibly and
decently and respectfully from the very beginning. We have never showed up
with our signs or talked to the t.v. cameras or done any of that kind of stuff. We
have been trying to do this strictly by the merits of it. So, with that in mind, the
hard answer is, we plan on making this available to thirty people. Frankly, I think
probably we have thirty people in our congregation that would use those positions
given the parameters of a few people who perhaps are not members but need
assistance. That would free up thirty spots somewhere else in the City. The letter
I gave you shows how the demand for daycare is and I have a little of a report to
give you on traffic. I canJust tell you this before I give it to you, because this
building is designed to hold sixty children. It's actually designed to hole fifty
children and ten workers even though we don't plan on ever having more than
thirty. I went ahead and did some work on sixty just so everybody would
understand that we are not trying to hide half the building or something. Can I
pass these out? This is our engineer here, Mr. Fox. This comes from two sources,
the traffic volume map for Fayetteville/Springdale provided by the Arkansas State
Highway and Transportation Department and they say passing our location 2800
Crossover there are 15,000 cars per day. Second thing is, a bit of information
here, the driveway of our church will be located 2,408 feet from the intersection
of Crossover and Old Wire Road. The traffic at this intersection is flow
controlled by radio computer Zink. You may look above the light there and you
will see a little antenna that points out and all the number of cars are coordinated
to speed that up. Parry Franklin who is the traffic supervisor for the City of
Fayetteville looked at this whole situation, looked at the number of people we
have and everything else, his conclusion was traffic in and out of this location for
daycare would have, I asked if I could quote him and he said "certainly, he said it
would have an "insignificant impact to the traffic flow on Crossover." It also says
here that the expected number of children served by Lake Hills Care Ministry is
twenty-five to thirty. The building was built to accommodate fifty children and
ten workers. So, assuming sixty people, even though we don't plan on doing that,
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 20
these numbers at bottom here come from the Microtrans which I'm sure Mr.
Conklin has access to, this is a nation wide statistical sampling of daycare centers,
a daycare center with sixty children which is really twice what we are planning on
having, this is what it produces on an average weekday. It produces, in twenty-
four hours, two hundred and seventy-one one-way trips. That means if you come
in in the morning drop off your child and leave come in the evening pick it up and
leave that's four trips. If you do the math that means every person comes once
and that only leaves a few extra entrances and exits. The reason is because many
people come with more than one child in the car. The peak usage, you notice here
it says 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. is twenty-six entering and twenty-three leaving. That's
because three of them stay there because they are working there. Twenty-six cars
in and twenty-three cars out. That would be in between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. This
is based on the population of sixty so our numbers would be more like thirteen or
fourteen or something. From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the evening that would show
twenty-four people entering and twenty-eight people exiting. I mean vehicles.
Also, the fact that you need to consider that many of those 50,000 cars a day are
going to go by that location to some other daycare so it's not like they added to
anything. We have no Saturday or Sunday daycare that's just part of the report.
Marr: Reverend Allen what are your proposed hours of operation of the daycare?
Allen: Probably open the doors at 7:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. At this point that's
the best guess I can give you.
Marr. That's Monday through Friday?
Allen: Yes sir. We never made a point of having a daycare any more than we made a
point of having vacation bible school or church library or kitchen or anything else.
It's just part of what we do. I apologize to our neighbors for not. We did
specifically talk about, with the neighbors, we have no plans to build a school, no
plans to build a high school, college, library, museum, zoo or any of these other
things that usable in unit four. We just don't have any plans for that. Let me say
one other thing, if I may. The Conditional Use Permit for this unit is called for. I
would object to that only in this sense. If I were to go buy two acres and put up a
building and call it We Care or something I would understand you wanting an
Conditional Use Permit but this is as much part of our church as our library or
anything else. So, to have a separate Conditional Use Permit just because we are
going to have daycare as probably one of our probably a hundred different
ministries that just seems like an intrusion into the programming of our church
that I'm not sure that the City of Fayetteville wants to get into. I don't know how
many other churches in the City that have day -cares had to get a Conditional Use
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 21
Permit, that would be an interesting thing to find out. By certain example if our
current congregation came down here and asked you members of the Planning
Commission to pray before you took a vote, people would scream separation of
church and state all the way to Missouri. I'm just concerned that this is a bad
precedent that the City decides to interject itself into the programming of our
church. Someone has said now "What if you wanted to open a riding stable and
call it a ministry, would that be covered?" I would say "No." I don't think there
is another church in the City maybe even the state that has a riding ministry or
whatever so we are not after that. We are after what most of the churches do in
this City. That is have a daycare. We just have been caught blind -sided just like
the Rimbey's and Matt because we never had a clue that this was going to be an
objection raised by anybody. We designed this thing according to standards that
are set out by the state. I guess I'm done.
Odom: Staff just a question. Since it's been proposed, have conditional uses been
required of other daycare facilities that are in other churches around town?
Conklin: I can not recall any. Let me just make a statement. I am trying really hard to
• work with Mr. Allen. I want Lake Hills to have their church and as staff we rely
on what is submitted to the City of Fayetteville with regard to what's applied for
as part of our Conditional Use application. On July 5, 2000, in our application,
number three, a complete written description of the request. What is proposed by
the applicant to include building size and square feet existing and proposed,
number of off-street parking spaces to be provided number required. It talks
about if you are going to have some type of business that we want to know hours
of operation, number of employees, anticipated number of patrons, clients,
children, customers average per day, peak hours, outdoor lighting. July 5, 2000 a
letter that was written by Charlie Sloan a member of Lake Hills Church. "Lake
Hills Church proposes to build a church with the following operating hours.
Church Wednesday 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Church or
office hours Monday through Friday 8:00 to 6:00 p.m." That's all we received.
With regard to child care I would be more than happy to have a Conditional Use
application applied for. Use unit four does separate church from child care or
nursery school. There is a reason why it's separated. I do believe that they need
to get a Conditional Use. Once again, I am not opposed to Mr. Allen or Lake
Hills Church applying for a Conditional Use for the church but the information
that was given to us as staff was these are the operating hours and these were the
uses. It didn't say anything about childcare until last Subdivision Committee.
This was written by Charlie Sloan, a member of their church. Maybe he wasn't
• aware of the childcare facility in there. What I'm trying to do as City Planner is to
make sure I can inform the Commission and the public and the neighbors of the
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 22
anticipated impacts of this Conditional Use on surrounding properties and on our
roads. That is what we are required to do as part of our findings. That is basically
what I wanted to say with regard to getting the information to the City and what
we are representing to the Commission.
Estes: I have several questions for staff. Tim, if I understand correctly, what we have
before us is a Conditional Use request, is that correct?
Conklin: That's correct.
Estes: It is a request for a church as a Use Unit Four in a A-1 zone, is that correct?
Conklin: That's correct.
Estes: In this Use Unit Four are churches separated from daycare? In other words are
those two separate uses in Use Unit Four?
Conklin: Yes. They are separated.
Estes: If a person wanted to apply for a Conditional Use for a Use Unit Four church that
would be one application and if they wanted to apply for a Conditional Use in a
Use Unit Four for a daycare that would be a separate application, is that a correct
statement?
Conklin: That is correct. That's how I read that ordinance. Once again, when we get that
application, we have twenty-one days to get it to Planning Commission. We also
write a description of what is being requested, post a sign on the site, put a legal
ad and a display ad in the newspaper. We rely on the information that is given to
us. Once again, I am not opposed to someone applying for a childcare facility but
that was information that we never received until last week.
Estes: When was it first disclosed that there would be a Use Unit Four for a daycare
center?
Conklin: That was last Thursday. One finding that we are required to make is that it is
compatible with the neighborhood so with regard to a daycare facility I want to
make sure that there is adequate stacking room for the vehicles dropping off their
children. Issues with regard to noise, if there is going to be an outdoor play area
adjacent to a residential house, a single family home. Those type of issues.
Screening of those outdoor play areas. Are they going to have outdoor light?
Those are the type of things we consider and you would have a staff report in
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 23
Estes:
front of you with this information. Basically, the questions that the
Commissioners have asked this evening with regard to the number of children,
how the parking is going to work, the arrangement of dropping the kids off, those
type of issues. We would have that information. We would make a
recommendation with regard to that information we do receive.
There has been much public comment this evening that there is a pressing need
for quality daycare in Fayetteville. I think we would have to presume that there
would be daycare offered at this Conditional Use. Have any of these issues which
you have discussed been considered by staff?
Conklin: With regard to the drop-off area? I have not looked at that.
Allen: Could I make one point at that?
Odom. Just a second. We are going to wait until the Commissioner is finished.
Estes: I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.
Odom. Mr. Allen?
Allen: I had a couple things to say but just at that one point. We submitted this drawing
to the state people and I suspect their standards are at least as rigid as yours and
they reviewed drop-off and they gave us a page of things that had to do with
number of restrooms and exits and how high the windows had to be and that stuff.
So, I think we have met any criteria. You may not have that in front of you and I
understand that but I'm just saying that we've done that. That letter you read
from Mr. Sloan, what was the date on that?
Conklin: July 5, 2000.
Allen: Well. We have submitted a newer letter than that and I don't know why you don't
have it because I made a point of bringing it. It was available.
