HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-07-23 Minutes•
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
A regular meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission was held on July 23, 2001, at 5:30 p.m. in
Room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
ITEMS CONSIDERED ACTION TAKEN
Minutes of the July 9, 2001 meeting Approved
Page 2
LSD 01-23.00: Large Scale Development
(Lindsey Office Building, p 174) Approved
Page 3
RZN 01-13.00: Rezoning (Indoor Batting Cages, pp 138) Approved
Page 8
ADM 01-30.00: Administrative Item (Reconsideration -
Central United Methodist Church, p 484) Denied
Page 16
ADM 01-31.00: Administrative Item (Copper Creek, pp 100) Approved
Page 29
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Nancy Allen
Lorel Hoffman
Bob Estes
Alice Bishop
Don Marr
Lee Ward
STAFF PRESENT
Tim Conklin
Kit Williams
Sheri Metheney
Hugh Eamest
Donald Bunch
Sharon Hoover
Loren Shackelford
STAFF ABSENT
Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 2
ROLL CALL and Approval of the minutes from the July 9, 2001 meeting.
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call there were 6 Commissioners present.
Estes:
Good afternoon. Number two and number three on the agenda tonight has been
pulled. If there is any member of the audience who is present and has an interest in
those items, they will be heard at a later date. The first item of business is roll call.
Sheri, would you please call the roll? There are six of nine present.
7-9-01 PC Meeting minutes
Estes:
The next item of discussion is the minutes of the July 9, 2001 meeting. Are there any
comments, changes or modifications to be made to the minutes? Seeing none, enter the
minutes of the July 9, 2001, Planning Commission meeting into the record.
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 3
LSD 01-23.00: Large Scale Development (Lindsey Office Building, pp 174) was submitted by
Crafton, Tull & Associates on behalf of Lindsey Company for property located north of Joyce Street
and south of Stearns Road. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial and contains
approximately 5.85 acres with an 82,420 sq. ft. office building proposed.
Estes:
The next item on the agenda is a large scale development for Lindsey Office Building
submitted by Crafton, Tull & Associates on behalf of Lindsey Company for property
located north of Joyce Street and south of Stearns Road The property is zoned C-2,
Thoroughfare Commercial and contains approximately 5.85 acres with an 82,420 sq.
ft. office building proposed. Staff recommends approval subject to certain conditions.
Tim, do we have signed conditions of approval?
Conklin: We do not.
Estes: For those of the members of the audience, let me go through the conditions of approval.
The first is, Planning Commission determination of a requested waiver from Section
5.4.3 of the City Drainage Criteria Manual which states, "PLrmanent Lakes with
fluctuating volume controls may be used as detention areas provided that the limits of
maximum ponding elevations are no closer than 100' horizontally from any building...."
The applicant is requesting to allow a permanent lake with fluctuating volume controls
within 100 feet of a structure. The applicant is proposing a 72 foot setback, a waiver of
28 feet. Staff is in support of the requested waiver. Number two, Planning
Commission determination of required offsite improvements to Stearns Road. Staff is
recommending that a 28 foot wide street with curb and gutter on both sides and a
sidewalk on the south side be constructed adjacent to this property. The Staff is
recommending that both sides of Stearns Road be constructed in lieu of an offsite
street assessment to build Vantage Street that was assessed to First Security
Bank. Based on acreage, that assessment would he in the amount ofS23,400.00.
Number three, Planning Commission determination of compliance with Commercial
Design Standards including signage. The Planning Commission heard a request to
review the compatibility of a six -story building with adjacent development
pursuant to Commercial Design Standards and was supported at the June 11,
2001 meeting. However, a full review of Commercial Design Standards and
signage is required. Staff is recommending that the applicant be limited to a
monument sign. Number four, Planning Commission determination of the need for
cross access to the McIlroy Bank parking lot. Number five, Plat Review and
Subdivision comments (to include written staff comments provided to the applicant or
his representative, and all comments from utility representatives. Number six, staff
approval of final detailed plans, specifications and calculations (where applicable) for
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 4
grading, drainage, water, sewer, fire protection, streets (public and private), sidewalks,
parking lot(s) and tree preservation. The information submitted for the plat review
process was reviewed for general concept only. All public improvements are subject to
additional review and approval. All improvements shall comply with City's current
requirements. Number seven, sidewalk construction in accordance with current
standards to include a six foot sidewalk with a ten foot greenspace along Joyce and
Stearns Road. Number eight, Large Scale Development approval to be valid for one
calendar year. Number nine, approval of this project does not guarantee that sewer
capacity will be available at the time of construction. Number ten, prior to the issuance
of a building permit the following is required: a. Grading and drainage permits; b.
separate easement plat for this project; c. Project Disk with all final revisions; d.
Completion of all required improvements or the placement of a surety with the City
(letter of credit, bond, escrow) as required by §158.01 "Guarantees in Lieu of Installed
Improvements" to guarantee all incomplete improvements. Further, all improvements
necessary to serve the site and protect public safety must be completed, not just
guaranteed, prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Is the applicant
present?
Bates: Yes sir.
Estes: Would you tell us your name please?
Bates: I'm Geoff Bates with Crafton, Tull & Associates.
Estes: Mr. Bates, do you have a presentation that you would like to make to the Commission
at this time?
Bates: Not really. I'm just here to answer any questions you may have, technical questions
Mr. Fugitt is here to answer any questions you may have about materials.
Estes: Commissioners, do you have any questions of Mr. Bates regarding this proposed large
scale development?
Ward:
Conklin:
Geoff, what's the final on the sign? What are you going to (10 on the monument sign?
With regard to the proposed freestanding sign, I would recommend that the
Commission allow the applicant to bring forward a proposed freestanding sign, on this
site, back to Subdivision Committee meeting. There has been some discussion with
regard to a joint identification sign and what the ordinance allows for joint identification
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 5
signs. Talking with the applicant just this evening, I don't think it's appropriate to deal
with that issue since we don't have complete information at this time. However, I think
the project is ready to go forward tonight and be approved. I would like to delay the
sign issue and give that authority to approve the sign at Subdivision Committee if the
Commission will agree to that. Thank you.
Estes: Any further questions?
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Estes: Is there any member of the audience that would like to provide comment, make
presentation regarding this proposed large scale development 01-23.00?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: Seeing none, I'll close the floor to the public and bring the item back to the full
Commission for discussion, any further questions of the applicant and motions.
Ward: I guess we have two main conditions that we are looking at for variances?
Conklin: That's correct, condition number one is in relationship to our stormwater ordinance and
the distance from a permanent water feature. Ron Petrie, Staff Engineer, can go over
that if you need more.
Ward: Ron, is this something we are trying to change for commercial uses compared to
residential as far as this variance on setbacks on drainage ponds?
