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91 FEB 11.doc CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: Chairman Bart Gray Jr. opened the meeting and expressed appreciation for those in attendance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Elliott, Goodsell, Belden, Payne, Dornblaser, Gray, Piggee, Davis and Herbold were present. PRESENT nine (9). ABSENT (0). Others present for the meeting were City Engineer Duane Reel, petitioners and interested citizens. The press was not present for the meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Regular Planning Commission Meeting of January 14, 1991. Commissioner Elliott moved, seconded by Commissioner Piggee that the minutes of the January 14, 199I Regular Planning Commission Meeting be APPROVED with corrections on page one regarding date change from 1990 to 1991 where needed and page seven with regard to a vote by Commissioner Herbold which should have read Commissioner Elliott. MOTION CARRIED. REQUESTS TO SET UP PUBLIC HEARINGS: No requests were submitted. REQUESTS T0 APPROVE BUILDING PERMITS: a. Petitioner: First Freewill Baptist Church (location: Green Acres Rd.) City Engineer Reel voiced that the area of the proposed construc- tion is zoned residential which will support construction of a church. He pointed out that a waiver of five and one-half feet is requested at the southwest corner of the rear yard. Commissioner Belden moved, seconded by Commissioner Elliott that the building permit of the First Freewill Baptist Church be approved with a waiver of five and one-half feet at the southwest corner of the rear yard. MOTION CARRIED. b. Petitioner: Pathfinder, Inc. Engineer Reel pointed out that the property was rezoned by the Planning Commission and the City Council last month and that the request for a building permit has an overhang encroachment with regard to an easement which was required for drainage purposes. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. He said that Mr. Canino, the architect for Pathfinder Inc., has said that there will be no problem shifting the buildings away from the easement thus eliminating the need for a waiver with regard to the encroachment. He said that there is presently a fifteen foot easement along the property line. Mr. Canino explained the sketch of the proposed building complex and stated that the buildings will be pulled away from the ease- ments and that no waivers will be requested. He pointed out that the parking will be concrete. City Engineer Reel said that parking is adequate. Mr. Canino explained that the location of the buildings on the lot are planned so as to aid in improving the drainage for the area and that Pathfinder will comply with the wishes of the Planning Commission in the building permit request. He requested that a fence not be required as he explained that it seems that all property owners in the mobile home park have an approximate six foot fence backing up to the Pathfinder property as he pointed out the inconvenience of maintaining two fences back to back. He suggested that Pathfinder be allowed to use partial fencing and landscaping which would enhance the project and give the same effect as he pointed out that there are no back entrances to the units, that they open out into a central area in the middle of the complex. Mr. Reel said that the fifteen foot side yard easement will be developed by Pathfinder as a sodded, flat bottomed ditch and that it will be maintained by the City of Jacksonville. Mr. Reel said that the city has permission from the executors of the Ann Thompson Estate to execute an additional fifteen foot easement further south to the main ditch which serves Heritage Shopping Center, Stonewall Subdivision and the Pinon Lane area. He said that this will help the drainage problems which now exist on Pinon Lane and that the drainage is planned to flow naturally explaining the drainage flow on the north side of Loop Road. There was lengthy discussion regarding the ditch and fencing for the complex. City Engineer Reel said that with the cleaning of the existing ditches, the construction of a ditch by the city from the Path- finder property to the Stonewall ditch, and with the ditch pro- posed by Pathfinder, drainage in the area will be improved. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. Mr. Canino addressed the matter of fencing the Pathfinder proper- ty requesting that a decorative fence complimented with shrubs be allowed. Ms. Black pointed out that there would be a disadvantage with a fence being placed against the existing fencing at the back of the mobile home area. She commented that a fence would not necessarily keep persons at the complex from going to the mobile home park if they so desired adding that screening with scrubs would definitely give the privacy needed and would be easy to maintain. Commissioner Belden voiced that she felt the landscaping with shrubs is more appropriate to the effect that is desired to be achieved. It was noted that no variances are included in the building permit request. Commissioner Davis moved, seconded by Commissioner Payne to approve the building permit as requested by Pathfinders with the stipulation that drainage be completed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. MOTION CARRIED. There was no stipulation made with regard to fencing. REQUEST TO ACCEPT PLAT: STONEWALL SUBDIVISION PHASE IV E City Engineer Reel made reference to Savers having submitted the overall preliminary plat of the subdivision. He said that the eighteen lots in Phase IV E is the completion of a culdesac and that the same geometric design in the preliminary plat is being followed in this phase. Mr. Tim Lemons said that plans have been submitted to the Water and Sewer Departments and that submission to the Health Depart- ment would depend on the decision of the Planning Commission regarding preliminary plat approval or rejection. Mr. Reel said that information from the Highway Department is that the traffic signals at Martin and North First will be com- pleted sometime in September. He said that he felt the traffic signals will control the additional traffic which will be created by the eighteen lots in Phase IV E. He made reference to discussion at the last meeting and his recommendation that no more lots be developed until Stonewall Drive is completed. Mr. Reel pointed out that the original layout of the subdivision, approved by HUD and designed by Bond Consulting Engineers, has not been changed in proposed Phase IV E. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. There was discussion regarding a problem caused for residents in the Braden Addition when emergency services blocked the one access to the subdivision and a like situation with access into Phase IV E with regard to emergency services. Mr. Green presented data showing other areas within the City of Jacksonville which, in his opinion, have less access for emergen- cy services than Phase IV E as proposed. More discussion followed regarding the development of the remainder of Stonewall Subdivision, both commercial and residential, which includes multi-family, and the completion of Stonewall Drive with a suggestion by Chairman Gray that some funds be placed in escrow, per lot, to assure completion of Stonewall Drive. Mr. Green said that it was not feasible to do the same. Questions arose as to whether such could be done legally with Chairman Gray pointing out that City Attorney Bamburg had said that it could. Mr. Green pointed out that, in his opinion, the controlled access out of Stonewall Subdivision seems to lessen the importance of completing Stonewall Drive at this time. He said that the number of houses which will be exiting the one area is a very common situation as he made reference to other subdivisions. Mr. Gray contended that if Savers could have completed the por tion of Stonewall Drive under discussion, that they would have. Chairman Gray asked Mr. Green if he would be willing to place some funds in escrow on the lots proposed for development. Mr. Green replied that, as an insurance agent, he could see problems with that and pointed out that he is committed to com- pleting Stonewall Drive ail the way through within the next three years. He said that his sale of a portion of the commercial area to First Baptist Church bears a guarantee that he will complete the street seven hundred feet from North First, in an easterly direction up to the edge of their property. He said that approx- imately fourteen hundred feet of Stonewall Drive would remain to be completed. He said that if the remaining lots could sell under normal circumstances, Stonewall Drive completion is only a time and interest obstacle. He said that the eighteen lot devel- opment in Phase IV E will give him and his banker some indica- tion of what will take place and hopefully enhance the develop- ment of Jacksonville. He said that he realized the request is CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. not an ideal situation but asked that the Planning Commission look at the realism of the situation. Drainage of the area was discussed. Commissioner Belden expressed concern regarding completion of Stonewall Drive and appreciation to Mr. Green for the proposed development in Stonewall. Commissioner Elliott noted that good points have been brought out and stated again that it is not desired that Stonewall Drive be completed in pieces. He noted that there is value in all the property, single family, multi-family and commercial. He added that he would like to see Stonewall Drive finished as soon as possible. Commissioner Davis moved, seconded by Commissioner Dornblaser that the Preliminary Plat Phase IV E be APPROVED AS PRESENTED with the following stipulation: (1) that no lots be sold until the traffic signal lights are complete at Martin and North First Street and (2) that no further development take place until Stonewall Drive is completed. Mr. Green further urged that the Planning Commission allow the sale of lots when the bid letting takes place. Engineer Reel pointed out that he felt that .prospective buyers of lots proposed for development should know that they have an investment which cannot be built on until traffic light installa- tion is complete at Martin and North First adding that there has to be some control by the City of Jacksonville regarding the issue of building permits. He said that he has no problem with the stipulations set forth in the motion. It was pointed out that once the contract is awarded, it is a surety that the traffic signals will be completed. Engineer Reel said that the proposed time for completion of the signals is September or October. There was further discussion regarding the tuning involved in contracts, actual installation of the traffic signals, the ap- proximate time involved in construction of a new `home and the approval of the Final Plat. The following contingency was placed on the motion: that permis- sion to issue building permits be granted when a contract is set in place for the installation of the traffic signals at Martin and North First Street and that Stipulation (1) be removed from the motion. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING February 11, 1991 7:30 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. After more discussion, THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN. Commissioner Davis then moved, seconded by Commissioner Dornblas- er, that the Preliminary Plat of Stonewall Subdivision, Phase IV E, be APPROVED AS PRESENTED with the following stipulation; that Final Plat approval be withheld subject to the contract being let regarding the traffic light at Martin and North First Street and that any further development will include the completion of Stonewall Drive to North First Street. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Mark Goodsell, Leslie Belden, Paul Payne, Jim Dornblaser, Lester Piggee, James Davis, John Herbold and Elliott voted AYE. NAY 0. MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Gray adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:45 p.m.. Respectfully, _________________________________ Lula M. Leonard Planning Commission Secretary CITY CLERK-TREASURER