Conklin: Yes. I know. I'm just stating that the application deadline that was submitted to
our office, we have that Monday at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday the newspaper
requires that ad to be submitted to their office. I'm not trying to make a big deal
about this. I encourage Lake Hills Church to apply for a Conditional Use for a
childcare facility. I encourage you to provide that information. Once again, my
staff, we have two and a half or two days to prepare that legal ad and get it in the
paper and that's the information we had. It was the hours of operation for a
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 24
Allen:
Conklin:
Allen:
Conklin:
Allen:
MOTION:
Estes:
Odom:
church. It didn't say anything about daycare That's the issue.
That's true because until we were told we couldn't have one that was the first time
the issue had ever been raised. Nobody had ever asked us anytime in the last year
and a half if we were going to have a daycare We would have said "Yes."
Nobody asked if we were going to have a kitchen or a library. It was just part of
what we were doing.
We did look at your hours of operation and I'm not trying to debate you on this
issue, but that hours that this building would be functioning. Those are the hours
that were listed and days.
Well, I'm not trying to debate you either but the reason we were told we had to do
that because you were concerned about the peak attendance and having to do with
the parking. Since we only have like twenty cars for daycare we were concerned
about Sunday morning that's why we did it that way. I'm sorry. It's just bad
communication but that's why we did it that way.
In the future I'll try better to make sure that when churches do come to apply for a
Conditional Use they do understand that. I do want to try to work with the
churches in this community and make sure that there are no misunderstandings.
I just have one other brief thing and that is, I read this regulation. I have read it
all. All the way back to the time we were try to re -zone and everything else. But
in that Unit Four, Mr. Estes, it also lists libraries, it lists playgrounds and we are
going to have both of those and I wouldn't think we would have to come back
with a separate Conditional Use permit for a playground and a library any more
than we would have to come back for a Conditional Use for a childcare. Based on
that assumption. If I was going out and buy two acres and build a daycare that
would be a different thing. Or build a library for that matter.
I move that we approve Conditional Use 00-17.00 subject to staff
recommendations.
I second. We have a motion and a second to approve Conditional Use 00-17.00.
Now I'm going to offer an amendment to the motion that I seconded. I support a
daycare at your church facility however, I think it's going to require a separate
Conditional Use permit to come back before us. My amendment is going to be to
remove item number six which is that "No for -hire schools including public,
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 25
secondary or daycare shall be located within this facility." The purpose for my
amendment to remove item number six is I want to make it clear that we will not
not allow this. I think it is a use that can only be given to you by a separate
Conditional Use permit but I don't want to say that you are not going to be able to
have one. I think that you should be able to have one should you apply for a
Conditional Use. Therefore, I offer that amendment at this time.
Estes: I accept the amendment.
Odom: Rather than go forward with another vote, what we have before us is an approval
of Conditional Use 00-17.00 subject to the five conditions of approval that we
have before with the removal of item number six "No for -hire schools including
public, secondary or daycare shall be located within the facility. Is there any
further discussion?
Shackelford: Just a couple quick questions for staff to clarify for myself. According to the
background information there has been a Conditional Use already approved for
this development on April 26, 1999 with eight conditions of approval. Were any
of those conditions addressing daycare? Was this addressed at any point prior to
this?
Conklin: No.
Shackelford: Okay. The one that we are voting will supercede the one that is in place, correct?
Conklin: That's correct.
Shackelford: Okay. Thank you.
Hoover: I have a question for staff. I'm sorry, at Subdivision I meant to ask this question.
It wasn't clear to me. Are any of the trees being saved that are buffered between
the street and the parking lot? Is all of that going to be cleared?
Conklin: I believe that's all cleared.
Odom. This is Just the Conditional Use.
Hoover: Oh. I'm sorry. Can I wait until the next issue? I'm sorry.
Comm. Allen: This may be kind of a non -sequitur and I wasn't here when you came before but I
•
note that it's about 30% larger than originally. It seems to be like it practically
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 26
doesn't fit on the land. I don't know if that's a concern.
Odom. We need to talk about it at the Large Scale Development. Next item.
Comm. Allen: Okay.
Bunch: I guess I'm one of Just being guilty of requesting that the no public schools,
daycare centers and such being inserted and I have no problem with removing it
since there are in Use Unit Four it does require a Conditional Use application for
those. The reason that I requested, in the first place, that be inserted was that the
applicant has been less than forthcoming in telling us what they plan to do. Our
Job here is that we rule on what information we have before us and we were put in
the position of trying to pull teeth, you might say, to question the applicant with
"What do you intend to do?" Since the applicant did not openly tell us what their
intent was. That was part of what generated this was to create greater
communications because we weren't getting much communication and we
weren't able to determine the impact that this would have on the neighborhood
and the neighbors. Apparently, the neighbors, they need to have some sort of
assurance as to what is going in next door to them. Without making any further
speeches or comments or anything so if you could please keep this as open a
process as possible. When someone plans a large building and only wants to
build once, a reasonable conclusion would be that what the uses for that building
are have already been determined otherwise you won't commit to bricks and
mortar. All we ask is for the courtesy to share with us what those long term plans
are. That better helps us to determine whether or not this fits in with the
community.
Allen:
I accept your comment. We answered the questions that were presented to us.
Nobody ever said "What are you going to do here?" It was always just activities
having to do with a church. That was as broad as anybody ever asked us. If
anyone ever said "Are you going to have a daycare, a library." Just ask us, we
would have been happy to supply that. The answers to the Conditional Use
questions are all given and nobody ever asked us what we were going to do. I
don't know what else to say.
Odom. Thank you Mr. Allen. Any further discussion on the Conditional Use motion?
Marr: Just one last comment. I am in full support of this. I would encourage you, quite
frankly, I wish you had known this before and we could have settled it all here
today. I know it's been a while. I appreciate your willingness to work with the
neighborhood. I appreciate your willingness to bring individuals to speak to us
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 27
and understand the issues of the church today. I do encourage you to bring that
back. I think that you have, at least in this case, my support as well.
Odom: Any further discussion? Call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU00-17.00 passes on a vote of 8-0-0.
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 28
LSD 00-15.00: Large Scale Development (Lake Hills Church, pp 255) was submitted by The
Benham Group on behalf of Lake Hills Church for property located on the east side of Hwy 265
north of Township. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately 3.59
acres. The request is to build a church.
Odom:
The next item which is related is item number five which is the Large Scale
Development submitted by The Benham Group on behalf of Lake Hills Church
for property located on the east side of Hwy 265 north of Township. The property
is zoned A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately 3.59 acres. The request is
to build a church. The staffs recommendation is for approval subject to
Conditions of Approval. There are twelve Conditions of Approval. Staff, are
there any further Conditions of Approval on the LSD?
Conklin: No there are not.
Odom: Mr. Allen have you had the opportunity to review the twelve Conditions of
Approval?
• Allen: Actually, no.
Odom: Then I shall read them. Item number 1 is that the approval shall be subject to the
approval of a conditional use allowing for a 15,360 square foot church building.
That's already been done. Item two is determination of parking required by code
based on the number of seats in the auditorium. The applicant has used
calculations based on the square footage of the building. If it is determined that
the church building requires more than the parking that is provided on site, a
shared parking agreement and parking waiver application will be required. Item
number three curb and gutter shall be removed through sidewalk at driveway
approaches. Item number four, the right of way dedication along Highway 265
shall be by warranty deed. Item number five, a copy of the filed access/
construction/ utility easement along the north property line allowing for the
driveway to be built on the property to the north shall be provided prior to the
issuance of any permits. Item number 6, use of the building shall be limited to
uses associated with a church, no spaces for lease shall be allowed. Item number
seven, elevations submitted to the Planning Commission on the monument sign.
Location and size of sign must conform with Chapter 174 Signs. Planning
Commission determination of compliance with Commercial Design Standards.
Item number eight, Plat Review and Subdivision comments (to include written
staff comments mailed to the applicant or his representative, and all comments
from utility representatives - AR Western Gas, SWBT, Ozarks, SWEPCO, Cox
•
Communications); item number nine, staff approval of final detailed plans,
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 29
Allen:
Fox:
specifications and calculations (where applicable) for grading, drainage, water,
sewer, fire protection, streets (public and private), sidewalks, parking lot(s) and
tree preservation. The information submitted for the plat review process was
reviewed for general concept only. All public improvements are subject to
additional review and approval. All improvements shall comply with City's
current requirements; Item number ten, sidewalk construction in accordance with
current standards to include a minimum 10 foot green space with a minimum 6
foot sidewalk; Item number eleven, Large Scale Development approval to be
valid for one calendar year; and item number twelve, prior to the issuance of a
building permit the following is required: a. Grading and drainage permits; b.
Separate easement plat for this project; c. Completion of all required
improvements or the placement of a surety with the City (letter of credit, bond,
escrow) as required by § 158.01 "Guarantees in Lieu of Installed Improvements"
to guarantee all incomplete improvements. Further, all improvements necessary
to serve the site and protect public safety must be completed, not just guaranteed,
prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy; d. Right-of-way along
Highway 265 shall be dedicated by warranty deed. Those are the twelve
conditions of approval that we have before us.
The only exception I have is, we really don't have a design for our sign. We
realize we will have to bring that back and present it. For right now we know
where it's going to go basically but that's about it.
Gerald Fox. I'm representing Benham Group, Lake Hills Church. I just want to
make a couple of comments on the conditions I heard there. Number three, about
the curb and gutter being removed. We have made those revisions on the plans.
Also, number ten about the sidewalk and green -space, those are on the plans.
Odom: So you don't have any objections?
Fox: I don't think we need those conditions but we don't object to them.
