HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-08 MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
A regular meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission was held on Monday, July 8, 2002 at
5:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville,
Arkansas.
ITEMS CONSIDERED ACTION TAKEN
PPL 02-4.00: Preliminary Plat (Ash Acres P.U.D. , pp 367) Approved
Page 4
CUP 02-8.00: Conditional Use (Ash Acres P.U.D., pp 367) Approved
Page 10
CUP 02-18.00: Conditional Use
(Southwestern Bell Telephone, pp 484)
Page 11
Approved
LSD 02-17.00: Large Scale Development
(Nelson-Bema Funeral Home, pp 99) Approved
Page 14
CUP 02-20.00: Conditional Use (Nelson-Berna, pp 99) Approved
Page 20
RZN 02-16.00: Rezoning (Lazenby, pp 560) Forwarded to City Council
Page 22
RZN 02-17.00: Rezoning (Mathias/Barnes, pp 364/403) Forwarded to City Council
Page 26
CUP 02-21.00: Conditional Use (The New School, pp 290) Approved
Page 33
ADM 01-15.00: Administrative Item (Outdoor Lighting) Forwarded to City Council
Page 35
ADM 01-19.00 Administrative Item
(Off -Street Parking Ordinance Amendments)
Page 48
Forwarded to City Council
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 2
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERSABSENT
Nancy Allen
Donald Bunch
Sharon Hoover
Lorel Hoffman
Bob Estes
Alice Church
Lee Ward
Loren Shackelford
STAFF PRESENT STAFF ABSENT
Kit Williams
Renee Thomas
Ron Petrie
Matt Casey
Dawn Warrick
Tim Conklin
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 3
Hoffman: Good evening everybody. Welcome to the July 8, 2002 meeting of the
Fayetteville Planning Commission. Renee, would you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call all eight Commissioners were present.
Approval of the Minutes
Hoffman: Thank you. The next thing on the agenda is the approval of minutes from the
June 24, 2002 meeting. Do I have a motion?
Motion:
Ward: So moved.
Shackelford: Second.
Hoffman. Renee would you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon completion of roll call the motion to approve the minutes was approved by
a vote of 8-0-0.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 4
PPL 02-4.00: Preliminary Plat (Ash Acres P.U.D. , pp 367) was submitted by W.B. Rudasill
of WBR Engineering on behalf of Rob Stanley for property located south of Ash Street between
Gregg Avenue & Woolsey Avenue. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and
contains approximately 1.28 acres with 6 lots proposed.
Hoffman: We have a revised agenda from last Thursday. Items are going to be taken out of
order from the original one. Our first item of business is old business. It is
number three on our agenda. It is PPL 02-4.00 for Ash Acres, P.U.D. It was
submitted by Bill Rudasill of WBR Engineering on behalf of Rob Stanley for
property located south of Ash Street between Gregg Avenue and Woolsey
Avenue. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and contains
approximately 1.33 acres with six lots proposed. This is a reconsideration. This
item was tabled at our last meeting. There are nine conditions of approval. Tim,
do we have signed conditions?
Conklin: Yes.
Hoffman: Thank you very much.
Allen: Madam Chair, before you continue I will recuse from this item.
Hoffman: Thank you. I will read the conditions of approval into the record. 1) The tree
preservation area shall be clearly shown on the plat and shall be dedicated as a
tree preservation easement on the Final Plat. 2) Planning Commission shall
specifically grant a density bonus pursuant to UDO. 166.06. This property is 1.33
acres and is zoned R-1 which allows for five units by right. The applicant is
requesting a total of six units or a density bonus of one unit with 40% of the site
remaining open space. The Planned Unit Development portion of the UDO has
been attached at the end of this report. 3) Planning Commission approval of a
conditional use allowing for a tandem lot for Joseph Kilgore. The property owned
by Joseph Kilgore to the south is being granted an access easement through the
Ash Acres development to his property. Until recently, he owned property all the
way to Ash Street, but sold it to the developer of this subdivision which created
the need for the tandem lot approval. 4) The private drive shall be constructed to
public street standards. 5) Plat Review and Subdivision comments (to include
written staff comments provided to the applicant or his representative, and all
comments from utility representatives. 6) Staff approval of final detailed plans,
specifications and calculations (where applicable) for grading, drainage, water,
sewer, fire protection, streets (public and private), sidewalks, parking lot(s) and
tree preservation. The information submitted for the plat review process was
reviewed for general concept only. All public improvements are subject to
additional review and approval. All improvements shall comply with Cityas
current requirements. 7) Payment of parks fees in the amount of $2,350.00 (5
additional units @$470). 8) Sidewalk construction in accordance with current
standards to include a minimum four foot sidewalk and six foot greenspace along
Ash. 9) Preliminary Plat shall be valid for one calendar year. Staff, do we have
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 5
any presentation before we hear from the applicant?
Conklin: I would just like to remind the Commission that this is a Planned Unit
Development. You do have to make a finding that because this is a Planned Unit
Development it is more efficient use of land. Other findings also are preservation
of natural resources. I bring that up because this is zoned R-1, Low Density
Residential, and we are allowing increased density on this development.
Hoffman. Thank you Tim. Is the applicant present? Would you come forward please? Do
you have a presentation or would you just like to answer questions as they come
up?
Blakeley: We will just answer questions.
Hoffman: Can you please tell us your names?
Stanley: My name is Rob Stanley and I have a little presentation if you want to hear it,
then I would be glad to answer any questions. I just wanted to say after the last
meeting it was requested that we meet with the Woodland Neighborhood
Association and I did that and the engineer did that with me. This is his assistant,
he was out of town on vacation this evening. I think one of the representatives is
here from there and can speak to that meeting. I felt like it was a very positive
meeting. There were approximately 30 people. I didn't count everyone but I did
have an opportunity at that meeting to explain what I was wanting to do and to
show them some pictures of houses similar to what I want to construct. I just
thought it was a positive meeting as far as I was concerned. I didn't receive any
negative comments. I did bring a floorplan of the houses that I am going to build.
Also, I brought an elevation for them and also to the meeting so that they could
see and explain to them that originally the design was for a one story, one car
garage, approximately 1,200 sq.ft. and we have changed that now to still fit within
the existing footprint that was originally proposed but to a two story, two car
garage, three bedroom, two bath home that will be approximately 1,500 sq.ft. My
point was that I think this is going to be a very nice addition to the neighborhood.
Four of these houses will be on one side of the property and then one house will
be on the other side. The four on the west side will buffer between what is right
next door to me there which is new apartments that are being constructed and then
directly across the street from me is a townhouse and a duplex. I am on the very
edge there of multi -family. On the east side of the proposed road will be just a
single home and that will adjoin the other single family homes that are along that
area. For the most part that is where the continuous greenspace is that I am
proposing. That will be left a large wooded area and I think that that will be a
good use of the land and will provide quite a buffer to what is there. One of the
other key things, and then I will be glad to answer questions, I think when I got to
talk with the Woodland Association and explained that yes, I am asking for one
additional house, I think some people thought initially that we were going to build
six new ones so there would maybe be seven there. When I explained that I am
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 6
proposing five for a total of six, I think that that seemed to go over better when
that was understood.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Hoffman: We will go ahead and take public comment and then we will come back to you.
Is there anybody here from the public that would like to address us?
Shock: My name is Laura Shock. I am with the Woodland Neighborhood Association. I
just wanted to let you know that he did meet with us in a very timely manner and
had a lot of good information. I think it is vital that you continue to encourage
developers to meet with the neighborhood associations because I think a lot of it
came out of it on both sides. Questions were answered on both sides. I think he
increased the greenspace. He mentioned that and did do that which made us feel a
little bit better.
Hoffman. Ok, thank you very much. Is there anybody else here that would like to comment
on this development? I will close public discussion and bring it back to the
Commissioners and to the applicants for further discussion.
Estes:
Mr. Conklin, when we saw this before, a concern of mine and a concern of the
Chair was the 5% increase in greenspace and the entitlement to the one bonus
unit. Can you help us out in that regard? How much was dedicated to greenspace
when we saw this project before and tabled it and then how much is being
dedicated to greenspace now?
Conklin: I don't have that.
Stanley: Originally it was 35% and what we have come back now to propose is a total of
40% and I am asking for the one additional home. The one additional home
would be an increase proportionally of 20% going from 35% to 40% increase in
greenspace proportionally is just over 14% so it is not an exact tradeoff but then it
is very close proportionally to the increase. Of course, you have the yards and the
landscaping that I will do around the houses, which isn't included in the
greenspace but I think it will be very nice. I will sod these yards and landscape
them. They are going to be at least the bottom floors will be brick, they are going
to have 9' ceilings downstairs. They are not going to be just metal siding thrown
up houses with dirt around them and no bushes or anything.
Estes: So you have got 40% dedicated to greenspace?
Stanley: Yes Sir.
Estes: In the findings prepared for us by staff there is the sentence that there is currently
47% of the site in existing tree canopy and the applicant is proposing to preserve
25% of the site in tree canopy. The requirement in an R-1 zone is 25%. Can you
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 7
help me out on that? That leads me to believe that you are meeting the minimum
requirements.
Conklin: The tree canopy is a different calculation from the overall open space calculation.
The open space includes area that is not included in tree canopy.
Estes: Where in our material do we find the open space calculation? Where is that done
for us? I see as a condition of approval 40% of the site will remain open.
Conklin: It is on the plat of the subdivision. It is shown as an area that is cross hatched.
Estes: Mr. Conklin, in the calculations that are done on the plat, there is a notation that
the required open space is 20,000 sq.ft. Provided open space is 22,857. Is the
required the minimum or is that minimum under the Planned Unit Development
ordinance?
Conklin- The open space requirement in our Planned Unit Development is 30% and then if
they want additional density bonus they have to add open space.
Estes: Help me out because that is what I am having trouble with. 30% of 20,000 gets
us to 6,000 so that would be 26,000 instead of 22,857.
Conklin: We are at 1.33 acres.
Hoffman: The 20,000 is the 30% and then if you add another 10% to that would that then
come out to the 2,857 additional square feet over 20,000?
Estes: In other words, is the 20,000 sum 30% of some number?
Conklin: Maybe the engineer can answer that question.
Blakeley: I am looking at this. The required open space we have is 20,000 sq.ft. That might
be a typographical error on the plat here because the site area less the right of way
is only 57,145.
Estes: Can you help me out or edify me? That is what I am having trouble with. I
cannot compute how we get to the required open space. Is the 20,000 a typo?
Blakeley: That may be. It doesn't seem to be in my head right now 30% of 57,145.
Estes: It seems to me that we are way below the open space to get the density bonus of
one unit is what I am struggling with.
Blakeley: 17,143.5 would be 30%.
Hoffman: Are you taking the 30% of the site area less the right of way of 57,145, 30% of
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 8
that is 17,143?
Blakeley: Yes. We needed 40% of open space. We got 40% of open space from 57,145
sq.ft.
Hoffman: What does that number equate to? I think Commissioner Estes is right on with his
comments. These plats need to clearly indicate what we are agreeing to and what
we're not because we can't work with this.
Estes: It is just difficult to do our homework.
Blakeley: 22,858, it was rounded to 22,857 is 40% of the site area less the right of way.
Hoffman: Commissioner Estes, did you have any more questions?
Estes: Not at this time.
Hoffman: I would like to ask a question. Could you tell us about what areas were calculated
in this 22,858 and particularly in regard to the detention pond. What is that going
to look like? Is it truly greenspace or is it going to have water in it all the time?
Blakeley: It has got an outflow structure. It is going to be empty and will fill up on the
heavy rains. The outflow structure will release the water. A calculation has been
determined by the engineer.
Hoffman: Is it going to be sodded?
Blakeley: Yes it should be sodded. The sides, at least. We weren't planning on sodding the
bottom but the side banks will be sodded. We can sod the bottom though.
Estes: Mr. Conklin, is it permissible to include the detention pond in the calculations of
the open space?
Conklin: The ordinance reads you can include 50% of anything with a ten year storm
frequency.
Hoffman: It is on page 3.8. I think it is saying what you can't include. That would be the
surface areas of parking lots, including driveways. The area occupied by
structures...
Conklin: It goes on to say land within a floodplain ten year frequency and wetland may be
counted as no more than 50% of the usable open space. With regard to the pond,
it wouldn't be designated on a FEMA map as a floodplain. It is more of a
judgment call I guess on the city's part whether or not you are going to classify
that as a wetland or floodplain.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 9
Hoffman. It is a man made created detention structure.
Conklin: It is manmade, it is being created by the applicant.
Hoffman: What I would like to ask the applicant is that many of the ponds that we see
around that are strictly being used as detention ponds, they are not very attractive,
they just have dirt on the bottom and so forth. Did I understand that you would be
willing to sod this because if it is to be counted as greenspace, I think that is
important to delineate.
Stanley: Yes Ma'am. My plan is to make it look nice because it is going to be visible from
all of my homes so I actually want that area to look very nice. It is going to run
up against the trees with just a dense woods right there on the other side of it.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. Commissioners, are there any other questions or
comments?