Petrie:
That's an item that I have discussed with the City Engineer, Jim Beavers, and we will
look at changing that. It's our interpretation that was really meant to apply to
residential, not necessarily commercial.
Conklin: With regard to the issue of the sign, once again taking that back to the Subdivision
Committee is the recommendation from staff. Is there another variance in here?
Ward: It wasn't a variance, it's an assessment of $23,000.
Conklin: That's staff's recommendation that this developer be required to improve both sides of
Sterns Street. We did assign some off-site improvement money to First Security Bank,
however, the City at this time recommends to get both sides of Sterns Street built back
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 6
MOTION:
Ward:
Hoffman:
Ward:
Conklin:
Ward:
Hoffman:
Estes:
Bates:
Petrie:
Fuggitt:
Estes:
Fuggitt:
Estes:
to the east in exchange for assessing this developer for Vantage Road
With that, I would like to make a motion to approve LSD 01-23.00 for the Lindsey
Office Building.
I'll second.
I want to make a mention of taking the sign back to Subdivision Committee.
I just want to make sure that is the consensus of the Commission that the Subdivision
Committee will make the final ruling on the sign for this development.
That's incorporated in my motion.
In my second too.
Any other questions or discussion? I have one question Geoff, the detention pond,
what are the plans for landscaping and screening, if any?
I'm sure it's going to be sodded and a fountain like they have done on similar ponds.
I'm not 100% sure of all the landscaping plans.
It will have water in it and there is just some additional volume to handle the detention.
That's correct, it will be sodded to the edge and with a water feature in it.
There has been some discussion in the past regarding security and safety of the water
features, is there anything planned in that regard?
No sir, not in this case. What we've found is that the side slope of the ponds are not
steep enough that if someone were to fall into it that they could not find their way out,
like a swimming pool. Of course the other security measure will hopefully be there
won't be any children around, it's not a school or multi -family area Hopefully won't
have a lot of people playing in that pond.
Commissioners, any other questions or comments? We have a motion by
Commissioner Ward to approve LSD 01-23.00 and the motion was seconded by
Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 7
Commissioner Hoffman. Sheri, would you call the roll, does the motion pass?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call LSD 01-23.00 is approved by a unanimous vote of 6-0-0.
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 8
RZN 01-13.00: Rezoning (Indoor Batting Cages, pp 138) was submitted Kirk Elsass on behalf of
HCL Properties, represented by Jim Lindsey for property located south of Zion Road in HARB-CO
Subdivision. The property is zoned R -O, Residential Office and contains approximately 1.4 acres. The
request is to rezone to C-1, Neighborhood Commercial.
Estes:
Elsass:
The next item on the agenda is item number four, a rezoning request RZN 01-13.00 for
Indoor Batting Cages, submitted Kirk Elsass on behalf of HCL Properties, represented
by Jim Lindsey for property located south of Zion Road in HARB-CO Subdivision.
The property is zoned R -O, Residential Office and contains approximately 1.4 acres.
The request is to rezone to C-1, Neighborhood Commercial. Staff recommends
approval of the requested rezoning based on the findings as indicated in your report. Is
the applicant present? Mr. Elsass, do you have any presentation that you would like to
make?
I really don't. We've got Chuck Calloway here today who is the one that's trying to
put in the batting facilities and Jack Parish who is the architect that's designed the
building, if you have any questions for them. Basically the building that would be built
would be adjacent to the facility of the Key Comer Plaza that's there now that I
currently own. If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer them.
Estes: Commissioners, do you have any questions of Mr. Elsass?
Hoffman: At agenda session there were some Commissioners concerned that the zoning might go
forward and, I'm sure that's not the case but, the batting cage might not be built. At
agenda session I thought, "Would there be a way we could actually pass the conditional
use for this and the rezoning at the same time?" I've done some research since then
and what I would like to put forth to the Commission and ask staff about specifically
tonight would be, we hear vacation of easements and large scale developments at the
same time, we hear conditional uses and large scale developments at the same time,
annexations and rezonings at the same time. Could we not approve a conditional use
for this use as a general idea with a condition that the large scale development come
through at a later date so you don't have to draw anything now and get your rezoning
recommendation at the same time and have him come back? That would allay all those
concerns, we wouldn't need to worry about assurances or some possibility in the future
that the C-1 zoning gets done and the batting cages doesn't happen. By the way, I
think that the location of the batting cage is perfect. It sounds like a great thing. I'm
just trying to figure out a way to get it done and have the assurances in place that
seemingly some of the other Commissioners are worried about.
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 9
Ward:
I don't see what's wrong with C-1 in that particular area. You've got shopping
centers, athletic centers, apartment complexes and so on anyway. C-1 is pretty limited
what you can do.
Elsass: Everything there is C-1 up to the apartments. This is just a buffer between the
apartments that Mr. Lindsey owns.
Ward: It's not C-2.
Elsass: It's a C-1 zoning.
Hoffman: The intersection has commercial zoning and then it transitions down to R-0 and then
your R-2. Usually the way the•nodes go, it's commercial in the corner then residential
office and so I was trying to get everything accomplished and keep everybody happy.
Conklin: To answer your question with regard to if you place a condition on this site that impact
the rezoning, I don't think you can do that.
Hoffman: I'm not saying as part of the same, I'm saying it's two different actions, the conditional
use is placed on the site conditional upon the approval of the rezoning and conditional
on large scale development being presented.
Conklin: Are you trying to put a condition on there to say that it will not be zoned C-1?
Hoffman: If the zoning doesn't go through.
Conklin: If the conditional use doesn't come forward? I'm trying to figure out how you are tying
the two together.
Hoffman: I'm not. I'm saying we are taking two separate actions on this site and if the rezoning
goes through. We are only recommending to the City Council and I feel like it will go
through because of the use. There were concerns that it might not be a batting cage for
whatever reason. It's not a reflection on you or intended to be. Just to get a better
assurance and he doesn't have to draw any plans, we just accept the idea that the
batting cages are going to come in. If it doesn't, then the C-1 zoning is void.
Conklin: What I believe you are asking for, has the applicant offered voluntary a Bill of
Assurance saying that?
Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 10
Hoffman: No, I'm not.
Conklin: I apologize that I'm not understanding how you are trying to tie the two together. The
reason why the conditional use is not before you this evening is, they want to make sure
this property can be rezoned to be able to do what they are going to do. Typically, we
don't issue a conditional use without some type of detailed drawings knowing exactly
where the parking is going to be located, what the building is going to look like, any
type of screening that we may have and we try to get a very detailed report on a
conditional use.
Hoffman: Could we not require that as a large scale development later on so he doesn't have to
draw his plans, just to prove the idea for the batting cages?
Conklin: It's difficult to make findings required by conditional use because it talks about parking,
access, utilities, compatibility and those type of findings you have to make as part of a
conditional use. I'm not saying it's never been done here at the Planning Commission.
