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20 JAN 13 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. – 7:37 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on January 13, 2020. City Clerk Davitt opened the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. expressing appreciation to those in attendance and welcoming new member Commissioner William Montgomery. NOMINATIONS FOR 2020 Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to nominate Commissioner Stroud to serve as the Planning Commission Chairman for 2020. MOTION CARRIED. Commissioner Brittenum moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to nominate Commissioner Brown to serve as the Planning Commission Vice Chairman and Chairman to the Board of Adjustment. MOTION CARRIED. Commissioner Montgomery and Council Member Sipes volunteered to serve as Commissioners on the Board of Adjustment for 2020. ROLL CALL: Commissioners William Montgomery, Gary Sipes, Billy Hall, Vivian Brittenum, Jeff Twitty, and Dan Brown answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Mark Stroud also answered roll call and declared a quorum. PRESENT (7), ABSENT (0). One seat open. Others present for the meeting were Public Works Director Jim Oakley, and interested citizens, petitioners, and press. CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled November 12, 2019 meeting and the Special Planning Commission November 26, 2019 meeting with an addition. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC HEARING(S): REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): FINAL PLAT Jaxon Terrace PH 13 Aaron Robinson of Bond Engineering related that phase 13 will connect both dead ends of Rope Trail, adding that it consists of 17 lots. He stated that all the asphalt work is completed and there are no contingencies on this phase, the Water and Sewer Departments have signed off and the Street Department. He stated that the only item outstanding is with Entergy, they are trying to work out when the electrical wires will be pulled and when the street lights will be set. He added that a work order has been pulled and Entergy is trying to push it through their system faster. Public Works Director Jim Oakley stated that the sidewalks have not been completed but added that there is some money in escrow held by the City from a previous phase that could cover the costs of sidewalks. He then concurred that street lights have been ordered. 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. – 7:37 P.M. Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the Final Plat of Jaxon Terrace PH 13 as presented. MOTION CARRIED. BUILDING PERMIT(S): GENERAL: UPDATE: Site Plan Jacksonville Middle and Elementary School Aaron Robinson related that the contract has been awarded under two separate phases. The Middle School was awarded first and then the Elementary School will be awarded in a few months to Baldwin and Shell. He stated that what is before the Commission is the overall comprehensive site plan for both of the Schools. He noted that the in the middle is a hardened building which will serve as a storm shelter for the Middle School that also serves as the P.E. room for the Elementary School. He then related that the teacher parking and event parking is in the back of the building adjacent to the rear of Lowes. He then explained that the bus loop will come off of Linda Lane, it will be one-way coming down beside the Middle School going behind the Middle School and Elementary School coming out onto Madden Road. There are 28 bus parking for the Middle School and 15 for the Elementary School and then 4 Special Education parking spaces. The middle loop between the two building is for visitor parking. He added that there would be gates to prevent traffic from coming into the bus loop or the teacher parking, there will only be access to the middle loop parking. He then related that the two other loops on either side of the main loop is the parent drop off and pickups. He then answered Council Member Sipes that he had met with Fire Captain Williams to make sure that had FDC’s and fire hydrants placed correctly. The Water Commission has approved the water plans and the Sewer Commission has approved the sewer for the Middle School, but have not yet approved the sewer for the Elementary School. He explained that they just started designing the Elementary School in October/November time frame. He then answered Commissioner Montgomery that the football field and practice building will be the Middle School football field. He then answered that the Pine trees facing Linda Lane and Madden Road will be cut down. He reviewed the placement of the bus gates, noting that the Elementary School will have 650 students and the Middle School has room for a future addition which would take it to 1,000 students. Public Works Director Jim Oakley noted that Warren Dupree and Pinewood Elementary Schools are being closed and the students will move to this Middle School. Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the site plan for the Jacksonville Middle and Elementary Schools as presented. MOTION CARRIED. 