HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-11 Minutes•
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
A regular meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission was held on December 11, 2000 at 5:30
p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
ITEMS CONSIDERED
LSD 00-32.00: Large Scale Development
(Park Apartments, pp 175)
Page 3
LSD 00-34.00: Large Scale Development
(Fazoli's, pp 213)
Page 7
CU 00-28.00: Conditional Use (Hooker, 209)
Page 12
LSD 00-35.00: Large Scale Development
(Hooker, pp 209)
Page 12
CU 00-31.00: Conditional Use (Electric Cowboy, pp 559)
Page 32
• CU 00-32.00: Conditional Use (Brown, pp 209)
Page 42
RZ 00-25.00: Rezoning (Caudle, pp 400)
Page 46
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MEMBERS PRESENT
Nancy Allen
Don Bunch
Lee Ward
Lorel Hoffman
Don Marr
Sharon Hoover
Loren Shackelford
STAFF PRESENT
Tim Conklin
Sara Edwards
Ron Petrie
ACTION TAKEN
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
MEMBERS ABSENT
Conrad Odom
Bob Estes
STAFF ABSENT
Sheri Metheney
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 2
Consent Agenda:
Approval of minutes from the November 27, 2000 meeting.
Hoffman: Welcome everyone to the December 11, 2000, meeting of the Planning Commission.
The first item that we have on tonight's agenda is the approval of the minutes of the
November 27, 2000, meeting. Do we have any comments or corrections? Seeing
none, those will be approved as they are.
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Planning Commission
December 1 I, 2000
Page 3
LSD 00-32.00: Large Scale Development (Park Apartments, pp 175) was submitted by Chris
Parton of Crafron, Tull & Associates, Inc. on behalf of J.E. Lindsey Family Ltd. for property located
north of Joyce Blvd. & west of Park Apartments/east side of Park Oaks Drive. The property is zoned
R-2, Medium Density Residential and contains approximately 7.07 acres. The request is to build 60
dwelling units.
Hoffman: The next item on the agenda is a Large Scale Development for Parks Apartments
which was submitted by Chris Parton of Crafton, Tull & Associates, Inc. on behalf of
J.E. Lindsey Family Ltd. for property located north of Joyce Blvd. & west of Park
Apartments/east side of Park Oaks Drive. The property is zoned R-2, Medium
Density Residential and contains approximately 7.07 acres The request is to build 60
dwelling units. In conjunction with this item we have nine conditions of approval and I
think that Chris is aware of all nine with the exception on item number five we have
made a change during the agenda session. The last sentence in item number five would
be that the driveway shall be inspected by the Engineering Division and be considered
in good condition after construction of this project. Staff I would like you to address us
on this.
• Conklin: Condition number five was modified to make sure that after all the construction is done
on the site that the easternmost drive, which is the private drive, is adequate to serve the
apartments.
•
Parton: I guess at that time we will determine if some type of improvements will be required on
that private drive then?
Conklin: Friday, when I did take a look at it, it's a concrete drive that was cracked and some
potholes have formed. It is our understanding that that drive will be repaired and that
we won't see those potholes anymore after this project is complete. Is that
acceptable?
Parton: I voiced the City's concern Tim, to the owner and also to Lindsey Construction's
construction manager that the City would like to see that cleaned up and they have
taken that into consideration. Again, I do expect that to happen but there has been no
guarantee on the owner's part that it will happen. I just do expect it to happen.
Hoffman: Thank you. Staff, anything additional?
Conklin: There is no additional items on this project.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 4
Hoffman: So you are aware then of all of the Conditions of Approval?
Parton: Yes.
Hoffman: Do we have signed Conditions?
Parton: I have not signed but I will sign them.
Hoffman: You are willing to sign those?
Parton: I do want to ask one question on number two.
. - Hoffman: Can you say your name for the record please?
Parton: Chris Parton with Crafton, Tull .& Associates.
Hoffman: Thanks Chris.
Parton: On condition number two with regards to the FEMA floodplain and floodway
regulations, when I first read it on Thursday, it really reads like there is a floodway and
floodplain in place right now. There is nothing there obviously, I just want to make sure
when that floodplain and floodway is placed on Kitty Creek then that is when they will
have to adhere to those floodplain and floodway regulations, not at this time. There is
basically nothing to adhere to right now. Am I correct?
Hoffman: We just dealt with another project up the street from this and I think Ron, if you could
enlighten us on how we are handling the drainage for Kitty Creek area.
Petrie: They are really two different issues. This issue has to deal with the FEMA regulations.;
The other project did not deal with FEMA regulations.
Hoffman: It was just the runoff.
Petrie: That's correct. They weren't actually doing any work in the floodplain or floodway,
any potential floodplain or floodway. This situation is, if the floodplain and floodway
become established in between now and when the City issues building permits, they
would have to use those regulations.
• Parton: I just wanted to make that clear.
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 5
Petrie:
Right. That is the situation that we do not have those regulations and floodplain
boundaries at this time but there is the potential that they will come into affect between
now and building permits.
Parton: Okay.
Hoffman: So you don't see that as being a problem toward completing the drainage and grading
plan?
Petrie:
No. As long as they are aware of that possibility, there should be no problem. This
happened once before for the hospital. Crafton & Tull was involved with that situation
so they are familiar with those requirements. -
Conklin: We are just trying to make sure we are putting everybody on notice that the Corps of
Engineers is doing a flood hazard study in Fayetteville. They've done about 60% of the
City, 40% of the City is left and in ongoing. That's the number one priority of this area
right now and there will be a floodplain/floodway established on this site. Depending on
timing, if you come in for your permit or if you want to build your culvert over to that
parking lot, and there is a floodway there, you will have to do your engineering analysis
to show you are not going to raise the base flood elevation, no rise.
Hoffman: Thank you staff. Chris, did you have anything else you would like to add?
Parton: That's it.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: I'll take public comment on this project. Is anybody here that wishes to address us on
this item?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: Seeing none, I'll go ahead and bring it back to the Planning Commission for comments
and discussion. Anybody?
—MOTION:
Marr: 1 would like to move for approval of LSD 00-32.00.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 6
Shackelford: I'll second.
Hoffman: Any further discussion? Seeing none, go ahead and call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-32.00 is approved on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 7
LSD 00-34.00: Large Scale Development (Fazoli's, pp 213) was submitted by Dave Jorgensen of
Jorgensen and Associates on behalf of Geoffrey Brown for property located at 3035 North College.
The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 0.79 acres. The
request is to build a Fazoli's restaurant.
Hoffman: The next item on our agenda is a Large Scale Development, LSD 00-34.00 for Fazoli's
Restaurant submitted by Dave Jorgensen of Jorgensen and Associates on behalf of
Geoffrey Brown for property located at 3035 North College. The property is zoned
C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 0.79 acres. The request is
to build a Fazoli's restaurant. There are thirteen Conditions of Approval and I want to
make sure that you are aware of those. Would you go ahead and tell us who you are
please?
Brackett: I'm Chris Brackett with Jorgensen & Associates.
Hoffman: Thanks Chris. We only have one item that's changed out of those thirteen and that is in
number six, during agenda session, was clarified that the dome of the cupola shall not
be internally nor externally lighted. Are you aware of that?
Brackett: Yes ma'am.
Hoffman: Do you have any questions about the Conditions of Approval?
Brackett: No ma'am and we have no objections to any of them.
Hoffman: Okay, thank you. Staff, do you want to give us some comment?
Conklin: Sure. Madame Chair and members of the Commission, I do want to add one more
thing that we did talk about at agenda session, that includes the free-standing sign.
There was an issue of whether or not a sign should be allowed to be located at this site
as a free-standing sign or monument sign. We did have a number that we talked about,
eighteen feet tall, forty square feet. I'm not sure if there is a consensus on that by the
Commission. That issue still needs to be resolved.
Hoffman: Let's go ahead and discuss that now. Are you prepared to make a presentation at this
time?
Brackett: I don't have a presentation but I can answer any questions you might have. As far as
• the sign, we have no objections to it being eighteen foot tall. I'm sure the owner would
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 8
prefer it to be the width required by the ordinance which is twenty-five but if you feel
that is too tall, we wouldn't object to that.
Hoffman: Have you discussed with the owner's, I think a large part of the agenda session was
centered around whether or not the trees would grow up to eventually obscure that
height of sign and whether or not a monument sign would be acceptable?
Brackett. I have spoke with the owner and we have discussed it, he would prefer to have the
pole sign.
Hoffman: Do you want to make any more presentation?
Brackett: No ma'am.
Hoffman: Staff is there anything further before I take public comment?
Conklin: 1 would just like to point out, this is a re -development on College Avenue; they are
dedicating the fifty-five feet of right-of-way. They are providing the ten foot greenspace
between the sidewalk and curb, the fifteen foot of landscaping between the sidewalk
and parking lot and cross access to the north and south connecting to Goldie's and to
future development to the south. They've done a good job at meeting our standards,
providing the cross access, providing the six foot multi -use trail, providing the
greenspace along the front of College Avenue and would lust like to bring that out at
this time.
Hoffman: That's absolutely correct. In Subdivision Committee we worked on the plan and there
is no existing tree canopy and they are adding quite a bit of landscaping so we have
albeit a small part, a good part of College Avenue to be re -developed and enhanced in
appearance.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: I'll take public comment. Is there anybody that would wish to address this item at this
time?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: Seeing none, I'll go ahead and bring it back to the Commission for motions or further
discussion.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 9
Bunch: Chris, did you ever do any checking to see, since that's an old service station, to see if
there were tanks there. I would just like to get this entered into the record.
Brackett. Yes sir. There has been a phase one and phase two done on this property and the
tanks have been removed from the old service station.
Hoffman: They were removed?
Brackett. Yes ma'am.
Hoffman: Okay. Anybody want to weigh on the sign issue?
Man. I guess my first thought on it is, in a effort to someday continue our improvement of
College Avenue, I personally would like to see a monument sign. I understand the .
requirements here but was hoping a developer would consider that. That's the only
comment I have. It sounds like it was presented and that was not something they were
interested in doing.
Brackett: Yes sir. It's mainly the deal that this owner does have another store operating in
Rogers and he's trying to, it's working for him there, so he is trying to stick with what .
he has done in the past and just feels that the pole sign would be seen better from the
road and would look a lot like the surrounding developments. There are a lot of pole
signs surrounding this property.
Allen: I agree. I hope that sometime we will try to be consistent about this. I think the
monument signs look a lot better. I'm sorry that you couldn't bring back a like feeling
from your client. We even thought it might be more visible.
Brackett: I brought that up to him too. I can't really speak for his reasoning but what he did
explain to me that he would like to go with a pole sign.
Hoffman: I'll just mention that in Subdivision Committee when we talked about pole signs versus
monument signs, we have held several shopping centers in town to monument signs or
single identification signs that would be at odds or at more restrictive requirements than
the sign ordinance permits under the Commercial Design Standards. We are
empowered to do that here if the majority of the Planning Commission wishes a
monument sign, it's something that we could vote for under the Commercial Design
Standards but not under the sign ordinance. With that being said, my personal opinion
was that since there were already pole signs out there and this one was going to be held
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 10
Allen:
to a eighteen foot tall height, I prefer a monument sign too but I didn't feel I could vote
the project down just on the basis of the sign.
I won't vote the project down on the basis of the sign but, just for the record, I think
sometime we start doing everything right and not just because there are bunch there we
think we'll put another one.
Hoffman: It's a very good point to make. I appreciate it.
Bunch: How tall is the signage on the cupola, how far from the ground is that?
Brackett: I do not know that. I don't have the architectural drawings in front of me.
Bunch: My question then becomes, is a pole sign redundant if the cupola is tall enough to be
seen over the adjacent buildings, then a pole sign would be redundant and you would
actually be better off with a monument sign.