Typically, we try to bring forward conditional uses with enough information, talk about
where the dumpsters are going to be located, what the buildings are going to look like,
where the buildings are going to be placed on the site and that type of information.
Hoffman: The site is certainly large enough, I wasn't really concerned about that. It seems like
those kinds of things would be easily drawn at a later date on this plan and just have
them go forth as a tandem.
Conklin: It's my understanding on a rezoning we can't ask or put any conditions on your
recommendation. You have to base your recommendation that, is this site appropriate
for C-1 neighborhood commercial use because there is a possibility, in the future, that it
may be developed with a use allowed in C-1. That's all we have to consider this
evening, whether or not this piece of property that's currently zoned R-0, if it's zoned
C-1, is that appropriate between this multi -family development to the west and the
commercial development to the east? We have residential office zoning, undeveloped
property, to the north. You kind of have to take a look at it. Is it appropriate for those
types of C-1 neighborhood commercial uses on that piece of property? That's my
understanding of the way Fayetteville handles rezonings and what the law requires us to
look at, we can't consider other things that might occur on this site like a conditional
use.
Hoffman: I think that the way I'm intending to put this is not, it's in two tandem motions just as
we've done all these other things that go forward together and I don't really understand
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 11
Estes:
the objection to it but maybe some other people would want to weight in on it, I'm not
sure.
Mr. Williams, let me ask you this to perhaps be dispositive to Commissioner Hoffman's
question, is it permissible instead of bifurcating the conditional use request and the
rezoning request to hear both the conditional use request rezoning request at the same
time? The rezoning, if approved, would be advanced to City Council for final approval
or must we only hear the rezoning request and then put the applicant to the additional
burden of coming back again a second time for the conditional use? In other words, is
it permissible to hear them both at the same time so that the applicant doesn't have to
make two presentations?
Williams. Mr. Chairman, I think I agree with Mr. Conklin, the City Planner, on that. The
rezoning has to actually become a reality before the conditional use would be allowed.
Although you recommend one way or the other on the rezoning, City Council makes
the decision on the rezoning and until the City Council makes a decision on the rezoning
I don't think it would be proper for a conditional use to be brought forward. 1 assume,
Mr. Conklin, that a conditional use for a batting cage would not be allowed in an R-0
district, which is what it is currently zoned?
Conklin: That is correct. The C-1 zoning is being requested also for the commercial activity
within the batting cage, they do plan on having like a pro shop in there and some food
service.
Williams. Therefore, since the Planning Commission cannot make the final decision on rezoning, it
can only make a recommendation to the City Council. I believe it would be premature
to make any kind of decision upon conditional use until the property has been rezoned,
assuming that's what the City Council will do.
Hoffman: That conditional use could not be heard directly after the rezoning hearing, as we do in
annexation/rezoning, I don't see any difference? I'm just struggling with why.
Conklin: I guess the difference here is you are relying on the conditional use to base your
decision on the rezoning and that concerns me, based on what I understand. Your
zoning decisions needs to stand alone, "Is it appropriate for C-1 use?". I think I
understand why you want to see them together but they can't be tied together.
Hoffman: I understand what you are saying but I'm trying to get this done for this applicant.
• There is a permitted use in here of gasoline service station and drive-in restaurant in C-
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 12
1, if I'm not mistaken. If that's objectionable to anybody being off the corner, it would
seem to me to be a safer proposition to approve the rezoning recommendation and
send forward, at the same time to be heard later, the conditional use which gets him to
the same spot without having the rezoning, for some reason, possibly turned down.
Williams: I will try to differentiate between this and the annexation and rezoning which are heard
at the same time. Both of those are recommendations to the City Council. The City
Council makes a decision on both of those. At this point in time, you make the decision
on conditional uses, the City Council is not involved. That might change in the future,
but right now our whole process is you make a decision there. I think it would be
inappropriate to try to make that decision before the underlying decision has to be
made whether or not this can be rezoned. 1 don't think it would be appropriate to pass
judgement on something that has not in fact been authorized under our ordinances -
because you could not allow a conditional use in an R-0 zone. I agree with the City
Planner, I do not think you can consider a conditional use the same time you do a
rezoning.
Hoffman: Thanks.
Estes: Are there any other questions, Mr. Elsass?
Elsass: You realize that property is adjacent to the La Hacienda restaurant, so you've already
got a restaurant with a drive-thru window. The proximity of the two right there, the fact
that you've already got established apartments adjacent to that and the C-1 is across
the street on the north. I've looked through that, I don't know of any uses that would
go in a C-1 zoning that would disturb that property. A C-2 I would understand where
you are coming from.
Hoffman: I've got R-0 on the north.
Elsass: There's C -I across the street with the R-0. The athletic club is there, there is an
additional two acres across the street, there is the adjacent property. That property,
the way it shows on your map in the City, there is some discrepancies in that in some
plats there, there is some R-0 and some C-1 combined there together.
Estes: Any other questions Mr. Elsass?
PUBLIC COMMENT:
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 13
Estes: Is there any member of the audience who would like to comment on this requested
rezoning?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the full Commission for discussion, questions and
motions.
Allen: I wondered where the discrepancies are on our maps, can you show us or tell us?
Elsass: They aren't on this particular property, they are the piece across the street. There are
some areas over there that show some R-0 zoning and some C-1 zoning and it's just
- not real clear. I'm sure in the minutes that the Planning Division has, it's got it detailed
out according to the plat and the way the colored maps are, there are some areas right
at the top that Bob Shoulders is building a facility that is still zoned R-0. I may be
mistaken, they may have made some changes from some of the paperwork that I've
seen. My point is that all of it, whether it be 250 feet of R-0 and 100 feet of C-1 but
that is the zoning over there is R-0 and C-1, if I'm not mistaken.
Estes: Commissioners, any other comments, questions, discussion, motions?
Bishop: I understand what Commissioner Hoffman is saying and I know we are not supposed
to consider the conditional use, if that is acting as a buffer zone, it does make a
difference what kind of business goes in there. At this point I would be asking what are
the hours of operation for the batting cages going to be and that type of thing. It would
help to have all that information before I make my decision about the rezoning. I see
where she's coming from.
Estes:
I don't want to unfairly characterize what Mr. Williams has told us but I think he has
opined that is something for us to consider when we consider the conditional use and
not when we consider the rezoning, is that correct Mr. Williams?
Williams. Yes it is Mr. Chairman.
Estes: In other words, when the conditional use comes to us, presuming it does come to us,
then we can talk about hours of operation and talk about some of the very important
issues that you've addressed. What we have before us this evening is the rezoning
request Is that correct Mr. Williams?
