HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-12 MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held on Monday, July 12, 2004 at
5:30 p.m. in room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain,
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
ACTION TAKEN
VAC 04-1119: (PETRINO LOT 5 PINE VALLEY, 363) Forwarded
Consent
PPL 04-1117:(ALLEN SUBDIVISION, 140) Approved
Consent
Dover. Kohl & Partners Downtown Master Plan Informational
Duncan Associates Impact Fees for Fire, Police and Streets Informational
ADM 04-1139: Administrative Item (DORADO, 557) Approved
Page 14
ADM 04-1147: Administrative Item (LANDERS, 248/249) Denied
Page 16
LSP 04-1113: Lot Split (ALI MOUBAREK, 323 Approved
Page 19
ANX 04-1071: Annexation (JONES, 569) Forwarded
Page 25
RZN 04-1072: Rezoning (JONES, 569) Forwarded
Page 25
ANX 04-1073: Annexation (AMES TRUST, 569) Forwarded
Page 30
RZN 04-1074: Rezoning (AMES TRUST, 569) Forwarded
Page 30
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 2
Alan Ostner
Sean Trumbo
Christian Vaught
James Graves
Loren Shackelford
Christine Myres
Candy Clark
Nancy Allen
STAFF PRESENT
Jeremy Pate
Dawn Warrick
Matt Casey
Kit Williams
Suzanne Morgan
Renee Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
Jill Anthes
STAFF ABSENT
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July 12, 2004
Page 3
Ostner: Welcome to the July 12, 2004 meeting of the Fayetteville Planning Commission.
Will you call the roll please?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call there were seven Commissioners present
with Commissioner Anthes being absent and Commissioner Myres
arriving at 5:35 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Ostner: The first item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from the June
281h meeting. Do I have a motion for approval?
Shackelford: So moved.
Clark: Second.
Ostner: Is there discussion? Call the roll please.
Roll Call: Upon the completion of the roll call the minutes were approved by a vote
of 7-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries
VAC 04-1119: Vacation (PETRINO LOT 5 PINE VALLEY, 363): Submitted by
BUCKLEY BLEW for property located at LOT 5 IN PINE VALLEY SUBDIVISION.
The property is zoned RMF -24, MULTI FAMILY - 24 UNITS/ACRE and contains
approximately 0. 10 acres. The request is to approve the vacation of a portion of a platted
easement within Lots 5A and 513 of the Pine Valley Subdivision.
PPL 04-1117: Preliminary Plat (ALLEN SUBDIVISION, 140): Submitted by DAVE
JORGENSEN for property located at 4111 OLD WIRE ROAD. The property is in the
Planning Area and contains approximately 9.50 acres. The request is to approve a
preliminary plat for a subdivision containing 3 single-family lots of 5.40, 2.72 and 1.38
acres respectively.
Ostner: The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. There are two items
on consent, VAC 04-1119 for Perrino Lot 5 of Pine Valley and the second
item is PPL 04-1117 for the Allen Subdivision. If anyone would like to
speak to these items we can remove them from the consent agenda.
Otherwise, I will hear a motion for approval.
Shackelford: I will make a motion to approve the consent agenda.
Myres: Second.
Ostner: Is there discussion? Renee?
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July 12, 2004
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Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve the consent agenda
was approved by a vote of 7-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries by a vote of seven to zero.
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July 12, 2004
Page 5
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM: Downtown Master Plan
Ostner: The next item on our agenda is an administrative item for the Downtown
Master Plan. Can we have the presentation from staff?
Conklin: My name is Tim Conklin, Community Planning & Engineering Services
Director. This evening I would like to go over a brief power point
presentation with you on the Downtown Master Plan. As you are aware,
in January we had a very successful public participation process. Unlike
other types of planning processes that we go through, we used a charette
type event to gain public input into the Downtown Master Plan. We
invited everybody to the Town Center to do a hands on all day work
session. It was very successful. We had 19 tables participating and
actually sharing their ideas and visions of the community. We wanted the
citizens, instead of coming up to the podium and expressing their views to
you or the city council, to actually show on a base map of the downtown
area what they like about the downtown, what their concerns were with
the downtown. The purpose of collecting this information was to work
along side a consultant to help develop an overall vision for the downtown
Fayetteville area. After that Saturday's event at the Nadine Baum Studios
we were open 12 hours a day for citizens to come down to work alongside
the consultants to actually help develop this vision. We had groups stop
by. After that Saturday's events prior to opening up we had people
waiting outside to participate in the process. Participation was great. We
had an opening reception with approximately 100 people. We had an
open house with over 100 people show up and approximately 250 people
showed up at the work in progress meeting at the end of the week
Thursday. There are six fundamental strategies within our Downtown
Master Plan. Those are creating a superbly walkable environment. There
are recommendations and action steps that the City of Fayetteville
Planning Commission and City Council will need to take implement each
of these policies. With regard to walk ability, looking at how we build out
sidewalks, how to make our streets safer for pedestrians, encouraging
downtown living. Understanding how parking plays a roll within our
downtown area. Managing our parking instead of requiring parking lots
for each individual development built within our downtown, coordinating
efforts between developers and the city and different organizations to help
develop additional structured parking within our downtown area. Smart
rules, what we are talking about there is going back, looking into our
existing zoning and development regulations, the same regulations that we
have downtown we also have out by the mall area. The downtown is
unique and historic and with many of our existing development
regulations would require variances and waivers just to build traditional
type developments in our downtown. What are proposed in our smart
rules we have four zoning districts that have been proposed in a cultural
and entertainment overlay district. Also creating special places through
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July 12, 2004
Page 6
good urban design, good design standards and guidelines for citizens,
developers and the Commission and city council to use in order to create
special places within our downtown. The last fundamental strategy is to
create an experience based economy. That includes promoting the
downtown area as a cultural and entertainment type district. Creating an
area that when you come downtown it is not just to go one restaurant but
to actually experience an overall sense of place and the historic nature of
our downtown. Keep in mind that the overall vision that the community
has developed is larger than the City of Fayetteville. It is going to require
us working with the developers, the neighborhood associations, the
business owners within the downtown area to actually implement this
plan. We are trying to use this comprehensive vision for the downtown to
make sure that we can coordinate all of the different actions that the city
takes or a developer or a neighborhood, so 50 years from now we can
achieve our vision for this community. Within the plan it talks about
immediate projects, projects within our generation and long term projects.
Keep in mind that this is not a plan that can be implemented within one to
five years but over a long period of time to actually achieve a vision
within our downtown area. Once again, taking the community citizen
input which is in the left lower hand corner of the slide, having the
consultants take those ideas and further refine those into a planned view
and then actually visualizing what change can look like. How do we make
our streets walkable? how do we tame traffic on our major roadways?