Brackett: I think what we looked at at Subdivision Committee was the fact that the cupola is
located further back on the property and that would be obstructed by the Goldie's
building whereas, the pole sign is quitea bit further up and you can see it between the
Goldie's and what the landscaping that would be planted along College Street. That
was the reason for the pole sign. I do believe the cupola is going to be blocked when
you are coming from the south, by the Goldie's building.
Bunch: You mean from the north?
Brackett: I'm sorry, yes from the north.
Hoffman: Headed towards town.
Brackett: Yes.
Hoffman: You come down and top the hill around Goldie's and then come down. Okay.
Marr:
The other comment I wanted to make because I'm not going to give up until my term
ends on this thing, but I believe this parking request again is an example where with
banks, restaurants and certain businesses we continue to waive the requirement and
allow for more parking, I support that. I just wanted to make a note for the record that
this actual requirement would have been within the guidelines of what we sent to the
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 11
Hoffman:
MOTION:
Ward:
City Council. So, I'm in support of the additional parking.
Duly noted. I think any motion needs to incorporate the specific variance. We are
reviewing parking requests for additional parking spaces based on the 1 to 4 seats, on a
case-by-case basis and we find in most cases that those are certainly warranted for
restaurants.
I think this will be a really nice development compared to what we have sitting out
there, a vacant building. I'm going to go ahead and move approval for LSD 00-34.00
for Fazoli's with the idea that we do allow a variance for 49 parking spaces and also a
maximum height on a pole sign for eighteen foot high. I think that's the only two main
variances we have to deal with. It looks like a very nice looking building. I kind of like
the monument signs personally but that whole area we have been allowing pole signs for
everyone so I. can't say we can start just out of the blue, denying a pole sign.
Shackelford: I'll second that.
Hoffman:
I'll say that we can sure entertain the idea of replacing it with a monument sign when the
trees grow up. We have a motion and a second, is there any further discussion?
Seeing none, go ahead and call the roll please.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-34.00 passes on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 12
CU 00-28.00: Conditional Use (Hooker, 209) was submitted by Neal Albright on behalf of J.M.
Hooker Construction for property located Hwy 112 north. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare
Commercial and contains approximately 1.36 acres. The request is for a warehouse and wholesale
(use unit 21) in a C-2 district.
LSD 00-35.00: Large Scale Development (Hooker, pp 209) was submitted by Neal Albright, P E
on behalf of J.M. Hooker Construction, Inc. for property located at Highway 112 North The property
is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 1.36 acres. The request is to
build 4,200 square foot structure for office, storage and work space.
Hoffman: Our next item, if you are following our published agenda, we have swapped items 3 and
4. We will first hear the Conditional Use for Hooker Construction, CU 00-28.00. As
a companion item. we will also hear item 4 00-35.00 a Large Scale Development for
Hooker Construction. Again, I would like to caution the applicant that a Conditional
Use permit takes a positive number of five votes and the only appeal available to you is
not to City Council, it's to the District Court so if there is any question about your
project tonight, if you wish to table you should let us know before we commence
-discussion. If not, we will go ahead and get started on CU 00-28.00. Is there anyone
here for the applicant?
Hooker: I'm Morgan Hooker. Jim Key, the architect is on his way in.
Hoffman: Have you had a chance to discuss this and know about the votes? We have 7
members here tonight and it would take 5 votes. I just wanted to be extremely clear on
the voting criteria.
Hooker: We haven't had a chance to talk about it.
Hoffman: If you would like to take a couple minutes, we'll allow you to do that.
Hooker: Okay.
Hoffman: Just take maybe two minutes. I'll go ahead and just point out tonight that if anybody is
here, I forgot to bring it up in the beginning, but if anybody is here to talk about the
eastern bypass, that is not on our agenda tonight. Anybody here for that? If not, Tim
can you tell us when that's going to be coming up and what meeting that will be? What
date?
1111 Conklin: We did have a special meeting on December 7, 2000, a joint Planning
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 13
Commission/City Council meeting. At that meeting, they did instruct the Planning
Division to bring forward to the Planning Commission information with regard to the
major investment study and other information related to the eastern bypass. I do plan
on bringing that forward to you next year It will be most likely the second Planning
Commission meeting.
Hoffman: In January?
Conklin: In January. I do have the names and addresses of the individuals who were interested
in being notified and they will also be notified on that. That's the plan right now, to
bring it forward to you at the second meeting in January. The Future Land Use Plan,
Master Street Plan, General Plan 2020 text is going forward to City Council on
December 19, 2000. That will remain a part of that plan and then the Planning
Commission will take a closer look at that starting next year.
Hoffman: You also had that ordinance you are bringing forward about the right-of-way
dedications?
• -Conklin: They also requested that I bring forward an ordinance to City Council that will change
the requirement of requiring right-of-way as part of the eastern bypass line that is shown
on the plan. Basically, that amendment will no longer make that a requirement of
subdivision or lot split approval. That will be a change that will be coming forward to
City Council also. One of the issues that has come up and has been difficult to work
with is that route for the eastern bypass. There has not been environmental studies
done on it. Based on those engineering route studies there is high probability that route
would change from it's current location which is shown as a line on the map. Those are
the changes that will be brought forward.
Hoffman: So it sounds like it's going to be a rather long term discussion and nothing imminently to
threaten that road.
Conklin: For some of the Commissioners it may be the first time you've seen that information
from the Regional Planning Commission with regard to the major investment study.
You may have questions with regard to that study that was completed two or three
years ago.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. I'll go ahead and call the applicants for the Hooker
Construction project back into the room please. Can they hear me out there?
• Conklin: This is more for them than the Commission but if the Conditional Use is denied, they are
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 14
not allowed to bring that back to you for a period of one year That's important to
know also.
Hoffman: We'll go over all that. I want to go over the procedural requirements. Can the
applicant step forward on this Conditional Use please so we can talk about it before we
get started. Not only does it take the five positive votes but should you be denied and
not choose to appeal through Circuit Court then it will be a year before you can come
back for a project on the same site.
Key: To clarify what you just said Laurel, it does require a positive vote of five for the
Conditional Use to pass? -
Hoffman: Yes for the Conditional Use. It does not for the Large Scale Development.: -It-only
requires a simple majority. In the case of a tie, according to our bylaws... no there
wouldn't be a tie. -
Key:
Let me verify with the owner any impact that we made on the decision tonight, we
--weren-t sure on the -five -votes on -the -Conditional Use. We did think that was the case.
It was my understanding that we would like to proceed in either event.
Hoffman: That being the case, we'll have to take separate votes on this. Let's go ahead and
discuss CU 00-28.00 but bearing in mind that it is tied to item four which is Large Scale
Development 00-35.00. A Conditional Use is outlined in our ordinances and has to
meet certain criteria. Staff, could you go ahead and enlighten us on those?
Conklin: The Conditional Use, in order to approve that by the Commission you are required to
make findings. Some of the findings that you have to make, that you do need to
consider this evening is that one, you do have the authority to grant the Conditional Use.
and you do have that authority under Use Unit 21, Warehousing within a C-2 zoning
district also, that the Conditional Use will not adversely affect the public interests, that
you've complied with out regulations with regard to trash pick-up, parking, signs and
then overall general compatibility with adjacent properties in other property districts.
Those are the findings that you have to make. We are basing this Conditional Use on
the Large Scale Development, LSD 00-35.00 which is the next item on the agenda.
Any condition that is not met, that development, we will have to place a condition that
this Conditional Use be revoked. That's the Conditional Use portion. I think it's
important to note that this is a C-2 zoned property, Thoroughfare Commercial. With
regard to granting the Conditional Use, you are granting them the ability to have an
office and warehousing and outdoor storage, therefore, when you do take a look at
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 15
your screening requirements and your Commercial Design Standards, I think you need
to pay close attention to those standards to make sure that you are meeting these
findings as part of the Conditional Use.
Hoffman: I wanted to clarify something. We swapped these intentionally on the agenda on
Thursday because the Conditional Use normally predicates the approval of the Large
Scale Development but you've just indicated that if any aspect of the Large Scale is not
approved, the Conditional Use would be void. Why don't we hear the Large Scale
first?
Conklin: Yes. I think what you should do, my recommendation is to hear, we've opened the
Conditional Use portion, open the Large Scale Development portion and then vote
separately first for the Conditional Use and if you feel like you can't make those findings
as required by the Conditional Use and you vote it down, then there is no reason to
vote on the Large Scale Development portion. On these Conditional Uses, what I've
done with the churches that we've recently seen, it's difficult to separate them because
most of the time they will have a Large Scale Development plan where we talk about
—the -parking, screening, trash pick-up so you kind of have to take • a -look at both of them
together in order to make your decision on the appropriateness of the Conditional Use.
Hoffman: With that being said, we do have three Conditions of Approval. Are you aware of
those and do you agree with those?
Key:
One being that the Large Scale Development would have to be approved, two being
_that the shall be turned off immediately and the facility shall not operate if any of
the conditions are not met and three being the Conditional Use shall automatically
revoked if any conditions are not met. We are fully aware of those.
Hoffman:. You are ready to sign the agreement to that affect?
Key: Yes.
Hoffman: Okay. Thank you very much. Let's go ahead then and if the applicant would like to go
ahead and give us a presentation on your Conditional Use and Large Scale
Development. We'll go back and again, clarify, we are hearing both items at the same
time but we will vote separately.
Key: For the record, my name is James Key. I'm the architect for the applicant J.M.
• Hooker Construction I'm here together tonight with Mr. Neal Albright who is the civil
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 16
engineer that submitted the Large Scale Development, to assist with any questions
regarding the Commercial Design Standards specifically and the Conditional Use
application. As you are all probably aware with possibly a minor exception, I believe
you were all seated as Councilman when this project was heard several months earlier
this year for the same client on an adjacent site to the east located on VanAsche
Avenue. At that time, a Conditional Use for a warehousing and storage facility was
granted together with an approval on a Large Scale Development and the owners were
going to proceed with the construction of their building, which had been purchased and
delivered to the site, everything was proceeding to construct that facility that had been
previously approved when an unfortunate turn of event occurred preventing that project
from being completed. There was an undisclosed easement on that property that
deemed it undevelopable as originally proposed and the sale was terminated on the
contract for the sale of that property. Mr. Hooker and his partner had no alternative
but to seek alternative sites for their facility at that point. They've got a growing
business that's been located here in downtown Fayetteville for some time now. It is
their desire to locate in this area. They found a opportunity on a piece of property that
was adjacent to the Highway Transportation Department's field offices is getting ready
to be constructed adjacent to the old Hush Puppy Restaurant formally known as the
Port of Call and currently known as The Comer Grill. This is a C-2 site as was the
former site located on VanAsche Avenue directly to it's east and under similar
circumstances we are requesting this Conditional Use with the desire to locate this
contractor's facility here. It's a small 4,200 square foot building with just under half of
that square footage being allotted towards office area for half a dozen office personnel.
The contractor has considerably larger staff that are usually in the field and out on job
sites. A majority of them are out of state. We don't anticipate having a large clientele
and large staff in this particular office location but for convenience and access to I-540
and to the surrounding communities, it's thought to be very desirable to locate in this
area. The site seems suitable, the adjacent surroundings seems suitable and desirable to
us. For that reason, we petition for a Conditional Use to allow this type of occupancy
on this particular site. The Large Scale Development is pretty straight forward and has
been discussed through the Plat Review and Subdivision Committee. You'll note a
sample here on stage left of a cast concrete panel with a frame that has been added to it
to create a grid shadow line. It is our desire to use a concrete product for the
waynescoat of this building that would be typically five and a half feet above the floor.