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 14
Williams. Yes it is. We have to avoid something in the law called contract zoning where you
engage in explicit contracts with developers or owners, in order for them to try to get
their land rezoned. Mr. Conklin gave you a list of several things you are supposed
consider in rezonings and that is what you really need to confine your attention on. 1
understand your other concerns about this and you can certainly think about what can
go on in a C-1 and whether it's appropriate for this particular place and that's what you
need to make your decision on. We don't have, at this point, any kind of absolute
assurance of exactly what's going to happen on this land. Your decision tonight will be
whether or not you feel like it's appropriate in this location to rezone this land C-1.
MOTION:
Marr.
I would like to move for approval and recommending to City Council approval,
rezoning 01-13.00. I believe it's consistent with our land use planning objectives.
Certainly zoning is needed out in this area with the growth that we have and I think it's
appropriate at this time.
Bishop: I'll second.
Hoffman: I'll vote for the rezoning because I strongly believe the applicant is going to follow
through with what he says he's going to do. It's a great idea for what you are going to
put out there. I have, in the several years of being on the Planning Commission, known
that there is a commercial PUD type of zoning ordinance that could be passed and has
been passed in several states, I don't know about Arkansas if it's unique in the fact that
you can't do that. We do have a residential PUD. In this case a commercial PUD
would just be ideal. I've asked the questions several times before, we've never had the
benefit of having a City Attorney at our meetings and possibly there were too many
other things that were under consideration by the City Council or City Attorney's at that
time when 1 tried to make the case for something like this. It would really be helpful if
we could try to get something like that put together. I know we are all really busy and it
takes a lot to do that but this is one more example of that need that I see. That has
been very beneficial in other cities because you can negotiate, not only the rezoning, it's
not a contract zoning, it's the total application. I think the staff has worked very well
with the applicants in terms of giving them an idea of what our ordinances are about and
what to expect and what the general plan shows and so on. Let's consider it for the
future.
Estes: Any other discussion? We have a motion by Commissioner Marr to approve rezoning
• request 01-13.00 and a second by Commissioner Bishop, Sheri would you call the roll,
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 15
does the motion pass?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call RZN 01-13.00 is approved by a unanimous vote of 6-0-0 and will be sent to City
Council.
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 16
Reconsideration of ADM 01-30.00: Administrative Item (Central United Methodist Church,
pp 484) was submitted by Dave Jorgensen of Jorgensen & Associates on behalf of Central United
Methodist Church for property located at 346 N. St. Charles. The property is zoned R -O. Residential
Office and contains approximately 0.30 acres. The request is to reconsider a proposal for a 31 space
parking lot for a church (use unit 4, cultural & recreational facility) in an R. -O district, with a semi-
permeable paving system.
Estes:
The next item of business that we have on our agenda is item number five. This is an
administrative item for Central United Methodist Church submitted by Dave Jorgensen
of Jorgensen & Associates on behalf of Central United Methodist Church for property
located at 346 N. St. Charles. The property is zoned R -O. Residential Office and
contains approximately 0 30 acres. The request is to reconsider a proposal for a 31
space parking lot for a church (use unit 4, cultural & recreational facility) in an R -O
district, with a semi -permeable paving system. Staff recommends that Planning
Commission make a finding that there is evidence of changed conditions or new
circumstances which justify reconsideration of conditional use request 01-14.00 based
on the use of a semi -permeable paving system, Grasspave2. If the Planning
Commission makes a finding to allow reconsideration, staff will place the conditional
use and large scale development request on the August 13, 2001, Planning Commission
agenda.
This is a motion for reconsideration that is based upon the authority of our Ordinance
§163.02, Authority, Conditions and Procedures. Disapproval/Reconsideration. "No
application for conditional use will be considered by the Planning Commission within 12
months from the date of final disapproval of a proposed conditional use, unless there is
evidence of changed conditions or new circumstances which justify reconsideration
submitted to the Planning Commission."
Commissioners, in order to grant this request for reconsideration, you must make a
finding that there is evidence of changed conditions or new circumstances which justify
reconsideration. This is not the typical motion for a rehearing that we sometimes hear
which must be made in the meeting following the meeting in which there was a
disapproval, in that case the motion must be made by one of the members who voted in
opposition to the motion. This is a request for reconsideration under the authority of the
ordinance which 1 quoted and the motion may be made by any member of the
Commission, seconded by any member of the Commission, and requires a majority
vote. Before we proceed any further, we have six Commissioners present, are there
any recusals?
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 17
Allen:
Estes:
In the last month or so, I've been reading and hearing an awful lot about recusals, when
they are appropriate or not appropriate. In the year that I've been on the Planning
Commission, I've recused one other time and that was when there was a rezoning in my
neighborhood that would have required a higher density and it was certainly an issue
that I cared a great deal about yet I felt it appropriate morally and ethically to recuse. I
cannot remember a time when I was not a member of the Central United Methodist
Church. There have been times that I've been a member in better standing than other
times but 1 don't remember not being a member of the church. To me, it is an ethical
and moral conflict but I would like to say that, by no means, my recusal makes
someone else's choice invalid, it has to be a real personal decision and my decision is to
recuse.
That leaves five members of -the Commission who will be voting, a majority is required.
The recusal will be counted as an absent. Let me say this, and please listen very
carefully, administrative items are normally done by the Commission and public
comment is not taken and no presentation by the applicant is made, however, in this
case, I am going to make an exception. I am going to allow a presentation by the
applicant and 1 am going to allow public comment. Let me please direct your attention
to this singular issue, this is a motion for reconsideration of a conditional use. Let's not
go back and re -lick the calf. If in the applicants presentation or public comment I find
that that's being done, I'm going to say so and ask you to sit down. Please, limit your
comments to the motion that is before us, make your comments brief, make them salient
to the issue being discussed and sit down and give another person a chance. Don't lick
the calf again. With that said, does the applicant have any presentation to be made?
Jorgensen: My name is Dave Jorgensen. On behalf of Central United Methodist Church I
respectfully bring this forward before the Planning Commission. First of all, I beg your
patience in this situation, we really do need more parking. In an attempt to solve the
problem, we came up with this idea of putting in a grass parking lot. You may have in
your packets color drawings of the parking lot. It's not totally green and it may not be
green enough for you, which we could go with a darker color, basically it's been
suggested that we convert the asphalt surface to a concrete surface right down the
middle 20 foot wide. That would be the main driveway and we would have grass
surface each side of that. In addition to that, we have removed all other waiver
requests in that we have no more waiver requests about the 15 foot setback on the
west side and any other waiver requests we had. We are abiding by all the
requirements. We are here to solve a problem the best we can, the best way we know
how. We are simply asking, as you mentioned Bob, that the Planning Commission at
least consider this at the next Planning Commission meeting, August 13th. This is our
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 18
best chance that we thought of getting this parking lot approved. We feel like it
happens to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood in the fact that the parking to the
south is the Post Office parking and there is also a parking lot to the north which is the
law firm and naturally this ties into our parking to the east. We don't feel like we are
too far out of character with this proposal. Based on the fact that it is mostly grass and
we could add more grass, if you notice, the shaded are that's called "landscape mulch"
that's around the perimeter, we could have that grassed also. The only part that we
had hard surface is the central area right there that we converted to concrete because
we had a lot of concern at the last meeting that the asphalt would generate more heat.