Ward: As far as findings, I like these Planned Unit Developments and I think that this
one has got a lot of extra landscape that surrounds the boundary of it so it is kind
of self contained. We have been working with this. There are less units on it now
than originally and I think it is a pretty unique project and it is not your common
ordinary apartment complex that is kind of surrounding that area right now. I will
go ahead and move for approval of PPL 02-4.00 for Ash Acres.
Hoffman: I have a motion by Commissioner Ward.
Ward: We have signed conditions so it is with all those signed conditions.
Shackelford: I will second.
Hoffman: I have a second by Commissioner Shackelford. Is there any additional
discussion? Seeing none, Renee would you call the roll?
Roll Call: Upon completion of roll call the motion to approve PPL 02-4.00 was approved by
a vote of 7-0-1 with Commissioner Allen abstaining.
Hoffman: The motion carries on a unanimous vote of seven affirmative. Thank you
gentlemen for meeting with the Neighborhood Association, we really appreciate
that.
Stanley: Thank you.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 10
CUP 02-8.00: Conditional Use (Ash Acres P.U.D., pp 367) was submitted by W.B. Rudasill of
WBR Engineering Associates on behalf of Rob Stanley for property located at 243 & 245 Ash
Street. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density Residential and contains approximately 0.17
acres. The request is for a tandem lot.
Hoffman: The next item is the Conditional Use for this project, it is CUP 02-8.00 for the
tandem lot. It was submitted by W.B. Rudasill on behalf of Rob Stanley for
property located at 243 and 245 Ash Street. The property is zoned R-1, Low
Density Residential and contains approximately 0.17 acres. The request is for a
tandem lot. Tim, could you give us a report on this?
Conklin: There are no changes to this conditional use from the previous time it was on your
agenda.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. Gentlemen, do you have any presentation?
Stanley: No Ma'am.
Hoffman: I will take public comment. Is there anybody here that would like to address us
on this? Seeing none, I will bring it back to the applicant and the Commission.
Motion:
Ward:
Since this is a companion item to the one we just approved, I will go ahead and
recommend that we approve CUP 02-8.00 to allow for a tandem lot. We have
four staff conditions with this one.
Hoffman: I neglected to read those. Let me read those before we have a second. 1)
Compliance with all conditions of the accompanying preliminary plat for the
Planned Unit Development. 2) No vehicles shall be parked at any time on that
portion of a tandem lot utilized as a private drive or on the vehicular turnaround.
3) Approval of a variance from the Board of Adjustment for a lot within the R-1
zoning district with less than 8,000 sq.ft. lot area. 4) Trash shall be brought to
the private access drive on mornings of scheduled pick ups. I have a motion by
Commissioner Ward, do I have a second?
Shackelford: I will second.
Hoffman: I have a second by Commissioner Shackelford. Renee, would you call the roll
please?
Roll Call: Upon completion of roll call the motion to approve CUP 02-8.00 was approved by
a vote of 7-0-1 with Commissioner Allen abstaining.
Hoffman: The motion carries unanimously Thank you very much.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 11
CUP 02-18.00: Conditional Use (Southwestern Bell Telephone, pp 484) was submitted by
Larry Bates of Canino Peckham & Associates, Inc. on behalf of Southwestern Bell Telephone for
property located at 138 N. East Avenue. The property is zoned C-3, Central Commercial and
contains approximately 0.25 acres. The request is for an emergency generator, two fuel tanks,
and a circuit breaker and transformer on the existing parking lot (use unit 3) and waiver of
parking requirements in lieu of shared parking agreement.
Hoffman: The next item on our agenda is another item of old business. It is CUP 02-18.00
for Southwestern Bell Telephone. It was submitted by Larry Bates of Canino
Peckham & Associates, Inc. on behalf of Southwestern Bell Telephone for
property located at 138 N. East Avenue. At this time I need to let everybody
know that I have to abstain from voting on this item. I will be happy to chair it if
nobody has any objections. Commissioners or the applicant, do you have any
objections to this? Seeing none, I will go ahead and continue to chair it. The
property is zoned C-3, Central Commercial and contains approximately 0.25
acres. The request is for an emergency generator, two fuel tanks, and a circuit
breaker and transformer on the existing parking lot (use unit 3) and waiver of
parking requirements in lieu of shared parking agreement. We have eight
conditions of approval. Tim, are those signed?
Conklin: No they aren't.
Hoffman: I will go ahead and read those conditions now. 1) Compliance with all conditions
of the accompanying large scale development. 2) Notification of all owners
using the adjacent building using the alley about temporary alley closing or
blocking for the purpose of installing this facility. A temporary alley closing shall
be coordinated with the City Streets and Solid Waste Divisions. 3) Weekly
testing of the generator shall not occur between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00
a.m. 4) All requirements of the shared parking agreement shall be met and
adhered to. 5) Installation of landscaping in accordance with site plan and
elevations presented by the applicant to include a 5'8" x 39'6" planting bed
between the enclosed facility and Spring Street. In this planting area two trees
and ground cover plants shall be installed. 6) Installation of a hose bib as shown
on the plans submitted by the applicant to aid the maintenance of the landscaping.
7) Construction of a brick screening wall along the northwest and east sides of
the proposed generator and equipment facility as shown on the site plan and
elevations submitted for this project. The brick pillars shall match the existing
building on the site. Maximum height of the brick screening wall shall be 13'4".
8) Relocation of the trash dumpster from its current location on Spring Street to
an area south of the proposed generator facility with access from the public alley.
A generator facility will screen the view of this dumpster from the public right of
way along Spring Street. Tim, do you have anything for us before the applicant
gives their presentation?
Warrick: I would just say that in your packets you have elevations and a new site plan.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 12
Hoffman:
Foracre:
Those are revisions based on the Planning Commission's discussion at the June
246 Planning Commission meeting. Significant changes have been made. Also,
within your packets you have a signed shared parking agreement to accommodate
those spaces that are being removed with the installation of this proposed facility.
Thanks Dawn. Is the applicant present?
My name is Kathy Foracre. I reside at 3438 Sassafras here in Fayetteville. I am
employed by Southwestern Bell and actually work in the building at 138 N. East
Avenue.
Hoffman: Are you the actual applicant? If you are not the applicant of record I need to talk
to them first and then you can give your input during public comment.
Bates: My name is Larry Bates. I am with Canino, Peckham, & Associates and we are
the architects for this project.
Hoffman: Ok, so you would be the applicant.
Bates: I am representing the applicant.
Hoffman: Would you like to make a presentation or would you prefer to answer questions
after the public comment phase of this?
Bates: I will just answer questions. I think you have the drawings and everything there.
Hoffman: Ok, now it is your turn.
Foracre: I appreciate your consideration of our project. On behalf of Southwestern Bell the
only point I want to make is how critical this project is to the reliability of the
service that we provide. This office is not only the central office for Fayetteville,
it is also the hub for all of Northwest Arkansas. Every single 9-1-1 call that is
generated from any home or business anywhere in Northwest Arkansas goes
through this facility. The equipment that is required for this is very sensitive to the
elements and it is required to keep it cooled. A variance of 4° either way will
offset the equipment, that is just an example of why we need this generator on our
parking lot. I don't know if any of you follow the stock market but Southwestern
Bell has not been immune to the effects of September 11`h and capital dollars are
not being spent like they have in the past. Just to show you how important this
project is, it is one of the few projects that we are investing in the state this year.
Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. Is there any other member of the public that would like to
address us on this project? Seeing none, I will go ahead and bring it back to the
applicant and to the Commissioners for additional discussion.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 13
Hoover:
Hoffman.
Allen:
Hoffman:
Shackelford:
Bates:
Shackelford:
Bates:
Shackelford:
Hoffman:
Roll Call:
I would just like to say we saw this before and it is greatly improved since the last
time it was here. They have added landscaping and I appreciate whoever was
instrumental in getting the dumpster location moved. I think that is going to be
the most significant part of this whole thing is getting the dumpster off the
sidewalk. I would like to make a motion to approve CUP 02-18.00.
Thank you Sharon. I have a motion for approval by Commissioner Hoover.
I will second with the comment of how pleased I am with the additional
landscaping that will help with the major arteries into our town. It is nice to see
an essential project, which I think this is, be able to add some beautification to our
square.
Thank you Commissioner. I have a second by Commissioner Allen. Is there any
discussion?
A quick question of the applicant. We have before us tonight eight conditions of
approval. During the presentation earlier it was mentioned that we do not have
signed conditions of approval, I was wondering why we don't have signed
conditions of approval if you have any issues with any of these conditions.
No we do not.
Ok, it is just simply the fact that you haven't got a chance to review them and sign
off at this point?
Right.
Ok, thank you.
Is there anybody else? Renee, would you call the roll please?
Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve CUP 02-18.00 was
approved by a vote of 7-0-1 with Commissioner Hoffman abstaining.
Hoffman: The motion carries on a vote of seven with one abstention. Thank you very much.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 14
LSD 02-17.00: Large Scale Development (Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, pp 99) was
submitted by Michael Weir & Brian Moore of Engineering Services, Inc. on behalf of Scott
Berna of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home for property located at the northeast corner of Crossover
(Hwy 265) and Zion Road. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and R -O, Residential Office
containing approximately 3.12 acres with an 8,350 square foot building proposed.
Hoffman: Our first item of new business is item number six on our agenda. It is LSD 02-
17.00 for Nelson-Berna Funeral Home which was submitted by Michael Weir &
Brian Moore of Engineering Services, Inc. on behalf of Scott Berna of Nelson-
Berna Funeral Home for property located at the northeast corner of Crossover
(Hwy 265) and Zion Road. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural and R -O,
Residential Office containing approximately 3.12 acres with an 8,350 square foot
building proposed.
Estes: It will be necessary that I recuse from this proposed Large Scale Development
and from the accompanying Conditional Use.
Hoffman: We have eleven conditions of approval. Tim, do we have signed conditions?
Conklin. Yes.
Hoffman: I will go ahead and read these conditions for the record. 1) Approval shall be
subject to an amended re -zoning which places the crematorium in the required A-
1 district. 2) Planning Commission determination of required off-site street
improvements. Staff has recommended that in lieu of the standard street widening
to 14 feet from centerline on the north side of Zion Rd for the entire length of the
property that the street be widened on both sides of the street up to and including
the proposed driveway on Zion Road. A center turn lane would be included in the
widening for a total street width of 36 feet. 3) Planning Commission
recommendation of the requested 72 square feet monument sign. The sign
ordinance will only permit a maximum of a four square foot sign in an R -O
district. Staff is in favor of this request if it is revised to include a height of six feet
as permitted in Commercial districts. The applicant must also seek approval of a
variance from the Board of Sign Appeals. 4) Planning Commission approval of a
conditional use for parking in addition to that allowed by code. The maximum
number of spaces allowed by code is 46. The proposal is for 59 spaces. 5)
Planning Commission determination of compliance with Commercial Design
Standards including signage. 7) Plat Review and Subdivision comments (to
include written staff comments provided to the applicant or his representative, and
all comments from utility representatives. 8) Staff approval of final detailed
plans, specifications and calculations (where applicable) for grading, drainage,
water, sewer, fire protection, streets (public and private), sidewalks, parking lot(s)
and tree preservation. The information submitted for the plat review process was
reviewed for general concept only. All public improvements are subject to
additional review and approval. All improvements shall comply with City -is
current requirements. 9) Sidewalk construction in accordance with current
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 15
standards to include a minimum six foot sidewalk and ten foot greenspace along
Zion Road and Crossover Road. 10) Large scale development shall be valid for
one calendar year. 11) Prior to the issuance of a building permit the following is
required: Grading and drainage permits; Separate easement plat for this project ;
Project Disk with all final revisions; Completion of all required improvements or
the placement of a surety with the City (letter of credit, bond, escrow) as required
by .158.01. 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. Tim, does staff have any comments before we get to
the applicant?
Conklin- I have no further comments.
Hoffman: Thank you. Can you please tell us your name?
Humbard: My name is Phil Humbard with Engineering Services. Mr. Berra is here and the
architect is here also to answer any questions.
Hoffman: Do you have a presentation or would you prefer to answer questions?
Humbard: I would just prefer to answer questions.
Hoffman: Ok. Is there anybody from the public that would wish to comment on this large
scale development? Ok, I will go ahead and bring it back to the applicant and to
the Commission for further discussion. I am sorry Tim, did you say we do have
signed conditions of approval?
Conklin- We do have signed conditions, yes.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Ward: I think the first thing I would like to do is for the applicant or the architect maybe
to discuss the building and type of materials, color of materials that will be used
for commercial design standards.
Cooper: I am Tim Cooper, the architect for this project. What we are going to do is go
with red brick with a painted white trim with columns, asphalt shingles. That is it
as far as materials, it is very simple and a clean structure.
Hoffman: You have got a sample board, which brick material is it?
Cooper: It is this one.