How do we create buildings that promote good urban design that fit within
our downtown area? Once again, this is a different type of process of
taking the community's input, translating that into an overall vision for the
community. Everybody is aware that Fayetteville does have a great
downtown. I think we have one of the best downtowns in Northwest
Arkansas. It is about how do we add to what we already have. How do
we put our traditional city back together? How do we use our urban
design guidelines and standards so 50 years from now we coordinate the
different projects that you see as a Planning Commission and approve that
it actually fits into an overall vision within the community. Some of the
major tasks that staff will be bringing forward to this Commission and the
City Council after the plan is adopted is looking at a new set of zoning and
development regulations. Once again, we intend to work with the design
community and the citizens and the neighborhoods as we bring forward
those regulations. It is very exciting trying to bring back regulations that
actually promote good, traditional urban design within our downtown. We
are looking at how do we fund these type of pedestrian improvements,
street improvements, parking within the downtown through tax increment
financing. Formation of a business improvement district. Something that
was brought up by many of the 19 groups was the one way street system
within the downtown area. There was a lot of dislike for the existing one
way street system. We are looking at converting the one way streets back
to two way streets. Then, once again, how do we manage our parking?
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July 12, 2004
Page 7
Parking continues to be an issue every time we have new development
within our downtown and that is going to be challenging to tackle.
Without managing our parking and figuring out how to coordinate our
parking instead of one developer or one project at a time. It is going to be
difficult to implement the overall vision of our downtown area. That
concludes the presentation of the downtown master plan. We are looking
at the Planning Commission offering your comments back to us by the
I 91 and then putting this on your Planning Commission agenda for the
26`h. I plan on adding this to the City Council agenda August 17`h for
adoption of the downtown master plan. Along with that, I will have a
schedule of what we would like to try to accomplish within the first year
of implementation for the downtown master plan. Thank you very much.
Ostner: At this point we can take public comment if anyone here would like to
speak to this issue. Seeing no public comment, I will close it to the public
and bring it to the Commission for discussion.
Allen: I guess I have some questions and some thoughts. Who could possibly be
in opposition to this aesthetically beautiful vision of Fayetteville? As I
read things in the paper about the proposal there are some things that I
wonder and one of those being that there is always talk at looking at the
big picture of looking south, north, east and west and having wonderful
views from all directions. Which makes me wonder about particularly the
south. I would feel that it would be very presumptuous of us as Planners
to tasidly determine where the lower socioeconomic people live. I don't
want that to be something that is orchestrated in this plan.
Clark: Mr. Conklin, will there be other public hearings to let other people who
can't make it to a 5:30 Planning Commission voice their input to this
process or just Planning Commission and Council access?
Conklin: We will have this back on your agenda on the 26`h for adoption. At that
time there will be an opportunity. The City Council meetings will also
have an opportunity for the public to give their input on the plan. Overall,
this has been one of the most successful planning process type public input
that I've been involved with in having the hands on workshops and having
the open design center and very intense design type visual presentation. It
has been very positive up to this point with 91% of the people in the exit
survey stating that they thought that the plan was on track. It has been
very positive.
Clark: Where can citizens obtain copies of the full report if they want to access
it?
Conklin: The report is on the website. We also have copies and CDs available in
the Planning Division office. As you can tell from these 12 slides, it is
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July 12, 2004
Page 8
very visual and graphic and it has a lot of color in it. I encourage people
to, if they need a copy in color to pick up a CD. If you want it in color
that is probably the easiest way to access this plan.
Ostner: What is that website again?
Conklin: accessfayetteville.org. If you look under the homepage under downtown
master plan there is a link that will bring you to the final draft of the
downtown master plan.
Clark: I asked that question simply because I would really hope that the citizens
would become involved and look at the final plan and give us their
feedback. I'm afraid of the hindsight syndrome where we enthusiastically
pass this, the Council passes it and when we start enacting it then people
come forward and say but we should have. This is the but we should have
phase. If you have issues, if you have questions, if you love it, if you
don't love it then we need to hear that. We don't need to be making our
choices and our decisions in a vacuum. This is a public policy and I
would encourage the public to exercise their right and tell us what they
think. You have given them the opportunity to do so.
Vaught: I know we have seen proposed development regulations. This comment
phase is just on the plan, not the development regulations that you are
looking for right now?
Conklin: Part of the scope of work was to redraft the zoning regulations within our
downtown. I wanted Dover, Kohl & Partners to take this vision, this
illustrative type plan of what the community could look like, where infill
is appropriate, take our current regulations, look at those and redraft our
development code. It is a draft. Their scope was not to take it through
final adoption. When this plan is adopted staff will set up a procedure to
get those ordinances through the process to Planning Commission and
Council. I do intend a lot of discussion and debate with regard to some of
the changes within the zoning code. It is a lot different going back to
traditional type downtown development instead of your suburban type
8,000 sq.ft. lot, single family detached home on a 70' wide lot. Looking
back at more of a historic development pattern downtown of a 40' to 50'
lot in some areas with a minimum lot area of maybe 4,000 sq.ft. or maybe
even in the core it talks about no density limitations and row house type
development in certain areas. We will have some discussion and debate as
we implement the overall vision through our regulations.
Ostner: Commissioners, is there any further discussion? One of the comments that
I wanted to make is that the downtown currently does serve a portion of
our affordable housing needs. There is a big issue right now going on
with affordable housing and it is something that this body is not dealing
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July 12, 2004
Page 9
with at the moment but I would hope that it would become a part of this
discussion because we certainly don't want to, as Commissioner Allen
mentioned, make this the type of project that would displace the affordable
housing. I haven't read it completely and fully and I'm glad that we aren't
voting on it tonight. That is something that concerns me that I would look
forward to knowing more about. Since we are not making any formal
action should we move to table this administrative item?
Warrick: This was just informational and we can move onto the next item on your
agenda.
Conklin: I just wanted to take this opportunity to present the six fundamental
strategies and kind of give you an overview of the final draft of the
downtown master plan and then at your next meeting hopefully the
Planning Commission will make a recommendation to adopt it and will
forward it to Council and then have the City Council hopefully adopt it
also.
Trumbo: When you say adopt the plan are we talking the entire plan, zoning
regulations and everything? You are talking about a three to five year
period right?
Conklin: I'm talking about the policies within the downtown master plan. I'm not
talking about adopting the new architectural design guidelines and
standards or code. I would like to sit down with the community, design
community and professionals, and work through those. This is something
new for the City of Fayetteville in looking at the type of form based code.