We think the concrete would actually help this situation. We now have that change
also. The grassed area would be irrigated and hopefully you still have the brochures in
your packet that show how this is done and where it's done, we think that would be a
real good alternative to the asphalt that we originally had. Here again, the main
significant change is the pure and simple fact that we are going to hopefully have an all
grass parking lot which is the basis for our request and the fact that we've removed all
variance requests on this.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Estes:
Is there any member of the public who would like to provide public comment on this
requested reconsideration of conditional use? If so, please come forward, give us your
name, please keep your comments brief, to the point and relevant to this agenda item
being discussed, that is, the request for reconsideration, so that everyone has a chance
to speak.
Marinoni: My name is Paula Marinoni, I'm the founder and President of the Washington County
Historic Preservation Association. My family has been a presence on west Lafayette
Street for close to 100 years. I have an interest in that area, I see it as being having the
opportunity to be beautiful once again. I've been very concerned of what I've seen
happen to it, not just since I've returned six years ago, but as I said in my letter to you.
Have you had an opportunity to read my letter?
Estes:
Ms. Marinoni, your letter was made a part of our packet. 1 think it would be
appropriate if you provided us with the benefit of your comrnents and not interrogate
the Commission members.
Marinoni: I didn't want to be redundant.
• Estes: Your letter has been provided. I think that two separate letters have been provided
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 19
and made a part of our packet. I cannot speak for the other Commission members but
1 can say that I've read mine.
Marinoni: Addressing this particular issue, I would like to remind you that the parking lot issue
was voted down and they have come back with this request for reconsideration saying
that they think they have addressed most of the concerns. I would like to remind you
and I would like to read from the minutes of the last meeting. Chairman Estes, when
you started to comment on this you said the same thing that you just said, `Be to the
point and relevant to the agenda item being considered so that everyone will have a
chance to speak and please do not be repetitious or redundant. By that, I mean, do not
repeat what a previous speaker has said." You informed us, you told us not to be
repetitious. Everyone here that spoke and signed these petitions are concerned about
the proliferation of parking lots in that area and tearing down the historic structures. •
That is the issue. By telling us that we could not be redundant and letting people say
what their main feelings were, they went off on the tangent issues like the heat that it
generates. That is certainly not the main issue and I think the planners know that.
Richard Alexander came up and he presented, I knew he was going to present this so I
let him present that, in your planning regulations 172.01(e)(2)(b) it says "The Planning
Commission shall make a finding based on the size, scale, and location of these
activities that the proposed parking lot will not adversely affect the adjacent residential
uses or the residential character of the neighborhood." He said "I submit that if you tear
down all the houses to make parking, you have adversely affected the residential
character of the neighborhood." In your regulations, it states this. I came up and
backed him up and I said on condition of approving this, in your packet it says under
3B, "The granting of the conditional use will not adversely affect the public interests."
Their finding was that it wouldn't and I said "Who says Tearing down the historic
structures in a historic area and turning everything into a leveled area of nothingness is
adversely affecting the public interest." There were two petitions that were circulated.
One in the Boles/Rollston area, that petition did not mention heat. They were
concerned about the historic integrity of the neighborhood and they backed up my
proposal which is basically to the church, that they swap some of the parking that's
already been approved for this. That's nothing that you could do but they actively put
their hand to that. There was also a petition that was circulated on Mount Nord. They
spoke against the proliferation of the parking lots in that area. Also, the aesthetic value
that this is supposed to address, this should not be an issue whether it's grass or what
because in the last meeting that wasn't the main issue. When he came back up here
and Don Bunch said "Help me out here." " Why should we approve this?", and he said
"Because it's going to be nice looking." "We've made all these efforts to save trees."
We didn't really care about that. What we were opposed to and the reason it was
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Planning Commission
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Page 20
voted down was that there is no plan for what's happening in this area and the
responsibility to the neighborhood and the integrity of the area. The grass shouldn't
make a difference. If they did what they said they were going to do last time, which
was voted down, it wouldn't make a difference. That lot is elevated and if it was
screened, like they said it would be screened, it wouldn't make any difference if grass
was up there. On the sod parking lot, I was involved with the last sod parking lot on
Spring Street, in that by coincidence, that property was on my garden tour that year. I
was there when it was being put in, I watched them put it in and I thought "I can't see
how on earth that's going to work." 1 gave it the benefit of the doubt. We did the t.v.
video of it and 1 was saying how wonderful this was. Wouldn't that be wonderful for it
to work? But it didn't work, it failed. Tim says it's because of the kind of grass that
was used. 1 contend that it was what was underneath it and it's an inappropriate use
for it. If someone wants to try to do that, fine, but it's basically designed for stadium
parking lots. Like in Kansas City we had a world class turf management manager who
was out there with a whole team every day. They don't seem to show that there is any
concern for the neighborhood, let alone how that parking is going to be cared for. The
sod parking lot on Spring Street failed, there is no grass there and now there is brown
gravel covering the whole thing. Aesthetically it shouldn't make a difference. The main
thing that I found out in this and I asked Tim "How come if parking in an R-0 zone
requires a conditional use, why then in 1995 all the parking that Central United
Methodist got approved on Lafayette Street, that has not been built yet, why isn't that a
conditional use?" He said, "At that time, was the same time UBC was doing their big
new church and all that additional parking." It was probably quite a shock for the
neighborhood to see all this parking going in and that's when this was enacted. There
has not been a parking lot in this area since then. This is the first time that this has come
up. I don't see, as planners and as people who represent the citizens of the City, how
you can ignore this when the intent was specifically for thiv area and specifically to
protect the historic integrity of this very challenged area. I ask you to vote it down.
Thank you.
Estes: Is there any other member of the audience who would like to provide public comment
on this requested reconsideration of conditional use 01-14.00?
Boyett: I'm Jeff Boyett. My family and I own the property directly north of the proposed lot on
the eastern side. I'll start by saying 1 hate opposing the church, it's awful to appear in
the paper opposing the church, it just happens to be the circumstance in where I live. I
note this is Just for reconsideration and I'll be brief. Three points that I got from the last
meeting of why it was voted down was, number one, there was no comprehensive plan.
You are being asked to consider one parking spot of 31 spaces or however many it is
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Planning Commission
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now, I don't know. I would imagine it would be very hard to make a rational decision
when you've got parking that's going to be on an entire block on Lafayette Street, this
goes from Highland to St. Charles. The church says that there is no long term parking
plans then I have no reason to doubt them at all. However, it's already been approved.