Hoffman: Ok, thank you very much.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 16
Ward:
Cooper:
Ward:
Cooper:
Ward:
Hoffman:
Ward:
Hoffman:
Ward:
Casey:
Ward:
Casey:
Humbard:
Ward:
On the north elevation we had some concern about that long, blank, unarticulated
wall.
Yes. There are some functional areas on that side and we went back to the owner
and discussed them and due to that conversation, we were able to articulate this
elevation.
What kind of landscaping are we putting along that north line, do you have any
idea?
We discussed that and there were some existing trees there that may end up
getting taken out but they will be replaced.
Ok. I think it needs more landscaping along the building side.
Do you want to add that as condition of approval number twelve?
Yes, I think so. I think we would like to have a little more landscaping there,
more trees than what is shown if it is possible.
Is that agreeable with the applicant?
It has got one tree is all that shows. Maybe a little more might be nice. Also, I
would like to ask our City Engineer about the septic system instead of the city
sewer, why we are proposing a septic tank and not the sewer at this time.
Our requirements are that if accessible sewer is located within 300' of the
development they are required to hook up to the sewer system. This has a force
main that runs across the front of their property but that is not accessible to the
building here. There is a manhole located to the south but it is outside of the 300'
radius, the 300' buffer of the development. The elevation is such that they can't
access that anyway. The nearest one other than that is to the north and that is
about 1,500' away so there would be considerable costs involved to extend the
sewer main up to serve this.
With putting in the proposed septic tank, do you think there is a chance of
contaminating the existing pond to the east?
There is always a chance of failure if it is installed improperly.
We have had a preliminary study done on that and it looks conducive to a septic
system being installed there.
How big do you think that will be?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 17
Humbard: It will have to be properly sized by a designated representative, which I am not so
I can't tell you the exact size.
Cooper: We believe it is going to be 1,000 gallon.
Humbard: I would assume that but until it was sized by somebody that was certified to do it I
wouldn't make a guess on it.
Hoffman: Did you have anything else?
Ward:
No. The other thing we had talked about a little bit at Subdivision was the access
out onto Zion Road instead of onto Hwy. 265. You are still planning on going out
on Hwy. 265 is that the way you are always going to exit and enter?
Cooper: Unless we have a funeral to the east, then the procession would start and the rest
follow to avoid the major road.
Ward:
Another thing about parking. You have got a lot of stacked parking. If you all
find out that you don't have enough parking in the future and you come back, is
there a place to put more parking?
Humbard: There is a small area where we could put additional parking but hopefully we
won't need it.
Ward: That's all I have.
Hoffman: I was just going to jump in with one follow up to the septic tank question. I
talked to Tim this afternoon and it is my understanding, I want to make sure that
you are aware, if sewer becomes available you have twelve months to hook up to
it by ordinance. Is that right Tim?
Conklin: That is correct. If sewer comes within 200' of the property they will be required
to tie into that sewer within 12 months after the sewer is installed.
Hoffman: I am not aware of any CIP projects to bring that that way at this time.
Casey: Not at this time.
Hoffman: Matt Casey, let me welcome you to the Planning Commission. I think this is your
first Planning Commission meeting and I just want to say welcome and glad to
have you. I should have done that at the beginning, but there you are.
Casey: Thank you.
Hoffman: We have an accompanying item which is the parking variance. We can talk about
these together because I think one affects the other and just vote separately so if
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 18
anybody wants to go ahead and talk about the overflow parking or the access or
circulation on the site then feel free to do so.
Ward: I think we ought to just go ahead and try to get this one done first.
Hoffman: At Subdivision did most of the comments have to do with the appearance of the
building and the north facade? Was there anything else other than the septic tank?
Motion:
Ward: I think that pretty much covered it. I will go ahead and follow this up. It looks
like a great project, a very good location I believe for this type of facility out there
on Hwy. 265 so I think it is something that will be a very nice attraction out there
and kind of fits in with the other type of homes that are already built out there. I
feel like it meets all of our commercial design standards. With that, I will go
ahead and make a motion to approve LSD 02-17.00 for the Nelson -Berea funeral
home with all staff comments and the additional landscaping on the north side of
the building, number twelve.
Hoover: I will second.
Hoffman: Is there any further discussion?
Shackelford: Just a quick question for staff, just for my education if nothing else. Condition
one, approval shall be subject to amended rezoning which places the crematorium
in the required A-1 district. Is that something that we need to vote on or is that
something that goes through a different process for the amended rezoning for that
specific piece of property?
Conklin: We are bringing that back to Council and are just going to have the Council
change the area of the crematorium.
Shackelford: Ok, so it doesn't take action by the Planning Commission. Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you Commissioner Shackelford.
Bunch: One comment, at Subdivision I think the relocation of trees on the north side was
covered under the mitigation trees. We had quite a number of mitigation trees
and the request was to relocate some of those to that area rather than just throwing
in additional trees. It was just a matter of changing the scheme of some of the
trees.
Hoffman: I think the intent of item twelve is pretty clear that that is to screen that side of the
building so whether it be with mitigated trees or new landscaping, they can
coordinate that with staff. Renee, would you call the roll please?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 19
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve LSD 02-17.00 was
approved by a vote of 7-0-1 with Commissioner Estes abstaining.
Hoffman: Thank you. The vote carries on a vote of seven with one abstention.
Humbard: Thank you very much.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 20
CUP 02-20.00: Conditional Use (Nelson-Berna, pp 99) was submitted by Michael Weir and
Brian Moore of E.S.I. on behalf of Scott Bema of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home for property
located at the northeast corner of Zion Road and Hwy 265 (Crossover). The property is zoned R-
0, Residential Office and A-1, Agricultural and contains approximately 3.12 acres. The request
is for additional parking.
Hoffman: The companion item is CUP 02-20.00, which is a Conditional Use submitted by
Michael Weir and Brian Moore on behalf of Scott Berna of Nelson-Berna funeral
home for property located at the northeast corner of Zion Road and Hwy. 265.
The property is zoned R-0, Residential Office and A-1, Agricultural and contains
approximately 3.12 acres. The request is for additional parking. Staff
recommends the approval of the Conditional Use subject to the following
conditions. There is one condition. Compliance with all conditions of the
accompanying large scale development. Tim, is that condition signed?
Conklin:
Hoffman:
Conklin:
Hoffman -
Conklin:
Hoffman:
Yes.
Do you have any statements?
The maximum amount of parking allowed is 46 spaces for a total of 59 spaces so
that is 13 more than allowed by ordinance. We currently don't have a specific
requirement for a funeral home. However, in our administrative item looking at
parking ratios we do propose one. Staff is recommending approval of this. They
will need the parking for this type of activity in this location.
In your research did you find that this was compatible with other funeral home
uses, this number of parking spaces, is it in line with other zoning ordinances that
you researched?
Yes, fairly similar.
Thanks. I will take public comment. Is there anybody here that would like to
address us on this conditional use? Seeing none, I will bring it back to the
Commission and to the applicant.
Motion:
Shackelford: Based on conversations from the last item, I will move that we approve CUP 02-
20.00.
Hoffman: I have a motion by Commissioner Shackelford for approval, do I have a second?
Hoover: I will second.
Hoffman: I have a second by Commissioner Hoover. Renee, would you call the roll please?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 21
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve CUP 02-20.00 was
approved by a vote of 7-0-1 with Commissioner Estes abstaining.
Hoffman: The motion passes by a vote of seven with one abstention.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 22
RZN 02-16.00: Rezoning (Lazenby, pp 560) was submitted by Landtech Engineering, Inc. on
behalf of Bill Lazenby for property located west of Razorback Road and north of Baum Stadium
Parking lot. The property is zoned I-1, Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial and contains
approximately 6.99 acres. The request is to rezone to C-3, Central Commercial.
Hoffman: Our next item of new business is RZN 02-16.00 which is a rezoning for Lazenby
which was submitted by Landtech Engineering Inc. on behalf of Bill Lazenby for
property located west of Razorback Road and north of Baum Stadium Parking lot.
The property is zoned I-1, Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial and contains
approximately 6.99 acres. The request is to rezone to C-3, Central Commercial.
Staff is recommending denial of this requested zoning. However, they are in
support of a C-1, Neighborhood Commercial zoning district based on the findings
included as part of this report. Tim, would you or Dawn let us know what the
staff's position is?
Warrick: This project did come through with a request for a C-3 zoning. The purpose of
staff's recommendation for denial was basically the definition of the C-3, Central
Commercial zoning district and the primary location of those properties that are
zoned C-3. There is a map that was added to your packet on page 8.21 that shows
where all the properties in the city of Fayetteville that are zoned C-3 are located.
We are recommending the C-1 zoning district because this property is designated
on the city's future land use map as a mixed use area. The C-1 designation
provides for a mixed use development that would allow for commercial uses,
neighborhood shopping is the primary use within the C-1 zoning district. That
zoning designation also permits the developer to incorporate residential uses
within those developments. In speaking with the applicant and his representative
this evening, they are amble to the C-1 zoning request understanding that they can
process a mixed use development on this property with a C-1 designation that
would incorporate apartments up to a maximum density of 24 units per acre as
well as commercial uses and I believe that is what they are considering at this
time. The incorporation of apartments or residential units if they are detached in
this type of development would require a conditional use by the Planning
Commission that could be heard at the same time that a Large Scale is processed
for the project.
Hoffman: Let me just interrupt. Do you mean separate apartment buildings or individual?
Warrick: Separate from the Commercial. If they were attached to the Commercial or the
primary use on the site then they would be a use by right.
Hoffman: Do you mean physically attached?
Conklin: Yes, as part of the building.
Hoffman: Is the applicant aware of that?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 23
Gabbard: Yes.
Hoffman: Ok, thank you very much. Is the applicant present?
Gabbard: Thank you Madam Chairman. My name is Leonard Gabbard with Landtech
Engineering here tonight representing Mr. Lazenby who is also in the audience.
We have talked with Ms. Warrick and we are in concurrence that we would be
amiable to doing the C-1 zoning as long as staff would get behind us with the
mixed use development. I think what Mr. Lazenby would intend to do would
develop the frontage of the property, which is about 240' of frontage that would
be out on Razorback Road as commercial and then toward the back have the
residential apartments. If there are any further questions I will be glad to entertain
them.
Hoffman: Thank you very much. Is there any member of the public that would like to
address us on this rezoning request?
Davison: My name is Sharon Davison. I am glad to see that they have decided on C-1. I
am not really clear on all of our distinctions but C-3 seemed a little much and C-1
seems to be, is that not what Mr. Broyles' area is going to be is C-1, correct?
Hoffman: We have a lot of C-2 zoning on Razorback I believe. Tim, is that correct?
Warrick: The Broyles' rezoning, there were three tracts of land with that. Two fairly large
tracts, 20 acres or larger were rezoned to R-2, Medium Density Residential and a
third tract on the south side of 15`h Street, basically half way between 18th and
Razorback was rezoned to C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial.
Conklin: The purpose of C-2 was that they did plan on a hotel.
Davison: Right, and this all seems to fit. I think the C-1 that is the plan, this is what we are
hoping to see. This is when I come to you and speak out about inappropriate
projects in developed neighborhoods. I also want to speak out about when I think
you are doing things right. This is a logical plan as I have said before in front of
the City Council. It seems to be what is going to work down there and I wish we
would focus our energies on developing this and slowing down the improper
development in other areas. This seems like what that zone is going to be. It is
going to be our main College strip and I think Mr. Lindsey, I mean Mr. Lazenby, I
get these guys a little mixed up but we know who we are all talking about, it will
be the two big L's that will be down there together. I think this is appropriate and
I am glad that it is C-1. Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you Sharon. Is there anybody else that would like to address us on this
rezoning request? Seeing none, I will bring it back to the applicant and to the
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 24
Commission for discussion, motions and so forth. Procedurally Tim I have a
question. I know that we have switched boats in mid -stream before. On rezoning
requests there is nothing that would preclude us to changing the recommendation
that goes forward to City Council from C-3, as originally applied for by the
applicant, to C-1 tonight.
Conklin: You are allowed to amend the applicant's request and make an amended
recommendation to the City Council.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Ward: Tim, why don't you go back over one more time if he is going to use it for mixed
use commercial in the front and then try to get residential apartments, what
usually needs an R-2 or R-3, what does he need to do to get that approved?
Conklin: He will have to apply for a conditional use if they are detached for residential. In
most of our commercial districts and industrial districts we allow accessory
residential units to go in. It is actually on page 8.9, we have the ordinance that
talks about what is allowed. Attached residential uses shall be permitted in the C-
1, C-2, I-1 and I-2 zoning district as a use by right. That is allowed. We do allow
mixed use residential and commercial and industrial together currently in the City
of Fayetteville. I bring that point up because sometimes I hear people say that we
separate all of our land uses and we don't allow mixed use. Our ordinances do
allow mixed use in Fayetteville. If you want detached they may be permitted as a
conditional use in the C-1, C-2, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts.
Ward: If it was left I-1 like it is now could he put in residential rentals of some kind on
the property?
Warrick: Yes he could, as an accessory use.