Odom: Okay. Let me ask then does any member of the audience that would like to
address us on the Large Scale Development. I think that we can just go ahead and
note for the record that all of those that previously spoke in favor of the
Conditional Use, speak in favor of the approval of the Large Scale Development.
If I state that correctly, raise your hand. Alright. We will note everyone is raising
their hands. They are all speaking in favor of the Large Scale Development.
Does anyone else wish to speak in addition to what we have previously spoken
about? Seeing none, I will close the floor to public discussion and bring it back to
the Planning Commission for questions, comments or motions.
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 30
Hoover: May I ask that same question to the staff about the existing trees in the front
between the street and the parking?
Conklin: There will be no trees preserved between the street and the back east parking lot.
They will all be removed.
Hoover: Are they removed to the building line? There is a space left between the parking
and the property line on the south elevation.
Conklin: There is a line showing on the plat of extended tree canopy to remain. If you look
on page C-3. There's a bold dashed line.
Hoover: That's all at the rear of the property. Nothing at the front of the building itself.
Conklin: That's correct.
Hoover: That's correct.
• Conklin: There may be one tree on the southwest corner in our right-of-way that will
remain. On site, no. The trees will be removed.
•
Hoover: Thank you.
Odom: Commissioner Allen? You had some questions about the Large Scale
Development?
Comm. Allen: The same questions I posed. It just seems that the building is too big for the lot. I
don't know how to put it any better than that. It just seems that it leads almost to
the end of the lot. I had some concerns about how much larger it was than
originally proposed.
Allen:
Well there are three or four considerations. One is, the square feet internally has
always been the same. Our neighbors said that they didn't like it being as high as
it was and the only way you can do that is to put it all on one level. We also were
asked by another neighbor to move it as far to the west as we possibly can so it's
not close to his house so we did that as well. We had to make the building the
shape it is, if we tried to turn it let's say skinnier on the lot and deeper than you
would have to dynamite and you would have a big ugly cliff hanging out kind of
like the Williams Center. No offense to Mr. Meineke. We want to keep it sort of
gentle and rolling. As it is we are only in the back about we are in only about six
feet and in the front we build up about six feet or so. It's going to be a beautiful
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 31
building. If you can look at the picture here it's going to be striking. We have
also worked at great length with the neighbors on both sides about setbacks and
preserving the tree line and a bunch of things like that. We have accommodated
every way we can. We are actually, to answer Ms. Hoover's question, we are
actually more concerned about saving the trees than the City is. We have been
told to bulldoze some trees that we would rather keep.
Odom. Commissioner Allen, are you concerned that it doesn't meet the inspect
requirement or setbacks.
Comm. Allen: Yes. Partially. That's it.
Odom. Staff are there any comments with regard to whether or not it doesn't meet
setbacks or green -space requirements or so forth?
Conklin:
MOTION:
Marr:
Ward:
Odom:
Hoover:
Allen:
It's meeting our ordinance requirements with regard to tree protection
preservation ordinance. Under A-1 there is no minimum percent canopy however
the rare landmark tree section does apply and the Landscape Administrator has
looked at this and has approved this plan. The setbacks did go to the Board of
Adjustment and the Board of Adjustment did grant their setbacks for their
building on the south and north property lines. Those have been addressed and
granted.
I would like to move for approval of LSD 0-15.00 subject to staff comments.
Second.
Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Marr a second by Commissioner
Ward to approve LSD 00-15.00. Do we have any further comments.
I have a few concerns about the project. One is when it looks like there is such a
large area that we are not able to save any of the trees on the south side of that
parking lot. Looking at the lot it seems very wooded. Is this an impossible task
to do?
That was our objection from the very beginning because we were required to
build that water retention berm and build that. If it hadn't been for that we would
have saved many more trees frankly.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 32
Fox:
There is another big issue too and that's meeting the concerns of the neighbors.
As Mr. Allen noted, having everything as far to the west as possible, as far from
the road as possible was very important to the neighbors. There's a whole bunch
more property to the back then what you see. We are leaving well over half the
lot undeveloped.
Hoover: Right. I understand that but between the sidewalk and the parking lot is there any
way to save any of the trees that are in that location.
Fox:
Not unless we move things to the back. Mr. Rimbey and Mr. Slusarek would
object to that. That's been one of our things that we have been trying to work
with them.
Hoover: And the detention pond.
Allen: There's one other thing since Mr. Bunch and in the interest of good
communication, I spoke with some people unofficially and they suggest that we
go ahead and ask for this approval and hopefully get and then we go and talk with
the tree coordinators and see if we can't rethink because the parking islands are
just sort of, you measure ten spaces to make one, if we can move those around to
save some trees we will. That certainly is on our mind. I own a farm. I have
planted over a thousand trees and I pruned three hundred. I'm keen on trees. We
can save many of those trees if we are allowed to fiddle around with sidewalks
and things. We were advised to go ahead and do this and try to work with the tree
coordinator about it.
Hoover: Another concern that I had was with the south elevation being the metal siding. 1
know that you can't see it from the street right now because there are trees in the
neighbors yard. I guess I'm wondering if the neighbor ever cut down any of those
trees it would be very visible from 265 at some point in the future. Since I have
been on Planning Commission there have been a couple of projects that have
come through that we would say "Oh, no you can't see that from the road " Then
sure enough two years later you can see it from the road I'm just trying to be
more conscious about when these buildings are asking for metal siding on certain
elevations that we are lead to believe we are not going to be able to see. Which
like I say right now we are not but I think we should be thinking a couple of years
down the road. I guess my other issue is because this is pulled so far to the south
which I understand that you did that because of all the neighbor concern which I
appreciate that but that doesn't leave you any option for really screening on that
metal siding. It's out of your control it looks like to me. I don't know what other
Commissioner's feel about that south elevation.
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 33
Allen:
Well the landscaped drawings there is quite a bit of screening. We have got a
Zillion trees that have to go in here. Even if you save some of the older ones,
there's all kinds of short things and tall things that are going to go in there.
Hoover: I thought that with the retaining wall in there that you don't have enough room in
there to get some trees but you have some bushes.
Allen:
One of those drawings shows the outline of the tree canopy and there's about fifty
or sixty feet on the south side of the property line. I think your point is well taken
that if they bulldoze everything right up to the property line but I'm assuming
when they come for their development you won't let them do it. I understand
what you are saying.
Hoover: Your property line, from the building to your property line is how many feet?
Allen. Twenty feet.
Hoover: Twenty feet.
Conklin: Commissioner Hoover, they are showing twenty-four leather leaf viburnum on
their landscape plan.
Hoover: Those are bushes, right?
Marr: They are large bushes.
Hoover: Large bushes. One other concern I have but I think that was taken in the motion
before was, where the play equipment area is that that be screened from the road.
I don't know if that's in this list of conditions of approval for Large Scale
Development. The screening for the play area.
Conklin: They do show landscaping screening in the parking facing west in those isles with
shrubs and then they do have some trees.
Hoover: Then higher up the elevation continues up, the play area is right in front of the
building in the higher elevation.
Conklin: It's hard to predict what you will be able to see with the landscaping in the
parking lot. They do show a chain link fence for that playground area.
• Allen: In fact, there is a sense in which we would like it to be visible from the street. We
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 34
Hoover:
Odom:
Shackelford:
Petrie:
Shackelford:
Petrie:
Fox:
Allen:
would like people to drive by and see the cool playground equipment or whatever
it is.
Thank you.
Any further discussion?
First of all I want to say that I am also in support of the church and plan on voting
for the motion but I do have a real quick question for staff. Reviewing our
Subdivision Committee minutes, Commissioner Hoffman had asked about the
design and location of the detention pond. Her question was whether or not this
could be changed to move part of the parking spaces from the back to the front.
I'm just wondering if staff took a look at that request and what the findings where
of that?
I'm sorry can you restate your question? I didn't quite understand you.
Reviewing the Subdivision Committee minutes, Commissioner Hoffman asked
about whether or not the detention pond in back of the building could be changed
in either size or location in an effort to move part of the parking from the back of
the building back to the front of the building and asked that that be looked at prior
to the Planning Commission meeting. I was wondering if that was addressed.
It hasn't been looked at by City staff. It was my thought that was directed to the
Engineer for the project to be honest with you.
I can address that. We actually started out with that plan that you are talking
about. The problem that came up is that we didn't have, there is a City code that
requires a certain distance between the detention area and the building and we
couldn't squeeze that in. We actually started with it that way and went to what
you see. It's actually the second plan.
Let me make one comment about that. We really didn't want that there of course.
We had some other plans that didn't seem to work. We have to build a hole in the
ground to retain water for one hundred year flood and Corp. of Engineers find that
six inches of rain in an hour. There have been Europeans in Arkansas for two
hundred years and there has never been a hundred year flood in northwest
Arkansas. That's the first thing. Second of all, to meet the code we would have
to have a hundred year flood impact us between 9:00 and 12:00 on Sunday. You
work the numbers it's like once out of eight hundred years and we are having to
build to provide for that because we wanted to retain part of that water on the
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 35
parking lot and we were prevented from doing that. This design is really not our
choice. We have done this to accommodate the code and the neighbors frankly so
we are having to do it and we are going to landscape this hole in the ground and
make it look like a nice place so it won't look like just a sewer full of mosquito
water. It probably won't ever have any water in it. It will be landscaped and it
will look nice.
