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98 AUG 27.docCITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS SPECIAL JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 27, 1998 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: Chairman Bart Gray opened the meeting expressing appreciation for those in attendance. He did not request roll call. The following Council Members and Planning Commissioners attended the Special Meeting of the Jacksonville Planning Commission and the City Council presented by METROPLAN representatives Richard Magee and Susan Dollar. ATTENDANCE: Commissioners: Bart Gray, Bill Corroum, Dana Nixon, Bob Walker, Mark Perry, John Hardwick, and City Council Members: Kenny Elliott, Marshall Smith, Robert Lewis, Larry Wilson, Phil Keaton, and Bill Howard. Others present for the meeting were City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Deputy City Clerk Susan Davitt, City Engineer Duane Reel, Art Brannen, a past Planning Commissioner, Alderman Elect Avis Twitty, Past Mayor James Reid, Editor John Parham of the Jacksonville Patriot, Glen Keaton representing Bond Engineering, and interested citizens. DISCUSSION ITEM: LAND USE AND ZONING Chairman Gray related that the purpose of the meeting is to glean information regarding the Comprehensive Development Plan adopted by the City of Jacksonville and Zoning as related thereto. He introduced Mr. Richard Magee and Susan Dollar, representatives of Metroplan, who led the open forum. Mr. Magee said he felt the meeting was a workshop during which information would be shared with regard to the Comprehensive Development Plan, the Land Use Map, and zoning as it relates to the City of Jacksonville especially and the surrounding area in general. He asked for participation and questions by those in attendance. He presented a map of the Central Arkansas area pointing out the general location of Jacksonville and surrounding cities etc. He pointed out he first became involved with the needs of the City of Jacksonville through his work with Metroplan beginning in 1974. He voiced that the old Comprehensive Development Plan was replaced in 1977 by the one presently used adding that it took many meetings to arrive at the document. He displayed the Land Use Map adopted by the City of Jacksonville which states policy under which the City will allow development within its limits. He emphasized that CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS SPECIAL JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 27, 1998 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. the basis for such planning is Arkansas State Law Act 186 of 1957. He said that the "Public Policy Statement" is the one under which the authority of the City is derived. He said that the planning is permissive but not mandated adding that if cities choose to adopt a Comprehensive Development Plan there are guidelines set by State Law which have to be followed, one being a Land Use Plan or map. He said that there is a "Public Policy Statement" similar to that of the Comprehensive Development Plan. He explained the layout of the City of Jacksonville on the map on display. He related that there were public hearings and a survey of the entire community as the process was worked through noting that future growth was taken into focus and how to achieve those plans were all taken into consideration. He pointed out that a some cities have a time frame of about twenty years when planning for land use. He said that the land use map is not set it stone and should be reviewed periodically relating that infrastructure plays a major role in the development of the plan. He suggested that the City may want to look at their Land Use Plan with the possibility of changes in that it was adopted some twenty years ago. A general discussion arose regarding other cities and whether or not they have land use and zoning combinations similar to that adopted by the City of Jacksonville and in the State of Arkansas. The City of Houston was mentioned and Mr. Magee related that it is not without regulations, noting that Bills of Assurance are a tool used there in planning and development. He related that private and public interests are not always the same when it comes to infrastructure costs. Alderman Wilson pointed out that Loop Rd. was adequate before the WalMart Store opened in the area of Loop, Vandenburg and T.P. White Drive. He questioned whether or not some infrastructure costs regarding development of the area should have been born by WalMart as the impact on the community was discussed. He agreed that WalMart should have paid part of the costs in infrastructure adding that allowing development to occur without first having infrastructure in place to handle it, is contrary to goals desired to be achieved. He said that private and public interests have to be balanced in accomplishing the desires of the City set forth in the land use plan which cannot adequately be CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS SPECIAL JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 27, 1998 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. balanced without adequate screening adding that there are always positive and negative impacts to be evaluated. He suggested that the Land Use Plan be updated as he noted the different areas in the City which may need to be altered since the date of its adoption. He related that documents which implement the Land Use Plan, namely zoning, may also be altered to accomplish the needs of development desired at this point in time. There was a short discussion regarding powers of a Bill of Assurance. Mr. Magee related that a city does not enforce the Bill of Assurance, adding that the responsibility of enforcement lies with owners of property designated therein. It was noted that a Bill of Assurance is created by developers and not by cities, and that the life of the Bill of Assurance varies from twenty-five years to ninety-nine years. It was pointed out that in Jacksonville a Bill of Assurance is reviewed by the Planning Commission in the plat approval process. A five minute break was taken at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mr. Magee displayed a colored zoning map of the City of Jacksonville relating that zoning is the tool that implements the land use and that, for the most part, the City has adhered to the Land Use Plan. He and Ms. Susan Dollar stressed that care in zoning should be taken with regard to public trust, private rights, and public good. He noted that there may be a need to revise definitions and broaden zoning possibilities that will meet needs at this time. Ms. Dollar made note of a rezoning on Cumberland Street in Little Rock which took away from rather than added to the design of the neighborhood. She pointed out that dual use in zones may be needed in some areas suggesting that check lists be used in zoning determinations. Mr. Magee pointed out that in amending the land use map, considerations will need to be given to zoning as well as definitions. He pointed out that cities cannot preclude federal law as housing, modular, manufactured, and mobile homes in particular, were mentioned. Chairman Gray pointed out that in efforts to revitalize downtown Jacksonville, commercialization of a residential area and residentializing of a commercial area was brought into focus which CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS SPECIAL JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 27, 1998 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. does not fit the present land use plan. He reiterated that changes in zoning must first be addressed in the land use plan suggesting that changes are inevitable. After a general discussion regarding several areas on the land use plan and their purpose, changes may need to be made. Chairman Gray pointed out that the zoning map is sight specific and the land use plan gives a more generalized view of what could be appropriate in a given area. Mr. Magee offered the services of Metroplan to the Planning Commission and the City Council. Chairman Gray expressed appreciation to Mr. Magee and Ms. Dollar as well as the members of the Planning Commission and the City Council for their attendance. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Gray adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:30 p.m. Respectfully, Lula M. (Leonard) Hawkins Planning Commission Secretary CITY CLERK-TREASURER Susan Davitt DEPUTY CITY CLERK