We are looking at urban design and urban form. I think it is going to take
a few months to work through that and get that adopted. I really don't
want to tie those together because I think there is a lot of great policy
within the actual downtown master plan that we can move forward with
and then take those action steps that are recommended in the plan and
implement those. That is the basic format of the downtown master plan.
It sets out what the vision is for this community and then it sets out within
each chapter specific steps that the City of Fayetteville will need to take to
implement the plan. One of those is to adopt a new set of development
standards.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 10
Administrative Item: Duncan Associates Impact Fees for Fire, Police and Streets
Ostner: If there is no further discussion we will move onto the next item, the
administrative item from Duncan Associates, the impact fees for fire,
police and streets.
Conklin: I did want to take this opportunity to share with you the impact fee study
that has been commissioned by the City Council. We do have the draft
report which was handed out to the Commission a couple of weeks ago.
As everybody is aware, our city is growing rapidly. Last December the
City Council did pass a resolution directing staff to go forward and study
roads, fire and police. We hired Duncan Associates to complete that
study. Typically we have been funding our capital improvements through
sales tax pay as you go. The City Council, two years ago, adopted impact
fees for water and wastewater to help new development pay it's
proportionate share for infrastructure impacts on the system. I do have a
chart that shows the maximum impact fees that could be assessed by
ordinance based on this study. For roads for a single family dwelling
$1,954, Fire $208, Police $223 for a total of $2,385. There will be some
decisions that will have to be made by the City Council with regard to
adoption of these fees and whether or not they adopt them by the City
Council by ordinance or whether or not it needs to go to the vote of the
people. That is something that the City Attorney will work with the
Council on. The other major policy issue will be with regard to the road
impact fee. The figure that is on the screen right now includes right of
way costs within that calculation. What I'm referring to if you look at the
study right now developers when they have a development that has a
master street plan adjacent to or within their development they are
required to dedicate that right of way. It may be a collector street of 70' or
it may be a principal arterial of 110'. If right of way costs are included
developers that have master street plan streets within their development or
adjacent to would have to be given credit. Whether or not the city goes
forward and wants to continue to implement our master street plan without
having to give credit we would have to reduce the fees by approximately
43%. That would be a major policy issue for the City Council to consider.
I do plan on bringing this forward to the Council in August and from there
will keep the Planning Commission informed of where this goes. If you
do look at the study there are a lot of calculations that talk about credits
for existing sales tax that we do collect for capital improvements within
the city. Calculations for a functional population for the police
department, the demand on police services based on land use. You can
look at those calculations within that. Also, looking at how you calculate
fire impact fees with the cost of new fire station construction. Keep in
mind, these numbers come from a series of tables and calculations within
the impact fee study. It is more than just a couple of pages. If you have
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July 12, 2004
Page I1
any questions you can get those to me and I can get those to the consultant
if I can't answer those. Thank you very much.
Ostner: At this point we will open it up to the public. If anyone would like to
comment on this item for impact fees we will hear your concerns.
Herron: I'm Renee Herron, I'm with Pine Valley subdivision and I realize that we
are regressing to number one but I also understood that you would like to
hear the public's opinion about things. This one was ran through. I know
that there were four people here from our neighborhood that wanted to
speak up and ask a few questions about it. It is not that we are wanting to
oppose it. We just want the information because we take pride in our
neighborhood. First of all my question would be when was the public
input? When could the public speak on this? Was it this time today or
was there another meeting?
Ostner: Are you talking about the impact fees?
Herron: No, I'm talking about number one because we didn't get to speak.
Ostner: Number one was on the consent agenda and I called for that a good while
ago and we are on a different topic now. I'm sorry.
Herron: My question is was this discussed like at a different meeting? That's all I
want to know.
Ostner: We discussed it at our agenda setting session and it was placed on the
consent agenda.
Warrick: A vacation is an item that comes directly to the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission's action is a recommendation to the City
Council. This item will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.
We can get you the dates for that if you want to contact our office in the
morning or leave us your information.
Herron: I would just like information about how he is going to go about it because
I would like to know that it is done correctly. That's all.
Warrick: We will be glad to do that. If you want to give us your contact
information we will give you a call and discuss it.
Herron: Suzanne has all of my information, phone numbers, emails, everything.
We had no signs up in the yard. There is a piece of paper floating around
but we happened to start picking up trash out of the lot that it is on and it is
laying on the ground. That's the only way that we found out about it
today. I just wanted to ask about that.
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July 12, 2004
Page 12
Ostner: Thank you. The item we are on is the impact fees. Is there any discussion
by the Commission?
Trumbo: Impact fees, while at this stage I won't go too deep. It is a very
complicated issue assigning fees to development that will be passed on to
the end user. There are issues that need to be looked at involving
affordable housing, like you mentioned earlier, these will affect that. We
will have to think about how it affects the master plan with the zoning
districts and things such as that. Those are my comments now but they
will continue later.
Vaught: On the way that they are calculated, I know a large portion of this deals
with the horizon and also the state funding and all of that stuff looks like it
went into the calculations. How often would we revise those fees?
Conklin: Our consultant recommends every three years that we look at a fee and
revise it. That is a good point. It does include all of the funding sources
that go into these capital improvements right now to make sure that the
fees are being paid and we are not double charging the development.
Once again, sales tax to state funding, turn back money all goes into those
calculations.
Clark: Mr. Conklin, on the road impact fee methodology which is going to be the
preferred choice of the City of Fayetteville? The improvements driven or
the consumption based?
Conklin: It is the consumption based approach that we are going with. The report
talks about the advantages and disadvantages. Consumption based is the
easiest way to administer. We are basically looking at the ratio of vehicle
lane miles of roadway we have, the number of vehicles we have on our
roadways and trying to keep that ratio even through this impact fee. That
is the method that this study calculated the impact fee on.
Clark: What type of recalculations does using that methodology recommend?
You just told Christian that we would look at them every three years.
Since that type of methodology usually historically underestimates does
that mean that we will look at those fees more frequently?
Conklin: With regard to the estimation it is looking at actual project costs within
Fayetteville. If project costs significantly go up we would want to look at
it sooner. Construction costs to actually build a mile of roadway. Once
again, we are looking at historic costs. You are correct. It is a very
complicated approach to the impact fee but the overall benefit is once you
set that fee you are not tied to a specific list of roadway projects that the
fee has to be expended on. If you do an improvements based method and
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July 12, 2004
Page 13
you collect the fee, you have a longer list of improvements and estimated
costs out in the future. We collect the fee from new development and you
don't actually build that development then you will have legal issues with
regard to refunding those fees back or partial refunds of those fees.