Hoover: May I ask our City Engineer would you respond to that? I'm concerned also
about a detention pond in the front of the building. Are there other options
besides that?
Petrie:
Sure there are other options. When we received the plan there was a detention
pond in the front of the building. It's not my job to tell them where to put their
detention pond or even if they definitely they needed a detention pond. They
hired an engineer and he placed a detention pond on this property. I don't think it
was explored whether they could have improved from the downstream drainage to
actually avoid this detention pond. I don't know. It's not my job to determine
unless they don't show it, of course. It was there when we got the project and I
don't know what else to say. I do want to say about the parking lot. I have said
that that can be done. You can detain water in a parking lot. It is acceptable.
Hoover: That's possible to do on this project?
Petrie: Right.
Hoover: Is that something they would need to talk to you about? Or their own engineer?
Petrie: I would hope their own engineer will design it. We will review the design.
Hoover: The City has in the past approved.
Petrie: It specifically says in the drainage manual that is acceptable.
Hoover: Thank you.
Fox: I would be happy to respond to that as I did in the Committee meetings. The
parking lot is sloping. It was my judgment as the engineer that we couldn't get
enough volume of storage on the parking lot to use it. It is one option I always
consider. It just doesn't work here.
• Hoover: I guess you are saying it's not possible to do this on this parking lot?
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 36
Fox: You have a slope like that, you put a little deal here you don't get enough storage
on the parking lot.
Hoover: There are not ways of sloping the parking lot so you can hold more water?
Fox: Right. You can't hold enough water to make an effect.
Petrie: It would definitely take more grading than what's being proposed to make it
effective.
Fox:
We have quite a difference in elevation between the road and the building now. If
you were to flatten the parking lot out there that's making more of a difference in
either getting up to the parking lot or getting from the parking lot to the building.
We have plenty already.
Hoover: Thank you.
Odom: You thought Moses had a hard time finding the Promised Land. Any further
discussion?
Comm. Allen: It's been a while so I wondered was the original motion just to approve subject to
these Conditions of Approval?
Odom: Yes. Any further discussion? Will you call the roll?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-15.00 passes on a vote of 7-1-0 with Commissioner Hoover voting no.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 37
LSD 00-20.00: Large Scale Development (Cornerstone, pp 402) was submitted by Dave
Jorgensen of Jorgensen and Associates on behalf of Lyndy Lindsey for property located at Futrall
Drive north of Hanks Furniture. The property is zoned R-2, Medium Density Residential and
contains approximately 7.47 acres. The request is to construct an apartment complex with 120
units proposed.
Odom:
Ladies and gentlemen the next item we have on tonight's agenda is item number
six which is a Large Scale Development 00-20.00 submitted by Dave Jorgensen of
Jorgensen and Associates on behalf of Lyndy Lindsey for property located at
Futrall Drive north of Hanks Furniture. The property is zoned R-2, Medium
Density Residential and contains approximately 7.47 acres. The request is to
construct an apartment complex with 120 units proposed. Staffs recommendation
is approval subject to ten conditions of approval. Staff are there any further
Conditions of Approval?
Conklin: No there are not and I'm pleased to inform you that we do have signed Conditions
of Approval.
Odom: Then I would bring this matter to the applicant for any presentation that they care
to make.
Hennelly: My name is Tom Hennelly. I'm with Jorgensen and Associates. I'm a project
engineer on this representing Lindsey Properties. This is a roughly seven and a
half acre parcel north of Hank's Furniture right on the 540 corridor. Lindsey
Properties is proposing to put ten buildings, twelve units per building for a total of
120 units on this property. It will be a typical well kept Lindsey development.
That's about all I've got.
Odom: Let me ask if there is any member of the audience that would like to address us on
this issue? I will close the floor to public discussion and bring it back to the
Planning Commission for questions, comments for staff or applicant or motions.
Allen:
I notice this is kind of an unusual pie -shaped area and it appears that all the trees
will be in that little peak of the pie. I wondered if it was possible for there to be
trees any place else other thanjust at the very little point.
Hennelly: Yes ma'am. We went to considerable lengths to maintain and preserve not only
the rare trees that are on the property but the existing canopy as well. I assume you
are talking about the northern tip of this plan. We are preserving through retaining
walls and creative grading all of the landmark trees that are twenty-four inch or
greater diameter as well as in the areas to the east of the development where we
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 38
were able to keep the grading out. The grading was the biggest problem in
maintaining the canopy and the existing trees. To answer your question, all the
canopy on the northern end of the this property has been maintained with the
exception of where the sewer line is going in. Then every attempt was made
within the development to maintain what's there.
Odom: It would be important to note as well that there is total of 36.6 percent that is going
to be on the site and there is only 20 percent minimum requirement. It has the
support of Kim Hesse the Tree Preservation Coordinator.
MOTION:
Ward: I would like to go ahead and move for approval of LSD 00-20.00
Man: Second.
Odom. We have a motion by Commissioner Ward, second by Commissioner Marr to
approve LSD 00-20.00 subject to staff comments. Is there any further discussion?
Estes:
One item that I note is that the applicant is donating a fourteen foot access
easement along the west side of the property line for a future multi -use trail. I
would like to take this opportunity to thank the applicant for that donation that is
not required. It's a very generous gift to the City and on behalf of this
Commission, thank you.
Odom. That's one "ahooga" to the applicants. Anybody else? Call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-20.00 passes on a vote of 8-0-0.
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 39
CU 00-21.00: Conditional Use (First United Presbyterian Church, pp 407) was submitted by
Carter & Hodges on behalf of First United Presbyterian Church for property located at 695
Calvin. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and contains approximately 10.33
acres. The request is for a church (Use Unit 4) in a R-1 district.
Odom: The next two items on tonight's agenda involves first a Conditional Use and
second an LSD for First United Presbyterian Church and as a member of that
church I will be abstaining from the discussion and vote and will be turning the
meeting at this time to Commissioner Estes.
Estes:
This is an application for a Conditional Use submitted by Carter & Hodges on
behalf of First United Presbyterian Church for property located at 695 Calvin. The
property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and contains approximately 10.33
acres. The request is for a church (Use Unit 4) in a R-1 district. Staff has made
several recommendations which stand as Conditions of Approval. Staff are there
any additional conditions for this Conditional Use?
Conklin: There are no additional conditions..
• Estes: Do we have a signed by the applicant?
Conklin: Yes we do. We have a signed Conditions of Approval.
Estes: Is the applicant present. Would you like to come forward and make whatever
presentation you feel is appropriate.
•
Hodges: My name is Kevin Hodges. I'm with Carter and Hodges Engineering. I would like
to make just one clarification to these conditions. Item number five, the "no for -
hire schools, including public, secondary or daycare should be located within the
facility." There is an active children's ministries at the church and there is also an
active Mother's Day Out as well as nursery for the Sunday schools but none of
these activities are "for -hire" and that is our understanding for this condition. That
being said we have no objections.
Estes: Staff would you comment on the inclusion of item number five.
Conklin: Item number five was to clarify that if they were going to have a for -hire daycare,
public daycare at the facility that they would need to apply for a Conditional Use
and that Mother's Day Out or church Sunday school classes that I would not
consider those for -hire childcare facilities where you drop your child off at 7:00 or
7:30 in the morning and pick them up at 5:30 or 6:00 at night. That type of activity
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 40
would be church related.
Estes: Anything else?
Hodges: I think I've made myself clear Thank you.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: I'll bring the item back to the Commission for questions, comments, motions,
discussion.
MOTION:
Marr: I would like to move for approval of Conditional Use 00-21.00.
Bunch: Second.
Estes: We have a motion by Commissioner Marr, seconded by Commissioner Bunch. Is
there any discussion? Would you call the vote please?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU 00-21.00 passes on a vote of 7-1-0. Commissioner Odom abstaining.
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 41
LSD 00-21.00: Large Scale Development (First United Presbyterian Church, pp 407) was
submitted by Carter & Hodges on behalf of First United Presbyterian Church for property located
at 695 Calvin. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and contains approximately
10.33 acres. The request is to build an addition to an existing church.
Estes:
The next item on the agenda is item number eight. This is related to item number
seven the Conditional Use. Item number eight is a Large Scale Development 00-
21.00 was submitted by Carter & Hodges on behalf of First United Presbyterian
Church for property located at 695 Calvin. The property is zoned R-1, Low
Density Residential and contains approximately 10.33 acres. The request is to
build an addition to an existing church. The addition will include a new youth
building, new office, library, classroom, gathering space and a choir area. The
addition will be approximately 19,270 square feet. The existing buildings total
approximately 28,095 square feet. This will be an increase of building square
footage of about 69%. There are Conditions of Approval. Staff, are there any
additional conditions that are not listed as a Condition of Approval in our packet?
Conklin: There are no additional conditions. We do have signed Conditions of Approval. I
• would like to make one statement that the Tree and Landscape Administrator has
reviewed the Tree Protection and Preservation Plan and has approved that plan.
•
Estes: Does the applicant have any presentation they would like to make to your Planning
Commission?
Hodges: Sir, I have no further presentation at this time. This is an addition to a building,
much needed space. I believe the staff has presented it fairly well. I have no
further comment.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Estes: Does any member of the audience that would like to speak in favor or in opposition
to this Large Scale Development request?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: Seeing none I will bring it back to the Commission for discussion, comments,
motions.
MOTION:
Marr: I would like to move for approval of Large Scale Development 00-21.00.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 42
Shackelford: Second.
