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13 OCT 14 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 14, 2013 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on October 14, 2013. Chairman Keaton opened the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. expressing appreciation to those in attendance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Jim Peacock, Jr., Scott Scholl, Jim Moore, Joe Cummings, Joe Ott, and Alderman Bill Howard answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Keaton also answered roll call and declared a quorum. PRESENT (7), ABSENT (2). Others present for the meeting were City Attorney Bamburg, City Engineer Jay Whisker, Alderman Mike Traylor, Developer Dickie Jones, interested citizens, petitioners, and press. CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Alderman Howard moved, seconded by Commissioner Ott to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting of 12 August 2013 as presented. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC HEARING(S): Closing part of Trix Lane as requested by Lomanco Chairman Keaton opened the public hearing at approximately 7:01 p.m. Representative for the item of business, Lomanco Plant Manager Mike Traylor explained that Lomanco owns both sides of the property on Trix Lane up to the Rocky Branch Creek. He went on to detail that the request would start about 300’ into Trix Lane. He related that that they are having security issues regarding their parking lot. He stated that if the street is closed, Lomanco would fence off their property and put up a gate. He explained that four or five times monthly they have people who go onto the parking area late at night for various reasons. He stated that each time someone from Lomanco is called to go on site and investigate. He then noted that there have also been a couple of instances of vandalism over the past year. Chairman Keaton closed the public hearing at approximately 7:03 p.m. Mike Traylor then answered Commissioner Moore that Lomanco is planning to install the gate before the entrance into the parking area. He demonstrated on the plat the location of Lomanco’s property and the proposed location of the gate. Commissioner Moore requested clarification regarding access for any utilities that might be affected by the fencing and gating. City Engineer Whisker stated that the easements would remain intact and any access would be granted upon request by Lomanco. He then explained that the gate at the other end of Trix Lane was installed to prohibit traffic on the bridge that is not in good working order. He stated that the gate is used to keep people from crossing the bridge. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 14, 2013 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. City Attorney Bamburg clarified that access would be handled the same as it is with a gated community, Lomanco would be responsible for providing access codes. City Engineer Whisker then assured Commissioner Moore that the cattle gate to the rear does not have road access; he noted that the property where the cattle gate is located is owned by Goodsell. He stated that Trix Lane dead-heads at the gate for all practical purposes. Commissioner Peacock moved, seconded by Commissioner Moore to recommend the closing and vacation of that portion of Trix Lane as presented to the City Council. MOTION CARRIED. REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): PRELIMINARY PLAT: Jaxon Terrace Phase 10 Developer Dickie Jones related that Phase 10 consists of 22 lots, saying that he would like to add another phase to Jaxon Terrace. He related that City Engineer Whisker has made him aware of some proposed changes requested by the City. City Engineer Whisker related that regarding the connection into Rope Trail to the west of the development, he had recommended to Mr. Jones that the lots to the west over to Rope Trail and then have the gap in the center. He stated that this would create two culdesacs that fit Code and they could share the same turn-around in-between. He then added that a road in-between would be the other option. He stated that whether Rope Trail is connected or whether the lots start on Rope Trail and continue. Chairman Keaton confirmed that this would address the issue of having too long of a culdesac. City Engineer Whisker concurred, explaining that the present plan would cause the street to be about 2,500 feet long and development Code only allows for 700 feet long. He added that the Fire Marshall had related that according to Rule D-107.1 of the State Fire Code you are only allowed to have 30 lots on a culdesac. He then noted that the phase before this one had 27 and with the addition of these 23 lots that would put him around 50, which is approximately 20 lots over what is allowed. He explained that working back to the east on Rope Trail if the lots were shifted it would work or the connection of having a street put in. He stated that funds are a consideration for the developer so either option would be acceptable with the City. He noted that this would involved lots 78, 28, 27, 26, 25, and 24 would then become part of the preliminary plat and/or lots 78, 77, and 76 along Rope Trail and Puritan Drive. It was clarified that this would shift the lots to the west and leave a gap in the middle for the development of a street. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 14, 2013 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. City Engineer Whisker then confirmed with Chairman Keaton that currently there is a gravel culdesac adjacent to lots 1, 2, 14, and 15. Discussion ensued regarding the developer bringing back a revised preliminary plat to show the changes before acceptance. Mr. Jones stated that the other option he had spoke to City Engineer Whisker about was at the end they could extend the gravel road that comes at the end of the developed lots and put it into Rope Trail for access if needed. He stated that it would not be a culdesac but an access if needed. City Engineer Whisker stated that regarding emergency vehicles, the Fire Marshall had stated that they would need 20’ wide minimum in asphalt. He added that this may be financial unfeasible for the developer. Commissioner Moore noted that this would not only be a consideration for the emergency vehicles but also for the sanitation trucks. He stated that he agrees that the end lots need to be shifted down to Rope Trail with an access from Rope Trail, making Puritan Drive eventually into a drive-thru so that it would be easier for the City vehicles to have an ingress and egress without having to turn-around in a tight space. Mr. Jones responded that his concerns would be that it would become a thoroughalfare; he explained that he lived on the corner of Puritan and Commons Drives, saying that the neighborhood is conscious of the neighborhood children and he is afraid if traffic backs up on Hwy. 67 they will come through the neighborhood at higher speeds. He stated that people who live in the neighborhood watch out for the children. Commissioner Moore noted that the same situation exists in Stonewall Subdivision, saying that it is a problem that has to be dealt with. Mr. Jones conceded that he does not have a problem with shifting the lots, adding that he is trying to keep the costs within the development budget. He stated that as long as he can keep the costs from putting him in debt he would be willing to do whatever is recommended. It was noted that the flood zone is not an issue for this phase of the development. Mr. Jones concurred that there is a retention basis in the flood zone area. City Engineer Whisker related that the back lots in the newer part of the subdivision have been brought out of the flood plain. He noted that this is actually the highest part of the Subdivision. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 14, 2013 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. Chairman Keaton offered that the preliminary plat could be withdrawn for revisions and resubmitted next month or it could be tabled by motion pending the submittal of a corrected plat. Mr. Jones assured the Commission that his engineers could have the revisions ready in about a week. Commissioner Ott moved, seconded by Commissioner Scott to table the preliminary plat of Jaxon Terrace Phase 10 until the revised preliminary plat is submitted for review. MOTION CARRIED. BUILDING PERMIT(S): GENERAL: ANNOUNCEMENT: Chairman Keaton announced that tonight would be his last Planning Commission meeting, adding that he would be resigning from the Commission due to his family moving from the City. He stated that he was honored to have served on the Planning Commission. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Keaton without objection adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________ Susan L. Davitt