Clark: In terms of the police fees I'm looking through this and I'm not sure of the
time line, was animal control put under the police department before this
was done or after? I see the shelter listed as an asset but I'm not seeing
the animal control officers broken out or their call ratio broken out. Is that
included in these numbers or did it happen after?
Conklin: The first question you asked was was it before or after animal control was
brought under Police. I believe the study was commissioned after animal
control was under police. I will have to look with regard to calls for
service whether or not that is included. You are correct that the animal
shelter information was provided to our consultant. I can take a look at
that.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 14
ADM 04-1139: Administrative Item (DORADO, 557): Submitted by David Cummings
for property located at east of the Lowe's on Hwy. 62, on Finger Road. The property is
zoned C-PZD, Commercial Planned Zoning District, and contains approximately 27.669
acres. The request is to extend the expiration date of the C-PZD for Lowe's for a 12
month period to construct the approved additional retail space as an in-line shopping
center on the subject property.
Ostner: Is there further comment? We will move on to the next item. The next
item on our agenda is ADM 04-1139 for Dorado.
Pate: This property is located east of the Lowe's on Hwy. 62 and Finger Road.
The property is zoned C-PZD, Commercial Planned Zoning District and
contains approximately 27.669 acres. The approval for the Lowe's
Planned Zoning District occurred June 3, 2003 by the City Council. Of
course a PZD has to go through the Planning Commission and the City
Council. An ordinance takes affect after that initial approval and so July
3`a was essentially the deadline for the applicant to get a building permit
for that property. The actual Large Scale Development Plan in the
Planned Zoning District included both the Lowe's, which of course is
constructed and a separate shopping center retail with approximately
54,000 sq.ft. of retail additional which has not been constructed at this
time. It also included a 2.05 acre detention pond which has been
constructed and 4.59 acres of tree preservation which has been preserved
and platted as such. The developer has extended utilities, a required street
connection as part of this development, and completed much of the
grading and drainage for the remaining undeveloped retail lots for this
property east of Lowe's. Discussion in recent weeks regarding the status
of this construction with the applicant revealed the upcoming deadline and
the applicant did submit this request prior to that deadline. The applicant
is not able to secure building permits at this time for the retail center and
thus, requests an extension to develop the remaining 54,000 sq.ft.
shopping center. Our ordinances, as noted on page 3.3, do allow for
extensions of Planned Zoning District development and staff is
recommending approval of the extension until July 3, 2005 which would
allow the standard one year extension if the Planning Commission
approves to do so.
Ostner: Thank you. Is the applicant present? Would you come forward and
introduce yourself?
Mills: I'm Lance Mills with Ozark Civil Engineering out of Bentonville,
Arkansas and I'm representing Dorado Development. David Cummings
with Dorado Development couldn't be present tonight due to prior
engagements. As noted by Jeremy the Lowe's portion of the property has
been constructed with all of the public improvements, utilities, storm
sewer, water and sewer have all been brought into this development for
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July 12, 2004
Page 15
this site layout. The hurdle that they have come across is that the major
anchor A here has backed out and he has to secure another anchor for that.
Therefore, he is respectfully requesting an extension to the building permit
deadline. I might add that staff has been great through the Lowe's process
and through everything we've had to do.
Ostner: At this point I will open it up to the public. If anyone would like to
comment to this issue please step forward. Seeing none, I will close it to
the public and bring it back to the Commission.
MOTION:
Clark: I recommend approval of ADM 04-1139.
Allen: Second.
Ostner: Is there further discussion? Call the roll please.
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve ADM 04-1139 was
approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries by a vote of eight to zero.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 16
ADM 04-1147: Administrative Item (LANDERS, 248/249): Submitted by Bryan
Smith of Black, Corley & Owens on behalf of Landers Auto Park for property located at
1352 W. Showroom Drive. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial, and
contains approximately 42.82 acres. The request is to allow a waiver of Commercial
Design Standards & Design Overlay District requirements to allow a chain link perimeter
fence around the subject property.
Ostner: The next item on our agenda is ADM 04-1147 for Landers. If we could
have a staff report please.
Pate: This property is the Landers Auto Park property located on Showroom
Drive off of Hwy. 112. The property is zoned C-2, Thoroughfare
Commercial and contains approximately 42.82 acres. The property has
been before you in several instances, at least three different Large Scale
Developments. The majority of the property is also located within the
Design Overlay District. The property is surrounded on three sides by
public rights of way with the northern boundary being the exception. The
current construction on the site includes the Hummer dealership and
associated parking area for display of cars. That is the last time that this
Commission saw this particular property. Tonight the applicant's request
however, is to allow a perimeter chain link fence in front of a commercial
structure and also in the Design Overlay District. Essentially, this is a
perimeter fence for security around the entire property with the exception
to the north it would not actually follow the property line but cut through
some of the tree preservation area in that location. The proposed fence is
to be 6' in height constructed of a black vinyl coated metal chain link
which you should have photographs of a typical section of that as well as a
site plan. This request constitutes a waiver of the city's Commercial
Design Standards as well as a waiver request from the Design Overlay
District requirements which are under the authority of the Planning
Commission. I have included both of those requirements. If you will look
on page 4.3 item D8 includes the optional fencing allowed within the
Design Overlay District. All fencing shall be constructed of wood,
masonry or natural looking materials. It also includes a wrought iron
fencing. If other types of fencing are necessary for security purposes they
must be screened with another view obscuring natural or natural looking
fencing material as well. I've included the ordinance for commercial
design standards regarding fencing within the C-2 district for a
commercial structure which mentions chain link specifically. Chain link
fence is prohibited if closer to the street than the front of the building.
Based on these findings, staff is not in favor of this request. We
recommend denial of this administrative request. The Design Overlay
District and Commercial Design Standards are very specific with regard to
the type of fencing allowed. This subject property is located at a very
visible and key intersection in the City of Fayetteville leading into the City
of Fayetteville from the north. The results of having a chain link fence in
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 17
front of a commercial structure in this location is undesirable and does not
comport with the purposes stated in the city's adopted Commercial Design
Standards nor does it meet the criteria set forth in the Design Overlay
District.
Ostner: Thank you Mr. Pate. Is the applicant present?
Smith: My name is Bryan Smith, I'm with Black, Corley and Owens Architects.
We have been asked by the dealership to investigate putting a perimeter
fence around the property. I understand in talking with the civil engineer
that there would be issues and a waiver would be required for this
installation. You may have the drawing already that shows the site plan.
Basically, the entire portion of this site is in the Design Overlay District.