The areas between the windows, we've extended that to the top of the window pane at
eight foot for an accent. The majority of the remaining materials would be wood
columns and arches forming the entry canopy and metal brackets with wood arches for
timber elements forming the shaded awnings over the windows and a galvanized metal
siding material forming the upper half of the wall. The cast concrete panel, four weeks
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Planning Commission
December 1 I, 2000
Page 17
after it was cast would turn more of a gray color as it is the nature of finished pure
concrete. Again, as directed and as discussed at the Subdivision Committee meeting,
we have proposed to add tinting to that concrete so it is not a raw light gray concrete
color but will be a darker charcoal color. We've also added an awning to the
personnel door on the north side of the building similar to the awnings over the windows
on the west side facing the street front. To try to soften the affect of the building, to
articulate the facades, we are proposing large window openings for the office areas with
steel windows that are operable and store front over the entry area into the office.
Unless there is any other questions, I believe that's the extent of the overview of what
we are proposing to do here today. We have taken into consideration the comments
through the Subdivision Committee regarding screening specifically and have revised
the Large Scale Development plan. We are proposing to add a row of super pines
along the north property line staggered ten foot off of the initial row that was proposed
so we have a ten foot center to center spacing in affect with the trees slightly staggered
front to back to provide a more positive screening to the north parking lot and the
adjacent property owner.
Hoffman: -In-terms of the Large Scale Development, there are other than the determinations that
the Planning Commission needs to make regarding the screening and the
appropriateness of the design standards, there are ten Conditions of Approval. Do you
have copies of those and do you agree with those?
Key:
I do and I have reviewed them briefly with the owner. I believe they are pretty much in
compliance with what was in the initial report at Subdivision Committee. One being
that the additional right-of-way be granted which we have prepared a warranty deed
preparing that and once approved it will be executed and filed. The Conditional Use is
understood in item two, item three - screening conditions, item four - Commercial
Design Standards, item five is the right-of-way warranty deed.
Hoffman: Combined with that I think you had a property line adjustment on the Conditional Use
that you were working on, has that been resolved? Am I right Tim?
Conklin: Pardon me?
Hoffman: Do we have a property line adjustment on this one?
Conklin: No. There was a property line adjustment that was approved in 1997 that required the
shared access and condition number one discusses that.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 18
Key:
Item one, that was another point of contention that we had asked consideration for an
additional driveway cut, not technically a curb cut since there is no curbs existing on this
highway but a highway cut, which if granted we would proceed with the appropriate
approvals through the State Highway Commission. It is our desire, due to the nature of
the business and the adjacent property owner's desire, which was documented with
information that was submitted together with the supplemental data to the Planning
office that the adjacent property owner also desires that we consider or we ask the City
to consider a separate entrance. We think it would be less of a conflict with their
clientele and with ours.
Hoffman: Tim, I believe we have a letter from Perry Franklin.
Conklin: Yes, we do have a letter from Perry Franklin who did take a look at the traffic
generation from this facility and in his opinion he thought that the additional curb -cut
would not be detrimental to Highway 112. He's in support of allowing this curb -cut for
this construction office.
Hoffman: We were given that at agenda session I think. -
Conklin: Yes.
Key: I've read the remaining seven through ten conditions and we are aware and in
agreement of all of them.
Hoffman: You are in agreement with that then?
Key: Yes. -
Hoffman. Do you have any further presentation before I take public comment?
Key: No ma'am.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: Is there anybody here that would wish to address us on this matter?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
• Hoffman: Seeing none, 111 bring it back to the Planning Commission for discussion and/or
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 19
motions.
Key: I have prepared copies of these for all the Planning Commissioners. This is a rendering,
you can see a larger copy presented on the easel of what our vision of this building is.
Conklin: I did go up to Springdale on Friday to the Resident Engineer's office for the Highway
Department. I did make copies of the elevations for their new facility on Highway 112
adjacent to this site, south of this site. I have passed that out to each of the
Commissioners. The first page shows the resident engineers office building. It's a one
story building. It does contain brick veneer on all four sides and has a hipped roof with
composition -shingles. I wanted to point that out to you. We have discussed during the
Subdivision Committee about the Highway Department and that state agency not
coming through this process and the type of buildings they have as one of the
considerations with regard to this building design that's proposed this evening for this
construction office. The second page that I handed out shows a site plan of the facility
showing the location of this resident engineers building up in the northwest comer and
then they do have a metal shop building kind of back in the southeast part of the
--property, the middle -of the property. That's -shown -on -the last -page. - -
Hoffman: So if you are going out on Highway 112, the shop is the first building you see on this?
Conklin: The shop will be the first building you will come to and then you will come to the
resident engineers office.
Hoffman: - How much of this project Tim, is located in the Design Overlay District?
Conklin: This project is probably about 25% of the back eastern part of this property is in the
Overlay District.
Hoffman: Since it is a state project being exempt from our ordinances, I feel fortunate to be able
to be shown these plans but we don't have any idea of landscaping or screening they
might be adding to screen this from the bypass?
Conklin: No I don't. This is the information that I was able to receive. Once again, I guess the
point I'm trying to make is that I did want to make sure that if you do use the State
Highway Department in any consideration for this building design and the use of this
metal siding material up on at least half the walls, that you do know that the Highway
Department does have at least one of the buildings which will be a brick veneer building
on all four sides. There's some siding right in the center of the building facing Highway
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 20
112. That is the information that you did not have at agenda session.
Hoffman: Anything else?
Conklin: -.That's all I have.
Hoffman: Does the applicant have a copy of this? Have you been shown this?
Key: I did pick up a copy of it Friday at the City Planning office about 4:45 Friday afternoon.
I understand Tim did pick up a copy of the resident engineers office. We also had a
discussion about -a recently -submitted project for a multi -family residential development
to the west and south of this development and had a discussion about the
appropriateness of this building, the view and appearance of the resident engineers
building and the compatibility with the future planned residential development. It is my
belief and I adamantly feel this way, that this building is as compatible if not more so
with commercial development and multi -family residential development than a
commercial building that's made to look residential by using brick veneer and hipped
oof to make -it -look more -residential in nature. I don't think it was the intent of the
design standards to restrict or to try to tune a commercial development to look
residential. That's not our desire. Obviously, we would like to have a building that's
readily identifiable as a commercial facility and we do feel that this project will be an
asset to the neighborhood and to the surroundings and will be compatible as is stated in
the staff report on the Conditional Use and Large Scale Development that it would be
compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and uses.
Hoffman: Thank you. Commissioners?
Marr: Explain to me what a super pine is. I guess what I'm trying to understand is how that
provides adequate screening for the type of screening we are wanting on this avenue to
not be too high.
Key:
The super pine specifically is a hybrid type of fast growing pine that grows to a tall
canopy height relatively quickly similar to a traditional lob lolling pine. It was discussed
specifically with the Landscape Administrator as being desirable due to the fact that the
screening requirement here is to screen this facility from I-540 which is elevated 550 to
600 feet to our east and not necessarily from the adjacent property owners. It was
thought that this would be a good compromise because when they are initially planted at
a 2 to 3 inch caliper size or slightly smaller, they'll be 4 to 5 foot in height. A majority
of the needle and dense canopy of the tree will be at a lower elevation which will hold
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 21
true to 4 or 5 to 8 years as it grows to a point where the canopy is elevated above the
view line. At that point you will have a view below the canopy from the adjacent
parking lot or adjacent property into the site and that was reason for considering
planting the trees at a denser spacing of ten foot staggered as opposed to twenty. So
you have a denser spacing of trunk and lower branches even though the tree is
specifically designed to kind of branch itself as it grows and spend a majority of it's
efforts in it's upper structure and in trunk development. That was thought to be
desirable at least for the 100 so odd feet of the east portion of the north property line
that is in the Design Overlay District and also the east portion of the property line. I
think specifically due to the fact that it was the parking lot and the adjacent property to
our north, it was just the north that we discussed adding the staggered row of trees
adjacent to the row we had proposed to give a denser trunk spacing from the lower line
visual adjacent property. I know there were a lot of comments made at the Subdivision
Committee meeting about hoping the super pines will live up to it's name etcetera
etcetera. Obviously these trees are not being used a lot in -this environment. They are
felt to be very compatible. They are developed for, as I said, rapid growth and
harvesting but it is acknowledged that there are a lot of trees similar to that variety that
-are not that particular-hybrid-that:have been planted -in this area, years past and are;still
doing quite well 40, 50 years maturity in a denser application and felt that this tree will
have a long life and will do well and thrive in this environment and ultimately provide a
very nice screening from the elevated I-540 to our east. We were all agreeable that it
would be a trial to consider and see and see in the future how these trees do mature
and if they do provide the type of screening that is desirable from the interstate.
Hoffman: _Thank you. If everybody is agreeable to this, what I would like to do, I think the major
issue with this project was it's appearance and design standards and the use of the
metal siding and concrete base. If we can focus our discussions now on that item. If
there is anything that is of particular concern to anybody, please bring it up. I think that
based on the Subdivision Committee meeting that we had and other things, the first
thing we should discuss and get out of the way would be the Commercial Design
Standards so I would appreciate all your input at this point.
Allen:
Key:
Regarding the Commercial Design Standards, one of which is that the aluminum siding
wouldn't dominate the building, I wondered how you could explain to me how that
doesn't.
The Design Standards state specifically that metal siding shall not dominate the main
facade or the street facade of the building. It is our contention and our belief that in this
particular case given the accouterments and the elements that we have added
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 22
particularly the wooden portico entry with the arched awning and the sloped awnings
on the windows themselves and the masonry base that those elements provide a
stronger definition than the metal siding itself does and albeit the metal siding does not
dominate the facade. Obviously, it's a matter of opinion but it is our contention that it
does not dominate the facade and this is a desirable solution on our part. We've
actually increased the size of some of the masonry portions of the wall, increased the
size of the windows to decrease the percentage of wall surfaces covered by metal
siding.
Hoffman: I'll go ahead and, just for the record, read the five elements that we have in our
Commercial Design Standards elements to get us focused. Those are the elements to
avoid or minimize include: unpainted concrete precision block walls, square boxlike
structures, metal siding which dominates the main facade, large blank unarticulated wall
surfaces and large out -of -scale signs with flashy colors. Do you have any large out -of -
scale signs with flashy colors?
Key:
•
Hoffman:
Key:
•
Not in my opinion. We had a brighter blue on this sign but we toned it down. It was
our desire to have it match their business standard.
It's just a wall sign?
It's just a wall mounted sign. We have showed a provision on the Large Scale
Development for a future monument mounted sign in the landscaped area. It is not our
intent to install that sign at this point, we just wanted to make provisions for it in the
event that if the company grows over the years and depending on the development
adjacent to us, if the wall sign doesn't have the visibility, we would like to consider
adding a monument sign at some future date.
Hoffman: You would have to go back to some other board because if you are approved with just
the wall sign at this time, it will not include any approval for a free-standing sign. That's
never been discussed.
Key:
We added it after Plat Review specifically because of the discussion asked "Are you
going to have a monument sign?" Yes we will show one for future use and we added it
on our Large Scale Development plan and it was resubmitted before the Subdivision
Committee. If we have to come back at some future date, we have no plans at this
point in the foreseeable future, three or five years to put that sign in. If we need to
come back at some future date, if the client decides that he would like to have a
monument sign, we would be glad to do that.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 23
Hoffman: I'm going to, out of the five, speak up if you don't agree, I'm going to say that we don't
have to discuss item E - Large Out -of -Scale Signs with Flashy Colors. Let's go back
to A - Unpainted Concrete Precision Block Walls. Comments?
Marr:
Key:
I said this in agenda session, I guess I'm trying to get comfortable with the fact that
particularly when it's hard for me to envision something I don't have an example to see,
if that is considered unpainted concrete.
That is what we were proposing and that is very similar, identical I might add, to the
cast concrete walls that are on the front of the old Goodyear building which is now By
Request, U of A, Community Design Center. This is the exact type of construction we
are proposing. Initially it was our desire that it be light gray, natural finish concrete. I
stated we are willing to tint it because it was felt that it was unpainted concrete. The
statement was broken down to not necessarily say anything but concrete precision
block walls but unpainted concrete. We are willing to tint this but this is the desire for
the aesthetic that we would like.