Conklin: We informed the applicant at the time of rezoning that the I-1 zoning already
allows pretty much most of the uses that they want to potentially put down there.
If anything, this benefits the City of Fayetteville because it is going to restrict the
type of uses that can go down on Razorback Road from a used car lot to even
other type of businesses that are allowed by conditional use in that area. C-1 is
neighborhood commercial, I think that is the most appropriate zoning in that area.
Once again, if the applicant left it I-1 he could probably achieve everything he
wants on that piece of land today.
Ward: So by doing C-1 he pretty much has no chance for a lot of things that go into C-2,
which is Thoroughfare Commercial, right?
Gabbard: Mr. Lazenby wants to restrict the use if he is going to invest in the apartments. I
don't think there are certain facilities that would be allowed in the Industrial use
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 25
Hoffman:
Warrick:
Hoffman:
Warrick:
Motion:
Estes:
Hoffman:
Allen:
Hoffman:
Shackelford:
Hoffman:
that you wouldn't want to see right next to those apartments, possibly in front of
them. At any rate, that is the intent of going with the C-1. We really didn't
understand until staff informed us about the mixed use and the fact is that I think
we will be bringing a large scale development that will have commercial on the
front and approximately 140 units of apartments on the remainder. I think we
would be allowed according to the comments from staff, to go as high as a density
of 167 units but I don't think we can get that many in there. We will get all we
can without going over that but realistically probably that is what you are going to
see.
Thank you. Let me jump in with one quick question. You referenced density in
§162.02 and that is not part of our packet. Can you let us know what that actually
would be?
That is the definition and description of the R-2 zoning district, Medium Density
Residential, that permits between 4 and 24 units per acre.
Ok, so the high number of 167 would reflect the 24 units per acre?
It is 24 units per acre at 6.99 acres is 167.
This in effect is a request for downzoning. I believe it is a very good idea. I
believe it is beneficial for the area, I believe it is appropriate. It is for those
reasons that I would move that we forward to the City Council RZN 02-16.00 to
be rezoned C-1, Neighborhood Commercial.
Thank you. I have a motion for approval of C-1 zoning by Commissioner Estes.
I will second.
I have a second by Commissioner Allen. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Shackelford?
I am ok.
Renee, would you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to forward RZN 02-16.00 to the City
Council with a recommendation of C-1 zoning was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Hoffman:
The motion carries unanimously on a vote of eight to zero. Thank you very
much.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 26
RZN 02-17.00: Rezoning (Mathias/Barnes, pp 364/403) was submitted by Dave Jorgensen of
Jorgensen & Associates on behalf of Sam Mathias and Bleaux Barnes for property located south
of Deane Street, west of Sang Ave and east of Porter Avenue. The property is zoned R-1, Low
Density Residential and contains approximately 21.03 acres. The request is to rezone to RMF -6,
Low Density Multi -Family Residential.
Hoffman: The next item on the agenda is another rezoning. It is RZN 02-17.00 which was
submitted by Dave Jorgensen of Jorgensen & Associates on behalf of Sam
Mathias and Bleaux Barnes for property located south of Deane Street, west of
Sang Ave and east of Porter Avenue. The property is zoned R-1, Low Density
Residential and contains approximately 21.03 acres. The request is to rezone to
RMF -6, Low Density Multi -Family Residential. Staff, do you have a report before
we get to the applicant?
Conklin: This rezoning request is for RMF -6. Prior to filing the application they did meet
with staff and the applicant has met with the Neighborhood Association. There is
a Bill of Assurance in your packet. I would like to make sure that everyone
understands that this was offered voluntarily by the applicant. It is my
understanding also this evening that there have been some modifications to this
Bill of Assurance and the applicant will have to talk to you about that this evening
with regard to how that Bill of Assurance may have changed. I don't have that in
my possession this evening at this time. RMF -6 is one of the new zoning districts
that we adopted over a year ago. It allows for multi -family structures, apartments.
It also allows for single-family duplex or triplex. The Bill of Assurance that they
are proposing does limit the type of units that are proposed within the RMF -6.
They are proposing I believe a total of seven single-family homes as part of this
development. This piece of property a few years ago did come before the
Planning Commission and City Council. The request at that time was to rezone it
to R-2. There was quite a bit of opposition with regard to the proposed use for
student apartments or student housing. It was ultimately denied by the City
Council. This request once again, goes back to this RMF -6, which is a total of a
maximum density of six units per acre. It is significantly less density than what
was requested a few years ago. That is all I have.
Hoffman: Thank you Mr. Conklin. Is the applicant present?
Jorgensen: My name is Dave Jorgensen and on behalf of the developers on this project I am
here to represent them and we have Bleaux Barnes, who is one of the owners on it
and also we have Richard Maynard here with us who is with the Asbell
Neighborhood Association. To carry on what Tim was talking about RMF -6, we
have got 21 acres. We are allowed six units per acre, which brings us to 126
units, which is what we propose on this. We did meet with the Neighborhood
Association and we did come up with a plan that hopefully you have in your
packet. This is going to turn into what will eventually be the preliminary plat of
this project and the reason we did this is to show the neighbors what this project is
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 27
going to look like and tweak it so that they are satisfied. For instance, we have all
the lots adjacent to Porter Road and Sang Road as single-family. Those are lots
111 and 112 and lots 10, 23, and 24 are single-family. All of the Tots along the
south boundary line, there are eight condominium lots, which there are four units
per each one of those so that is 32 units. We also have a single-family lot number
59 on Deane Street. Lots 60 and 61, we are reserving those for five units
combined on both of those lots and then all of the rest of them are what we call
patio homes. For instance, lot 17 is a lot 17A and 17B and the reason for this is
so that we can have separate ownership on each one of these units because their
market is for single-family houses. The owners even went to the trouble of
drawing up exterior elevations so that you can see what it looks like. This is a
condominium unit. The patio units, this is not correct in that the patio units now
have two car garages, which is one of the reasons that we changed the Bill of
Assurance. In working with the Neighborhood Association and getting all of this
information, we are also tweaking that Bill of Assurance making sure that it
satisfies them and that is one of the things that we changed on the Bill of
Assurance that each one of the patio homes has a two car garage. In addition to
that, the owners are in the process of developing covenants. Here again, this is
premature. Normally we don't do this until a little bit later on in the process but
at this particular point they are calling for 80% brick, front yards sodded,
architectural shingles and they want to also do something like mailboxes that are
either brick or something that is uniform throughout the whole project. The
interest is to build a project here that satisfies the surrounding neighbors. By the
way, we like working with neighborhood associations for that exact reason. I
would be glad to answer any questions.
Hoffman: Do you have the revised Bill of Assurance that you can address or do you want to
do that later?
Jorgensen: We can address that now. I just did this this afternoon and it is redlined but if you
have a Bill of Assurance in your packet, item number two, and this may have
already been corrected, does your version say seven units on two lots?
Warrick: I marked that out and wrote five.
Jorgensen: That is one item that we're correcting. At the end of that it says on two lots along
Deane Street for a total of 126 units, I just wanted to clarify that there is a total of
126 units. Item number four, it reads "condominium units will have two
bedrooms each with a one car garage." Also, another sentence right after that.
"Each patio home will have two or three bedrooms with a two car garage." That
is added after that item number four. Item number five is "The petitioner agrees
to install a view obscuring hedge along the back of the other properties along
Sang Avenue." This was requested. In addition to that, we have added item
number ten and I will read that. "Petitioner specifically agrees that all such
restrictions and terms shall run with the land and bind all future owners unless and
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 28
until specifically released by a resolution of the Fayetteville City Council. This
Bill of Assurance shall be filed for record in the Washington County Circuit
Clerk's office after petitioner's rezoning is effective and shall be noted on the
Final Plat, which includes all the petitioner's property." That is a result of
meeting with everybody several times and you might say refining it.
Hoffman: Thank you. Would you provide the staff with a final copy of that for their
records?
Jorgensen: Sure.
Hoffman: Do you have any more presentation before I take public comment?
Jorgensen: I think that is it. I would be glad to answer questions.
Hoffman: I will go ahead and take public comment on this rezoning.
Maynard: Good evening. My name is Richard Maynard. I am here both as an adjoining
property owner and also for spokesperson for the Asbell Neighborhood
Association. For a couple of years I have been pushing for these preliminary
meetings with developers and neighborhoods and now I've had two in as many
months so kind of be careful what you ask for because they do get kind of time
consuming but I am glad that we have them. I think as you all know, we did have
this meeting on May 23`d with Mr. Barnes and Mr. Mathias. Just to give you a
little bit about that, because I think it is important and it is pertinent to this and
just how we do that. As a neighborhood association we are not there advocating
necessarily for the neighborhood but we are providing the forum to let this
dialogue happen. I don't know how we could've advertised this anymore. I put it
out on over 300 flyers. We skipped the apartment complex. We didn't have as
great of a turnout. We had about 33 people from about 20 households, which is a
lot less than the one we had with the Lindsey development. My feeling about it is
in that sense it is like an election. You can choose to come and participate or
choose not to come and participate. If you don't mind, I would like to just give
you if you are interested the results of these if I may.
Hoffman: Hand those to Renee.
Maynard: Basically what it does is it just explains how we go about doing this because I
know you are just seeing the result of the process and not the process itself. I am
not going to take a lot of time even talking about that but that is really how it
should be. There are a lot of these things I think can get worked out before it ever
reaches this far or even before it gets very far in the planning office. Although,
we try to involve the planning office every step of the way because we don't want
to go making agreements with each other that wouldn't fit into the city plan. I
just wanted to break it down so you kind of saw where the people were coming
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 29
from. Some people weren't there but voted anyway. Of course, as I said last
time, we realize that this is not a binding vote. It is just to let you know how the
neighborhood feels about it. I think it is pretty clear the neighborhood feels fine
about it so far and now we just sort of leave it up to you because none of us are
engineers or we are not builders or we're not contractors. If I may, I would just
like to say that this process works, it just does. The worst thing that could happen
out of this is that a developer or neighborhood could meet together and the
neighborhood says no. Then the developer has a better idea of whether they want
to proceed or not. That is really I think all it should mean. More than that, what
this does and what Mr. Jorgensen mentioned, the whole tenure is much different,
it is much friendlier than coming up here and battling out through you and asking
you to play an arbitrator in the whole process. Things come out and it becomes a
dialogue. I think in the interview that some of you may have read a few weeks
ago, Mr. Mathias said it actually makes us better developers. If I may just give
you a couple of examples. When I first saw this it was a very, very preliminary
idea from Mr. Barnes and Mr. Mathias. It was a horseshoe development. There
was now outlet onto Dean and I know Mr Conklin wasn't very fond of it from the
city's point of view but I had another for it from a neighborhood perspective. I
said "I don't think you realize every development along Porter all empties out
onto Porter." Maybe they would've found that out on their own, maybe not, but
that is something from a neighborhood perspective that comes out. At out
neighborhood meeting a couple who lives across the way on Porter were bothered
that the new street would empty right out onto their driveway. Because of that
they were able to make an adjustment and still make this development work. We
were talking at one time about a private fence along those Sang properties where I
live. I said "Why do that? We already have a fence there, chainlink fence to a
pasture fence. Why don't you put a hedge row there?" That is something that
comes out of these meetings. It is not just presenting something to the
neighborhood and the neighborhood going thumbs up or thumbs down. I think
we really try to work out what we can work out beforehand. How far a
neighborhood wants to go with that, I guess that is up to another neighborhood
and another developer. We kind of stop there. We didn't want to get too much
into materials and certainly not as the head of this organization, I didn't want to
be putting myself into a negotiator position because I don't think that would be
appropriate and it didn't get brought out in the meeting. I do want to point out
that the revisions on the Bill of Assurance. Yes, they were not things that we
were bickering over by any means. I think it really was fine tuning. I simply
made the case that anything you are sure of put in the Bill of Assurance. To my
mind, the Bill of Assurance truly is between the neighborhood and the developer,
whether you agree or not I don't know. There is nothing taken away in other
words. If you know you are going to do a two car garage, what is the problem?
Why don't you go ahead and put it in there? They were absolutely agreeable.
That is really all I have to say about it. Please keep in mind, we have already had
another situation, and I hope this idea catches on. This idea will really not work if
this becomes a neighborhood referendum. In other words, this will not work if
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 30
just because the neighborhood says it is ok it goes through or quite frankly, just
because the neighborhood says no that it doesn't go through. I don't believe in
that at all. I have never advocated that. Basically what we are saying is that it
looks good to us and now it is up to you. Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you Mr. Maynard. Is there anybody else that would like to address us?
Davison: Hi. I am still Sharon Davison. I sort of have to be a little sarcastic here and say I
think that it is great that we are all so happy that developers are finally showing
some minimal consideration and speaking with the neighborhoods. I think it is
sort of sad that we have to be so grateful that they are finally doing the decent
thing that they should have done to begin with. I would also like to clarify for
people that aren't really in a lot of these processes that when City Planners say
staff recommends, these things are saying these people have followed the rules, or
whatever they say they have to do so we say they can. Very rarely do they
vigorously say we think this is a great project so do it. We need to listen to some
of these things. Lets also understand that with our neighborhoods when they are
saying ok. Well, they are resigned to having to say ok. It is wonderful that they
can have little things that actually turn into big things such as primarily where the
dumpster is located. These are issues and these are issues that developers have
chosen to ignore until we have really applied pressure. I think you all may have
had phone calls, you may have been paying attention the past year, neighborhoods
are feeling pinched and we are all really, really looking to you to help us out here.