The back section, which is adjacent to the wetland area and along this I-
540 north is a pretty hidden area and not as visible of an area. Along the
front along I-540 here and along Hwy. 112 it is visible. There are issues
right here with the elevations just driving by there the grades slope off at
such a steep angle you are actually looking past where the fence is going
to be located along that area. Again, the photographs show that the
dealership is committed to maintaining a nice appearance with their
landscaping and they are concerned about having something that is going
to be unsightly and a detriment to their customers. They do have the same
concerns with your Design Overlay District and your Commercial Design
Standards. The overall size of the property you are talking about is 8300
linear fence that would be basically of wrought iron nature so that is why
we are asking for your consideration of this matter.
Ostner: Thank you. At this time I will open it to the public. Is there anyone here
who would like to speak to this issue? Seeing none, I will close it to the
public and bring it back to the Commission.
Vaught: Staff, currently they could put the chain link fence on the one side of the
property that does not face the right of way, correct?
Warrick: In the area that is outside of the Overlay District and behind the structure.
Vaught: Ok. So really what we are talking about is a waiver for the other 3 '/z
sides.
Warrick: That is correct.
MOTION:
Allen: Just as two weeks ago we had this situation with the dog and now we have
it with the cars, I see that there were options for the folks who had the dog
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 18
and I think there are options for the people with the cars so I move for
denial of ADM 04-1147.
Myres: I will second.
Ostner: Is there further discussion? Renee, could you call the roll?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to deny ADM 04-1147 was
approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries by a vote of eight to zero.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 19
LSP 04-1113: Lot Split (Ali Moubarek, pp 323): Submitted by Ali Moubarek for
property located at 2300 Salem Road The property is zoned RSF-4, Residential Single
Family, Four Units Per Acre and contains approximately 2.40 acres. The request is to
split the subject property into two tracts of 1.163 and 1.234 acres.
Ostner: The next item on our agenda is LSP 04-1113 for Ali Mourabek?
Pate: Typically Lot Splits are heard at the Subdivision Committee level. The
applicant is requesting a waiver tonight. Therefore, the Subdivision
Committee did elect to send this item onto the full Planning Commission.
This property is located at 2300 Salem Road and is zoned RSF-4 and
contains approximately 2.40 acres. The applicant requests approval of a
Lot Split for the subject 2.4 acre tract into two tracts of 1.146 and 1.217
acres in order to obtain a bank loan for construction of a new home on the
northern lot. There is a public water line existing along Salem Road and
the issue tonight is primarily to do with the sewer. Currently there is an
existing home served by an individual septic system. A public sewer line
does not currently exist in front of the proposed lots. By city ordinance a
subdivider of land within the city limits is required to connect each lot
with public sewer where public sanitary sewer is reasonably accessible. A
public sewer line does exist approximately 180' to the south along Mt.
Comfort Road. Per city ordinance, staff recommends a public sewer main
extension to serve each of these proposed lots prior to filing of the Lot
Split. The applicant is requesting a waiver from this requirement from the
Planning Commission. Staff is recommending approval of LSP 04-1113
with five conditions of approval. The first of which is Planning
Commission's determination of the waiver request. Items two and three
are plat comments, four and five are standard conditions of approval.
Ostner: Thank you Mr. Pate. Is the applicant present? If you could introduce
yourself and tell us about your issue.
Mourabek: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come here and present my
view. My name is Ali Mourabek. I have lived in Fayetteville for the last
25 years. This is my last effort to build a home for myself and for my
family. I bought this 2.4 acres in order to build a home. I am not planning
on subdividing it or splitting the lot. It is going to be all my front yard and
my backyard. There is another home on the property that is going to be
used by my family and by my old parents who will hopefully join me and
I will take care of them. The reason we are talking about a Lot Split is for
a financial reason. I need to build security for myself so that in the future
I don't have to sell this property when the interest rates go up. The only
way I can build that second home is if I get a fixed mortgage for 30 years
to allow me to know what my payment will be. If I don't split the lot
according to the bank, that will throw me into a commercial loan
application which will balloon every year and if in 10 years interest rates
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 20
go up to 12% I will not be able to afford to make that payment and will
have to sale the house and get out of there. That is my request. The
reason I am here and in this property is because a couple years earlier I
bought another piece of property to build a home for myself. In this
chamber here you discussed this issue and you allowed a person to build
six unit apartments next door to me to rezone that property. Part of me at
that point went along with the people who rejected that rezoning. Then
the other part of me after looking at the hardship of the people who owned
that property and how much money he would be losing I went with those
people who voted for it and I walked away from that property and I
absorbed the loss because of the hardship that that person would take. I
was not planning to use that as an excuse but I found myself in that spot.
Extending the sewer line 57' across Mount Comfort, going under that,
going another 180' to cross the property of our neighbor, going another
229' to get to the second lot and going another 200' to get parallel to
where my house will be would be about 500' of sewer line. I got some
estimates and it is prohibitive. There is no way I can do it and still build a
house. I may be able to put a mobile home in there but not a house. My
final thing that I would like to say is I would love to build a home in there
and put a septic tank and be in harmony with the 10 or 15 houses that are
already existing in there that have a septic tank. If in the future a sewer
line comes in we will all join in and join that line. Thank you very much.
Ostner: Thank you. Is there anyone from the public who would like to comment
on this issue? Seeing none, I will close it to the public and bring it back to
the Commission.
Shackelford: I would like to kind of add my input here. As staff mentioned previously,
Lot Splits of this nature are typically approved at the Subdivision level.
Myself, Commissioner Trumbo and Commissioner Anthes were serving
on the Subdivision Committee when this came before us last week. This
is a pretty unique situation in that we have got an individual who by right
could build this house with a septic on this property based on the size and
the current zoning of it. It falls in line with the uses up and down that
particular road and the houses that currently exist there. The difficulty is
that as he stated, based on financing options and the requirement to have
separate legal descriptions for the houses is what pushed him into the Lot
Split. The only issue we had with this lot split was the waste water side of
it. Matt had some different ways to read the ordinance, and I will let him
speak to that as well. Between Commissioner Trumbo and Anthes and
myself we felt that there was a justification to let the Committee hear this
on the basis of a hardship based on particularly that fact. If he wanted to
keep this on one legal description then by right he could build his house
with a septic and e would never have to look at this opportunity. Just
simply for the fact of some financing opportunity that he needs a separate
legal description is what has caused this problem. The only issue coming
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 21
out of Subdivision Committee was this specific instance and the three of
us found that there was significant, we felt, at least significant underlying
factors that might justify a hardship consideration. That is why we
brought it forward to you tonight. Thanks.
Vaught: At agenda it was brought up that there is potential for access from the east.
Has that been explored any further by the applicant or the city? Isn't there
a subdivision directly to the east?