Allen: --Can-you pass that down please?
Key: These were the west facade of the old Goodyear building which is located at the corner
of Meadow and East Street just north of the Hilton.
Marr:
Key:
I understand your point and I'm not trying to be argumentative but I'm looking at five
conditions that we are supposed to make a judgment on. When I read unpainted
precision block walls, regardless of whether there is one that exists somewhere, I'm to
determine whether this new facility does that. The same thing with the large blank
unarticulated wall surfaces which I think you certainly met the requirement of not putting
us in that situation. Boxlike structure, I think we've also met that. Metal siding which
dominates the main facade, I think at least within this, one of our fellow Commissioners
even brought us a book to educate us on corrugated metal so certainly I'm not
opposed to it being used appropriately but to me that's what I'm looking at. I actually
came into agenda session pretty opposed to it and after seeing this I'm more in support
of it. I'm trying to get comfortable with when I'm going to make a finding that, in my
opinion, is outside two of these criteria.
A couple of comments, when we first planned this project months ago, in the first
presentation we made to the Planning Commission, to the City staff, we were proposing
an unpainted precision concrete block wall. It was our desire to use a stored natural
concrete block wall that had an eight by eight pattern when it was laid but it was still a
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 24
precision concrete block, it had coursing every eight inches adjoined every sixteen
inches with a.score made it look like it joined every eight inches in both directions.
Again, that was felt to be desirable on our part for the type of aesthetic that we desired.
We made adjustments, we looked at split faced block, tinted charcoal, tinted beige, we
ultimately decided on a brick veneer for the waynescoat of that particular building and
we are using some green slate tile as accents. The canopies were not as substantial as
this on the entry canopy due to the nature of several projects we have been working on
together and that the client has worked on separately since early this year, it is desired
to use a wood type structure, scale the front to the incoming clientele and to make it a
little warmer so we got away from the green slate tile product to a natural wood
product that would be stained -and as opposed to the unpainted concrete block or the
tinted split faced concrete block, we kind of rethought what was being done in the
community in the commercial market there is a lot of split faced block that is being
used, it was felt that a cast concrete, given the nature of the aesthetic and using exposed
form tie holes, small materials added to the inside of the form work to actually create a
shadow line, a reveal, that would be more desirable than a precision concrete block
construction and that's what Wt—propose. The sample that you see here is actually one
---half-the-height-ofour main-waynescoat. The waynescoat is proposed to be five and a
half feet tall with two courses of this eighteen inch by eighteen inch square accented
element: This would be repeated above and have three feet of this type of surface
without the shadow line in it. Every eighteen inches on the center on both axis, across
and up and down we have a form tie hole that will shadow on definition of how that
product was assembled, constructed and what it is. Again, trying to be true to the
nature of what materials we'll be using, we prefer that the concrete look like concrete
-as opposed to being cast and polished and finished to look like polished marble or
something to that nature.
Hoffman: Just to interject, should this project be approved we ask for the tinting which I would
still personally think would be necessary, would staff be able to work with getting
samples of that before it's actually poured? Could you bring in small samples of the
tints?
Key: Yes.
Hoffman: There are so many shades of gray.
Conklin: I'm not sure exactly what tint you are looking for tan, green, red?
Hoffman: In regard to the first element to avoid, unpainted concrete is just that and it seemed to
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 25
me that in order to more comply with the spirit of this ordinance that we should have it
colored in some way and.1 was against painting it for maintenance reasons.
Key: We'll bring in a sample of casting much smaller in size, I assure you, I've had some
comments of concern.
Hoffman:
Key:
I heard you guys had to get a crane in this building today to get this up here.
We'll bring a small mixed sample of some color pallets that we can look at and decide
upon. At Subdivision it wasn't discussed what colors would be desirable or acceptable
-or preferable, obviously the intent being to avoid unpainted concrete.
Hoffman: -Just to avoid the unpainted concrete.
Key: It is our desire, at this point, to go towards a darker, deeper, richer gray.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Hoover: The way I read this, when.it says, concrete precision block walls, it's concrete block
and these are not concrete block, this is poured in place concrete which is more difficult
and more expensive and comes out with a whole different sense about it. I guess I get
a little concerned when you start putting some tint limitations on the concrete. This
might have had some type of slight tinting so it wasn't just white concrete but I'm just
hoping that it's gray or something like that to go with the rest of the whole thing. Does
everyone read this as this -being concrete block wall, I don't see this being the same as
A.
-Hoffman: I think originally we didn't want to have a CMU block square building but that when
you do break it down, you have to realize that unpainted concrete is just that. In my
mind, we want to avoid unpainted concrete buildings.
Hoover: I don't read it that way at all.
Hoffman: Of course.
Key: I made that comment at Subdivision Committee -that I didn't feel that you could break
these sentences down into parts and selectively apply them to block or to concrete.
We are in agreement to tinting the concrete if that's what is desirable to avoid an issue
of unfinished raw concrete. We feel it's desirable, we'll do whatever we have to to
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 26
comply with the ordinance and to make this compatible so that everyone feels the same
way that we do about it that it's an asset to the community and it's a positive
development that's going to beautify this portion of Fayetteville.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Bunch: Jim, is this landscaping that's shown in the rendering that you gave us representative of
what will be in place?
Key: Fairly close. The professional that was hired to do this rendering was not the landscape
architect. He was given a copy of our Large Scale Development plan and told him that
it was our intent to put juniper shrubs along the front of the building, some shrubbery
and some floral as well as some ground cover in the green space. The one thing that
you probably see lacking here is a little bit of ground cover like some vinca and
landscape gravel: as opposed to it all being sod or grass particularly in this island.
Mulch would be more low maintenance to have the grass growing up between this. In
essence this is our intent.
Bunch: One thing would be the height of the shrubbery because one of the things you
expressed is the differentiation in the patterns in the poured concrete wall. It looks as
though the shrubbery is covering it up.
Key:
The shrubbery is covering it up. We had a conflict among the owner's. It's one desire
to have the shrubs to be slightly higher to screen the windows, on the other hand we felt
_that the lattice awning provided that sun shade. It was my initial intent to have a lower
Tying ground hugging shrub, juniper shrub that would be lower to allow that concrete to
be exposed. Upon discussions it is the belief that likely we are looking at somewhere in
between with a shrub not above the window height but definitely obscuring part of the
three feet of that base.
Bunch: As a point of clarification, this is a galvanized siding material as opposed to a mill
finished aluminum material?
Key: The actual photo you see right here is what we cut for the sample. It is a galvanized
metal wall pane and not a finished aluminum.
Bunch: Also, on your fascia trim is that color what you plan on going with rather than maybe
something that would pick up the colors in the framing for your windows?
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
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Key:
We had considered that. Our trim color for the windows and doors is intended to be
black. We had considered that as a trim element for the rake, gutters and down -spouts
and comer trim. We really felt it was too strong of an element and for that reason
primarily we decided to remain with a palette comparable and complimentary to the
original wall panel which is a smooth finished galvanized trim component. It would be
an angle on the walls, it would be a formed gutter and rake trim that would be the same
type of finish as the walls. Obviously, we would have a shadow line as reflected in the
rendering where that projects out and faces the wall. It is our feeling that this was the
best solution in terms of not trying to accentuate those corners with a dark trim. It
almost made it too gingerbread looking.
Bunch: So your walls panel themselves are apparently a textured section and then you are using
a smooth on the trim elements?
Key:
Yes. The texture on these panels is the reinforcing element to keep it from oil pan.
These intermediate rims just to stiffen it. Typically, a metal product due to the nature of
it's thickness will weigh and give you an uneven oil pan you see a lot in metal roofs.
For that reason these wall panels are stiffened with an intermediate rib that's roughly
small profile and in essence it doesn't create a shadow line it just stiffens the panel.
We've looked at variations in three or four different types of panels. Our original
building proposal had included a high rib corrugated that was actually round like the old
industrial steel you used to always see. I felt that wasn't as desirable as a vertical leg
actually projecting away from the face of the wall or a hip or a high element as this
panel does.
Bunch: I was thinking more of the surface of the metal as opposed to the cross section of the
strengthening elements.
Key: The texture is actually smooth. The trim would be a similar material with the same type
of finish.
Hoffman: Could you come back to the podium so we could all hear you?
Bunch: I think one of the things I was concerned with is whether or not the embossing was on
the extension the embossing was it would cut down on glare for people coming around
the comer.
Key: That was the intent for the embossing, it is my understanding that it gives a multitude of
• services so you don't have a large reflection. It almost looks like a collage of small
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 28
components all added together to form a surface. From a distance it's not even visible.
If you get up closer to it, you can see that.
Bunch: Even that same section in a mill finish aluminum creates a considerable amount of glare.
Key: Right, it's not reflective like mill finish aluminum is. We originally had mill finish
aluminum planned for our door and window finishes and we stuck black finish on top of
it but this particular element here is a mill finish aluminum and it is highly polished quite
different than the galvanized metal.
Hoffman: At this time what I would like to do is to get the Planning Commission to weigh in on
their opinion about the Commercial Design Standards and screening for this project and
then I'm going to move back to the Conditional Use itself. I think, unless anybody has
any other particular item they would like to discuss, I have to take separate votes. I
would like to go ahead and just get an opinion. If you feel like you have stated your
opinion well enough already, but for those of you that haven't, I would like to hear from
you and then that will give you a sense of what might be in store for your Conditional
Use. It's on a case by case basis. I want to make it quite clear that we have to make
these findings in our Commercial Design Standards and that I think that you meet at
least four out of the five. That being the preponderance of the number of standards to
meet, I'll go ahead and voice my opinion on the affirmative for this. Anybody else?
Shackelford: I agree with what you are saying. Basically, I look at this building and Commercial
Design Standards, I keep coming back to two things, first of all there will be a metal
building within site of this project with no landscaping, that is going to have an affect of
how others are developed in this area. I also realize that there is a lot of I-1 zoning just
to the south of this building. In my opinion, this building meets the Commercial Design
Standards as well. I think they worked hard to break up and dress up the facade of the
building. I think it's a good match for the surrounding buildings in the area and I think
it's a building that will serve the owner well providing both office, storage and work
space. I too will support this.
Hoffman: Thank you. Anybody else?
Hoover: I think you have a good point. I think location here and when we have Commercial
Design Standards we have to weigh where the building is actually go at the site and
what's surrounding it. I tend to agree, I wouldn't necessarily say this would be
compatible with some other areas. I think that's what we have to consider on these
also.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 29
Hoffman: I did take into consideration the use of the super pine, which I'm still looking forward to
seeing shoot up. I hope it lives up to it's name. In general, I think that you've worked
hard to try to make this building something that a construction office typically is not.
Anybody else?
Bunch: This is also again, pointing out on the location, just to the north the distance of the width
of one lot and across the street is the City of Johnson industrial park and I think that in
this particular location, this would help be a transition from one type of environment to
another and I would not necessarily agree with this design scheme in another location
but specifically on a case by case basis I think it fits this location well.
Hoffman: One last chance.
Allen:
I will aqueous because of the location but I have a lot of problem with the Commercial
Design Standard. I guess I'm kind of Just a stickler for rules the same way that I felt
about the pole sign and the monument sign that sometime you start in doing things right
and you go according to the rules or you change the rules. Perhaps the location is right.
• Key: I question, do you feel the metal does dominate the facade, is that your main concern?
Allen: I think there is no doubt. Saying that it doesn't look like metal doesn't make it not
make it not look like metal to me.