The second reason is, have they explored other parking available to them? No one
parks on Lafayette Street on Sunday morning, I live there and I know. Washington
Elementary School has a parking lot that's empty all weekend long. Those two
combined are more than 31 spots that the church is looking for. The third thing and the
most important thing is that it adversely affects the neighborhood. A parking lot going
into any house could not do anything but adversely affect the neighborhood. Just by
going to a grass lot, to butcher an old saying, "a parking lot by any other means is still a
parking lot." It could be gravel, dirt, grass or anything, it's still a parking lot going into
our neighborhood and just by changing it to grass is not enough of a change for it to go
up for reconsideration.
Rolston: I'm Linda Rolston. I'm a new employee in the downtown area. Anyone that is in the
area Monday through Friday knows how much fun it is finding a place to park at
different times of the day, especially Farmer's Market day. I've seen it as an
experience in creativity. I've done a lot of walking in the past month or so. I've gotten
involved a little bit more with the Downtown Dickson Enhancement Program, as you all
may know, that is going to blend Dickson, along with Central Methodist, blend it up to
the square, which is an incredible creative project. I really see before us an exercise in
creativity. As we've heard comments about parking availability, I know there seems to
be more of an abundance even on the weekends versus during the week, like in the
square area which does get very congested. I'm positive that's what the church really
desires, is really what's best for everyone concerned, not just for the church and for
their members to experience the extra parking but really what's best for the whole
community. 1 really believe that's at the heart of it all, we are trying to reach that
balance together. I personally feel and some of us believe that the balance that's truly
the best for all is not the parking lot, be it asphalt or greenpave 2. I just wanted to share
that. Someone has mentioned that they want to solve the problem the best way we
know how. I think together that's where we are going.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes: Does anyone else wish to provide public comment on this requested reconsideration?
Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the applicant for comments and rebuttal.
• Jorgensen: I would like to clarify for the record, it's not 31 spaces, now it's 29. We have reduced
Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 22
the amount of spaces to 29.
Estes: Mr. Kincaid is indicating that he wishes to take the rebuttal period, I believe.
Kincaid: I'm currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Central United Methodist
Church. I just want to take a few minutes to give rebuttal. I will keep my remarks
brief. It seems to me that the very nature of what we are here about is reconsideration.
We are here because other avenues are not acceptable to the church, we want to work
with the City, with the Planning Commission. We've been involved with the Dickson
Street Enhancement Project, we've been involved with the commitment to stay in
downtown. We are trying to do our part to make that work. We've cast around for a
better solution. The very nature of reconsideration means you are considering
something again. Necessarily it is a parking lot or it wouldn't be a reconsideration. If it
were otherwise, I ask the City Attorney to stop me short if I'm wrong, it would be an
application for something else, a mobile home or something of that sort. In essence,
even though it is still a parking lot, the question is are there changed conditions? We
didn't know about this process when we first came to you for the conditional use.
Since then we've discovered that it is a viable option and has been done by other
churches across the country. We do think it is a changed condition. It creates a
grassed area that can double as a natural area when it's not being used for parking. It
addresses one of the concerns, the heat generated by asphalt in specific terms. It's
very different in terms of what is proposed and what was proposed. We ask you, in
essence, to reconsider and that's all we do today. We would like the opportunity to
produce more graphic evidence of the merit of this and the success of it as a means for
solving this problem. I'm not going to attempt to deal with the questions raised about
Lafayette because that's not what is involved here. The issue is, given that you are
reconsidering that application for a parking lot which went before, are there conditions
that are changed? You've heard that we've withdrawn requests for other aspects of it,
in addition reduced the spaces, changed the very nature of it to a grassed area. 1
submit that that represents a very substantial change of conditions or new circumstances
that would warrant your taking another look at this. That's what we ask you to do
tonight. I agree with Ms. Rolston, it is a question of balance. It always is in a
community like this, we have all kinds of pressures to take care of but taking care of
people who want to try to attend a church and have reasonable proximity to it, to
access it, is a part of that balance. Even Ms. Marinoni, in her original letter to the
Commission described this particular parcel as a better place for parking. It should be
obvious that we are searching for solutions to that. We would really like to try this
technique because it may help in other things that we do, if it's workable. We think it
will be based on the studies we've done. We ask you to give us a chance to
Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 23
demonstrate that to you. You've got another chance to look at it if you grant the
reconsideration and we would respectfully ask that you do that. Thank you.
Estes: I will now bring the item back to the Commission for comments, discussions, questions
of the applicant and motions.
Conklin: I did receive a letter today from 108 Boles Street, would you like me to read that into
the record? I did pass it out to each Commissioner this evening.
Estes: There was material that was here when we arrived at 5:30 p.m. Commissioners, any
other discussion?
Hoffman: At the agenda session I went on record saying that I would most likely vote against the
parking lot, should it come back to Planning Commission because I do still believe it is
a parking lot even though the material was changed. I was on a family vacation in
Savannah, Georgia, when the last meeting took place and did not vote but I did study
the minutes and I visited the site. Although I feel reluctant, I'm not going to make a
motion either way but it just seems to me that it's part of the democratic process if
somebody has come up with another method or idea for the parking lot that they
deserve a hearing. I just wanted to be very clear with everybody at the agenda session
and I think I was because I read about it later, how I was feeling about that. I will just
confine my discussion to the rehearing in that I'm always in favor of giving everybody
the most say and being as fair as possible in that regard. I'll leave my comments
regarding the parking lot material and the proposed paving for later, should it come
back to us.
Estes:
Let me say this, I will vote against any motion for reconsideration and the reason is this,
the conditional use request was for a parking lot. It was for a conditional use (Use Unit
4) in an R-0 district. I voted for that conditional use request. I voted in the majority in
number but the minority, in affect because it required five affirmative votes. I voted for
the conditional use that we are now being asked to reconsider but 1 cannot vote for
reconsideration and the reason is, what was before us then was a request for a parking
lot and what is before us now is a request to reconsider a parking lot. Under the
ordinance we must make an affirmative finding that number one, there is evidence of
changed circumstances or new circumstances which justify reconsideration. I see that
we considered a parking lot and that it was not approved by five affirmative votes. I
see that we are now being asked to reconsider a parking lot. 1 see no difference. It
was a conditional use for a parking lot then and it's a conditional use for a parking lot
now. I will tell you in pains me greatly to have to vote against this because I voted for
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Planning Commission
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the conditional use request.
Kincaid: Maybe it would be good, f haven't talked to the City Attorney about that issue but just
saying because it asked for a parking lot again it can't be reconsidered. I'm saying we
couldn't have a reconsideration if we didn't ask for a parking lot again. I would yield
and say that's a legal question and it would be appropriate for somebody to rule on it
that can say whether or not you can have reconsideration if you didn't consider a
parking lot. The issue has to be whether it changed conditions.