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. – 7:37 P.M. Public Works Director Jim Oakley asked that the approval be for the Middle School only, advising that there are unknowns regarding the Elementary School. Mr. Robinson stated that the Elementary School will not deviate from the site plan provided to the Planning Commission, explaining that the only issue left to discuss is the Middle School and the parent drop off. Public Works Director Jim Oakley stated that with the last two schools built; Lester Elementary and the Jacksonville High School the drop-off and pickup lanes back up for approximately 15 minutes on the main roadway. He then related that the City had to construct off road shoulders parking to accommodate pickup times. He went on to say that the City wants to eliminate that concern with any future school constructions. Mr. Robinson related that he and Public Works Director Jim Oakley had met with the Elementary School, explaining that Madden has two lanes, one turns onto Linda Lane that sort of S curves to go straight and by pass Linda Lane. He stated that he believes they can do some creative signage and some creative striping backing it up to where the buses come out. He added that the believes they can dedicate - during a small window - to have the outside lane of Madden and the lane that turns into Linda Lane could be used for cars. He stated that you could take the middle lane that now goes straight and if you live on Linda Lane you can turn right also if you have parents parked on that outside lane. He clarified that Linda Lane is 4 lanes and Madden Road is 2 lanes as it heads east. He added that the intersection will accommodate this, but we will have to put up signage that say “parent drop-off lane 2:00 to 3:00”, along with some pavement striping to indicate the same. He pointed out that where you turn right onto Linda Lane, it would have to be striped through that intersection so if you are in the right lane, you know you have to stay in the right lane and if you are in the left lane you can continue east or turn right on Linda Lane but keep on the inside lane, adding that this lane would not be a lane for getting into the School. Discussion ensued as to remedy the City employed to help the traffic backing up on General Samuels regarding Lester Elementary. Chairman Stroud asked if Commissioner Montgomery he would entertain an amendment to his motion. Commissioner Montgomery moved, seconded by Council Member Sipes withdraw the previous motion and to accept the site plan for the contingent on approval by Public Works Director Jim Oakley regarding access issues for both schools and sewer approval for the Elementary School. MOTION CARRIED. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. – 7:37 P.M. SUSPEND THE RULES: Commissioner Hall moved, seconded by Brittenum to suspend the rules and place for discussion on the agenda issues regarding the widening of Hwy. 67. MOTION CARRIED. Public Works Director Jim Oakley related that this involves the phase widening Hwy. 67 from Main Street to Vandenberg. He explained that when the rights-of-way taken by the Highway Department are used, it will put some properties in jeopardy of not meeting the front yard setback for businesses and possible some rear yard setbacks for an area of residential properties. He also noted that it could affect the requirements for parking or signs. He stated that the Highway Department has requested that the City offer a blanket variance for the affected properties. He continued saying that the Highway Department has requested a letter to this effect from the City, adding that he is unsure of their deadline for this material. Discussion ensued regarding the affected areas on both sides of the freeway, and Public Works Director Jim Oakley pointed out that there would also be a new bridge at Gregory Street that would connect to North Bailey at the rear side of Walmart. He noted that if there are any traffic safety concerns, the Highway Department will have to mitigate those with the private property owners. He then noted that Loop Road will eventually tie into T.P. White Drive and the frontage roads will become one-way. He stated that T.P. White Drive would become north-bound and John Harden would be south-bound. He related that there is a map on the outside wall of the Engineering Department. He then answered that the Highway Department is working on the utilities and rights-of-way currently and then the projects will be let to bid the following year. In response to a question from Council Member Sipes, Public Works Director Jim Oakley answered that the Coffelt overpass is a separate project and currently there is nothing in the works for that. He noted that unless the City is willing to pay half, the Highway Department is not considering that project. He stated that costs to do a full cloverleaf overpass is approximately 15 million dollars. He stated that they would build a new four-lane bridge with turn lanes where the current James Street bridge is now. He then clarified that there would also be a new bridge at Gregory Street tied into North Bailey. He then explained that the Highway Department has changed plans and they are not going to be bringing Hill Street into John Harden Drive, instead they are going to take Hill Street down to Jeff Davis and come back out McHenry Street. Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to express willingness by the City Planning Commission to approve necessary variances to expedite the widening of Hwy. 67. MOTION CARRIED. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. – 7:37 P.M. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Stroud without objection; adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________ Susan L. Davitt 5