Estes: We have a motion by Commissioner Marr that has been seconded. Is there any
discussion? Any comments? Would you call the vote, please
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-21.00 passes on a vote of 7-1-0. Commissioner Odom abstaining.
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 43
AD 00-28.00: Administrative Item (Williams, pp 481) was submitted by John Williams
regarding property surrounding a monopole cellular facility on Markham Hill. The request is to
address citizen concerns about the installation of underground utility lines to serve the site.
Odom:
Ladies and gentlemen, the last item on tonight's agenda is item number nine which
is an Administrative Item 00-28.00 submitted by John Williams regarding property
surrounding a monopole cellular facility on Markham Hill. The request is to
address citizen concems about the installation of underground utility lines to serve
this site. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission hold a public hearing
and decide if the evidence presented constitutes a violation of the 1987 Conditional
Use permit. If the Planning Commission finds the Conditional Use approval has
been violated, staff recommends Planning Commission hold a revocation hearing
at the next Planning Commission meeting to determine what remedies can be
imposed or to revoke the Conditional Use and to have the tower and equipment
moved. Staff would you like to go over the background on this item?
Conklin: There was a Conditional Use approved in 1987 for Contel, Inc. They constructed a
monopole tower for cellular service at this Sang Street location also known as
Markham Hill. At the 1987 meeting, information that I was able to determine what
was approved was through those minutes of that meeting. That included an actual
tower of 125 feet, a 125(28' communication shelter includes an 8 foot high security
fence with three strands of barbed wire, a stand-by generator with muffler to
reduce noise. Elevation of the tower to be at 1606 feet. Electricity would provided
by only adding transformers for power. That no additional lines would be brought
to the site. I pretty much tried to summarize those minutes of 1987 In 1988 the
Planning Commission reviewed the Conditional Use for compliance with the 1987
approval. During that meeting, information was given that the building was
increased in size from 12'x28' to 28'x56', that additional power would be needed
and that new underground service would need to be provided from the center of the
street to the tower. The Planning Director made a statement at that 1988 meeting
that no FAA approval was required and the representative for Contel made a
statement that the tower was 125 feet tall. The Planning Commission tabled that
request in 1988 and encouraged the attorney's, City staff and SWEPCO get
together to resolve this issue. In a letter that was sent to the City, basically the
landowners and Contel agreed not to bring it back to the Commission that they did
work out an agreement. I tried to summarize the current issues that have been
brought forward and it's actually more than what's in the description. That
includes concern over FAA approval of the tower with regard to elevation of the
tower and the ground elevation. There is concern over additional installation of
lines and not Just power, electric but lines in general are underground, but
fiberoptic or any other additional lines that would be required or would be installed
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 44
to connect to this location or this facility. Also, that private property has been
trespassed on by the installation of additional fiberoptic lines. I included in your
packet and I will briefly go over these. A letter to Southwestern Bell from Lynn
Wade concerned about the additional T-1 lines in the neighborhood. Basically, he
was very concerned about additional overhead lines along Sang Avenue. A letter
to Lynn Wade from Southwestern Bell stating that these lines will be underground.
That was in 1995. An additional letter to Southwestern Bell from Lynn Wade that
he was concerned that the additional lines would violate the Conditional Use. That
was in 1995 In 1999,1 included this date in here because we did pass a wireless
communication facility ordinance which does encourage co -location and allow the
City Planner to approve additional facilities on existing towers. I also included a
franchise agreement that the City of Fayetteville City Council passed on February
I, 2000, granting permission for Alltel to be within our right-of-way with
fiberoptic lines. I did include, after that, February 1, 2000 franchise agreement, we
did get a letter to the City of Fayetteville from Lynn Wade concerned about the
additional lines into the neighborhood. The City of Fayetteville did write back to
Mr. Wade and outlined what remedies were available for Mr. Wade with his
concerns about the additional lines. On April 14, 2000, Mr. John Williams wrote a
letter to the Midland Group. This refers to fiberoptic lines that were coming up
Sang Avenue that Mr. Williams believed to be on his property. Mr. Williams hired
a surveyor and those lines were on his property and the Midland Group had to
remove the conduit and put the conduit within our right-of-way. Then we have a
letter from Cyrus Sutherland to the Midland Group concerned about fiberoptic
lines that would be on his property. I wrote to the City Attorney on June 6, 2000,
to get his advice on co -location on that monopole tower. All this information that I
have given may be confusing to the public because they didn't have a chance to
review all these documents. There is a relationship between all these documents
and what is occurring up on Markham Hill and what the City is looking at with
regard to wireless communication facilities. That letter is a letter to Mr. Rose
stating that I was approached by another provider that they were interested in
locating their facilities on that Alltel monopole. Being aware of Mr. Williams'
concerns, I basically asked for advice if under that ordinance that was passed last
year, August 31, 1999, I had the authority and the duty to approve co -locations on
that facility. I just wanted to make sure there were no issues with approving those
new co -locations, those new facilities. On June 12, 2000, the City Attorney did
respond back to me and basically did state to me that in his opinion I should follow
the ordinance that was approved by City Council. On July 21, 2000, I did receive a
letter from Mr. Williams stating that he would like to request a hearing before the
Planning Commission to go over his concerns. On July 28, 2000, I did receive a
fax from Alltel regarding the information about the private property. It stated that
it has been cleared up on Mr. Williams' property. Then we also, working with Mr.
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 45
Williams and discussing the height of the tower, did determine from our survey
data here at the City that the ground elevation is 1495'. The FAA clearance
approval stated that the ground elevation was 1480'. There is also a typo in the
FAA clearance letter where it states it should be 1600... Let me take that back
because I know that maybe some people disagree with that. When I refer to typo
there is an elevation listed at 616 feet on that letter. It should be 1616 feet.
Ground elevation in Fayetteville the lower elevations are about 1200 feet. So
based on all that information I have given you I have looked at the minutes and I
have looked at what was approved in those minutes. It's my opinion that when
City Council granted the franchise agreement for utilities to go in our right-of-way,
that they gave them permission to put the fiberoptic in our right-of-way. With
regard to the FAA approval, I do have additional information this evening that was
handed out. It was faxed to me Friday and today. That's probably a separate hand-
out. It's labeled 9.42, 9.43, 9.44 and 9.45. On 9.43 Alltel did have the ground
elevation surveyed. The ground elevation is 1495 feet based on survey. That
matches what the City of Fayetteville has with regard to our topographic
information here at the City. They also performed what they call a tape drop of the
actual tower and their analysis of that is the tower is 104 feet high. That's on page
9.44. It's not the 136 feet as shown on the FCC and FAA registration
documentation. In there letter they state that the ground is fifteen feet higher than
the 1480 found on those documentation of FAA and FCC. However, that the 1495
plus 104 feet equals 1599. Their statement is that's seventeen below the overall
height shown on the documentation. They have stated that if they need to they will
re -apply for FAA clearance of this tower based on this new information. With
regard to the private property issue, as a policy, when there is a dispute regarding
trespassing on private property that is usually a civil matter. People take each
other to court. They hire surveyors to determine if someone is trespassing. It's
impossible for me to go up there and look and see if someone is trespassing on
someone's property. I am not a surveyor and I don't know where the property
lines are on the ground. Typically, if someone is trespassing we suggest they talk
to their attorney and find out what remedies they do have. If you have any
questions, I will be happy to answer them.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Odom: Any questions for the staff at this point? Hearing none, I'm going to open the floor
to public discussion of whether or not we should hold a hearing two weeks from
now. Mr. Williams do you have some comments that you would like to make at
this time?
• Williams: Yes. I want to thank you and I appreciate your time. I want to thank also Tim and
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 46
the staff. They have been very helpful. Here's a note I thought might help to
speed my part up here. I'll give you my notes. I'll go on to reference this for this
meeting. I want to thank the Planning Commission and citizens who are concerned
about this tower and some of the continuing problems relating to that. I was going
to thank Mr. Don Michael. I did want to thank him for his article in the Friday
paper because it made it sound like this might be a lot more interesting than I
assumed it would be. If there are people here because of his article I appreciate it.
I want to thank him for that. I want to ask you if you have the minutes of the 1987
and 1988 meetings? You do have them. Good. Do you have the original building
permit?
Conklin: I researched that this afternoon. I was unable to find the actual building permit. I
could not locate that in microfilm.
Williams: I will try to remember some of the information on that building permit. It has do
with, of course, the original size of the building that was increased by 4 '/z times
and some other things. One of the things I believe I remember is that because it
seemed so unusual to me and it certainly put my mind to ease about that original
permit was the fact that it Just required only a 30 amp service on that plan. If
somebody can find the plans I would like that to be checked because I suppose you
know that even a small house now might require 100 amp service. So a 30 amp
service Just, I thought there is nothing about this if it's only has a 30 amp service.
Well I better follow my notes. Item nine on tonight's agenda came about because
of a letter I wrote to Mr. Conklin and members of the Planning Commission dated
July 21, 2000. See a copy on the agenda page 9.8. If you have read that letter
there is no reason for me to read it You've all read it?
Odom: We've all read it, I believe.
Williams. Okay. I think Mr. Conklin outlined what's in my letter as well as things we are
generally concerned about. I'm glad you have those already because if you have
read those minutes of the early meetings with the neighbors, with Contel and with
the Planning Commission, I believe that there is evidence of changes, mistakes and
what seems to be misrepresentations serious enough to question the validity of the
original building permit and Conditional Use. That's really one of the reasons we
are here. As indicated in the minutes of the meeting the neighbors were aware of
airplanes approaching from Drake Field flying very close to the tower and
sometimes even at the west of it. On one occasion I saw an airplane coming in
from the west which had to pull up quickly and steeply to avoid hitting the tower.