Key:
It does look like metal and that's not an element necessarily unless we are talking about
the Design Overlay District standards where metal cannot be used unless it looks like
wood or masonry or some other natural occurring material. In the Commercial Design.
standards that criteria doesn't hold. I feel like I'm in the Supreme Court arguing for
Mr Bush or Mr. Gore. But in the Commercial Design Standards that argument doesn't
hold, it's not the same standard that has to be met. Only that the metal should not
dominate the main facade. Again, it's my belief and I wholeheartedly feel this way that
this that the metal does not dominate the main facade in this application.
Hoffman: It's close.
Allen: It does in my view. I do think the windows and the awnings buffer that considerably. It
still looks like aluminum siding to me.
Marr. I'm actually in support of this development. I do believe that I concur completely with
• most of you that I would not approve this in other places in the City of Fayetteville. I
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 30
want to make that clear for some future applicant that comes in front of us holding that
as an example of something that we've approved. I think it's fitting and compatible to
the area. I also believe that in rethinking and relooking at Commissioner Hoover's
comment about the intent of the design standard probable being concrete block as we
think of it not in this particular scenario also makes me feel more comfortable approving
it.
Hoffman: Thank you. Anyone else?
MOTION:
Ward: Basically I think everything has been said that I was going to emphasize. Most of the
time in C-2 I'm more for brick and split faced block and those type of properties be
used on these kind of buildings. In this particular area because of the concrete plant,
the other type of metalbuildings already out there, asphalt companies out therewith a
lot of equipment, the State Highway Department is out there with a lot of equipment
and materials: I can see why, in my case, I wouldn't want to build a totally brick
building out-there,-for-an-overkill—Most C-2 zonings I'm very much adamant that we
stay with our normal brick and split faced block. I do think that some corrugated metal
on commercial designs is fine, so I'm not against that at all. Also, some of theother
corrugated metal buildings that we have, the Pauline Whitaker Equestrian Center out on.
112, I think is a very nice looking property commercially. We've got some homes in
town that are made out of very similar type projects, I think are unique looking and
different. We've approved -a very similar type of building construction out on 6th Street
and -Collins for the Co-op Building. I'm not totally against using some corrugated metal.
in our Commercial Design Standards. With that, I'll go ahead and move for approval
of CU 00-28.00 for the Conditional Use. - -
Marr: Second.
Hoffman: I have a first by Commissioner Ward, second by Commissioner Marr. I would like to
point out a Conditional Use runs with the land, if I'm correct. Tim, would you just
clarify that the Conditional Use will run in perpetuity with the deed for the land for use
as a construction office only. This use is the only one permitted by this action.
Conklin: The way we have it worded right -now is, it's subject to that Large Scale Development,
as long as it is a construction office. If it changes ownership, yes, they would only be
able to use it as a construction office.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 31
Hoffman: So it would be the same. It would not be able to be changed to purely a warehouse or
a recycling center or whatever.
Conklin: No. It is only for that construction office.
Hoffman: Any further discussion or comment from anybody? Call the roll please.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU 00-28.00 is approved on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
Hoffman: I'll bring it back to Large Scale Development 00-35.00 for discussion or additional
• motions.
MOTION:
Shackelford: Based on comments and discussion previously findings of the Commercial Design
Standards, subject to the ten Conditions of Approval, I'll make a motion to approve
LSD 00-35.00
Bunch: Second.
Hoffman: Any further discussion on this one? Please call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 00-35.00 is approved on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 32
CU 00-31.00: Conditional Use (Electric Cowboy, pp 559) was submitted by M.L.T. Management
Inc. on behalf of Marshall L. Till for property located at 2127 W. 6'h Street. The property is zoned C-
2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 4.37 acres. The request is for a dance hall in
a C-2 district.
Hoffman: We'll go on to item number five which is CU 00-31.00. This is a Conditional Use for
the Electric Cowboy submitted by M.L.T. Management Inc. on behalf of Marshall L.
Till for property located at 2127 W. 6th Street. The property is zoned C-2,
Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 4.37 acres. The request is for a
dance hall in a C-2 district. There are eight Conditions of Approval. Again, let me
make this perfectly clear, this approval is contingent upon five positive votes. Do you
wish to go forward with your request?
Till: Yes I do.
Hoffman: Do you understand the appeal process should it be denied.
• Till: Yes.
Hoffman: Tim, can you go ahead and give us some background on this?
Conklin: Sure, I would like to go over the conditions. We do have eight Conditions of Approval
for this item. Condition number one, the applicant shall install a 6 foot tall wooden
privacy fence above the existing concrete wall along the east side of the structure.
Condition number two, all proposed changes to the exterior of the structure must be
reviewed by the Planning staff for compliance with our Commercial Design Standards
ordinance. Condition number three, signage shall comply with the City's sign ordinance
as well as Commercial Design Standards. No new freestanding signs shall be added to
this multi -tenant development. Number four, compliance with the City's noise
ordinance. Number five, trash dumpsters shall be located behind the building and shall
be screened on three sides with view obscuring materials (fence or vegetation). If
necessary a heavy duty concrete pad will be installed as required by the Solid Waste
Division for commercial dumpsters. Number six, this conditional use shall be brought
back to the Planning Commission for review, further action or revocation should the
City receive and complaints as a result of the establishment of the dance hall. Number
seven, water shall be turned off immediately and the facility shall not operate if any of
the conditions are not met. Number eight, this conditional use shall be automatically
revoked if any condition is not met. Those are the eight conditions. Any time we do
• bring up a conditional use for a dance hall forward, we do want to make sure that they
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 33
do comply with our noise ordinance. Typically the problems that we've had have been
noise problems out in parking lots. We do want to make sure that when we do grant
these that if there are any problems they will come back before the Planning
Commission to possibly have their permit revoked. We do try to make sure the
applicant's aware of that, the Commission is aware of that and the adjoining property
or neighbors are aware of those conditions. One of the questions that was asked of
Planning staff at agenda session was with regard to the ordinance that requires
additional landscaping within the parking lots. I have made a copy of that ordinance
and handed that out to you this evening, That's on the third page of Chapter 127. It
talks about when a building permit is issued or granted to rehabilitate a structure on a
property exceeding 50% of the current replacement cost of the structure, at such time
50% of the existing parking lot use area shall be required to be brought into compliance
with the provisions of this ordinance then it's based on a graduated scale after that. At
this time, it's impossible for me to determine whether or not the building permit that
they'll bring forward to the City of Fayetteville will be 50% or more than the
replacement cost of the current structure on this site. At that time I'll have to take a
look at that. You can either make that as a Condition of Approval, I don't think you
have to do that because it's the City ordinance: I do have to enforce that ordinance but
I do need to make the applicant aware of that, that we do have that section of the
ordinance that may require the parking lot to be brought up to standards of our current
code. That's all I have at this time. If you have any questions, I would be happy to
answer them.
Hoffman: Thank you. I don't see that would need to be added as a Condition of Approval but
just as a condition of the building permit based on the building permit's valuation. Have
you had a chance to review the Conditions of Approval and are you in agreement with
those?
Till: Yes I have.
Hoffman: Ready to sign?
Till: Yes.
Hoffman: Do you have a presentation to make to us tonight?
Till: Just a brief one. My name is Marshall L. Till. I'm the representative of MLT
Management Company. I've been in the night club business for twenty-four years. It's
our intentions in operating a business, we realize that we are scrutinized heavily by the
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 34
general public and also by people in your situation, we do try to operate hand-in-hand
with local law agencies. We are a heavily regulated industry all the way from state to
you. In agreeing with condition number eight, we are subject to cancellation at any
time. If we do spend our money and open our business there, we are really putting our
neck in the noose to operate within City ordinances and compliance or the money will
be spent for nothing. We are now currently operating three businesses in the State of
Arkansas. We have two in Texas and also two in Oklahoma. When we first come to
an area we usually like to go to the Chief of Police and the noise ordinance is one of the
main issues. We try to go to the Chief of Police and if he has no objection we employ
uniformed off-duty police officers as security. Most of that is done outside where they
are visible and also we can bring them inside to let our patrons be aware that we are
security conscience. If the Chief of Police objects, we'll go to the County Sheriff and
we'll go on down until we get to someone with some type of authority to control
situations that would occur that would be detrimental to retaining our Conditional Use
permit.
Hoffman: Thank you. Anything else?
Till: No.
Hoffman: Tim, before we take public comment, I just want to add one thing. I assume that having
the night club there is a use -by -right in C-2 zoning.
Conklin: That requires a Conditional Use.
Hoffman: The night club not the dancing?
Conklin: I'm sorry, yes the bar is a use -by -right.
Hoffman: So the issue before us is only whether to permit a dance hall, that a night club without
dancing but with liquor sales would be permitted under this zoning. So the only reason
you are here tonight is for us to hear the appropriateness of a dance hall.
Conklin: That is correct and I'm glad you brought that up so the public and Commission is aware
of that. What you are considering tonight is whether or not dancing is appropriate at
this facility and that's the Conditional Use that you are granting. With regard to the
actual bar going in there or tavem or night club, that is a use -by -right in C-2 zoning.
When we take a look at it, if the Conditional Use was denied, the bar could still go in
there, they just couldn't dance inside the facility.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 35
Hoffman: Which I know sounds like a silly distinction but you'll have to understand that came
from a situation where we had a dance hall quite close to a neighborhood that created
huge problems. This ordinance was created in response to that to protect the
neighborhoods.
Till: I understand and this Conditional Use is really just a way to regulate us period, whether
we are going to be there or not be there because our facilities are so in tuned, we are a
dancing facility... I don't think we would be able to exist there, in other words, if you
took our dance permit away, I don't think we would still have a night club in this
location. We would be out of business.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: I just wanted to make clear the ordinance requirements and what we have to look at
before us tonight. I'll take public comment. Is anybody here to address us on this
Conditional Use?
COMMISSION -DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the Planning Commission.
Conklin: Madame Chair?
Hoffman: Yes.
Conklin: I did receive a letter on December 7, 2000, from Paul Schmidt & Associates and I'll
just read that into the record. I think everybody has a copy of it. It's to the Fayetteville
Planning Commission regarding this Conditional Use permit. "To Whom It May
Concern. Please be advised that I have been retained by William Patrick Schmidt, the
owner of residential property located at 907 Hollywood, to represent his interests with
regard to the proposed Conditional Use Permit applied for by M.L.T. Management,
Inc , dba Electric Cowboy. To allow this night club to be located so close to a
residential district would not only devalue the property and other residential
improvements in the area, but would raise safety issues with regard to the residents of
the area My client would further request that this application be denied and that his
residential neighborhood be kept clean and free of the crime and devaluation associated
with this type of establishment. Please keep me informed as to your conclusion of this
matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. Thank you for your kind
assistance on this matter. Sincerely, Paul A. Schmidt & Associates."
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 36
Hoffman: Thank you Tim. I take it that no one from that firm or the neighborhood has come
forward tonight? No public comment?
Conklin: Apparently not. Typically I wouldn't read the letter into the record but I just wanted to
make sure that you did have that and it was part of the record.
Hoffman: Thank you. Once I close the public comment and bring itback to the Planning
Commission, if you are here to speak or talk about this project, you won't have a
chance again. Did you want to get up and say anything? If you would just please tell us
your name.
Watson: My name is Don Watson. I represent the owner of the building in question and the rest
of that shopping center and also one of the residences on Hollywood Street. We built
that shopping center in 1979. It's gone through several metamorphoses, of course,
when the K Mart Center closed. When we first built the center, it was a neighborhood
shopping center with a K Mart, Food For Less, Ash's Outlet, Volume Shoes, our own
business which was called Triangle Builders Supply, operated in that building which
was a 22,000 square foot building lumber and hardware stores and in the back lot
which borders the residences was our storage lot and that's what we were using it for
at that point. I feel this is probably not an unusual use in this neighborhood since less
than a mile away there is two other businesses already involved in that kind of activity
and they have given us assurances because we intend to be in the building with them.