Casey: There is a parcel of land in between this Lot Split and that development
that is currently under construction. The most direct access is currently
along Salem to the south to Mt. Comfort.
Shackelford: Matt, I know that you have given us one reading regarding the ordinance
and that might have possibly changed. Can you update us on that?
Casey: The information I had at Subdivision Committee, I had a document from
the Arkansas State Health Department but upon further reading that
applied only to sewer services and it said that anything within 300' of
accessible sewer was required to be on public sewer. Our current
development regulations require any subdivision of land to have public
sewer available to each lot when the public sewer is accessible. Our
policy has been anything within 300' we require a public main extension.
They do have access along Salem Road. The right of way of Salem Road
to Mt. Comfort where the sewer line is located. According to the Lot Split
it is approximately 200' from the southwest property corner of this
development. That would be consistent with what we have required other
Lot Splits to do. We see these almost every Subdivision Committee
meeting. A lot of them require either water or sewer extensions. Staff just
wants to be consistent with our recommendations.
Shackelford: That measurement that you talked about brings it to the corner of the first
lot, is that correct?
Casey: That is correct.
Shackelford: Then there is the distance to the proposed lot and then the structure would
be added onto that is that correct?
Casey: Yes. They would have to extend it as shown approximately 200' to the
property and then an additional 230' to serve the newly created lot to the
north.
Shackelford: Sir, you mentioned that you have got some estimates on what it would cost
to boar under Mt. Comfort and bring it up, can you share with us what that
estimate is?
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 22
Mourabek: It is somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000.
Shackelford: Thank you.
Shackelford: Obviously, from my comments, I concur with the decision to bring it from
the Subdivision level to this level. I think that there is justification for a
hardship consideration. I try to go by common sense. If you look at the
fact that he could build this house, if he didn't need to split the legal
description, with a septic system. You look at the fact that every other
house that has been there any period of time up and down this road has a
septic system in place. I fully anticipate that Mr. Mourabek on both of
these houses, when the sanitary was extended that they would join into
that. I don't see that there is a lot more impact than is already in place
with this. I think that that price to bring that line across the highway and
down there is an undue hardship when you are talking about building a
house that if it wasn't for the need of a piece of paper he wouldn't have to
do. I would make a motion to approve LSP 04-1113 voting in favor of the
applicant's request for a waiver for the requirement to extend sewer to this
property.
Vaught: I will second. With the explanation that I know that we have seen a
similar request for a water line in the past. I think this site does differ
greatly and the costs will differ as well. The one that we talked about at
agenda was a Lot Split in the middle of a neighborhood with poor road
access and poor water main access but it was in a developed part of town
and a single family lot neighborhood with no access. It was also not as
prohibitive in the cost and $30,000 to $40,000 for a Lot Split I think
definitely defines the term unreasonable.
Ostner: Thank you Commissioner Vaught.
Williams: I might also mention just from a constitutional point of view that what you
would be requesting with this is to have him build a city sewer main, a
main that would be city property. Therefore, that is an exaction. Often
times that is quite appropriate to be done. In this particular case with the
construction of a single house, it might be beyond the rough
proportionality of the impact to say that is going to cost you $40,000 to
build a city sewer main. I think that you should consider the
constitutionality of this and the rough proportionality of the impact of his
single house upon our city sewer system.
Ostner: Before we vote I do have a question from staff. Can Mr. Mourabek build
a home without installing sewer as the codes exist today without a waiver?
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 23
Warrick: Yes he can but unless the Planning Commission approves the requested
waiver he cannot split the property. We can issue a building permit for
this property. It is in the zoning district that would allow for a second
principal structure on a lot of record given the fact that there is enough
land area and frontage that in the future that lot could be split out. We
have a provision in our ordinance to do that. The Lot Split is the question
and under our design regulations with regard to infrastructure a Lot Split
could not be approved with the extension of public services unless the
Planning Commission chose to do otherwise.
Ostner: Thank you. That's really my hang up on this issue is that I don't see our
codes prohibiting him build a home or that home having sewage. Our
codes are prohibiting him from doing a Lot Split. Those are two very
different things. He is approaching us for a Lot Split for a financing
opportunity that I am not sure is really our area. Our area is to consider
developments and this man could develop as is without a Lot Split. That
is where I'm hanging up. He gains a Lot Split and he gains his financing
opportunity if we grant this waiver but I'm not sure where the waiver fits
into the development code as much as into the fairness code of, or not
even fairness, but just simple personal opportunity for banking. I suppose
I will be voting against this motion with the waiver.
Shackelford: Just for clarification for the record because I am the one that used the word
fair. I sometimes over simplify things but for the record, I do think that
this justifies the undue hardship option that applicants have where they
can appeal certain ordinances based on undue hardship that is financial
and as our City Attorney stated, I also think that you would have a hard
time justifying it with rough proportionality. I think that the expense is
too much for the impact that this development would have on our city,
which is another reason that we have looked at these types of waivers in
he past. For the record, I probably shouldn't have said fair, I should've
stated more legal reasons but those are the reasons that I'm in favor of
this. Not to argue with you but to clear up the record.
Ostner: I understand that. Is there further discussion? Would you call the roll
Renee?
Trumbo: Can we get a repeat of the motion again?
Shackelford: I made a motion to approve LSP 04-1113 finding in favor of the
applicant's request for a waiver of the requirement to extend city sanitary
sewer to this property.
Clark: You want to remove condition one and go with the other four conditions?
Shackelford: That sounds good.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 24
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to approve LSP 04-1113 was
approved by a vote of 7-1-0 with Commissioner Ostner voting no.
Thomas: The motion carries by a vote of seven to one.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 25
ANX 04-1071: Annexation (Jones, 569): Submitted by Mel Milholland for property
located at 1341 Roberts Road and east of Stonebridge Meadows. The property is in the
Planning Area and contains approximately 5.66 acres. The request is to annex the subject
property into the City of Fayetteville.
RZN 04-1072: Rezoning (Jones, 569): Submitted by Mel Milholland for property
located at 1341 Roberts Road. The property is in the Planning Area and contains
approximately 5.66 acres. The request is to rezone the subject property from R -A,
Residential Agricultural, to RSF-4, Residential Single-family, 4 units per acre.
Ostner: The next item on our agenda is ANX 04-1071 for Jones. If we could have
the staff report Ms. Morgan?