I don't have any witnesses but I would be glad to take a lie detector test about that.
Finally, I teamed this summer 1 continued to although there were calls from
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 47
personnel at Drake Field recording the tower, I continued to try to learn if the
tower had been approved by FAA. The minutes indicate such would be required
even before a building permit was approved. Even before the building permit, Mr.
Sorel said that FAA approval would be required. That, I believe, was in those
early meetings. Finally, I learned this summer that I continued to try to learn if the
tower had been approved by FAA. The minutes indicate such would be required
Finally, I learned this summer that I could request proof of compliance with all
federal regulations including FAA approval and I refer you to agenda page 9.28
which I assume you have read. On July 21, 2000, Mr. Conklin gave me a copy of
the FAA form dated October 18, 1988. Almost a year after the building permit and
Conditional Use were given. So you can see a copy of that on page 9.35. I found
an error of approximately 1,000 feet in elevation of the AMSL. I showed the form
to Mr. Fredericks at Drake Field. We agreed that 616 feet AMSL was a substantial
error for Markham Hill Tower elevation. I took the form to Mr. Conklin. He
mentioned the possibility of a type and said the elevation should be 1616 feet
rather than 616. He gave me a copy of a letter from Mr. Johnell to Mr. Dale
Baldwin dated November 2, 1987, indicating a 1616 feet ASML Although 1 notice
in one of those early things that Mr. Sorel said it was 1606 feet. I have this
question, why wasn't I given this information back in 1987 and 1988? It would
have saved a great deal of time and money in long distance calls. I think in there
you will find that I checked with people at the airport. They gave me numbers to
call and I called those numbers and couldn't find any approval. Before going to
see Mr. Conklin on Monday, August 7, 2000, a week ago, I went to ask Mr. Clyde
Randall, Mapping Department, Fayetteville. His equipment showed the elevation,
as Mr. Conklin has reported to you, the base of the Alltel Cellular tower at 1495
feet which would be a difference of 15 feet compared to an elevation of 1480 feet
at the base of the tower. Although the present monopole height is shown, I hadn't
received these things you got this afternoon or when did you get them?
Conklin: I got the height of the tower this morning and Friday after 5:00 p.m. I got the other
fax.
Williams: Okay. Their antenna... Now what did you say the new height is?
Conklin: The new height of the antenna is 104 feet high.
Williams. It shrunk, I guess. I think there's been enough variation in the reports on the height
of the tower that may be reasonable for us to be sure that we have accurate
information. I didn't know about this new thing. I was assuming 125 feet as
shown on recent plans. On top of this monopole there are aerials. Did that height
include the height of the aerials on top of the pole?
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 48
Conklin: I think it would be more appropriate for Alltel to respond to their information. I
would hate to interpret their form incorrectly.
Williams: Okay. I just have had so many sets of information on it I just believe that it would
be a good idea to be certain we have accurate information and that the accurate
information be presented to whoever would be able to check it out to see whether it
requires FAA approval. If it does then I would like for FAA to determine whether
it might be approved In reference to lines on private property, a line was laid on
our property, see the reference three in my letter of July 21, 2000. This line has
been removed in my letter to Mr. Jim Smith, April 3, 1999, requesting removal and
my letter to Mr. Bill Nuestel dated April 14, 2000, thanking him for removal of the
cable from our property. They have heavy equipment and fairly large equipment.
I must say that although we have these complaints that Mr. Nuestel and I became
friends although we may be at opposite purposes. Mr. Sutherland is here however
he has been out of town. Mr.. Sutherland, I have information here. Do you want
me to present it? They have a copy of your letter.
C.Sutherland: Well I don't. I suppose my prime position on this matter is the fact that the Alltel
conduit and presumably the cable, I don't know yet whether the cable has been
installed but I do think that the conduit in which the cable is to run has been
installed, from Sang Street to Garvin Street which is about 925 feet, I'm not sure
what the exact figure is but it's over 900 feet. The first 150 feet of that 900 feet is
a piece of my property and then it joins the rest of my property which is about 8
acres and it continues down the side of my property until it reaches Garvin Street.
I don't know this to be true but I suspect the line from Sang to Garvin runs across
the largest distance of private property in the City. When I quizzed Mr. Nuestel of
the Alltel Company on this he said, "Well our line is installed on the City easement
that is a utility easement." I do know that running from Sang Street down to
Garvin Street and along an additional 600 feet of my property there is a water line
that goes from the water tower, very near the Alltel tower, down this on a twenty-
five foot easement and presumably the Alltel conduit and fiberoptic lines would be
installed within that twenty-five foot easement. I am relatively sure also that it
does not confine it's passage along the water line easement, but on my property. I
simply wanted this fact to be known by the City and the Alltel Company. That is
my main reason for being here and being concerned with this is that I was told that
the Alltel line would be installed or run along only within Municipal easements.
As far as I know, the only easement on that 900 feet of my property is the water
line easement but I don't think the Alltel line has been restricted to the water line
easement. It falls most of it, a great deal of it, in fact, almost all of it, on my
private property. I would be reasonably reluctant to ask Alltel to take it all up and
move it over because this involved a great deal of machinery in our neighborhood.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 49
Estes:
Sizeable machinery and time and noise. I'm sure you have been aware of the
citywide installation of this but I still contend that I think I probably hold the
record for the passage of this line along my private property. That's it for now.
Mr. Sutherland?
C.Sutherland: Yes.
Estes:
Conklin:
Estes:
C.Sutherland:
Estes:
I have a question. I need some help and I don't know any better way to do this
than to ask you to step up here if you could. We have been provided, in our packet
with a drawing that I think, does that purport to show the fiberoptic line that Mr.
Sutherland has talked about?
No. I don't have anything that shows where the fiberoptic line is. Agenda page
9.41 is our City record. This area right here according to our drafting department
is a twenty-five foot general utility easement. That is a waterline that they came
from Garvin up to Sang Avenue through that utility easement.
Where is your property Mr. Sutherland?
I have this sketch which shows very clearly This is the line along which that goes
and my property comes in about like that. My property, I have a little piece there
and a little piece there and then a sizeable piece there.
In your April 28, 2000, letter which is found at pages 9.12 and 9.13, you wrote that
the Alltel underground cable for as much as the 920 feet. Can you show me on any
of these drawings where that 920 feet is?
C.Sutherland: Yes.
Estes:
Not on your drawing but can you show me on page 9.41 where that 920 feet is.
This is page 9.41.
C.Sutherland: I've not seen that before but I can tell you that the 900 feet is from Sang Avenue
down to Garvin which doesn't quite fall onto this plan here.
Estes:
Conklin:
I'm still having a problem. What is this line that transects from Haskell Heights?
Is that the 920 foot line that you are talking about?
No. That line on there is a centerline of a private drive.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 50
C.Sutherland: That's an underground electrical line I think. A City power line.
Conklin: That's a centerline of a street. That's what that line has shown. No one has any
survey to know where the line is located. That's the argument. We don't know
where that line is located.
Odom: It's right here look.
Estes: I see it, I just don't know what it is. Perhaps we could do this. Perhaps Mr.
Williams and Mr. Sutherland with the help of Mr Lynn Wade, who I think is in
the audience, if you could go to our packet and show us where that 920 feet is that
you complain of and let me ask staff. Tim, is there anything in our packet that
shows the 920 feet that Mr. Sutherland complains of?
Williams: Yes, it's right here. This is that waterline easement that I was talking about and
this is where it goes is south of the waterline easement. There used to be a street
through there and it was given back to the property owners because it's hard. So
he's saying that his line goes through here.
Estes: Where's Garvin? Is that Garvin?
Conklin: On page 9.41.
Estes: Thank you Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Williams. Thank you.
Conklin: To answer your question Commissioner Estes on 9.41 you should see an easement
that's coming across here. Mr. Sutherland's property is going to be located south
of that easement. Mr. Williams' property is located north of that easement. This is
a twenty-five foot utility easement.
Estes: That is a utility easement not a street or an alley?
Conklin: That is not a street. That's a twenty-five foot utility easement. What Mr.
Sutherland has claimed in his letter is that when they installed that line within that
utility easement that they didn't install it within that, it was outside of it on his
property. That the line was further to the south than that twenty-five foot utility
easement. That utility easement does connect down to Garvin. We don't have a
survey showing where those lines are located.
Marr: Mr. Chair?
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 51
Odom: Tell you what Commissioner Marr, unless you have something that is just directly
on point I want to finish with the public comment of it before we continue on with
any further questions.
Marr. My question was going to be, is there someone from Alltel here who could tell us
how they installed it?
Odom. There are people from Alltel in the back but what I would like to do first is to have
the rest of the public comment before Alltel addresses us. Otherwise, we are going
to go back and forth.