We are going to move our office there. We have other retail tenants in there as well.
We've discussed it with all of them and they all seem appropriately cognizant of what's
going to go on there. As far as their use of the building and our proposed tenant's use
of the building, I think it will work out just fine. There is also the issue that was raised, I
think earlier, about parking in the area of the Hollywood residences. Well most of the
parking, 90% of it is going to be on the other side of the building and the 600 space
parking that will be primarily used for patrons of this business. I don't think there is
going to be any particular traffic increase on Hollywood Street nor do I think there is
going to be any noise because it's going to be contained within the building. As I
understand there is to be a six foot privacy fence added to the privacy fence that we
built there already. We went through this before the Planning Commission twenty years
ago and put a chain link fence with a vine covering on it. That's to be replaced, I
understand, with a solid fence. That's all I have to say.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. Is there anybody else here from the public that would like to
speak on this matter?
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 37
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: If not, I'll bring it back to the applicant and to the Planning Commission for questions
and discussion.
Allen:
Till:
Ward:
Watson:
I wondered how far the residential property was from your building, approximately?
From the back of our building the first house is located approximately 100 yards and
the distance increases as the houses go down from there.
How many square feet are in that whole complex? Do you know?
We have 40,000 on that side, 85,000 K Mart store, 28,000 hardware store on the
other side and three or four smaller buildings with the smallest 1,000 square feet, then
3,000 square feet.
Ward: Tim, do we know how many homes are owner occupied on Hollywood? Most of
thoseareduplexes and rental properties that I know of so there must be a couple of
them that are owner occupied.
Conklin: I'm not sure about the owner occupancy. Just on Hollywood, north of Parnell, I
believe two or three single family homes, two or three duplexes. There's a mix of single
family duplexes along Hollywood Avenue. Our Fire Station is also located, it's not
showing up on the 5.14 map, just south of the McDonald's.
Bunch: Tim and possibly for the applicant, Marshall, the vicinity map we show in our packet
shows a shape that is not the same as what is shown for the building footprint and I
believe that we were told that this is a 12,940 square feet facility.
Till:
Bunch:
Yes sir.
The question I have is, in granting a Conditional Use, just which specific area are we
granting the use for? Would this allow someone expansion? Is it Just for what is noted
on page 5.11 as site number 1, 2127 West 6111 Street or as it's shown on page 5.14, it
appears to be a considerably larger area? It looks like it encompasses a parking lot,
storage areas and that sort of thing. I think we need to be specific as to just which area
we are looking at.
• Till: They have individual addresses. I believe the 2127 West 6'h Street is the actual 12,000
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 38
square foot. One of those drawings, I think, shows the entire building. Since Stone
Mountain Carpet went in there, they did build a dividing wall to specify and make the
12,000 square foot that I'm currently applying for.
Conklin: You are using just the area for the Stone Mountain Carpet Outlet.
Till: Yes. That's all I'm proposing to lease.
Conklin: The intent is to grant the Conditional Use for the use of that 12,000 square feet, that is
correct.
Bunch: This page 5.14 seems to indicate that it's parking lot and grounds and that sort of thing
around it.
Conklin: Yes, the 5.14, that's actually coming from the actual parcel. Once again, the shopping
center how we did the ballroom dance club on Gregg and Township was to have it for
that actual space in that facility.
Bunch: What about parking, since this is a large parking lot, does there need to be any sort of
paperwork to dedicate a certain number of parking spaces? Since it's the same owner
of the whole system, in the future if parts of this thing were sold do we need a shared
parking agreement?
Conklin: There currently is shared parking when this shopping center was built and they have
provided that information to us. I'm fairly confident that joint agreement for all the
tenants in there will cover the 200 plus spaces that we are requiring for this use.
Till: It's my understanding that's a perpetual agreement that you are speaking of for 600
spaces.
MOTION:
Marr:
My consideration of this, I think, some of the things that we tend to see are parking and
noise predominantly when we are approving dance halls and impact on neighborhood,
having heard this tonight I believe that we have adequate parking, I believe that the
condition that we put in of condition number six which allows us to have it come back
to the Commission if we have complaints protects both us and the citizens from noise
ordinances. I do believe that with the amount of commercial development around there
that this is appropriate within this location. For that reason I'm going to move for
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 39
approval of Conditional Use 00-31.00.
Hoover: I'll second.
Hoffman: I have a motion by Commissioner Marr and second by Commissioner Hoover. Yes,
Commissioner Bunch.
Bunch: I would like to check with the motioner and the seconder to see if we could possibly
add a condition and that would be daily clean-up of the parking lot so that the other
business owners in this area wouldn't have to contend with the normal trash that is
generated by the occupation of this type and bottles that could possibly be broken and
cause damage to people's cars and that sort of thing. Since this is a 2:00 a.m. closing,
and it will probably take until 2:30 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. sometimes to get the parking lot
cleared of vehicles that there would be a stipulation, an additional condition, condition
number nine would be for nightly or daily clean-up and policing of the area.
Till: Commissioner Bunch, we usually have a policy that a certain percentage of•the
employees, usually the floor man or the door people gather up and go out into the -
parking lot. We will have, since this issuch a Targe parking lot, a golf cart with.a couple
of seat in it that we will retrieve people in and out of the parking lot and they will get out
their and police the area. I realize the importance to have it done before, actually while
it's still dark, before the morning and then the people drive by and see it.
Bunch: Before the other businesses who are on a different schedule, before they open so they
won't be adversely impacted by it.
Till: Yes sir. I agree with that. We can put that in there.
Bunch: Tim, can we use that as a condition? Is it within our jurisdiction to require that?
Conklin: Sure. You can place any safeguards or conditions on this that you deem appropriate.
The last one, the ballroom dancing, you said that they could only do ballroom dancing.
Bunch: Commissioner Marr is that acceptable?
Marr. Anything for you Commissioner Bunch.
Hoffman: Commissioner Hoover?
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 40
Hoover: I think that's a good point and I agree with it, number nine.
Hoffman: Okay we'll call that condition number nine. Before we go ahead and vote on this, I
have a couple of questions and observations. Your peak hours you estimate you might
have 800 people and that would translate to 400 cars?
Till: I would think so.
Hoffman: Could you tell me, based on your experience with your existing night clubs, would you
expect that probably only on Friday and Saturday nights?
Till: Yes. I would like it to be other nights but obviously it's not. Your traditional nights will
be probably on. Thursday is a moderate night and Friday a little bit better but then- r
Saturday would be the peak night.
Hoffman: The reason for my question is that Ramey Junior High School is across a very
- dangerous intersection directly across the street from you and I am concerned about a
couple of things, the interference of traffic from your night club with theirnightly
activities, most of which do not occur on Friday and Saturday nights.
•
Till: Believe it or not most people say themore equipment you have the louder it will be, it's
Just not true. Of course, it will be Just like having a race car, in other words, if
somebody has a car that will go 150 miles an hour but you don't drive it 150 miles an
hour. You put an adequate amount of equipment in there where you can fill the room
with speakers and that way they can all be corning out at an average sound and it
creates the atmosphere without having just four extremely large speakers in there turned
up as loud as they will turn up and that would be much more detrimental as far as
causing a noise problem.
Hoffman: So it's going to be a D.J. and no live music?
Till: A D.J. and no live music and that helps also. Most of the time when you have live acts,
they are much more difficult to regulate.
Hoffman: Do you plan on adding any sound insulation to the building?
Till: It currently has a six inch layer of insulation over the entire building with the exception of
on the south side of the building there are some panels there to let the sunlight in but it is
obviously our intention to cover those up with at least the same amount of insulation as
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 41
the rest of the building. We will be building interior walls in that will have some spacing
over the current walls which will create an additional type of insulation also.
Hoffman: The reason for my asking that is because we recently had a large dance club that was
granted a conditional use near a neighborhood, granted not as large as a neighborhood
as the one behind you but their conditional use was revoked for noise and other police
problems. I think that we have not seen that problem with the smaller dance halls in the
entertainment districts and so on but we have seen the problem where you join
residential zoning and residential uses so be forewarned we do take these very
seriously.
Till: I understand that. I understand the conditions of it. This is just to keep me in line. I
would like to point out also, our operations do not have a kitchen proposed which
would preclude us from having anyone under 21 years of age. We don't do the 18 and
up business. It's our intentions to never let anybody in the facility unless they are 21
years of age. By not having a food service then we are excluded from having anyone in
there under 21 years of age. Your concerns about the Junior High and the traffic, I
-understand those. Most of our business is not until the later hours. Mr. Pamell, our
proposed landlord, entered our business on Saturday night in Fort Smith to take a look
at how we operate and he arrived around 8:30 p.m. or so and it was a very sparse
crowd. Most of our business is after 10:00 p.m.
Hoffman: Okay. Well thank you very much. Usually I'll tend to vote against these things when
they are adjacent to neighborhoods because of the last debacle that we had. Since that
time we have added some pretty strong language to our conditional uses so I'll be in
favor of this conditionally. We have a motion and a second, is there any further
discussion? Would you call the roll please?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU 00-31.00 is approved on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 42
CU 00-32.00: Conditional Use (Brown, pp 209) was submitted by Bob Hill of Nickle-Hill on behalf
of Herman Brown for property located at 1481 Van Asche. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare
Commercial and contains approximately 2.67 acres. The request is for warehouse and wholesale (use
unit 21) in a C-2 district.
Hoffman: Item number six, we have a Conditional Use for Brown, which was submitted by Bob
Hill of Nickle-Hill on behalf of Herman Brown for property located at 1481 Van
Asche. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains
approximately 2.67 acres. The request is for warehouse and wholesale (use unit 21) in
a C-2 district. There are four Conditions of Approval. Staff is recommending approval
of the Conditional Use subject to the four items of approval. Have you seen these
conditions and do you agree with them?
Hill: I have not seen those conditions.
Hoffman: Okay then I will go ahead and read them to you. This conditional use shall apply to the
-existing 2,000 square foot structure only. Any additional or modifications to this
-request must be heard by the Planning Commission as a new conditional use request.
Item two, any cosmetic or signage changes must be reviewed and approved by
Planning staff for compliance with Commercial Design Standards compliance. Item
three, water shall be turned off immediately and the facility shall not operate if any of the
conditions are not met. Item four, this conditional use shall automatically be revoked if
any condition is not met. Let me ask staff, I'm not as familiar with this one, should we
hear these two?
Conklin: Actually, it's just a conditional use on this one. There are no planned changes on the
site. This was actually the site of the Morgan Hooker project.
Hoffman: I'm sorry, I was confused.
Conklin: The previous one we just looked at on Highway 112.
Hoffman: This is the existing building on the site?
Conklin: We have an existing site. It's adjacent to the east of Tomlinson Asphalt, across the
street is the Johnson Industrial area with the concrete plant. The request is to use the
property as it was historically used for building materials establishment. They are not
changing the existing building. They just want to move it and use the property as is
That requires a conditional use. Right now the property has been vacant over six
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 43
months and so it's non -conforming and so the only by use right I could allow there is
something that would be allowed in a C-2 zoning. That's why they are before us.
That's why the conditions are somewhat minimal because we are dealing with an
existing site on VanAsche.
Hoffman: Do you understand and agree to these conditions'
Weigle: Yes.
Hoffman: You would be willing to sign a paper as such?
Weigle: Yes.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: At this time I will take public comment. Is there anybody here that wishes to speak on
this item?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: Seeing none, I'll go ahead and bring it back to the Commission for motions or
discussion.
MOTION:
Marr: I would like to move for approval of Conditional Use 00-32.00.
Allen: I'll second.
Hoffman: Motion by Commission Marr, second by Commissioner Allen. Do we have any further
discussion?
Bunch: I have a few questions. This is in the Design Overlay District, am I correct?
Conklin: That is correct.
