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08 AUG 11.doc CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2008 7:00 P.M. - 7:28 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on August 11, 2008. Chairman Traylor opened the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. expressing appreciation to those in attendance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Art Brannen, Charles Evans, Bart Gray, Jr., Chad Young, Susan Dollar, John Herbold, and Alderman Bill Howard answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Traylor also answered ROLL CALL and declared a quorum. PRESENT (8), ABSENT (1). Others present for the meeting were City Planner Chip McCulley, Mr. Rory Smith, Mr. Aaron Robinson, interested citizens, petitioners, and press. CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Brannen moved, seconded by Commissioner Young to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting of 14 July 2008. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC HEARING(S): a. REZONING Revised to 3.62 acres on North First Street from R-1, C-2, and R-4 to R-3 Commissioner Gray moved, seconded by Commissioner Herbold to remove the item to rezone 3.62 acres on North First Street from being tabled. MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Traylor opened the public hearing at approximately 7:01 p.m. Mr. Aaron Robinson of Bond Engineering noted changes to the sketch regarding an entry from Woolfort and showing three residential lots along North First Street. He noted that the developer is still proposing to leave the front of the property as R-1. Commissioner Brannen noted that there were no members in the audience opposing the rezoning, questioning if the item should have been re-publicized for public hearing. City Attorney Bamburg noted that it was announced during the previous public hearing that the item of business was being continued for the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting. With no one to speak in opposition, Chairman Traylor closed the public hearing at approximately 7:03 p.m. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2008 7:00 P.M. - 7:28 P.M. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Howard, Mr. Bob Williams of the Jacksonville Wastewater Utility stated that the Department has no objections to the rezoning, noting that they have been working in the area for over three years. He stated that 98% of the sewer lines in the area have been replaced and there have not been any incidences of overflowing manholes in the past two years. He noted that the Department is still working in the area conducting smoke testing that requires residents to repair any leaks in service lines. He added that in the past nine months Pine Meadows Trailer Park has been working on their system and significant improvements have been documented regarding the extraneous flow coming from the trailer park. He stated that it is extraordinary for the area not have had a manhole overflow in over two years. He stated that the Department feels comfortable with the system as is. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Herbold regarding lots 9 through 14 backing up to Woolfort, Mr. Robinson answered that the developer is proposing to build a brick type fence. He related that the developer’s goal is to make it nice and separate it from the surrounding area. He then answered that each building would be 2,076 square feet, offering 1,038 square feet per unit. He offered a presentation of the floor plan featuring two bedrooms and two baths. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Young, Mr. Robinson stated that they are already having to request variances regarding the building setbacks; so parking is being proposed for the front of the building without garages. He stated that the driveway is proposed to be 16.3’ wide. He clarified that the depth of the parking is going to be 15’ plus 11.5’ making it approximately 27’. He explained that there is 11.5’ from the back of curb to the driveway and then there is the 15’ build line that is being proposed, making exactly 26.5’. Commissioner Young questioned if two cars would fit on the driveway and Mr. Robinson responded that the residents would probably be one-car families. He then added that it is possible to get two cars parked with the 27’, back to front. Commissioner Young noted that a 20’ isle is a typical parking lot; Mr. Robinson stated that it is typical for an isle to be 18’. Commissioner Young stated that he did not see how two cars would be able to park, adding that he felt what would happen is that CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2008 7:00 P.M. - 7:28 P.M. one car would park in the driveway and the second car would park in the street. Mr. Robinson noted that it would not be different from any other street in Jacksonville. Project developer Rory Smith clarified that the 16.3’ was the dimension of the front porch, noting that the line was apparently drawn out, explaining that he actually wants the parking to be 20’ wide. He stated that he does not want the residents to be cramped when they step out of their vehicles. He related that he is proposing 20’ minimum and preferably 22’ wide. Commissioner Herbold noted that the Code requires 1.5 parking spaces per unit. Mr. Smith stated that it would be a minimum of 40’ per duplex. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Gray, Mr. Robinson stated that the property is not being subdivided, explaining that Mr. Smith would own all the duplexes. He then clarified with Commissioner Gray that the developer is planning to dedicate the streets. Commissioner Gray noted that if the streets are dedicated to the City then the property is a subdivision. City Planner McCulley reminded that the proposal before the Commission is the rezoning of the property. He then added that in his review of the preliminary plat, it would be his interpretation that the property would be a four-lot subdivision consisting of three residential lots and one large lot zoned R-3. He stated that in most cases where there is apartments or similar developments everything within the large lot is privately owned. He noted that the developer would have to request setback variances from the Board of Adjustment regarding the R-3 lot. He then noted that the developer would also have to meet parking and landscaping requirements in the R-3 lot. He stated that there are Code requirements that would have to be met by the developer, adding that there is adequate space for the developer to construct what he is proposing but it may change from what is being seen on this plat. He stated that he and Director of Administration Jay Whisker wanted to see how the access to the rear property would be handled, which is the reason for the drawing being presented. He related that it was determined that the developer could add another residential lot by moving the access to Woolfort Drive. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2008 7:00 P.M. - 7:28 P.M. Chairman Traylor questioned what part of the R-1 property is being rezoned to R-3. It was determined that some part of the R-1 is being rezoned as part of the R-3 development. It was noted that an accurate legal has been submitted for the portion being rezoned to R-3. Mr. Robinson noted that from a plot plan dated in 1973, it shows the R-1 property as being 310’ deep. He then surmised that the R-1 property would property be in the vicinity of duplex #2. Commissioner Young supported the design of having access from Woolfort Drive, adding that R-3 would be the appropriate rezoning with R-1 as the buffer to maintain the continuity of North First Street. Commissioner Herbold noted that Mr. Emerson Smith had brought up issues regarding the high percentage of rental in Jacksonville, saying that he quoted 50%, which is higher than any of the surrounding areas including Little Rock. He stated that he researched and found, based on the 2000 Census, that the percentage was 48%. He stated that while the Planning Commission should be mindful of that data, he believes the proposed development would lower the area density than an R-4 development as it is presently zoned. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Howard, City Planner McCulley related that Woolfort is not a dedicated City street, explaining that the developer will own half of Woolfort. He stated that the City is asking the developer to make improvements on his half of Woolfort out to North First Street. Mr. Robinson stated that on the plan being presented, the developer is dedicating 25’ from the center of the road for future right-of-way and for the City to maintain and own. He noted that Mr. Smith is doing this incase the other property owner is willing to dedicate the other 25’. City Planner McCulley stated that he would research to determine status of that ownership. He noted that there is a commercial development to the south with the trailer park to the east. Mr. Robinson then responded to Chairman Traylor that there is one house located just to the south, ownership of that property was not able to be readily determined. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 11, 2008 7:00 P.M. - 7:28 P.M. Mr. Robinson related that Duane Reel had performed the survey when the property was sold, saying that the south half was dedicated for a 25’ right-of-way. He added that he is not sure about the property that continues to the east. Commissioner Young stated that once the rezoning issue is settled and the Planning Commission has an opportunity to look at the plat he would like to have a closer look at the driveway situation, adding that he feels if there is anyway some extra space could be provided in-between the duplexes it would make for a safer feeling neighborhood, allowing residents to see vehicles as they are backing out. Mr. Robinson stated that would not be a problem, citing that the drawing provided was just to offer the Planning Commission a visual. He explained that for this drawing, he only moved the location of the street but feels there is an opportunity to provide more space between the buildings. He then responded that there is a pocket park within the development. Commissioner Young moved, seconded by Commissioner Herbold to approve the rezoning from R-1, C-2, and R-4 to R-3 as requested. MOTION CARRIED. Commissioner Gray questioned if the 1500 housing units on LRAFB is considered rental property statistically. He noted that if counted it would make a significant different is the actually percentage of rental property. Commissioner Dollar offered to research that question. City Planner McCulley offered that he feels what happened with Base housing some years ago may have forced many renters into the community. REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): BUILDING PERMIT(S): GENERAL: ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Traylor without objection adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________ Susan L. Davitt