Morgan: This property contains approximately 5.66 acres of vacant land located
south of Huntsville Road and west of Roberts Road. The property is
adjacent to the city to the west where it abuts the Stonebridge Meadows
subdivision Phase I. The applicant is requesting to annex into the City of
Fayetteville. Surrounding land use and zoning includes single family
residential in the city limits zoned RSF-4 as well as Planning area to the
north, south and east, which is developed as single family residential as
well as large tracts of undeveloped land. Staff finds that the requested
annexation will not create an island of unincorporated property. The city
limits do extend further east and south of this subject property in this
vicinity. The area does not consist of defined subdivisions or
neighborhoods, however, future development plans may include the
extension of a subdivision to the west. Current conditions result in a
response time of eight to nine minutes for fire protection from Fire Station
#5. The property does have access to water and sewer to the west. Staff
has received comments from the Police Department reporting that current
levels of service will not be compromised and that coverage in this area
can be provided. Additionally, staff has received comments from a former
property owner with regard to concerns of on site drainage. The site's
conditions will be best addressed through the application of the city's
storm water grading and drainage regulations. Staff does recommend
approval of the proposed annexation. Future changes or additional
development to this site will be regulated by the city for allowing more
uniform and consistent development patterns. In conjunction with this
annexation request is a rezoning request, RZN 04-1072. The applicant's
intent is to develop a single family residential subdivision and is
requesting a rezoning from R -A to RSF-4 should the preceding annexation
request be approved. The General Plan 2020 designates this site as
residential and staff finds that rezoning this property to RSF-4 is
compatible with surrounding land uses in this area. Property to the west,
as mentioned, is within the city and zoned RSF-4 developed at
approximately 2.05 and 2.6 units per acre. The proposed RSF-4
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 26
designation will allow a maximum of 22 dwelling units for this site. Staff
is recommending approval of the requested rezoning based on these
findings.
Ostner: Thank you Ms. Morgan. Is the applicant present? Would you introduce
yourself and give us your presentation?
Milholland: I'm Melvin Milholland with Milholland Engineering & Surveying. We
are the engineers on behalf of our client, Mr. Clinton McDonald. We have
worked very hard with the city trying to get this to this point. Of course,
there are two tracts back to back here tonight for the annexation and
rezoning so there will be continuity between the existing subdivision to
the west and Roberts Road to the east on access and utilities. We feel that
city staff did a good job at reviewing this and concur with all of their
comments. I would like to say that we feel that this is in consistency with
the General Plan 2020 that you have with the city and with the guiding
policies for annexation and also rezoning. The residential homes there will
be nice homes that will actually be compatible with what is being built to
the west and south of it in that area. On behalf of my client, I respectfully
request you approve both the annexations and rezonings. Thank you.
Ostner: Is there anyone here who would like to comment on this issue from the
public?
Wilson: My name is Luella Wilson, I live at 4050 Goff Farm Road. I have five
acres which lies to the south of this property. This particular property has
a water problem. When it rains it floods and it floods the neighbors next
door, which are the Mahans. On the south of my house I have a water
problem also. I have a pond and sometimes my pond overflows and comes
up in my yard. My concern is if they change the terrain of this property
because they are going to have to fill it in or do something with it because
right now it is just too low, where do I stand? Does that mean that I'm
going to get dumped on with this water? I don't know. I'm really
concerned about that. I'm not opposed at all to the annexation or to
changing the rezoning. I don't care about that. I was interested in how
many houses. I just heard that there are going to be 22 houses there.
That's a bunch. Then they were talking about the price of these houses.
Another concern for me is traffic. Mr. Meadows who owns Stonebridge
Golf Course, is planning on putting 175 houses just on the other side of
Goff Farm Road. Everybody has to get out on Hwy. 16. We can't get out
there now. There is no traffic signal out there. So you are going to put 22
houses here and 175 over there. When I came to the meeting when Mr.
Meadows was up here requesting his plan I asked at that point if our road
would be widened and they said no. If you come out there and look that
road is so you can hardly pass. Now they have dump trucks coming out
there and when I try to get out I can hardly pass on that road. I don't
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 27
know. I just need to have some of these questions answered. The biggest
thing is the water problem. Thank you for listening to me.
Ostner: Is there anyone else who would like to comment on the Jones annexation?
Milholland: I would just like to respond to the two things that the lady just presented.
Her concerns are to do with detention. As you all know, we have a very
adequate detention ordinance that we must comply with as engineers. I
don't know if she knows that or not. We will design a detention pond to
not allow more water to leave than what's leaving already.
Wilson: I don't want the terrain to change to where the water comes towards me.
Now it goes north and it goes to the neighbors.
Milholland: As far as the traffic, this will be connectivity between Roberts Road and
the other subdivision that you all have previously approved to be stubbed
out into this property. That will assist some with the traffic patterns there.
That will spread the traffic out across the subdivision. Thank you.
Ostner: Would anyone else like to speak to this issue? I'm going to close it to the
public and bring it back to the Commission. Mr. Milholland touched on
the first question I wanted to ask of staff or to at least ask for clarity about
drainage on projects.
Warrick: If this property is developed as a project within the city limits of
Fayetteville our grading, drainage and storm water ordinances will apply.
We do have regulations that require development to detain water on site in
order that the post development flows offsite do not exceed the
predevelopment flows. Which means that the situation after the
development has been installed is no worse than the existing conditions.
We try to improve on those situations where possible but the ordinances
require that it is not made worse by the development. That is a standard in
our ordinances that would be applied should this property be developed in
the city.
Ostner: Thank you Ms. Warrick. The second question I wanted to ask is about the
traffic. There is an issue getting out onto Hwy. 16. How might that be
alleviated? What are some solutions there?
Warrick: At certain times of the day there are issues with getting out on almost any
roadway. Hwy. 16 is carrying more and more traffic and it is a state
highway. Until intersections meet specific warrants for which the
municipal uniform traffic control device standards, which is a standardized
set of criteria by which it is determined by the Highway Department or
other entities when a certain intersection has reached a capacity that it
merits the installation of signals. Until those warrants are met the
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 28
installation of a signal is not something that the Highway Department
would grant approval of Typically those warrants are not met until there
is more than sufficient traffic in that location. There are certain numbers
that they apply to that. It is not a "Gee, it seems really heavy today"
situation. They actually do counts and they study the intersection. Our
Transportation Division does communicate with the Highway Department
with regard to key intersections and intersections that they feel need to be
studied for the installation of signals. Things that we can do at this level
more applicably we can take care of are things like Mr. Milholland
mentioned, the connectivity with the subdivision that is existing that has
been developed to the west. Every time that you can provide people
options there is more disbursement of traffic. By providing connectivity
between neighborhoods these individuals will have the option of not
accessing Goff Farm Road or Roberts Road to get to Hwy. 16. They can
travel through the existing Phase I of Stonebridge Meadows. That is one
thing that we want to see happen and that is a policy within the city's
General Plan is to provide connectivity between developments. One of the
key reasons for that is, just as I mentioned, that disbursement of traffic.