Bunch: The Conditional Use that we had for Hooker Construction did involve redevelopment.
I think it involved moving this building. That's one of the things I just wanted to
question you a little bit about before I make my mind up on this. The uses that are
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 44
planned for this site, since it is within the Design Overlay District.
Weigle: The client River City Material will be storing drywall inside the building for use at
Washington Regional. As soon as Washington Regional is completed this business will
cease to exist.
Bunch:
That was another one of my questions. It did say in the background information we.
have, it specifically mentioned Washington Regional Medical Center and other
construction projects. This would be a time limited conditional use?
Weigle: They've signed a one-year lease and they are only here to supply that project.
Bunch: I would like to add a conditional use to this if it's acceptable. Number five would be
that the timing would run concurrent with the Washington Regional Medical Center
project and it would expire whenever that project is completed. That conditional use is
only for that project as stated for material storage.
Marr: That's fine with the client?
Hoffman: Is that acceptable to the movements?
Marr: I guess my question is, is that necessary?
Conklin: I would like to have that on there. We could have another building materials supply
company come in. I would like to see the site redeveloped. If this company was
coming in to permanently go in there I would say don't put that on there but since they
are only going to be there as long as Washington Regional Medical Center is being
constructed, you might as well limit it to that time period.
Bunch: Since conditional uses normally go with the property then in order to facilitate future
redevelopment of this site, I wouldn't want it to be encumbered with a materials storage
location.
Marr: I'm in agreement with that. I guess my thought on it was, if some other business came
in we would require a different use other than what we are designating it to be today.
Hoffman: If it's a change of use I think we could put landscaping or something like that.
Marr: Anything that would encourage future redevelopment.
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Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 45
Hoffman: Any other discussion? I'm sorry, T didn't ask you your name for the record, could you
please tell us?
Weigle: Mitch Weigle.
Hoffman: Thank you. I'll go ahead and call the roll please.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call CU 00-32.00 is approved on a unanimous vote of 7-0-0.
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 46
RZ 00-25.00: Rezoning (Caudle, pp 400) was submitted by Dennis Caudle for property located at
1192 N. Rupple Road. The property is zoned R -O, Residential Office and contains approximately
0 52 acres. The request is to rezone to C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial.
Hoffman: The final item on our agenda is a Rezoning for Caudle submitted by Dennis Caudle for
property located at 1192 N. Rupple Road The property is zoned R -O, Residential
Office and contains approximately 0.52 acres. The request is to rezone to C-2,
Thoroughfare Commercial. I believe that we have seen this item before and Tim could
you let us know. Before you get started, Mr. Caudle do you understand that you also
need five positive votes to approve this rezoning. Appeal on a rezoning request goes to
City Council not District Court. -
Conklin: It's going to go City Council. That's correct.
Hoffman: You still need five positive votes.
Conklin: Yes. If you don't recommend it with five positive votes then they have to appeal to the
—City Council. That's how they get before the City Council.
Hoffman: I think I misstated it when I was talking earlier that everybody had to go to District
Court, that's not the case with you.
Conklin: On October 23, 2000, the Planning Commission heard a request for .52 acres along
with adjacent property so they heard this request this evening of .52 acres with adjacent
property. That total property was 1.5 acres. The request was from R-0 to C-2. Staff
did not recommend that rezoning request. The Planning Commission voted
unanimously 6-0-0 to deny the request. I do have those minutes attached. The
applicant appealed the decision to City Council and on November 21, 2000, the City
Council heard this appeal request at that time they addressed an amended request with
the applicant that he did not want to rezone the entire 1.5 acres but a smaller portion,
52 acres. The City Council did request that this .52 acres be brought back to the
Planning Commission for your consideration and recommendation to them. Keep in
mind the applicant originally requested the C-2 in order to apply for a conditional use
permit to build additional storage on this property. That is his same intent at this time.
Staffs original recommendation still stands with regard to denial. We are bringing this
back to you because the City Council would like for you to take a look at this rezoning.
The main difference is it's a smaller area, it's 90 feet in width, 253.6 feet long rectangle
that adjoins the west side mini storage facility located on Rupple Road. Just at the last
Planning Commission meeting, when we did hear this item, there was concern about the
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 47
Bill of Assurance and I just want to make sure the applicant didn't misunderstand what
I said at the Planning Commission and that was I was going to go out there with out
Landscape Administrator to make sure that there weren't any violations of that Bill of
Assurance. We have gone out there. We counted the trees. There are substantial
numbers of pine trees that are along the north/south and west/east property line. Based
on those numbers and the size of those trees, that Bill of Assurance has not been
violated. He's meeting that requirement to save those trees on that site. With regard to
the access from Wedington Road, that access has been barricaded and is not being
used for this facility. Those were the two things in the Bill of Assurance, tree
preservation and the access from Wedington. Both of those, for me, are not being
violated. Kim Hesse and I have taken a look at the trees and it's meeting that
requirement. I just wanted to clarify any misunderstandings that the Commission may
have had on that Bill of Assurance or the applicant or myself.
Hoffman: Before we get to you, Tim I have a question about that. Are you referring to the entire
site or just to the subject now up for us for rezoning?
• Conklin: When I talked about the Bill of Assurance, the Bill of Assurance was for the -entire 5
acres.
Hoffman: So we do have a good buffer between Wedington and the site?
Conklin: With regard to trees, it's interesting, the Bill of Assurance reads 60% of the trees. He
has pine trees that are spaced probably five feet apart, approximately 200 along the
south, north and east property line. Overall, when you look at the total number of trees
just because those pine trees are soldiered up along the property lines, he's meeting that
ordinance. With regard to our current Tree Preservation Ordinance, that's something
that Kim Hesse would have to take a look at with regard to the existing oak trees that
are on this property that are remaining.
Hoffman: Okay. Thank Tim. Do you have a presentation that you would like to make? Tell us
your name please.
Caudle: Can I give you a copy of that?
Hoffman: Yes. You need to tell us who you are even though we know.
Caudle: At the time that this came up the first time in Planning Commission meeting, the original
• property that was rezoned ten years ago was originally 5.5 and they rezoned the back
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 48
Hoffman:
Caudle:
•
portion and we built the storage facilities. At the time there was an indication that there
was an need for them in the area and they were right, there has definitely been a need.
There has been a lot of houses built out there over these last ten years What we find
now, we came to the little piece there on the front that turns back towards the highway,
kind of a backwards L, we built as many buildings as we were originally designed to do
from the ten years ago plan. The thing that's come up is a need for storage in the area.
The climate control is a big factor that we come up with is the fact that there is no
climate control inside the City of Fayetteville. We thought we could build a building to
supply the need for the people that need that type of service. Right now there are
several people that have to go to Springdale: There was six people that we were
renting the facility for the last several years that the FDA passed a new law that their
stuff had to be in climate control, so they have all been forced to go to Springdale
because there is hone in the City of Fayetteville. What I was proposing was to built a
building that would provide the climate control type storage facility. The original
request was to just simply rezone all the lot to C-2 because it was C-2 in the back.
We brought in sewer several years ago to put storage buildings on all of it. First of all,
storage buildings doesn't need sewer so that money will be wasted. The original
-request-was to be able to have just enough area there to put in this one building. As far
as being declined on the entire C-2 request well that was probably asking for too much.
I should have probably done it like this in the first place because we did bring in the
sewer, we didn't intend to build storage buildings out front anyway. To go back 90
feet toward the highway would allow us to build this one building which is right next to
what's already there, that you see on the drawing there. There are twelve buildings that
sit on the property now. This will be no different, as far as appearance, than what's
there. There was some concern in the Planning Commission meeting from the 23rd as
far as the appearance, whether or not they like them. The lot on the front of the
drawing there, on the corner of Rupple, I think it's called Wedington Plaza, I talked
with them the other day and apparently they are starting construction next month which
will take up a Targe coverage of where we are at in the front there as far as exposure to
Wedington. One thing I said in the City Council meeting was that we would be more
than willing to put in a privacy fence, a nice one that has brick pillars and privacy in
between them in front of this building which would separate it from Wedington and
there is still plenty of room on the front of Wedington, approximately 177 feet.
Is that to the building or to the line of the zoning demarcation, that 177 feet?
The length of the property, back to where it's currently R-0, is 267 as is shown on the
drawing there. To rezone 90 feet forward still leaves 177 feet before we reach the
Wedington Highway. We brought in the sewer and paid for it several years ago. It is
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 49
set up for an office environment and that's probably what would be built there in time.
Like I said, we have no plans at this point to build anything out front. To be allowed
the 90 feet in conjunction with what is already there, does allow us to build this building
that there is no question there is a need for it because the people do not have an access
to this type of service in this city.
Hoffman: This 90 feet gives you access completely around the building and then have some room
for the fence that faces Wedington?
Caudle: The corner once you come along the bottom, the 373 corner, if you just gotten out of
the line that is currently C-2 extends straight on across 253 feet at that comer, we are.
proposing to turn south 90 feet and then go back 253 which would allow this building
to gain right next to the 12 that's already there.
Hoffman: Got it thanks.
Caudle: Like I said, it's just a case that there is a need and it is inside the existing facility with the
• - — _building_that'.s-fixed to be built and the privacy -fence.- One -of the people that had a
concern about that, about allowing me to build this new building, that would be part of
the concern that was stated as far as the visibility. That takes out a lot of visibility but it
does make for a nice facility that offers a full service.
•
Hoffman: Anything else you want to say?
Caudle: No.
PUBLIC COMMENT: _
Hoffman: Is there any member from the public that would like to comment on this? I see one
person back there. No? Thanks.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Hoffman: I'll bring it back to the Commission and the applicant for further discussion. Anybody?
—Hoover: I have a question for staff. - Just because I didn't get to read the comprehensive plan
before I got here but my understanding is that our future thought on this area is R-0 and
that we are only putting C-2 at the nodes?
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 50
Conklin: That is correct and with regard to the Community Commercial designation on our
Future Land Use Plan, I will recommend as we have for the past five years that it be C-
1 zoning which will not allow for the additional warehousing or storage facilities as a
conditional use. Even if it was shown as that commercial, we would still be
recommending for C-1 and not the C-2. Mr. Caudle, I do have one question, how
many square feet will the storage building contain?
Caudle: Approximately 10,000 in the new building. It is climate control. It's a different design
than the other buildings, it does require a lot of different type of construction to
accomplish the climate control facility.
Marr: Where exactly is the access to this building proposed to be, is it off of Highway 16 or is
it coming from this?
Caudle: On the drawing you see the twelve buildings going down through there, on each end of
that first building, originally there was access with a controlled computer type gate on
the south side of that building. In the last year, we put in an access at the north end of
—that -building for -an exit only gate. There is an -in and -an out basically onto Rupple from
the facility. The building we are proposing, like I said, -if you just extend that 273
straight across, it picks up right on the border of what is now C-2 and R-0. It's dust
enough to put in that building and you come right in the facility when you get down to
that point, you look left at your buildings or you look right at this new building. All the
access is off of Rupple and like I said we put in an extra gate, having this many buildings
and this much people coming an going, we did open up the other gate and put in
another computer access gate to help with the flow of the traffic. There are times on
weekends, a pretty day, you will have several people out there so it did help the flow.
Marr: Help me understand too, where exactly when you talk about a proposed brick privacy
combination fence to screen this.
Caudle: Again on my little drawing the building that I put on the drawing, the proposed building,
it says 175 feet on it, move directly out in front of it approximately 20 feet.
Marr: Would it go the whole distance of this or just the length of that building?