Wade:
If I may, I'm Lynn Wade, 100 North Sang. I'm here tonight as a neighbor and not
as an attorney but maybe I can help clarify some of this. This has become a little
bit more than we can all get our minds around because there are so many issues. If
I may, very quickly, on the question of whether or not the recent fiberoptic was
placed upon private property. My understanding is that there was twenty-five foot
waterline easement running east and west. The fiberoptic line, we feel, is placed
south of that easement. Sufficiently so that I have lost a maple tree to it. I would
hope that maybe Alltel could give us a survey of where their line actually is and
this could be determined and then they can resolve that with the Sutherland's as
may be appropriate. I think were all the confusion and the errors that have come
before us on the FAA issue I would think as a matter of safety the new figure
should be submitted and hopefully that would be approved. If it's not, the tower
would come down. The other thing that I struggle with is exactly what was the
Conditional Use? I think we pretty well have it outlined with an addition that there
would be no substantial increase in traffic. Then we have a question, is the
granting of a franchise agreement and/or the granting of co -location on this tower a
violation of those Conditional Uses? Our position would be that it very well may
be because you are going from one user to a question of how many and I can't
answer that because we don't know in the neighborhood of how many people are
now using the tower, how many others have applied for it, how many would be
permitted to apply under co -location, this is information we don't have. That's
about as succinctly as I can put it. I would note in terms of the increase of traffic,
there have been two wrecks within one block of our house within the last sixty
days. So there is certainly an increase in traffic up there. As you all know the road
that approaches is not a standard City road. It's a narrow little curving winding
road. I would assume that's one of the reasons that the Conditional Use in the
front end said "no substantial increase in traffic."
Odom: Mr. Wade were those wrecks utility trucks?
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 52
Wade:
I can't answer that. One of them was a hit-and-run with one of our neighbors the
other one my step -son happened to be a passenger in a car It was a pick-up truck
and I don't know for what reason they were up there.
Odom. Any other member of the audience like to address us with regard to whether or not
we should have a public hearing for the revocation? Alltel would you like to make
any statement at this time?
Montgomery. I'm Rob Montgomery with Alltel. As far as being on Mr. Sutherland's property,
we believe that we are within the City utility easement as depicted by the City's
maps. As for the tower, that will be born out in all of the stuff with the FCC and
the FAA. We believe that everything is legal on that. All of the stuff as far as
back in the 1980's we really don't know and have all the records to back all of that
up. Anything that we have done that can be undone, we will. If it's something we
violate. Right now we don't think we have. Do you have any questions of us?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Odom:
I'm sure that there will be. Let me just make sure there is not anyone else that
wishes to address us on this issue. I'm going to close the public comment portion
of this part and ask members of the Commission if they have questions of staff or
Alltel or of the landowners? Ma'am did you want to speak?
M.Sutherland: Well can I ask a question of Alltel?
Odom:
Actually, if you would like to address a question, I would appreciate it if you
would pose it to me and then as Chair I will direct the question to the appropriate
party. Your name please?
M.Sutherland: Martha Sutherland. I just wondered if Alltel has in fact had a survey made of that
easement?
Odom: It was my understanding that their statement was that they believe that they were
within it but have you in fact had a survey made?
Montgomery: No we have not.
Odom. Okay.
• C.Sutherland: You did make a statement that the Alltel line was within the utility easement just
now. I suppose that's the issue that I'm differing with.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 53
Odom. Mr. Sutherland, I don't know if this is the proper body to be in front of to make a
determination as to whether or not something is in the right property or not I think
perhaps maybe it does go to the larger issue of whether or not the Conditional Use
is appropriate. Although, I don't know that one of the conditions of approval
would be that all of the lines would be laid properly within. I'm not sure exactly
what the Conditions of Approval were. I would suggest that you examine that
grievance perhaps with a local attorney to see what your rights are with regard to
determining whether or not they are in your easement or not. I think you may have
a remedy that outside of the Planning Commissions authority. Absent a Condition
of Approval that states that they are required to do a survey I'm not sure that we
can make them do a survey. That's the problem that I've got there. Staff are you
aware of anything that requires them to do a survey?
Conklin: No. That's the problem I face too. I can't order a survey or pay for it by the
Planning Division. We get a call once a month with regard to a dispute over a
fence or something else is on someone's property. That's what it takes. It takes a
professional surveyor. It's up to the property owner's that believe someone is
trespassing to prove that they either are or they aren't.
Odom:
I do have perhaps a question of staff and of Alltel with regard to the statements that
there are inconsistencies with regard to the height of the tower. Staff, is it your
position that they are higher than what was originally allowed. I would like the
question that was asked by Mr. Williams about did the footage include the
antennae's on top of the tower.
Conklin: I can read you the form that Alltel faxed to me today. It states, tower height 104
feet ground surface to top of tower including platform. Then it talks about cellular
antennae's. I'm on page 9.45 the very last one. It says cellular antennae mount
type, sector site, panel, tip height 104/on alpha. That's a question for Alltel to
interpret what that means.
Odom: Would you interpret that for us?
Montgomery. Yes. That does generally include the height of the antennae's and that may be
some of the reason for the variations in the height's over the years. There may
have been different antenna's on the tower at that time. Yes, the tower height has
to include your antennae height.
Marr. There are two areas that have tip height on this report. One says 104 on alpha.
One is 112.
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 54
Montgomery: That would be the tip of the antennae.
Marr. Okay. So one is with the antennae and one is the tower itself?
Montgomery. Right.
Conklin: So the total height of the tower with antennae sticking up above the tower is 112
feet.
Montgomery. Well I don't have that in front of me but if that is what that says that should be
right.
Conklin: Here. Why don't you take a look at it.
Odom: Tim, while he's looking at that, is 112 feet what was permissible?
Conklin: They talked about 125 foot tower at the 1988 meeting. So yes.
Allen: As the new kid on the block and the teacher not the lawyer, I'm really struggling
with why this comes before our body at all. It seems like a civil matter that should
go through the courts.
Odom:
I think that some issues have been brought out with regard to surveys and so forth
that may have to do with more private individual rights that they need to address at
another body. However, Tim do you want to educate us? A Planning Commission
does have the authonty and obligation to review a Conditional Use. See,
Commissioner Allen a Conditional Use was granted for this tower and should there
be non-compliance of that Conditional Use then we have to have a hearing before
we revoke that Conditional Use and that's why we are here tonight to make a
determination of whether or not there has been non-compliance with that
Conditional Use. That is my understanding.
Conklin: That is correct and typically we would have our conditions spelled out and I could
tell you whether or not they are in compliance and we would have a revocation
hearing. I find it very difficult going back to 1987 minutes and based on
comments that were made during those meetings, especially with regard to no
additional lines because when I read those minutes it talks about overhead power.
The concern was about overhead power. Yes, it does say "no additional lines" but
I guess I have a hard time believing that included no additional lines underground
with the change in technology and everything. I just have a hard time with that. If
you refer to page 9.15 in your packet the reason why it is before you is our City
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 55
Attorney believed and I do believe this also that he states at a minimum due
process would require a hearing before the Planning Commission at which those
who complain and the alleged offender may be heard. The Planning Commission
would then decide whether or not there have been violations and may fashion a
remedy or in the extreme case revoke the Conditional Use. I believe this has been
the policy of Planning staff. Yes, that's a true statement. Typically it's clear-cut.
We know that if they were required to plant that tree and they didn't plant the tree,
it's clear. In this I find it very difficult. So, they are here before you this evening
to present their evidence and if you believe that what was approved in 1987 that
they are violating that, then have a public hearing in two weeks to determine
remedies or to revoke their Conditional Use and require that their tower be
removed.
Odom: Did you follow that Commissioner Allen?
Allen: Yes I did.
Estes: Tim, in the material that you provided us with, you summarize the 1988 meeting
minutes and that's at the bottom of page 9.1 and over at the top of 9.2. Your
summary reads the Planning Director reported no FAA approval was required. Is
that your opinion twelve years later, today?
Conklin: Twelve years later? I would say "No." Based on the towers that have been
approved, they have required FAA approval. I was Just giving you the facts that
when the issue came up in 1988 the statement was made that the City contacted the
FAA and they said "No approval was required." I think it's clear that it's required
because of the documentation that was provided to me from Alltel with regard to
the FAA clearance with Contel and based on the other towers that have been built
in Fayetteville.
Estes:
We have no superintendency authority over the FAA of course so I ask this
question for informational purposes only. Has this tower been approved by the
FAA?
Conklin: We do have a letter or document from the FAA approving the tower. However, it
states 616 feet on that document. That's one of the issues that Mr. Williams has
brought up. I can tell you that I have worked hard with Mr. Williams and Alltel to
try to clarify this issue and I would hope and encourage Alltel to get a final answer
from the FAA and if they need to reissue a permit that they go forward and get that
taken care of.
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 56
Estes:
Another question that I have is, are we... Let me ask this, I was going to ask are
we all in agreement but that would be rather presumptuous I think so let me ask
this. The line that Mr. Sutherland complains of, is it in a utility easement or is it in
a City street or alley right-of-way?
Conklin: It is within a utility easement. That's a good point because the franchise agreement
referred to City right-of-way for streets and alleys. This is actually a general utility
easement which is different from what that agreement that City Council approved.
Estes:
That was my next question, as I look at resolution 14-00 which is dated February
1, 2000, the Conditional Use approved by this Commission and the Franchise and
License granted by the City Council requires that the communication cable be
placed in the street and alley right-of-ways. Is there any authority for placing this
communication cable in a utility easement?
Conklin: My understanding in a general utility easement, all utilities can go within those
easements. You brought up an interesting point, we have some developers recently
that will list which utilities can go within the easements since deregulation you are
going to have more than one phone company and they don't want all those
different companies within their project. My understanding is a general utility
easement that grants authority for all utilities to go within that easement.