Ostner: Thank you.
Shackelford: It has been touched on a couple of times but I'm a little unclear. This
property, it looks like there is other property zoned into the city between
this property and east to Roberts Road. Will there be access to Roberts
Road from this development?
Warrick: If this development and the next one are brought into the city together.
The next project is the bottom of the "U.
Shackelford: Ok.
Ostner: We are discussing these together, the annexation and rezoning. We are
going to vote on them separately as we are legally obliged to do.
MOTION:
Clark: I'm inclined to agree with both the annexation and rezoning for both of
these tracts of land. It seems to me that by bringing it into the city and
subjecting it to city zoning regulations we could actually have a hope of
improving some of the drainage issues out there and improving some of
the traffic issues. If we don't annex it then it could continue to grow but
without these types of zoning regulations, which I think are positive. I'm
going to move that we approve ANX 04-1071.
Shackelford: I will concur and second.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 29
Ostner: Is there further discussion?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to recommend approval of
ANX 04-1071 by the City Council was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries by a vote of eight to zero.
Ostner: The tandem item is RZN 04-1072 for Jones. We've already had a staff
report. Is there anyone in the public who would like to speak to this issue?
It is the same parcel of land we are considering rezoning to RSF-4,
Residential Single Family, four units per acre. Seeing no public comment,
I will close it to the public and bring it back to the Commission. Mr.
Milholland, if you would like you can offer more comment at this point.
Milholland: Only if the Commission has questions.
MOTION:
Clark: I will recommend approval of RZN 04-1072.
Myres: I will second.
Ostner: Is there further discussion?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to recommend approval of
RZN 04-1072 by the City Council was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 30
ANX 04-1073: Annexation (Ames Trust, 569): Submitted by Me] Milholland for
property located on the west side of Roberts Road south of Hwy. 16 East. The property
is in the Planning Area and contains approximately 1.97 acres. The request is to annex
the subject property into the City of Fayetteville.
RZN 04-1074: Rezoning (Ames Trust, 569): Submitted by Mel Milholland for property
located on the west side of Roberts Road, south of Hwy. 16 East. The property is in the
Planning Area and contains approximately 1.97 acres. The request is to rezone the
subject property from R -A, Residential Agricultural, to RSF-4, Residential Single-family,
4 units per acre.
Ostner: The next item is a tandem item, ANX 04-1073 for Ames Trust. We will
have a presentation of the annexation and rezoning.
Morgan: This subject property is located east of the property that we just heard for
Jones. It contains approximately 1.97 acres and is currently vacant. Itis
located south of Huntsville Road and west of Roberts Road. The applicant
is requesting to annex into the City of Fayetteville. The requested
annexation will create an extension of the city boundary to Roberts Road
and will not result in the creation of an island or a peninsula of substantial
area. Current conditions result in a fire response time of 7 to 8 minutes
from Fire Station #5. The Police Department has reported that current
levels of service will not be compromised and water and sewer are
available to the west. Staff is in support of this annexation request.
Additionally, the applicant is requesting to rezone this property from R -A
to RSF-4 should the previous annexation request be approved. The
General Plan 2020 designates this site as residential and rezoning the
property to RSF-4 is compatible with the surrounding land uses in this
area. The proposed RSF-4 designation will allow the development of
seven dwelling units. Staff is recommending in favor of this rezoning
request.
Ostner: Thank you Ms. Morgan. Is the applicant present?
Milholland: Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, I'm Mel Milholland with Milholland
Engineering. I didn't mean to confuse anyone earlier. These tracts are
side by side with the previous one. We call it Jones/Ames and it will
provide connectivity between the existing subdivision to the west and
Roberts Road to the east. This is in concurrence with the 2020 Plan and I
feel like it would be an advantage for the city with the types of homes that
are planned.
Ostner: At this point I will open it up to the public, would anyone like to speak to
this issue, ANX 04-1073 for Ames Trust? Seeing no public comment, I
will close it to the public and bring it back to the Commission.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 31
Myres: I'm in favor of granting both of these requests, I think partly because this
is the piece of property that will allow connectivity between Roberts Road
and the parcel that we just approved. I also wanted to ask a question.
There have been comments frequently about impact down the road of
some of the things that we have been approving. Am I correct that when a
Preliminary Plat is proposed that the issues that some people have raised
about exactly how the land is going to be developed and drainage and all
of those sorts of things will again be addressed so that whatever is
developed does meet the city standards and regulations?
Warrick: Absolutely. That would be the next step in the process. First the property
needs to be in the city. It needs to have the proper zoning designation on
it for a development proposal and then the applicant would contract with
an engineer to have the site engineered and designed. The Planning
Commission is required to review those, staff as well, to ensure
compliance with city ordinances to review for on and offsite improvement
requirements and to discuss the specific issues that we really need to
understand when we are looking at a project that is engineered and on the
ground. What is approved at the time of Preliminary Plat is what is
installed. You are absolutely right and there is a process to get to that
point. It is important also to note that the adjoining property owners who
were notified that there was a request being made to annex and zone these
two tracts of land will also be notified when there is a request for a
Preliminary Plat approval. We will continue to log those comments and
continue to discuss. We have had those comments with regard to the bowl
shape and sogginess of this site in our files for several weeks because the
residents have taken it upon themselves to contact our office and
participate, which is absolutely what we need. They are there, they
understand the sites and we can drive by them and look at plans all day
long but we haven't seen them in action. That is when the rubber will hit
the road and we will start implementing those comments into our
recommendations and the review of the development project.
MOTION:
Clark: Cross apply everything I said in the previous two items and I will move
for approval of ANX 04-1073.
Myres: I will second.
Ostner: Is there further discussion?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to recommend approval of
ANX 04-1073 by the City Council was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries.
Planning Commission
July 12, 2004
Page 32
Ostner: The tandem item is RZN 04-1074 for Ames Trust, rezoning of 1.97 acres
to RSF-4, Residential Single Family, four units per acre. We have heard a
presentation already. Would the public like to speak to this issue? Seeing
none, I will close it to the public. Mr. Milholland, would you like to
comment further?
Milholland: Only if there are questions of the Commission.
Ostner: I will close it to the public and bring it back to the Commission for
comments or motions.
MOTION:
Shackelford: I will make a motion that we recommend RZN 04-1074 to the City
Council for approval.
Clark: Second.
Ostner: I have a motion and a second, is there further discussion?
Roll Call: Upon the completion of roll call the motion to recommend approval of
RZN 04-1074 by the City Council was approved by a vote of 8-0-0.
Thomas: The motion carries.
Announcements
Meeting adjourned: 6:57 p.m.