Caudle: It would go in front of the building is the way it's proposed. There is drainage on the
other area there. There is a designed drainage ditch where all the buildings are drained
to a point, the water that comes off the buildings and between the alleys and that is a
drainage ditch that was designed for that purpose.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 51
Marr:
The reason for my questions are not to do approval of design here because I
understand this is a rezoning but one of the things that would certainly make me
consider it is the ability that when it did come through for design that it would be
completely screened because I go back to Chairman Odom's comment when we heard
this back on the 23rd that I certainly believe and agree with you that there is a need for
this in the City of Fayetteville but I also believe that there are locations of commercial
C-2 space to be able to do this within the city already. More importantly I want to stay
consistent with the Land Use Plan of developing that into R-0. If we did this, what's
important to me is the ability to take it out of sight. This is much more appealing to me,
not to say I will vote for it still but much more appealing to me than what was originally
presented. - - - -
Ward: - I think I would be, instead of putting up a wood privacy fence,•1 think that south side of
the building, in my case, I think it needs to be some type of, meet our Commercial
Design Standards for articulation and using some type of split face block and some
things like that instead of metal. I would be much more for it then than just putting up a
metal -building out there. I'm talking about -strictly the south side of the building with
-some-articulation and sometype of material that fits into our Commercial Design
Standards like block, brick and other type of products. That way you wouldn't have to
be worried about putting up fences and all that type of stuff.
Caudle: I would be more than willing to look at, from the manufacturer's to what could be done
as far as to brick that side of it or something to that affect. Again, your visibility right
now when you drive down Wedington you look over there, this is what you see. You
see those buildings as they are today. You are not going to be seeing anything different
than what you are seeing today. If we did what you propose we can look into bricking
that side of it, that would improve it. Whether it was a privacy fence, because there
was a concern about it, the distance we set off the highway back in the trees alleviates
that concern. This would be a whole lot better than what we are looking at right now
as far as the concern of what's out there right now.
Hoffman: Staff, I have a question. I'm concerned about design on a rezoning. I wish that there
were a way. I understand because this lot is contiguous with your existing property,
why you want to put it here and why you don't want to go find another site.
Caudle: It was mentioned in the meeting on the 23r1, you've got economic assets that are
already out there and you run a professional operation, you don't go out and buy
property and build a building and expect to come out at all.
•
•
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 52
Hoffman: The question I have for staff is that, given the discussion that we've had tonight
concerning the screening of the building or the other appearance, I'm not really for
Lee's idea because they are still going to have all those garage doors facing Wedington,
I'm really more interested in screening the whole building. How many overhead doors
will be facing Wedington in the new building?
Caudle:
Hoffman:
Approximately 16.
I don't know how you would meet the Commercial Design Standards. Given the fact
that we've got a reasonable proposal for screening that's contiguous and has traffic
flowing out to Rupple Road and not Wedington, is there any method that we can
approve a rezoning subject to the statements, can the applicant offer Bills of Assurance
for instance that would help us along the way?
Conklin: Keep in mind, this will have to come back as a Conditional Use and may have to come
back as a Large Scale Development if it's over 10,000 square feet so you will have
another opportunity to place any condition on there that you feel is appropriate. Also, if
you -rezone, it could be any C-2 use also that could go -in there from a used car lot to a
night club.
Hoffman: There is no way to bring the two through at the same time like we did our Conditional
Use and Large Scale Developments?
Conklin: Notatthis time.
Caudle: Excuse me, has that not already been done 10 years ago? It was only 10 years ago.
Conklin: If the applicant would like to voluntarily offer a Bill of Assurance he can offer that as
you did, I believe, 10 years ago.
Caudle: This 90 feet is for this building and that's the only plan I have whatsoever and I would
definitely have no problem doing anything there. Like I said, it's just thisclassification
does require C-2.
Hoffman: If this use and idea would go forward.
Caudle: It is there now and it is what is required to build a climate control building that is
needed.
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 53
Hoffman: You don't mind making that a condition of this?
TAPE TURNED:
Caudle: It's a survey, I don't know if it's from the right-of-way, they are calling it 267 feet and
they are calling it 507 down the east side of the property which would include the R-0
and the C-2. I don't know if that's where that point of beginning is.
Conklin: With regard to that number, that is not something that we would use to map this area
out. We require a legal description and we are working with Mr. Caudle to get a legal
description that accurately describes that piece of property. It's clear to me that it's 90
feet south of the current C-2 zoning and that's something that we will be making sure
that legal description describes, by the time we bring it forward to the City Council with
an ordinance. It's 90 feet south of that existing C-2 property.
Bunch: My major concern is questioning this was to see if the remaining piece of property that I
-believe is currently R-0 to see if it was adequately sized to put in an R-0 development
-complete-with-setbacks and utility -easements and that sort of thing.
Caudle: It's going to be approximately 253 by 150 minimum up to 170 depending on where
that starts.
Bunch: That's what I was wondering.
Conklin: It'sabout an acre.
Bunch: I just want to make sure that it's adequately sized for a development as zoned.
Caudle: Approximately 253 by 160 give or take a little.
Hoffman: Anybody else?
MOTION:
Shackelford: I guess my take on this is, basically what we are looking at is an extension of an existing
building by the same owner: We are only talking about a 90 foot strip of land with very
limited access off of Rupple Road basically through the property that the applicant
already owns. As long as the front property remains R-0 which has the Wedington
frontage on it and is developed R-0 and I think we meet the intent of the 2020 plan,
•
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 54
with that being said and the applicant being willing to do a Bill of Assurance, I'm going
to make a motion that we recommend approval of RZ 00-25.00.
Ward: I'll second.
Hoffman: I have a motion by Commissioner Shackelford and second by Commission Ward,
anybody else? Any other further discussion on this item?
Ward: This does have to come back no matter what happens?
Hoffman: Is it of sufficient size that we have to see it again, Tim?
Conklin: It depends on what size building he proposes on this property. If it's over 10,000
square feet, you'll see it as a Large Scale. You will see it as a Conditional Use.
Hoffman: We could at that time follow up on the discussion tonight regarding the screening and
-appearance and so forth.
Conklin: Yes. If the Planning Commission makes a recommendation and the City Council
rezones it, most likely the •conditional use recommendation is going to be for approval
with Bills of Assurance.
Hoffman: Just so we are all clear, can you work with the applicant with regard to the wording of
the Bills of Assurance? Since they come from the applicant, I'm not sure how to get
that.
Conklin: Sure. For clarification, we are talking about use of this property for this climate
controlled storage facility.
Hoffman: With screening.
Marr: Just one last question, did you investigate any other C-2 space for locating this facility
other than this location?
Caudle: I looked at a couple of lots for possibly a new facility because there is a need for a
storage facility. I have not found anything suitable at this point. There is some C-2
property in several areas around the city. There are a lot of factors that go into it as far
as access, location and need in the area. Right now there are people who come a
considerable distance because of the availability of storage in the area. I have looked.
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 55
Hoffman: Thank you. Anybody else have anything they would like to say before we call the roll?
You all ready? Nancy?
Allen: I'm not really clear of what we are requiring the applicant to do.
Hoffman: In rezonings, Tim you can take this one if you want to.
Conklin: Sure. The applicant has offered to give us a Bill of Assurance which is a legal
document to tie to this rezoning that this 90 feet, with the property, will only be used for
a climate controlled storage facility and will contain screening of some sort. Based on
--that information you need to determine whether or -not you can make this
recommendation to the City Council, if you feel that it's appropriate with this Bill of
Assurance to rezone this to C-2. Does that clear that up?
Bunch: If in the Bill of Assurance since we can't ask for it that the applicant offers, there was
some statement about making sure that it went to the Large Scale Development process
in addition the Conditional Use process.. I think there are some square footage
limitationsifthe-applicant-offered-to-us-that -this-would come through that process, I
would personally feel a little more at ease with it to make sure that we could look at it
and see that it fit our standards.
•
Caudle: As far as the Large Scale, again I'm not familiar with all the rules as far as that's on
projects over an acre, over 10,000 square feet. It has certain criteria.
Conklin: An addition of 10,000 square feet or more. Since 10 years has passed, you do need to
be aware that the fee has gone from $50 to $900 application fee.
Caudle: Everything has gone up, I know. The only thing that I can think of that would require a
Large Scale is the size of the building. What originally has been drawn out on paper
could be just under it or just over it depending on whether you build it 175 foot long or
170 foot long. It's going to get that marginal there. We could keep it under the 10,000
square foot by simply taking 5 feet off the end of it.
Conklin: You wouldn't be the first developer or applicant to do that either. What I'm saying is,
people are aware of that regulation in Fayetteville and we do have projects, two or
-three a year that come in dust below that criteria. -- -- -
Caudle: I understand that. If you are talking about the difference between $50 and $900, I
don't know what else is involved.
•
Planning Commission
December 11, 2000
Page 56
Hoffman: Let me make sure that no matter what happens Tim, this is going to be coming back as
a Conditional Use because of the zoning?
Conklin: Yes.
Hoffman: This zoning is the only one that will permit this use without going to industrial zoning or
something like that.
Conklin: That's correct.
Hoffman: -That is -so similar to -Large Scale Development review that I would say that it would be
not something that would be as important to me personally because in Conditional Uses
we have a blank slate on'those really, in terms of requirements that we can place, in
terms of lighting, screening, appearance, hours of operation, revocation and so on. In
that case, I would just prefer to let the motions stand as they were and you with your
Bill of Assurance as it is.
Bunch: That's my main concern in brining that subject up was to make sure that we have
adequate opportunity for the oversight on it.
Shackelford: That was the intent of my motion knowing that we would get a chance to look at this
and we could put those limitations on it in order to grant the Conditional Use.
Hoffman: No more discussion I assume? Okay, if everybody is ready, I'm going to go ahead and
call the roll.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call RZ 00-25.00 is approved on a 6-1-0 with Commissioner Marr voting no.
Hoffman: Tim is there any other business this evening?
Conklin: There is no other business.
Hoffman: With that, we are adjourned.
•
•
12-11-00
Planning
Comm.
Mtg.
Consent Agenda•
Minutes of the 11-
27-00 Planning
Commission
Meeting
LSD 00-32.00
Park Apartments,
pp 175
LSD 00-34.00
Fazoli's, pp 213
MOTION
Marr
Marr
Ward
SECOND
Shackelford
Shackelford
Shackelford
D. Bunch
Y
Y
Y
B. Estes
Absent
Absent
Absent
L. Hoffman
Y
Y
Y
S. Hoover
Y
Y
Y
N. Allen
Y
Y
Y
D. Marr
Y
Y
Y
C. Odom
Absent
Absent
Absent
Shackelford
Y
Y
Y
L. Ward
Absent
Y
Y
ACTION
Approved
Approved
Approved
VOTE
6-0-0
7-0-0
7-0-0
•
•
12-11-00
Planning
Comm.
Mtg.
CU 00-28.00
Hooker, pp 209
LSD 00-35.00
Hooker, pp 209
CU 00-31.00
Electric Cowboy,
pp 559
MOTION
Ward
Shackelford
Marr
SECOND
Marr
Bunch
Hoover
D. Bunch
Y
Y
Y
B. Estes
Absent
Absent
Absent
L. Hoffman
Y
Y
Y
S. Hoover
Y
Y
Y
N. Allen
Y
Y
Y
D. Marr
Y
Y
Y
C. Odom ,
Absent
Absent
Absent
Shackelford
Y
Y
Y
L. Ward
Y
Y
Y
ACTION
Approved
Approved
Approved
VOTE
7-0-0
7-0-0
7-0-0
•
•
•
12-11-00
Planning
Comm.
Mtg.
CU 00-32 00
Brown, pp 209
RZ 00-25.00
Caudle, pp 400
MOTION
Marr
Shackelford
SECOND
Allen
Ward
D. Bunch
Y
Y
B. Estes
Absent
Absent
L. Hoffman
Y
Y
S. Hoover
Y
Y
N. Allen
Y
Y
D. Marr
Y
N
C. Odom
Absent
Absent
Shackelford
Y
Y
L. Ward
Y
Y
ACTION
Approved
Approved
VOTE
7-0-0
6-1-0