Estes:
Let me respond to that if I may? No, it's not a question of law, it's a question of fact.
We are mandated by ordinance to make a specific finding of fact to vote for the motion
for reconsideration. That specific finding of fact which must be made is "Evidence of
changed circumstances or new circumstances which justify reconsideration". A
conditional use is just that, it is a use subject to certain conditions. Most often what is
seen is, in the reported literature as example, a conditional use to place a mobile home
in an R-0 or R-1. If that was denied by lack of five affirmative votes and it came back
to us as a request to place a duplex instead of a mobile home, I think that would satisfy
the finding of fact that we must make. We are not mandated to make any findings of
law. We are mandated to make specific findings of fact. I see we had a conditional
use request for a parking lot and I see that we have a conditional use request for a
parking lot right now. I'm dust one of five but if there is a motion made, so far there has
not been a motion made, I cannot vote for the motion for reconsideration for those
reasons, although I did vote for a conditional use request. Let me also say this, this
concerns me. There is a substantial concern that I have that each time we look at a
conditional use that the applicant comes back later, under this ordinance §163.02 and
asks for reconsideration after having modified their request a little bit. If it's a request
to put a mobile home in an R-0 and the second time it's a request to put a mobile home
in an R-0, I'm not going to vote for it. If it's a request for a parking lot the first time
and it's a request for the parking lot the second time, I'm not going to vote for it. I'm
just one. 1 sometimes sit up here and feel like, perhaps like a director of a cemetery
must feel, he has a whole lot of people under him and nobody pays any attention to
anything he says. Maybe that will be the case in this circumstance. Mr. Kincaid, we
have closed the floor and it is now before the full Commission.
Hoffman: I would suggest that usually you talk about the number of votes needed for something to
pass. We've got five people sitting up here right now and we know you are not going
to vote for it, you've made that perfectly clear, wouldn't it be appropriate to talk about
allowing the applicant to withdraw this request? If we do deny this, nothing comes
back for another year, am I right in that? This was an administrative item on a
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Planning Commission
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conditional use and if it gets denied, there is no way it's corning back, regardless if you
pave it in gold bricks?
Estes: As a conditional use request it would not come back for one year. As the applicant can
see, there are five members of the Commission present, four are absent.
Williams: Since this is a simple motion, it only requires the majority of the voting members. It
would still require 3 affirmative votes to pass, 3 negative votes to fail.
Estes: Certainly, to be responsive to what you said Commissioner Hoffman, the applicant can
pull it at any time prior to the vote.
Kincaid: My understanding that in essence, the way you are interpreting the ordinance is that in
any circumstance if you carne back for a reconsideration and it's still a parking
lot or still a mobile home, that you could not, that precluded finding changed conditions
or changed circumstances, that's the ruling of the Chair?
Estes:
No, that was not the ruling of the Chair at all. I was attempting to communicate and
articulate two things: one, I wanted you to know how I would vote because you've got
five Commissioners up here and you are kind of short. Nine is a full Commission. I
wanted to you to know, number one, how I was going to vote and; number two, I felt
like that because 1 had voted in favor of the conditional use that, having informed you
how I was going to vote, deserved some explanation. I'm not opining or making a
ruling.
Marr: Could you talk about prior reconsiderations and give me some examples where we
would have considered the same use within a request? Are you aware of any?
Conklin: I'm not aware of any. I don't remember bringing anything back to you for a
reconsideration?
Hoffman: Lake Hills Church came back. They just changed their design scheme a bunch, it was
still a church. Was that not one of them?
Conklin: Lake Hills Church came back because they changed what they were doing. It started
out as a rezoning and then added a daycare towards the end that required them to
come back.
• Hoffman: That wasn't a conditional use though?
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Planning Commission
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Conklin: That was a conditional use. Staff required them to come back before the Commission
to have their additional uses approved as a conditional use.
Kincaid: It would just help us to know if there cannot be a change in condition, it is still a parking
lot, that's all. It would help us to know. We understood that staff recommended it so
that it could be regarded as qualifying as an issue with changed conditions. The mere
fact that it was a parking lot still would not prevent that. It seems to me that staff would
not have recommended it. I don't want to misstate the Chairman but I just want to be
sure we understand. If we have misunderstood that we can come back and show a
change in conditions about that parking lot, if in fact being a parking lot renders it
impossible to show a change in conditions. If that answers the question that there aren't
changes in condition, we need to know that so we know how to proceed.
Ward:
Marr:
First of all, I think in order for our churches to continue to be growing and dynamic,
we've got to provide more parking lots, there's no doubt about that. We already have
very concise parking lot landscaping regulations and I think they are very good. I'm
not sure that doing this is any better than what we already have. I don't really think this
is an answer. We've got, what I think, are very excellent landscaping regulations for
our parking lots. I really feel strongly that the churches in our historic area are what
makes our historic area a very neat place to live and work. I don't think the value of
properties have gone up dramatically enough to where we they are talking about
parking decks. Churches can't afford to put parking decks in with what the price of
property is now. That's just my thinking on it. I would have a hard time with the
administrative item. I think the church needs more parking, you can't grow without
parking. People just won't go to that church if there is not convenient parking. All of
our churches on the downtown historic area are facing similar problems. They have
such a positive impact on our lives and that's what makes our area such a neat place to
live. That's one reason people want to come here from other places is because of our
strong religions and all of our good churches. Thereagain, I'm not sure that this is
enough of a change that I can vote for it either.
I voted against this proposal the first time because of the impact it made on the
residential character of the neighborhood, the compatibility of adjacent residential
property and more importantly, understanding the total planning of the site relative to
parking because I do believe that we have prior approval of parking. When I look at a
conditional use being done, I'm also considering the availability of what is already
approved. When I look at this request, it is still a parking lot to me. 1 cannot think of
one situation where we have reconsidered the same use, that I'm aware of, on my three
years of the Commission. When you come back in a year, I won't be here, you'll have
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
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a better shot. The other thing is that those items that made me vote my particular way is
we've spoken to at all on why they would change in term of a master plan. I did hear
some more data this time about the compatibility with the parking lot surrounding it but 1
still think there are residential areas that touch it. 1 also heard through Ms. Marinoni's
comments that the Mount Nord District supported not doing this and I wanted to speak
specifically to that because I'm a Mount Nord resident. I live at #2 Mount Nord and I
haven't talked to a single person on my street. If I felt there was a conflict of interest I
would certainly recuse from it, simply because I have a lot of friends that go to that
church and want them to have their parking. I live catty -corner and look from my
porch at a parking lot at Washington School every Sunday morning. Parking doesn't
affect me in the same manner than someone else. 1 have to do what I think is best in my
role in planning and that is, I've listened to the feedback, I've talked both pros and
cons in support of this and I still think the same issue stands. The other thing is that I'm
not all that opposed to conditional uses and the change that the City Council is
requesting because I think that they are elected and if someone isn't happy with us,
since we are appointed, they ought to have that option. I only do what's best and
maybe the next person on this seat will find it another way but that's how I feel.