It is great that we can rely on you for exactly what Mr. Maynard said, the details. I
appreciate going to Subdivision and having Commissioner Bunch say "Well, what
about these parking spaces? or what about these numbers?" That is what I feel
you are supposed to be doing for us and I appreciate you doing for us. My
problem is not that this may not be the persons right to develop, not that this may
not even be an appropriate project, but it is the timing of these projects. Look at
what we just discussed. All the building we are going to do with the Broyles and
Lazenby field. We have people over there by Wedington. Well, the thing is we
can't handle it all right now. I was wondering are we at this limited sewer
capacity? Does anyone know our current capacity rate at this point as of, we can
even say July Is'. What is our sewer capacity? Can anyone tell us that? Are we
operating at 99.4% as I have been told?
Conklin: I don't have that information.
Davison: But we can keep approving everything and not know? This is part of my issue
and why I brought up a complaint at the City Council about dragging our feet on
impact fees. We have volumes of these projects. These are people that are living
in these neighborhoods that are still suffering with sewage water runoff in their
backyard in this very area. Simply as we are up on Mount Sequoyah dealing with
sewage runoff and we don't have these things fixed. The question came does
building drive infrastructure? You know, I think the whole point of planning is
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 31
meaning you build the infrastructure and then you build the units. We are at the
point now where we are building things and saying "Oh, ok, well later we'll fix
it." I loved Mr. Earnest's eventually comments. He wanted to approve a lot of
developments because eventually this is all going to go in over there. Wedington
has we think 20,000 max cars on it although we were given erroneous figures of
13,000. Here is the deal, why are we not at a moratorium? We were at a certain
deal about capacity. You approve these yet we have to see. Will you inform me
of this Ms. Hoffman
Hoffman: I will do my best. We are here to discuss this rezoning. This is not a forum for
impact fees. I know that we have got the consultants and we have had many
public meetings and those are in process. I can just tell you that a standard
condition of approval prior to approving any new residential development is that
they are made aware that should sewer capacity not be available at the time of
construction they don't get a building permit. That is the standard that we follow
for any new development or rezonings that are approved by this Commission and
by City Council.
Davison: I appreciate that. That is very important to me that people are coming in. My
thing is I am not trusting some of the numbers I am getting such as from Mr.
Hugh Earnest as our city representative. Therefore, I am very leery as to
wondering why Mr. Conklin doesn't know our sewer capacity and how we can
keep doing this. I would like to request that Mr. Conklin...
Hoffman: Do you have anymore comments based on this project?
Davison: Based on this project, do we have the sewer capacity at this time for it? Thank
you.
Hoffman: Thank you Ms. Davison.
Hoskins: I am Anetta Hoskins and I am a home owner adjacent to both of these little
properties. I have been there sixteen years and I have enjoyed having cattle on
both my south side and my west side and I really enjoy that. However, I realize
that things can't stay the same and I am very pleased with this proposed
development that is going in. Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you. Is there any other member of the audience that would like to address
us on this rezoning? Seeing none, I will go ahead and close public discussion and
bring it back to the applicant and to the Commission.
Estes:
This project of course has had a history. Those of us with institutional history has
some memory of that. Some of the participants no longer serve, other participants
have passed away and are no longer with us. The last time that this was before us
I, together with Commissioner Hoover, voted against this rezoning request. All of
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 32
Hoffman:
Shackelford:
Ward:
Estes:
Jorgensen:
Estes:
Ward:
Hoffman:
Roll Call:
Hoffman:
the reasons that I voted against it are no longer with us. I am very pleased that the
developer has met with Mr. Maynard and with the neighborhood association. I
am very pleased that the matters and concerns that I had when we saw this before
have been resolved and have been worked out. It is for those reasons that I would
move that we forward to the full City Council for its consideration RZN 02-17.00.
I have a motion for approval of this rezoning and forwarding to City Council by
Commissioner Estes.
I will second.
Does that include the new changes and the covenants?
The Bill of Assurance of course is not within our providence to dictate or to
request but let me address Mr. Jorgensen in that regard. Mr. Jorgensen, as the
movement I have heard your comments and I have heard the amendments to the
Bill of Assurance so let me say that. Let me also say that the form that you are
using for the Bill of Assurance references our Chancery Courts. By Amendment
80 we no longer have Chancery Courts, we have Circuit Courts so you need to
also strike the reference Chancery Courts from your Bill of Assurance.
Ok.
It is the Circuit Court, strike Chancery Court. Amendment 80 was passed and we
now just have Circuit Court. Mr. Ward, is that responsive to your thoughts?
More than enough.
Thank you Commissioner Estes. Is there any further discussion? Renee, would
you call the roll please?
Upon completion of roll call the motion to approve RZN 02-17.00 was approved
by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thank you. The motion carries unanimously on a vote of eight to zero.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 33
CUP 02-21.00: Conditional Use (The New School, pp 290) was submitted by Hannah McNeill
of Criterion Architecture, Inc. on behalf of The New School for property located at 191 E.
Sunbridge Drive. The property is zoned R -O, Residential Office and contains approximately
3.25 acres. The request is for an educational facility (Use Unit 4).
Hoffman: Our next item of business is CUP 02-21.00 for the New School, which was
submitted by Hannah McNeill of Criterion Architecture, Inc. on behalf of The
New School for property located at 191 E. Sunbridge Drive. The property is
zoned R -O, Residential Office and contains approximately 3.25 acres. The
request is for an educational facility (Use Unit 4). There is one condition of
approval. Tim, do we have a signed condition?
Conklin: Yes.
Hoffman: That condition is any portion of the facility which will be open for general
admission for performances or events shall meet ADA requirements. Tim, do we
have any staff presentation before we hear from the applicant?
Warrick: I would just mention that this proposal is to renovate the old Nettleship home on
this property to use by the New School as a fine arts complex. One of our main
concerns as staff was with regard to parking and whether or not there was
adequate parking for this facility. There is another structure on this site. These
two structures are basically east of the main facility for the New School. They
refer to the smaller building, which is south of this building, as the east annex and
then of course this is the Nettleship home for the fine arts building. On the
second page of your staff report on page 10.2 there is a calculation of parking
requirements and staff did find that there was adequate parking being provided to
meet the needs of both of these structures.
Hoffman: Thank you Dawn. Is the applicant present?
McNeill: Yes, I am Hannah McNeill. I have no presentation. I am just here to answer
questions if you have any.
Hoffman: Ok, thank you Ms. McNeill. Is there any member of the public that would like to
address us on this conditional use? Seeing none, I will go ahead and bring it back
to the applicant and to the Commission for discussion or motions.
Ward:
I think this particular old home will make a unique fine arts center. It seems
unusual that there are only going to be two or three parking spaces up against the
building. I don't know how you can have any kind of showing and have parking.
It seems like everybody will want to park up there by the house that will be the
fine arts building. It is a very unique structure and I think this is a great use for it.
Would you like to address this Hannah?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 34
McNeill: The main thing is most all of these classes are taken care of in the existing
building where the parking is. This is just a way to eliminate having art within
the classes themselves. The same teachers and same students are within the area,
we are just trying to free up the classroom itself so that the kids aren't taking
projects out and putting them up or whatever. It will just make the school a little
bit more efficient. The parking is right between, if you have been up in that area
the way the driveway works, the parking lot is actually between both buildings.
The teachers would park there in that area and the students walk between the three
buildings.
Ward: With the way that structure is built can you meet any ADA requirements?
McNeill: We can in the main area. In the others they cannot. The house itself is basically
about four or five different levels. It is impossible to meet ADA. It is all concrete
and most of the walls are 14" thick as well as a lot of the floors so it is just a
totally impossible situation. The main area, they don't plan on having any
performances there, but if they ever in the future chose to, that is fully ADA, has
access to bathrooms and can completely be egressed out in that area.
Ward:
Like I said, I think it is a very unique structure already and will make a nice fine
arts center and that is an appropriate use for it. With that, I will recommend
approval of CUP 02-21.00 for the New School.
Hoffman: I have a motion for approval of CUP 02-21.00 by Commissioner Ward.
Church: I will second it.
Hoffman: Is there any further discussion? Renee, would you cal the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve CUP 02-21.00 was
approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Hoffman: Thank you. The motion carries unanimously.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 35
ADM 01-15.00: Administrative Item (Outdoor Lighting) to adopt an ordinance that
minimizes the impact of outdoor lighting on adjacent properties and improves nighttime
visibility.
Hoffman- We have got two administrative items tonight. They are both review of new
ordinances or proposed ordinances. Our first one is ADM 01-15.00, which is an
administrative item to adopt an ordinance that minimizes the impact of outdoor
lighting on adjacent properties and improves night time visibility. Tim, I believe
the staff has a presentation to make on this outdoor lighting ordinance?
Conklin- Yes. Shelli Rushing, Associate Planner with the City of Fayetteville Planning
Division has a short presentation on this ordinance.
Hoffman: Thanks. Hi Shelli.
Rushing: Good evening. I do want to go over a few things with you. You have seen this
Outdoor Lighting Ordinance at the January 286 Planning Commission meeting.
At that time it was tabled in order to take a look at a few other issues and Planning
Commissioners had a number of comments. We have met with a local engineer,
architect and they have had a chance to take a look at this ordinance that we are
proposing tonight. We have received comments from Mr. Green who is here this
evening. He has some additional comments. He has helped us with drafting this
ordinance up to this point and he does have some additional comments. I just
want to point out that in regard to what we have proposed at this point. The
proposed ordinance will pertain to any new outdoor lighting fixtures and any
fixture that is going to be replaced at any point. It applies to everything, all new
developments with the exception of single-family and two-family developments.
I wanted to go through a couple of definitions with you real quick because they
pertain to the new standards that we are proposing at this point. These definitions
are based on the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. This is an
industry standard, a handbook that they have. They have essentially four different
types of light fixtures. There is non -cutoff, semi -cutoff, cutoff, and full cutoff.
Non -cutoff basically is no limitations on the amount of light that is emitted from
it. Semi -cutoff, cutoff, and full cutoff are all based on the amount of light that is
emitted above the cutoff angle. The cutoff angle that the IESNA, which is the
Illuminating Engineer Society, takes a look at is the 90° and the 80° cutoff. Semi -
cutoff is somewhat restrictive. It allows 5% of the light to go above the 90° cutoff
angle and 20% above the 80° cutoff angle. Cutoff allows 2.5%, it is a little bit
more restrictive than the semi -cutoff. 2% above the 90° cutoff angle and 10% of
the light to be allowed over the 80° cutoff angle. Finally, full cutoff is the most
restrictive and it allows no light above the 90° cutoff angle and allows 10% above
the 80° cutoff angle. I wanted to go through that because that is what our
standards are pertaining to. We have here the semi -cutoff, cutoff, and full cutoff.
As you will see, the most that we will be proposing at this time to require is the
cutoff. We are not requiring full cutoff. We had tossed that around quite a bit.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 36
Estes:
The reason that we decided not to go that route is first of all, cost. The cost of full
cut off fixtures can be higher than the semi -cutoff or just the regular cut-off.
Also, in talking to some people in the lighting industry we found that when the
full cutoff light is confined to such a narrow area it actually creates hot spots and
reflects more light up into the air, which is not what the goal of the ordinance is.
The goal of the ordinance is to prevent that light trespass into the night sky. What
we are recommending is that anything that has a bulb with 260 lumens or less be
non -cutoff, no limitations essentially on the type of fixture that it is. Anything
between 261 and 8,500 lumens would be the semi -cutoff and more than 8,500
lumens would be the cutoff fixture and that would be the requirement there. I
believe that Mr. Green has some comments in regards this particular standard
here. One of the other things is the goal of this ordinance is to help reduce the
amount of glare and the amount of light that trespasses onto adjacent properties.
In order to control that we are recommending that the outdoor lighting be fully
shielded which is essentially an opaque housing on the fixture itself or some type
of glare shield. We are recommending that there be some ability for the City
Planner to approve any kind of advanced alternative technology that meets that
requirement of full shielding because there are certain fixtures out there that will
meet that requirement but aren't technically shielded fixtures. We would then
also like to add a requirement that at recreational facilities that they place louvers
or shields on their fixtures to help because their height is extreme and they do
have requirements as far as the type of light output that they have to have so we
would like to see some shields on that to help prevent that glare that can be posed
by those types of fixtures. One other thing that we are recommending to help
reduce the amount of light trespass is to restrict the amount of light that is
projected at the property line to 1.5 foot candles and that would be measured 3'
above the grade at the property line. The last thing I wanted to address is the
canopy structures. I apologize, the image up there did not show up very clear.
