20 MAR 09CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 9, 2020
7:00 P.M. – 7:22 P.M.
OPENING REMARKS:
The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on March 9, 2020. Chairman Stroud opened the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. expressing appreciation
to those in attendance. Chairman Stroud offered the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners William Montgomery, Gary Sipes, Billy Hall, Jeff Twitty, and Dan Brown answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Mark Stroud also answered roll call and declared a quorum.
PRESENT (6), ABSENT (1).
Others present for the meeting were Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Tommy Bond, and interested citizens, petitioners, and press.
Chairman Stroud offered a printed handout to the Commissioners regarding guidelines for Rezonings, Variances, & Conditional Use Permits.
CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled February 10, 2020 meeting with
a correction noted in attendance. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC HEARING(S):
REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): ADDITION TO AGENDA: FINAL PLAT Angeles Forrest Subdivision
Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to add the FINAL PLAT of Angeles Forrest Subdivision to the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.
Public Works Director Jim Oakley related that the petitioner is requesting to construct a single-family home on a tract of land, explaining that he was requested to plat the property
as a one-lot subdivision. He then related that the property meets and setbacks and requirements. He recommended that the plat be accepted by the Planning Commission.
It was noted that Mr. Tommy Bond of Bond Engineering would be representing the petitioner.
Mr. Bond addressed the Planning Commission explaining that it consists of 4.3 acres off Ray Road. He explained that when the owner tried to obtain a building permit he was instructed
that since the property is under 5 acres it would need to be platted as a one-lot subdivision.
Chairman Stroud ascertained that there are no zoning issues for the construction of a single-family home.
Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Commissioner Hall to approve the one-lot Subdivision as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 9, 2020
7:00 P.M. – 7:22 P.M.
RESUME AGENDA:
BUILDING PERMIT(S): SITE PLAN for a storage facility for Sig Sauer
Representative for the petitioner, Mr. Tommy Bond explained that this request is part of a complex that was leased to Sig Sauer by Jacksonville Commerce Corporation, adding that they
are proposing to expand. He stated that the expansion requires a magazine and three conex that would be in the vacant area that is approximately a 20-acre tract to the immediate west
of Sig Sauer Drive. He stated that it is a gravel driveway to a 250 X 200 gravel area that will have a magazine, which is similar to an igloo structure and then two conex shipping
containers. He related that the area would have lights for security purposes. He noted that there are also four representatives from Sig Sauer to answer any further questions.
Mr. Bond answered Commissioner Montgomery, explaining the location and noting that the structure would be setback approximately 250 to 300 feet from Sig Sauer Drive across from the turn
onto Swift Drive.
Chairman Stroud questioned if fully loaded and there was an explosion, what would the perimeter damage be.
Mr. Donnie Pile, chemist for Sig Sauer, related that they would manufacture another component that they do not currently make. He stated that they make the case and projectiles and
this would be the primer. He explained that within the primer there is a mixture called primer mix, and it contains some energetic material aka explosives. He stated that Sig Sauer
is pursuing several Government contracts. He then explained that to be able to support those contracts they need to be able to manufacture their own primer, making them less dependent
on other entities in the industry. He stated that this would support the Government contracts that they are seeking. He stated that they would have to meet the Government DOD-4145
standard, which is a contractor safety manual for explosive material. He stated that the manual provides the guidelines for how the magazine is constructed and how much quantity you
can have based on how many feet of clearance around the magazine. He stated that they are setting the magazine up to be rated at 150 pounds as the maximum amount of material that would
be in that structure. He then added that it would be an earthen structure which is the safest. He stated that typically there are three hazards with explosive material; one is a fire,
two is fragmentation, and the third is the pressure wave. He then noted that having an earthen structure prevents a majority of the fire and frag hazards. He stated that the distance
required would be rated on the pounds, which would be the over pressure you would have. He then added that there are standards for how far that has to be from public transportation
routes, inhabited buildings, and inter-building distances; noting that it is a complex manual. He stated that Sig Sauer has
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 9, 2020
7:00 P.M. – 7:22 P.M.
contracted a consultant to set up the site plan, SMS (Safety Management Services). He stated that SMS are the group that trained the Government people on what to look for when they
are monitoring contractors.
It was noted that everything would be monitored by Federal Regulations.
He then offered a brief synopsis of protocols for working with the primer mix.
He then answered Commissioner Brown that with the addition of this to their operation they would only be lacking the propellant part to have a complete operation, explaining there are
only two suppliers in the United States. He noted that one is in Virginia and the other is in Florida. He then related that there are other vendors outside the US, naming Canada, Australia
and parts of Europe, adding they obtain material from all of them.
He then answered Commissioner Twitty that the caliber ranges from a 25-auto up to a 338 caliber, adding that they have approximately 50 different ammunition items.
He then answered that they are proposing to develop the lot with the plan submitted, saying they would push the trees out and put some dirt in, gavel, fence and security.
Commissioner Montgomery questioned if they had an area where they test the ammunition.
Mr. Pile answered that at their facility, they have an indoor 100 yard tube they shoot into and a 25-meter tube. He explained that at the end of the tube there is a trap, relating that
the projectile enters and gets wrapped around like a snail trap. He then added that they have a total of 6 ranges that they use for shooting, saying that they range from 10 meters
to 100 yards. He pointed out that the Police Department has been kind enough to let them utilize their facility as well. He stated that a couple of weekends before they were at the
Police Department facility where they were testing a new machine gun platform. He then answered Commissioner Montgomery that the machine gun is being tested in Arkansas and in New
Hampshire, explaining that they have ranges in New Hampshire. He related that they have a machine gun at this facility and when the ammunition is developed it has to be tested in that
platform. He stated that they will shoot it either in their range inside the facility or they will shoot it at the Police Department next door.
Council Member Sipes moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the site plan as submitted. MOTION CARRIED.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 9, 2020
7:00 P.M. – 7:22 P.M.
GENERAL:
Chairman Stroud without objection; adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Susan L. Davitt