Estes:
Wait just a moment, Mr. Sutherland. I have one other question. To clarify the
issue where we are now is a determination of whether or not this communication
cable is outside the utility easement or in the utility easement.
Conklin: Yes. It's impossible for me or you to determine that without having someone do a
survey.
Estes: We don't have that information available to us?
Conklin: No. That's the argument. Alltel is claiming that the line is in the utility easement.
Mr. Sutherland is claiming that the line is outside the easement.
Odom: I'm not so sure that is even really an issue that we can even address.
Estes: My question was, I was trying to narrow the issues Commissioner Odom.
Odom: Okay.
Estes: Is that where we are then?
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 57
Conklin: I hate to make that statement with Mr. Wade and Mr. Williams out there because
the other issue is this issue of co -location and additional antennae's on there and I
know it complicates the issue but I think Mr. Wade stated that he's very concemed
that back in 1987 that it only allowed Alltel to go up there and every time you
allow another carrier to go up on that pole that you will have some traffic
generated.
Odom: I want to try to bring this back real quick because I don't think that complicates the
issue, I think it simplifies it. I think that it's really all that we can be considering
tonight is the determination as to whether or not these new items that have come
before us from the action of the City Council, mainly the Franchise Agreement,
number two the co -location, whether or not that has made enough difference with
regard to the original Conditional Use that another Conditional Use or revocation
hearing should be held. I think that's what we really need to be focusing on unless
there is some item that under the original Conditional Use that requires to make
sure that the lines were properly placed. I don't think that we can be discussing
those issues. That's what I would like for us to focus next on. Whether or not this
Commission feels as though two new ordinances, the Co -location Ordinance and
the Franchise Agreement Ordinance significantly changes the underlying condition
of approval to the point that we need to have a re -hearing on this Condition of
Approval
Ward:
In August 1999 we worked real hard and approved Ordinance number 4178 and it
had to do with the impact associated with the development of wireless
communication facilities in the City of Fayetteville. It said "Whereas the City of
Fayetteville desires to provide a range of location for wireless communication
facilities in all zones." It also goes on to say "Whereas the City of Fayetteville
encourages co -location and site sharing at the new and existing wireless
communication facilities; and Whereas the City of Fayetteville desires to enhance
the ability of providers of telecommunication services to provide such services to
the community quickly, effectively and efficiently." So I think those three things
right there on the new ordinance that we passed last year really makes us think,
what's the point of this meeting.
Odom. I think there is a point to this meeting, they have some questions and they have the
right to do it. To go along with what you have said Commissioner Ward, staff is it
correct that any cell tower or tower erected in Fayetteville is under Conditional
Use? Do you have some by right?
Conklin: Some are by right that have been installed. Most are by Conditional Use.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 58
Odom.
Conklin:
Odom:
Sutherland:
Odom:
Estes:
Most have been by Conditional Use that I have been involved with.
Especially with the cellular and PCS service.
I think that if we stated that the Co -location Ordinance that was passed required a
re -hearing on the underlying Conditional Use that we are here about tonight we
would be requiring it on every Conditional Use that we have granted in the past. I
don't think that was the intent or purpose of the ordinance. Any other further
comment on that? Does anybody have any comment with regard to the Franchise
Agreement?
If I may make one more statement about it.
Mr. Sutherland, typically once we have closed the floor to public discussion or the
public hearing we don't go back.and forth. Otherwise, we find ourselves here until
one or two in the morning.
You solicited this remark so here we go. The Franchise Agreement provides for
the communication cable in the street and alley right-of-ways and that is my
concern is that this communication cable is in a utility easement. Then there is the
fact question which we are not prepared or qualified or are unable to address and
that is whether or not that communication cable lies outside that utility easement.
That's my only comment. You asked for comments regarding the Franchise
resolution and now you have the benefit of my comment.
Odom. And we're much smarter because of it. I would point out that I do think that the
Franchise Agreement ought to be looked into with regard to a civil resolution of
this person's case. I think that there may be some real issues with regard to
whether or not Alltel followed the Franchise. I don't think that goes to the
underlying Conditional Use.
Montgomery
Odom:
I could probably clear that up if you let me say a word or two.
Well, I didn't let him say anything so I'm not going to let you say anything. I'm
not going to punish you because of that, what we do doesn't really have any effect
on that Franchise Agreement anyway, I don't believe. The only other item which
I feel may need to be addressed and I'm wondering whether or not Alltel will be
willing to do it on their own, is with regard to clearing this matter up with the FAA
with regard to whether or not that was a typographical error with the 661 feet or
however much it was. I am specifically asking you, would you be willing to clear
that matter up?
•
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 59
Montgomery. We will request the FAA review the license for that tower.
Odom:
For me that would be the only remedy for which I would see that we would have
the authority to enforce if we ultimately did have a re -hearing on the Conditional
Use. I would ask that once you do that that you make the staff available as well as
the surrounding landowners. Is there any further discussion? Is there any
underlying Motion? You don't need a motion. If you don't move to have a re-
hearing within the next two weeks then it's null and void. Mr. Williams?
Williams: May I ask a question? May I make a statement?
Odom: Yes.
Williams. 1 appreciate it.
Odom. Please go to the podium.
Williams: I would like also to have some clarification on the difference between a utility
easement which seems to me to imply that all kinds of utilities could go in that
easement or an easement for a water line. I would like to know if the people who
are in the water department would allow anyone else to get on their easement. I
would like that as a question.
Odom:
Okay. I don't know if that goes to what we are talking about here but staff just for
general comment, when you have given a water easement does that mean that you
can do whatever you want to on that easement? If you can go over those
requirements briefly.
Conklin: I did ask our Engineering Division what kind of easement that was and they told
me that it was a general utility easement.
Williams: It's what sir?
Conklin: They told me that it was a general utility easement on the plat. Shown on the plat.
Yes, there is a water line in there, that's my understanding but that it was also a
general utility easement. That's what I was told.
Odom: What is allowed under a general utility easement?
Conklin: My understanding, all utilities can go within that easement.
Planning Commission
August 14, 2000
Page 60
Williams: I would like confirmation of that.
Odom. Then I would invite you Mr. Williams to visit with City Engineering. Is that who
he would need to direct those questions to?
Conklin: City Engineering or the City Attorney's office with regard to easement law.
Probably the City Attorney's office has more knowledge on general utility
easements.
Odom: Alright. Is there any further discussion? Are there any motions before us? Seeing
none there will not be a re -hearing two weeks for now for lack of a motion. Staff
do we have any further items on tonight's agenda?
Conklin: There are no other items on the agenda. I would like to make one announcement.
The General Plan Land Use Update Subcommittee will be meeting August 24,
2000, at 5:30 p.m. in room 326.
Odom. We're adjourned.
•
PacP
2 -m -or
a .n,;(1
L6 c02+5
Vti rU,e_
grY1
CU fl - P
'Drs
C&c
e.rC a -
m�
S
Co n c-dO`
l�
ru.�c��
l-i�
1-2z 1-cx�
Ob 2t 1 00
L5
01cc1L'll�b r�k
tin
.
MOTION
�S
tSJ
SECOND
0/ /Card
OJLcn
D. Bunch
,%
v
\/
B. Estes
7
y
�/
L. Hoffman
O �f12X±
Q,y �e,(jfi`
-
r
,_
- S. Hoover
y
Y
N. Allen
7
D. Marr
C. Odom
Y
P
1
Shackelford
y
(dose y —
L. Ward
)1
`�/
Y
ACTION
I -VSs&
0G'aed
VOTE
1-0-b
I i-0
gPaS0(
Cj -o-C/ /�
( nSA-r kCbL c d-4/1 t
V cs6 (i esCab W icxxv 9 kir oLu,r (YC L
• ciLti
s_vk
LsD
(moi
C'T-C
�l
_
co
,141
•r,0i
jy
--1
I 15
rCh h
loris
Lsta
U,r-r
Cordch
OD 2C
skt
b 1-l0
S
Cu OCH
I
Lairiz 1 U
I
Untilth5
en
CO �.�
•t
o
MOTION
-t-
t-,rC
Wand
's
SECOND
Ci,0(1-Th
U 'd
SD9Ch
D. Bunch
B. Estes
V
Y
Y
L. Hoffman
-
.-aft-i-
—R
-
cbc_.
y
,,r
S. Hoover
V
N
N. Allen
y
D. Marr
YY
C. Odom
��
Shackelford
1
!
L. Ward
Y
(\/
/
ACTION
(%-t cc
5secl
Ivy
Cil
VOTE
S-0-0
1
-4 -co
F -o-0
9
•
•
,%(-u(b
Cil op -z.i
Lrst
to clan
1-F
-�i
t_s--)D
Prc
�sr
�dn-`-lions
no.zl
*Cflo_n
, _Ln
PL -D co -25s
UJB 11iCurizi
pPL-cl
C rs�1i-4-i NI
4
00 (A7E-IOU
MOTION
Max r^
1-AcuCC
SECOND
Ftnch
I
D. Bunch
\S�Q�
Y
B. Estes
1
/
L. Hoffman
apC "t
3SQ -
3ic,l-1-\
S. Hoover
N. Allen
Y
D. Marr
`�
y
7
C. Odom
`
(j,js--ka -ln
CI
I
-rl
Shackelford
/
L. Ward
/
Y
ACTION
pc S �
o�SSed
VOTE
1— 1-0
el _
1-0