One of the issues that came up when we first started doing this was the impact of
some of the canopies over the fueling stations and the glare that they produce.
We are recommending that they be either a recessed fixture where the lens is flat
with the bottom of the ceiling of the overhang or the canopy and that they may
also use indirect lighting or any other type of lighting that the Planning
Commission approves, that they find is not producing glare offsite. That is all I
have as far as a presentation. If you have any questions I would be glad to answer
them.
Thank you Mrs. Rushing for that very fine presentation. On behalf of the
Commission I would like to thank you for the work that you have expended on
this project. I know that you have worked for over a year in bringing this material
to us this evening, and we thank you. Mr. Green, did you have something that
you would like to say to follow Mrs. Rushing's presentation?
Green: Yes I do Mr. Estes. Thank you for this opportunity to address the Planning
Commission this evening. My name is Michael Green, I am a resident of
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 37
Fayetteville and I have been a lighting engineer for a little over 25 years. I first
got involved in this project at a subcommittee meeting back in February where
some of the members of the Planning Commission were wrestling with this very
complex issue of creating a lighting ordinance. My purpose of getting involved
was to try to make some technical recommendations as far as definitions and try
to explain some of the technology and problems that you are going to face in
creating a lighting ordinance. I was asked to make those recommendations and
comments. I am strictly acting on an advisory capacity. I must point out that free
advice is worth every penny you pay for it. The real burden is still going to rest
with you in deciding what level of ordinance you want to create, what kind of
flexibility you want to build into it and exactly how you are going to enforce it
and administer this ordinance. The Planning staff has really done a lot of work on
this. Shelli Rushing in particular has done an outstanding job in trying to boil
down these issues and do the research and try to sort of herd these cats. That is
probably the closest analogy I can think of as to what her job has been. She has
done an excellent job on it. There are just a few additional comments. Some of
these things, as you have been passed out there, some of them are minor
clarifications to definitions that I gave before that I would like to have an
opportunity to correct or clarify before they get placed in any ordinance. These
first four items are just a matter of eliminating a redundant term in those
definitions we had before. As those definitions are currently stated, right now it
says "For cutoff a fixture's light distribution where no more than 2.5% of the
fixture's total lumens are emitted at a cutoff angle of 90° or greater." Actually the
way cutoff angle is defined is that that is the angle in which the lamp is just barely
visible. This cutoff angle has to do with that visibility to the lamp and not
necessarily a cutoff angle other than the angle at which you can see the lamp, if
you can understand where that redundancy comes from. What I am proposing is
to change cutoff angle to just vertical angle. Basically it is the angle where the
light either 2 %% of the light is emitted above that angle. Those are very minor
tweaks to those definitions. A couple of other suggestions on the additions. Fully
shielded, I would propose to add to the end of that sentence or in a given
direction, which would then read "A fixture with an opaque housing or glare
shield attached thereto, which prevents a line of sight to the bulb above the
horizontal plain or in any given direction." The reason I am suggesting that is that
it ties in with a further restriction or a further specification in your ordinance
concerning fully shielded from neighborhoods by adding "or in a given direction"
it gives some additional options of shielding a light fixture other than shielding it
above the horizontal plane. It is kind of a minor thing but I just wanted to offer
that as a clarification and to tie in maybe a little bit better to the rest of the
wording of the ordinance. The other definition clarification is under the
landscape lighting. Its definition currently states "A fixture designed to illuminate
landscaping features including plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and walk ways that
do not exceed 75 watts and is less than 4' in height." As a definition of lighting I
don't think we need to define that as not exceeding 65 watts because there is lots
of landscape lighting that exceeds that and there is lots of lighting other than low
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 38
voltage lighting, which is where this 65 watt lamp came from. That will qualify
as landscape lighting. Further in the ordinance it states that landscape lighting is
only exempt if it is no more than 65 watts. Again, a minor tweak I think in what
the intent was. I don't think that changes anything other than clarifying some of
the language. Probably the next item in this handout that Shelli passed around is a
clarification of exactly the status of street lighting. In paragraph 176.02 under
applicability, one thing that it does state is along streets. In another section,
176.05(a) it says that light from all fixtures except street lights and traffic lights
shall be cut off fixtures. Is that going to exempt street lights from the ordinance
or does that only exempt the direction of streetlights from the ordinance? In other
words, what is your intent there? Is it to include street lighting by either the
electrical utilities or whatever. That becomes a very major point in your
discussion, whether or not you include streetlights.
Hoffman: Shelli, correct me if I'm wrong, I think we did because we determined that our
standard streetlight used by the City of Fayetteville would comply with this
ordinance. So we were attempting not to have any impact on that standard.
Green:
I don't believe the streetlights, most of them as now exist, would comply with the
ordinance. In the definition of the semi -cutoff and the cutoff luminaries, most of
the streetlights, in fact the so called workhorse Tight fixture that is used throughout
most of the subdivisions and a lot of commercial establishments, is the little round
type fixture with a glass prismatic lense, it is open at the bottom. I don't think
that fixture qualifies in any way as even being a semi -cutoff lighting fixture. If it
is not in accordance with the definition of your ordinance, then probably about 80
to 95% of all the street lighting in Fayetteville is not going to comply.
Hoffman: We discussed that specifically. I was the Committee chair and I am trying to
remember. Perry Franklin had come and talked to us about the standard light that
they use and I am not arguing or anything, but I think that is something that we
need to reconfirm. It is my memory that these would comply.
Rushing: That is prior to a time that we got to a point of setting these standards with a
cutoff and semi -cutoff. My understanding is that our existing street lighting may
have difficulty of meeting that requirement so they are exempt from this particular
requirement.
Green:
Yes. If they are exempt as cutoff fixtures they would probably also need to be
exempt as semi -cutoff fixtures as well. Really the way that particular standard
lighting fixture is designed is that it really will not limit 5% uplight and 20% in
the 80° or above zone. You may want to consider that in putting the final
adjustments on this.
Hoffman: We have had something like eleven or twelve public meetings on this already. I
think we are down to the point that yes, these are all excellent comments that if
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 39
Green:
Hoffman:
Conklin:
Green:
Estes:
we are going to move this ordinance forward, the next body that will hear this and
discuss it will be the Ordinance Review committee. There is ample opportunity to
fine tune should it be passed onto the Ordinance Review Committee. It is good to
have so that the staff can work through them and add as this goes forward to that.
This ordinance of course as it is intended right now is to apply to new installations
and renovated or rehabilitated outdoor lighting systems. Right now probably the
City of Fayetteville has over a thousand lighting fixtures that they probably own
and are on maintenance agreements with utility companies throughout the city.
Right now the way I am interpreting these numbers and some of the information,
the photometric information that I have tried to get from the lighting fixtures
themselves, it looks like a majority of the city's lighting fixtures will not comply
with the ordinance. I don't think that is really what your intent started out to be.
Are you referring to security lighting like outdoor lighting for the utilities and
things like that?
I was going to ask a question. The cobra head type lighting, what definition
would that fall under?
Most of the cobra head fixtures that are along College Avenue for instance, there
are two different types that you will see. One of them has a very flat bottom on it
and I think that fixture itself would probably fall under the definition of the
ordinance qualifying as a cutoff type. The cobra heads that have the dropped
lense on them, the rounded lense at the bottom, those may or may not qualify as a
semi cutoff. Trying to measure that or get the photometric data for someone to
prove that I think is going to be a real burden on planning staff in trying to
enforce that. That has been some of the problem with developing an ordinance all
along. It is technically very complex and yet we are needing to get some kind of
an ordinance that is very simple to administer and to enforce. We really have
some conflicting requirements there that probably need to be balanced properly.
That is something that you really need to consider in looking at this is exactly
what are we going to allow under this ordinance. Is it going to be only these very
expensive cutoff type lighting fixtures for general purpose streetlights? Is the city
going to retrofit those that don't comply and at what cost? There are just a bunch
of other lose ends out there that I think you need to consider as you are looking at
this ordinance.
Mr. Green, under applicability it includes along streets and then under lighting
standards in parenthesis is "except streetlights and traffic lights." I believe I
attended two of the subcommittee meetings. My thinking was that to include
along streets take care of the situation where you have a commercial use and then
over in lighting standards we specifically exempted street and traffic lights. Is
that consistent with your thinking or do you see something else?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 40
Green:
Estes:
Green:
If streetlights are going to be exempt, it would probably be a good idea to make
that a little more clear. The City Attorney may have another opinion on that but
under exemptions if street lighting is going to be exempt then it probably ought to
be included under the exemptions.
In 176.05(a) it does say "exempt street lights and traffic lights" Under rules of
construction that I am familiar with street lights and traffic lights would then be
excluded. I am deferring to your technical expertise now. Do you see an issue
there that we need to resolve?
The only fine technical point there and this probably gets into the actual structure
of the sentence, but light from all fixtures except street lights and traffic lights
shall be cutoff fixtures as defined. That seems to be exempting street lights from
being cutoff fixtures but it doesn't exempt them as being semi -cutoff or the other
categories that they would fit into. In other words, in this table 176 (a) most of
your streetlights are not going to fit in there because they are more than 8,500
lumens.
Estes: So your suggestion is in 176.03 is to add a new i. that reads street lights and
traffic lights?
Green: I think that would clarify that part of it if that is your intent to exempt street lights
and traffic lights.
Estes: Thank you Mr. Green.
Green: The next little paragraph there has to do with under the exemptions also.
Exemption F security lighting simply states that security lighting controlled by
sensors that provide illumination for 15 minutes or less. I would propose that we
exempt all security lighting. There is a couple of reasons for that. Number one is
this 15 minutes or less is referring to the builders type occupancy or motion
sensor that will automatically turn a security light on when there is motion and
then turns it off after some predetermined time. That really only works
effectively with quartz lighting and some types of incandescent lighting. It
doesn't work well with metal halide or the high pressure sodium type lighting
which requires a long extended warm up time. That particular requirement there
means that you couldn't have security lighting unless it is incandescent lighting
and unless it had this motion sensor attached to it. Probably again, the City
Attorney needs to look at potential liability that we might have in passing an
ordinance that could create a security problem for the user.
Williams: I haven't really attended the meetings that you had on that. I would be a little
concerned about creating an exemption that could swallow up the ordinance and
that every builder could say "Well, that is a security light." We need to look at
that very carefully and make sure that, I don't see a definition right now of
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 41
Green:
security lighting and maybe we need to define that if we are going to make such a
broad exemption as suggested by Mr. Green.
Then another thing. There is another thing that I need to clean up from something
that I recommended earlier. In that same paragraph 176.05 (a) it says "shall not
exceed the power density budget referenced in the Arkansas energy code." Right
now there is some confusion about whether or not some of those provisions are
even applicable. There are also some revisions that have changed and omitted
some of the power density budgets for outdoor lighting. There is still a great deal
of power density budget setup but they are mostly for indoor lighting and they
only address the facade lighting and canopy lighting, which really doesn't cover
too much as far as the parking lot areas and things of that sort. What I would
recommend just to stay consistent, is to eliminate that particular reference and
then that paragraph would read "Luminous design levels shall conform to the
Illuminating Engineers Society of North America recommendations for the
specific application." It would also tend to address Mr. Williams' concern about
security lighting because the I.E.S. handbook has a specific chapter on security
lighting, which has recommendations on luminous levels for various types of
security applications. It has not only horizontal foot-candle recommendations but
also the vertical foot-candle recommendations for recognition of facial
characteristics and things of that sort. I think the I.E.S. handbook could properly
address a lot of those kinds of issues without having to pull additional references
in like energy code or the OSHA 90.1 standards for energy efficiency of
buildings. Trying to keep it as simple as we can I think is usually a good course
to take. The last paragraph, or the last concern that I have, Shelli kind of eluded
to that, that has to do with the limits that we have in that table, 176 (a). Those can
be very restrictive. They can be arbitrary in some cases and can greatly restrict
some design freedom for particular applications. I know what we are trying to
achieve, basically what we are trying to achieve is to reduce light pollution, which
is what creates sky glow and we are also trying to reduce light trespass, which has
to do with spill light over into unwanted areas. Those are basically the way I
understood the subcommittee and the direction that they were going, that is really
what they are trying to achieve. How we do it gets to be very complicated and
somewhat arbitrary in trying to establish those particular cutoff levels. Just
looking at some of the existing street lighting for instance, if you wanted to make
the street lighting comply with this ordinance, I think what we would have to do is
change the limit on non -cutoff luminaries up to approximately 9,000 lumens and
we would have to raise the semi -cutoff limit to approximately 20,000 lumens,
20,000 to 24,000 lumens in order to take into account most of the existing
streetlights as they exist. What this ordinance does do though, whether
streetlights are included or not, it would eliminate the worst culprit of light
trespass and also light pollution and that is the large adjustable floodlights. Those
area lights, as they are sometimes called, can be extremely powerful. They can be
very blinding if they are aimed at some critical angles and they do cause a
tremendous problem of light trespass as well as sky glow or light pollution. From
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July 8, 2002
Page 42
Hoffman.