Hoffman: I can't emphasize enough how important I think this is. It may not be a change in use of
the parking lot. I'm not speaking to my objections to this because I will get to them, if
this comes, at another time. I think that when you read our ordinance, if there is a
change in the circumstance and evidence of changed conditions, we've got grass paving
versus asphalt paving, I don't see any new circumstances. That's an "or" in between
but we owe it to them to at least listen to them. I really wish I could come out and give
all my comments I have regarding the neighborhood and the impact on the
neighborhood and the warranty issues that I see with the paving but that's not what we
are here to talk about tonight. I just think the people, if they have made a substantial
change, this is a substantial change in the pavement of the parking lot, should be able to
bring it back and discuss it in an open forum and not wait a year I'm one of five.
Bishop: 1 would just like to hear from staff why this came to us, why you feel like this was
enough of a significant change to bring it to us? Is it just because we are going to a
different material, the grasspave, that you feel like it's enough of a change?
Conklin: That's correct. This is a product that typically isn't used for parking lots in Fayetteville.
The idea here was to try to make the site softer, more natural looking, decrease the
pavement on the site. Once again, the Planning Commission has to make the finding
whether or not there are changed conditions or new circumstances which justify the
reconsideration. When they did talk to staff and the Landscape Administrator about
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Estes:
this, this was a way to possibly reduce stormwater runoff, also when they increased the
landscaping along the front, no longer requiring the variances and reducing it by two
parking spaces, we thought there was enough change in conditions here for the Planning
Commission to take a look at the conditional use request again. That's how we looked
at it. Once again, this is something we don't typically see here at the Planning
Commission. I think each Commissioner is going to have to decide what is evidence of
changed conditions and new circumstances to grant a reconsideration of the conditional
use that was denied. 1 think everyone is going to have to evaluate the situation and how
it's changed from what was proposed before and make that decision tonight as to
whether or not to go forward and hear the large scale development and conditional use.
Thank you Mr. Conklin. Any other discussion, comments, motions? The Chair will call
three times for a motion. Is there a motion? Is there a motion? Is there a motion? The
request for reconsideration fails for lack of a motion.
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Planning Commission
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ADM 01-31.00: Administrative Item (Copper Creek, pp 100) was submitted by Brian Moore of
ESI on behalf of Gary Brandon Enterprises for property located east of Highway 265 and north of Zion
Road. The request is for a waiver from Section 3-3 of the City Minimum Street Standards to allow
Copper Creek Drive to have a street grade more than four percent (4%) at it's intersection with Zion
Road.
Estes:
The next item on our agenda is item number six, administrative item 01-31.00 Copper
Creek Subdivision submitted by Brian Moore of ESI on behalf of Gary Brandon
Enterprises for property located east of Highway 265 and north of Zion Road. The
request is for a waiver from Section 3-3 of the City Minimum Street Standards to allow
Copper Creek Drive to have a street grade more than four percent (4%) at it's
intersection with Zion Road. Staff recommends approval of the waiver request. Is the
applicant present? Would you come forward and tell us your name please and provide
us with the benefit of your presentation.
Moore: I'm Brian Moore with Engineering Services in Springdale. This came about when we
were doing the plans for the project, after we had submitted for preliminary plat and
been approved. The connection to Zion Road, due to the existing topography, was just
a little too much cut in that area so we are asking for the variance for that reason.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Estes: Thank you Mr. Moore. Is there any member of the audience who wishes to provide
public comment on this requested administrative item?
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Estes:
MOTION:
Marr.
Allen:
Hoffman:
Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the Commission for discussion, motions, questions.
I'll move for approval of administrative item 01-31.00.
I'll second.
I have a question for Mr. Petrie. It looks like we've got a l0% slope and then looking
at our materials of the comparable slopes and other streets; the one most notable that
comes most closely to this is Sunset which is a 10.5 degree slope, it's pretty steep. Are
we willing to put ourselves into this kind of position? Is the City at liability for allowing
•
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Planning Commission
July 23, 2001
Page 30
Petrie:
Hoffman:
Estes:
Petrie:
Estes:
this?
First let me point out that 10.5 percent on Sunset Drive is an average. What you see
and what you notice is the actual maximum slope which is 20 percent. It's hard to use
that as a guide. That's the whole average on the whole street section.
You've answered my question. Thanks.
Mr. Petrie, as part of our materials there was a sight distance analysis done with you
present and you used an 85 percentile speed limit of 25 miles an hour, what happens if
we don't approve this administrative item? What is the consequence, result or what is
the applicant trying to avoid?
The main thing that we are trying to avoid is having to put a large, probably about a 10
foot high retaining wall adjacent to this proposed park. That will be accepted when the
final plat is accepted. That's the other alternative.
Commissioners, any other questions? We have a motion by Commissioner Marr and
second by Commissioner Allen to approve administrative item 01-31.00, any further
discussion, comments, questions? Does the motion pass? Would you call the roll
Sheri?
ROLL CALL:
Upon roll call AD 01-31.00 is approved by a unanimous vote of 6-0-0.
Estes: Is there any other business to come before the Commission?
Conklin: There is no other business.
Estes: Any announcements?
Conklin: I don't have any announcements.
Estes: We are adjourned until our next regularly called meeting. Thank you.
7-23-01 PC
Mtg.
ROLL CALL
7-9-01 PC meeting
minutes
LSD 01-23 00
Lindsey Office
Building, pp 174
MOTION
Ward
SECOND
Hoffman
D. Bunch
Absent
Absent
B. Estes
Present
Y
L. Hoffman
Present
Y
S. Hoover
Absent
Absent
N. Allen
Present
Y
D. Marr
Present
Y
A. Bishop
Present
Y
Shackelford
Absent
Absent
L. Ward
Present
Y
6 present 3 absent
ACTION
Approved
Approved
VOTE
6-0-0
•
•
7-23-01 PC
Mtg.
RZN 01-13 00
Indoor Batting
Cages, pp 138
ADM 01-30.00
Reconsideration -
Central United
Methodist Church,
pp 484
ADM 01-31.00
Copper Creek, pp
100
MOTION
Marr
No motion made
Marr
SECOND
Bishop
Allen
D. Bunch
Absent
Absent
B. Estes
Y
Y
L. Hoffman
Y
Y
S. Hoover
Absent
Absent
N. Allen
Y
Y
D. Marr
y
y
A. Bishop
Y
Y
Shackelford
Absent
Absent
L. Ward
y
Y
ACTION
Approved
Failed
Approved
VOTE
6-0-0
6-0-0