MOTION:
Estes:
Hoffman:
Bunch:
Hoffman:
Shackelford:
that standpoint, I think there might be even another way to state that more specific
if that is what your intent is to eliminate some of those larger adjustable area
lights. Those again are lights that are generally leased from the utility company.
A lot of the business owners along College Avenue, you can see a lot of them use
that adjustable floodlight for their entire parking lot and for their building facade
and security lighting and everything. You probably just need to decide if those
fixtures are worthy of exemption or whether you want that type of lighting fixture
to be eliminated from new construction. That is really all I had to say. I will be
happy to try to answer questions that you might have.
We want to thank you very much for your hard work and effort. I know that you
have put a lot of time into this and your professional opinion is greatly
appreciated. I know for one, when we started out our main goals were to point the
lights down and to make the ordinance not have an economic impact, just to be
reasonable. I think that that is our common goal still. Again, thanks for the
assistance, we really needed it. Is there any other member of the public that
would like to address us on the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance? Seeing none, I will
go ahead and bring discussion back to the Commission.
I too would like to thank Mr. Green for his efforts. These have been volunteered
efforts on Mr. Green's part when he could have been billing and collecting from
paying clients he has volunteered to work for the city. He is the only individual
that I am aware of in this area that has this level of expertise. I appreciate it and I
know the Commission appreciates it. With that said, I would move that we
forward to the City Council for its consideration and for its referral to its
ordinance review committee, the ordinance amending Title 15, the Unified
Development Ordinance of the Code of Fayetteville to provide for the regulation
of outdoor lighting installations in new developments and my motion incorporates
all of Mr. Green's comments and Mr. Williams' suggestion that in the definitions
section there be a provision regarding the definition of security light.
I have a motion by Commissioner Estes.
I will second.
I have a second by Commissioner Bunch. Is there any further discussion?
I have a couple of points that I would just like some clarification on before we
proceed. I will try to make them as brief as possible. First of all, in earlier
conversations regarding this I was one of the more vocal ones in situations where
there could be variances or waivers looked at in this area. In particular with
security concerns. I see that we now have variance waivers in place for any
undue hardship. Is it my understanding that if there is a situation in which
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July 8, 2002
Page 43
security issues may be compromised by this ordinance that that would incorporate
and be an undue hardship for the developer, is that correct?
Williams: Undue hardship is usually viewed by the person or committee that is going to
grant it and so that is a very common thing in our zoning ordinance is just leave it
a fairly general term that is in many of our variances. It would probably be up to
this commission to decide what does that really mean?
Conklin: I was just going to add that most installations of lighting, people say they need the
lighting for security. One point that I would like to make is that this ordinance is
not trying to provide less lighting, it is trying to direct the lighting and shield the
lighting so it doesn't trespass beyond people's properties. You can light up your
parking lot as bright as you can. We don't have any maximum foot-candle
requirements for commercial development in this ordinance. The only foot-
candle requirement that we have where you want to try to reduce the amount of
light is adjacent to a residential use. I just want to make sure everybody is clear
about that so you can design lighting that is going to light up your building, your
parking lot in areas and hopefully provide the type of lighting you need for
security at the same time. I think it is going to be somewhat difficult to try to
define security because most lighting is used to help make a site more secure.
That is the reason why we wanted to have this ordinance because we have the
design overlay district and the parking lot ordinance and other ordinance that talk
about shielded, directed downward, away from property. That has always been
left to staff to try to figure out what that meant. We are trying to come up with
standard definitions of what do those other ordinances mean and hopefully we
will achieve it with this ordinance. Once again, the idea is not to make a
commercial site dark. You can light it up as bright as you want. Under this
ordinance you just have to light it up in a manner that is not going to spill light
beyond the property. Thanks
Shackelford: Thank you. The second point is §1.2 (1) close to the bottom. It says "This
ordinance applies to all new outdoor lighting installations in all zoning districts
with the exceptions of single and two-family units." I thought it was, my
understanding at one point is that we were actually directing this more at
commercial areas and that all residential areas were going to be omitted. The way
that I am reading that is that with the type of subdivision that we looked at tonight
with these patio homes, these condominium types, these are still residential
instances that don't fall under that definition of single or double family homes. It
is our intention to govern the lighting in those types of developments even though
they are residential, is that correct?
Conklin: You will typically have a parking lot when you have something larger than a
duplex. There are many residential developments that do not light their parking
lot areas. If they do, the ordinance would apply to those parking lots to make sure
those lights are cutoff or semi -cutoff type lighting fixtures depending on how
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July 8, 2002
Page 44
bright the light is. I think it is important that we include those because you can
have just as much impact if you just buy floodlights to illuminate an entire
parking lot. That is the distinction between the single-family and the two-family.
When you start adding more cars and you want to add parking lot lighting, we
want to make sure that that is also meeting the ordinance.
Shackelford: Ok. Also, in that same section, "Any fixture being replaced must also comply."
How will this be governed and regulated when an existing fixture is replaced, how
will we govern what fixture is going to be used to replace that? Will there be
building permits required? Are there already building permits required to replace
pole fixtures for example in a C-1 zone?
Conklin: There are not building permits required.
Shackelford: How will we govern what is replaced when these are replaced?
Conklin- Possibly an electrical permit I think there is somewhat of a learning curve with
this ordinance. Right now we have received complaints of people buying or
leasing those floodlights, shining them onto their buildings and outdoor areas into
residential neighborhoods. Hopefully over time people will realize that buying a
floodlight and lighting up the entire neighborhood is no longer allowed in
Fayetteville. If they redo their fixtures in the parking lot hopefully we don't have
too many instances where people are unaware of the ordinance.
Shackelford: As far as the overall ordinance will the enforcement of that ordinance be
something that is handled by your department?
Conklin: Yes.
Shackelford: Do we have the equipment and technology needed to enforce that ordinance at
this time?
Conklin: The City of Fayetteville does have a light meter. How we envision with regard to
enforcement of this ordinance is that all lighting fixtures typically have cut sheets
that will tell us whether or not the fixture is semi -cutoff, cutoff, or non -cutoff.
We will rely on that information based on the cut sheet, the photometric data. If
there is a problem with regard to enforcement from there we would have to go out
and probably seek a consultant to verify if there is a problem. Typically what I
have seen in 90% to 95% of all new development are using cutoff lighting and
Ms. Rushing did bring an example of a box type fixture that has the four sides.
You will see them at Kohl's, Target, Walgreen's, most of your new development
where they are pointed downwards. They are shielded on four sides with no light
output on top.
Shackelford: My concern is that this ordinance is going to create one more form of expense for
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 45
the developer in our community that he or she may not have to face in adjoining
communities. I am concerned with the cost that this is going to add to the
development process. I too would like to thank Mr. Green for his hard work and
would suggest that we consider his final option that we increase the limits that are
allowed going forward so we can make this less expensive on the developer. I
would not like to see it be a situation where our ordinance requires such specific
equipment for the developer that it becomes a substantial cost to development
going forward. Thank you.
Hoffman: Is there any further discussion?
Allen: I have several little ticky tacky things but I will just mention one. I wondered
about the government flags and lighting there so often the company flag is also a
part of that. Will that be something that will be regulated? Will they have to
remove their company flag in order to illuminate it?
Hoffman: If it is an existing installation, no. As I understand it, a new installation would not
permit the private sector signage or flags or that kind of thing.
Conklin- Yes. We seem to have a few U.S. flags popping up around town I've noticed
which would be allowed to be illuminated. That is just a commentary that I've
noticed when I was driving on the bypass.
Ward: What about neon lights Tim?
Rushing: At this time we haven't addressed the type of bulb that it will be whether it is
neon or others. We have not addressed that yet. I believe there is some
information in the signage ordinance in regard to that but we did not address that
in our outdoor lighting.
Hoffman: My thought on that is commercial design standards cover somewhat of neon as do
the sign ordinances and no flashing lights and that kind of thing. I think we have
other areas that we can work within.
Ward: Shelli, are you aware if there is any government lighting standards as far as
streetlights that are shielded?
Rushing: I am not aware of any standards.
Conklin: You mean like for the City of Fayetteville?
Ward: Yes. We have got all these that Mike Green says wouldn't qualify under this new
ordinance if these streetlights were actually underneath the ordinance. Are they
producing streetlights now that are inexpensive that a city could afford?
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 46
Conklin: The City is going in and as the older streetlights are worn out, are replacing them
with the cutoff type lighting. That is the reason for my question with regard to the
cobra head lighting where it would fall into that definition. I am not sure if it
would be cutoff or semi -cutoff but Perry Franklin, Traffic Superintendent, did
state that we are trying to go back in and replace them with the cutoff or semi -
cutoff type lighting as they wear out. As part of the subcommittee, I think that is
part of the confusion this evening with regard to do our streetlights meet the
standards because we did have our Traffic Superintendent come to the meeting
and talk about that the city is purchasing and installing cutoff or semi -cutoff
lighting in Fayetteville.
Hoffman: Just one additional comment that I would like to put in to respond to
Commissioner Shackelford. We were really careful in researching the economic
impact of this ordinance. I think that we did an informal survey of the
commercial projects that were coming in for approvals and I believe that with the
exceptions of the ones with the up floodlights, the vast majority of them would
comply with this with no additional effort. Is that correct?
Conklin: That is correct. Most new lighting is that type of lighting on commercial
developments, which is cutoff lighting.
Hoffman: So it may indeed need some fine tuning to workout the fixture lumens and the
things that Mr. Green was referring to but I think that if you just take the new
construction plans that we're getting and look at that and say that this has little or
no impact on it then I think we're headed down the right road or that is the idea.
Conklin: I think Mr. Green summed it up when he stated what this ordinance will do. It
will prevent the floodlights from being installed and lighting up the entire street
and neighborhood and that is the intention is to if you want to light your display
area or your building or your parking lot, that you use appropriate lighting that is
not impacting the entire street or your neighborhood. We have worked on this for
a long time and the current ordinances state shielded and directed downward.
Staff has interpreted that to require to make sure the lights are shielded, but that is
as far as we have gone. That is a very simple way of doing it. I think this is the
best that we can get at this point with regard to a definition of what cutoff is and
full cutoff. Thank you.
Hoffman: Thank you. Does anyone else have any questions before we take the vote?
Bunch: I have one. Mr. Estes, when you made your motion did you intend to include Mr.
Green's suggestion of revisions on 176(a)?
Estes: My motion incorporated all of Mr. Green's comments and would ask that they go
forward to the City Council and that Mr. Green's letter dated today, July 8`h
numerates those comments.
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July 8, 2002
Page 47
Bunch:
Estes:
He did have some additional information that was not in the letter that had to do
with the numbers, adjusting the numbers in 176(a).
Yes, my motion includes all of those comments and of course that will be
transcribed right Renee?
Thomas: Yes.
Hoffman: Ok, thanks. Renee, would you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve ADM 01-15.00 was
approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Hoffman: The motion for the Outdoor Lighting ordinance carries unanimously. Thank you
everybody for your efforts and we appreciate it.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 48
ADM 01-19.00 Administrative Item (Off -Street Parking Ordinance Amendments) to revise
Section 172.01 Off -Street Parking Lot Design Requirements of the City of Fayetteville Unified
Development Ordinance to provide a method for reducing off-street parking requirements for
properties that share a common parking facility and to revise parking ratios for certain uses.
Hoffman: Our second proposed ordinance this evening is ADM 01-19.00 which is the
parking ordinance amendments ordinance to revise § 172.01 off-street parking lot
design requirements in the City of Fayetteville Unified Development Ordinance to
provide a method for reducing off-street parking requirements for properties that
share a common parking facility and to revise parking ratios for certain uses. Tim
or Dawn would you like to give us an introduction and then we will have
presentations?
Conklin- Sure. This ordinance started approximately about a year and a half ago it started
with a meeting with Mayor Dan Coody and talking about the ability to reduce
parking through a shared parking between mixed use developments. From there,
Laura Kelly, a Fayetteville citizen prepared an ordinance to put in front of the
Planning Division based on some work that was done by I.T.E., Institute of
Traffic Engineers, that looked at shared parking ratios. Staff asked that they get
with the Downtown Dickson Street Enhancement Project to discuss this shared
parking within mixed use developments ordinance, D.D.E.P. did review it and
they did send a letter in support of this ordinance. At this time I am going to let
Shelli Rushing go over the ordinance that is proposed before you tonight. When
we initially brought it forward there was a request to also look at our parking
ratios. We have quite a few conditional use requests for restaurant parking and
bank parking. Staff has gone forward and we have provided those parking ratio
amendments also as part of this request.
Rushing: The main things I want to point out to you in regards to the Shared Parking
Ordinance are two items on page 2.16 starting at the top of the page. This is the
newest portion of the ordinance with the exception of the parking ratios and it
does address shared parking between developments and setting up those
agreements and identifying the number of shared spaces that we basically
currently have. The newest portion is the number four reduced parking within
mixed use developments and what this does is use table 4 on page 2.17 using the
occupancy rates and using the calculation to determine the number of spaces
needed for both or one or more developments that are involved within sharing a
parking space to determine the maximum amount of spaces needed. Those are for
land uses that typically have different peak demand times such as a bank and a
church is a good example of land uses that would be able to share parking. That
is the shared parking agreement. We also have in your packet, we put together a
worksheet so that we could clarify how that calculation is determined because it
originally started out kind of confusing. I think based on comments from the last
time we were before you, we have included those and tried to clean up the
description of the calculation. Then in regard to the parking ratios, what we did is
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 49
we took a look at our existing ratios. We looked at some of the requests that we
have had for conditional use permits to increase the amount of parking and looked
at some other ordinances not only just in Arkansas, but also outside of Arkansas
and looked at some standards and tried to find those land uses where we felt that
we needed some clarification or we actually needed an actual parking ratio, which
we didn't have on a few of them. We are proposing a new category for funeral
homes, which would be one per four seats in the main chapel, one per two
employees, and one reserved space for each vehicle that is used in connection
with that business. Another new category is fuel sales with convenience stores
and fuel sales only. I think everything kind of fell into gas service stations. We
separated those into three separate categories. Another change that we are
recommending is that right now we have restaurants excluding drive-thrus, and
those that offer entertainment and then we also have restaurants that offer
entertainment. What we kind of do is try to clarify that a little bit and come up
with a new category, which is strictly restaurants which is one per one hundred
square feet of gross floor areas plus four stacking spaces for any drive-thru
window. Those are the new categories. The other categories, you have had a
chance to take a look at this. We are proposing some slightly revised ratios based
on some of the research that we have done.
Hoffman: Thank you.
Bunch: On the new category on fuel sales only, does that need to be described as maybe
retail or wholesale or what does that encompass?
Rushing: Strictly fuel sales.
Bunch: Would it be like a bulk plant for wholesale sales or would it be like a retail outlet?
Rushing: I think we would apply it to both situations.
Conklin: It does state with convenience store.
Bunch: No, that is the next category. Fuel sales only is this one. The question becomes is
that to include a bulk plant where they have the trucks and everything that are
hauling to the retail stations?
Hoffman: There is only one that I know of in Fayetteville, off of Sixth and Razorback, there
is purely a fuel sales facility that doesn't have a convenience store attached to it
and I think that they sale wholesale and retail both. I am sorry I don't know the
name of the business but that is the only one I know of'.
Conklin: Mitchell Oil Company.
Hoffman: Do you know of any others in town?
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July 8, 2002
Page 50
Conklin- That is the only one I can think of.
Bunch: At one time in this town we had quite a few outlets that were help yourself
stations where there was basically a little window and a trailer or something like
that and some fuel pumps. You know, these things go in cycles. My question is
if from past experience of what we have seen in this town, if we should
encompass those types of installations and also to differentiate from a bulk oil
wholesale operation and a retail outlet.
Conklin- I am trying to understand your question. Would that be from a refinery?
Bunch: An oil distributor. Someone who has the trucks and the equipment and the large
tanks and they haul the oil and gasoline products to retail outlets.
Conklin: Would it be like an industrial park use? You are going to have tanks and trucks?
Bunch: Like a Mitchell Oil Company. Just an outfit that sells to other service stations,
convenience stores, it is more of an industrial application.
Hoffman: Can I ask you a question Commissioner Bunch? When we talk about three spaces
per each employee and spaces of the pump islands are calculated towards this
requirement. Do you have a problem with the actual parking ratio for this use or
do you have further questions about the use? I think the use is we can get some
more in Fayetteville or not but how does this pertain to the parking?
Bunch: Where it just says fuel sales only, a bulk plant operation has maybe several
employees that are driving trucks that they pick up products on site and deliver to
other sites. What we may be doing by not being more descriptive in our
definition, we may be requiring considerable amount of parking at a bulk plant
operation when it is not necessary.
Hoffman: I would suggest then that the staff take a look at other types of facilities like that
and see if they need to have reserved spaces for the trucks and then how many
people actually work at those facilities. We are having reserved spaces for the
funeral home specialty vehicles, I guess we could reserve spaces for the trucks
too.
Bunch: I am just trying to get a differentiation between a wholesale distributor type
operation and a retail outlet because it seems like it would be an adverse burden.
My question is what is the intent of what it says here?
Hoffman: Would it clear it up if we just put wholesale fuel sales only?
Williams: I think that actually means retail.
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July 8, 2002
Page 51
Bunch: I think it should be retail. That is what my question is. Apparently it is quite
confusing because the intent is probably retail.
Rushing: Yes.
Hoffman: Then do a separate category for wholesale and that should clear it up.
Bunch: That would clear it up.
Church: Just a quick question for Shelli. On the table on 2.17 it lists out commercial,
would retail fall in that? I know there is an asterisk there but I don't know what
that means exactly. Would retail fall under commercial because that is kind of its
own category instead of falling into commercial. I am just wondering if maybe
we should list retail separately because the hours might be different than the
normal commercial category.
Rushing: At this point we would interpret that retail would fall into that commercial
category. This was some of the research that was put together by Laura Kelly and
she came up with these land use categories. I don't know if in her research she
found a specific category for retail or not.
Church: That might just be something to take a look at.
Hoffman: Does anybody have any other questions for Shelli before we take public
comment?
Estes:
Shelli, in the material that you provided us regarding the restaurant parking, we
are told that based on the historic data that the average is 14.9 spaces per 1,000
sq.ft. and that that excludes Chili's and then in table three we have got one per
200 sq.ft. of floor area, which his of course five spaces per 1,000 sq.ft. Again, my
concern is is there something that we can do to get that current ratio for
restaurants up to a more realistic level that is consistent with the historical data? I
guess another way of saying it is why did you set it at one per 200 sq.ft. of floor
area knowing that the historic data is that we do about three times that?
Rushing: That was something that we really tried to take a look at. Keep in mind that these
are requests for conditional use permits for more parking. We did not want to set
the minimum requirements so high that we had restaurants not being able to meet
that requirement. These are particular situations where they requested an amount
of parking spaces significantly higher than what we currently not only require but
allow. We did not want to set our minimum requirements so high that those other
restaurants would not be able to meet it. We didn't want to go to extremes with it
but still wanted to be able to try to catch some of those conditional uses that we
have coming in. This does catch a few of them, it does not catch all of them.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 52
Warrick: I would just add on that in the area on table three that you are looking at, the one
per 200 sq.ft. of floor area for restaurants. If you will look the proposed ratio on
that is to delete that category and two down below that is a proposed new
category that changes the ratio to one per one hundred sq.ft. of gross floor area
plus stacking room. The one per 200 is what we currently have.
Estes:
So we are going to continue to hear variance requests on a case by case because
one per 100 is way below what the historic average is. In other words, what I am
saying is simply stated can we sieze the moment and use this as an opportunity
and set these ratios closer to the historic data so that we don't force applicants to
come to us time and time again with these variance requests for restaurant
parking?
Conklin. We looked at table one and for McAllister's and Guido's that ratio works for
them. If you wanted to set it for the other type of restaurants it would be the
fifteen per 1,000 sq.ft.
Rushing: Fifteen per 1,000 sq.ft. is the next level that we were looking at. When we took at
that you will see when you look on table two, J.D. China and Guido's, the number
of spaces J.D. China provided was 57. If we go to 15 per 1,000 sq.ft. they would
have had to have provided 93 spaces. Those seemed a little extreme to us and we
didn't want to have such significant requirements for some of the smaller
restaurants. The same with Guido's. They ended up providing 40 spaces and with
the 15 per 1,000 sq.ft. they would have had to have provided 64.
Hoffman: Could we look at instead of holding fast at one per 100 sq.ft., could we put in a
percentage and say as long as they fall within some percentage within 50% to
100% of this number, if they didn't want to put that many in they wouldn't have
to? It is all based on performance data on these chains that have got a pretty good
idea of what they need.
Rushing: I believe we could put together something along those lines.
Williams: That is why I recommended that you give the Planning Division more power.
Right now we say the minimum and maximum number is this. In other words,
this is the number and then you say well you've got 20% that the Planner has. I
recommend that you go at least 30% with the Planner to give them more wiggle
room. The same number right now by ordinance is the minimum and maximum
number and really I think that we can rely upon our city Planning Division to use
their discretion appropriately. I think 20% up and down from that is not enough
variation between different kinds of restaurants and I would rather have you all
recommend to the City Council that we give the Planning Division more
discretion, more leeway between those two numbers. That is why I recommended
30% as opposed to 20%. Maybe that is not even enough but that would at least
take care of some of these problems with different sorts of restaurants.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 53
Shackelford: Could we not set a minimum and maximum and have a range?
Hoffman: That is what I was talking about.
Shackelford: You are talking about just a variance from that. Would it be a request for less
parking spaces too?
Hoffman: Yes. It happens sometimes. I think you have people that have a high percentage
of drive thru and things like that that this would take them into account. Does
anybody have anymore questions before we take public comment?
Estes:
With regard to the schools, considering the gymnasium and the auditorium, is
there any way to calculate that on a square footage basis and fall into something
like we do for community centers?
Rushing: I believe we could do something like that.
Estes: How would you suggest that that be done? I have got the idea but I don't have the
technical expertise to implement that idea. How would we do that?
Rushing: We would have to find a way to coordinate it with what they would be providing
for student use. That would be used for auditorium use as well. What I have seen
in some of the other ordinances is that they will do one per 10 students based on
current enrollment or the one per four seats in the auditorium and whichever one
is higher is what they would require. So, you could do something along those
lines.
Hoffman: Ok, anybody else? Thanks Shelli. We will get back to you because I'm sure we
have got more questions. We appreciate it. I will now open the floor for public
comment.
Kelly:
Hi, I am Laura Kelly, a citizen of Fayetteville. I just want to state that number
one remember when we are talking minimum requirements flexibility is such a
great idea. I am glad you brought that up because when we are talking about land
for cars it doesn't help the developer or the city when we take space away and
pave it over so flexibility is a good thing and that is why the shared parking
element was expanded and introduced to allow in certain circumstances in which
you do have some mixed uses with complementary demands on parking, it is
really to the advantage of everyone to increase the profitability of that site by
allowing some more buildable area. Also, in the categories of minimal use you
have feed lot wholesales and emergency medical technicians. You are going to
have too many categories if you try to cover everyone and I think it is just really
good to streamline and allow flexibility and usability and that is all my comments.
Thank you.
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
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MOTION:
Hoffman: We want to thank you too for the time that you have put into this. I know you
spent a lot of your personal time on helping the city with your ideas and so forth
so thanks Laura very much. Would anybody else like to talk to us about this? I
will go ahead and close public comment and bring it back to staff and to the
Commission for additional suggestions or motions or whatever. I have just a
couple of housekeeping items. I would like to add a category for nightclubs and
taverns that is currently not listed. I don't know what to suggest for those ratios
but I think that they have one space per four seats is kind of a national standard. I
hesitate to bring up outdoor seating areas but I think it is something that we
should address at some point and those are not covered. I am not sure whether we
want to go ahead and exempt places that are putting in fewer than 10 or 15 seats
because I think that most of our small bars have limited outdoor seating that is
seasonal in nature so I will just throw that idea out and you can think about it and
work with it. I would also like to add a standard for queing spaces for any drive-
thru facility, banks, restaurants, so whatever. Are there any other comments? I
would like to go ahead and move that the Planning Commission approve this for
forwarding to the City Council to the Ordinance Review Committee for their
consideration in taking into account all of the comments that have been mentioned
this evening with regard to retail commercial, the restaurant upper and lower
limits, and I am sure that I am forgetting something. I apologize, it has been a
long meeting but that is my motion.
Bunch: Is that to include the queing?
Hoffman: Yes, everybody's comments and the wholesale verses retail fuel sales.
Bunch: Nightclubs and taverns.
Hoffman: Nightclubs, taverns, outdoor seating.
Bunch: At what point in time do those standards get developed and get inserted?
Hoffman: I think that between the time, this is something I personally trust staff with. They
have done an excellent job of researching what is done nationally and what seems
to be a national standard and these really don't vary that much. If you guys can
find similar cities of similar size and use those ordinances as a guide then I have
no problem with them inserting that. We are all free to go to the public meetings
that will occur and if this goes to the Ordinance Review Committee.
Bunch: I will second.
Hoffman: I have a motion and a second. Is there any additional comment? Renee, would
Planning Commission
July 8, 2002
Page 55
you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve ADM 01-19.00 was
approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Hoffman: Thank you. The motion carries unanimously. Thank you everyone for your hard
work and efforts. We do appreciate it. That concludes our agenda for this
evening. Tim, do we have any announcements?
Conklin: I would just like to remind the Commission that we are scheduling a Planning
Commission retreat. I believe that that is July 296. If you put that on your
calendar we will get more information to you. That is all I have.
Hoffman: Ok, thanks Tim. We will adjourn this meeting Thank you everybody and have a
great night.
Meeting adjourned: 8:08 p.m.