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21 NOV 08 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6:25 P.M. – 7:01 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on November 8, 2021. Chairman Moore opened the meeting at approximately 6:25 p.m., expressing appreciation to those in attendance. Council Member Dietz offered the invocation. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Mike Dietz, William Montgomery, Tanner Ruple, Billy Hall, Jeff Twitty, Dan Brown, Greg Bollen, and Chairman Jim Moore were present and answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Moore declared a quorum. PRESENT (8) with Chair, ABSENT (1). CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: PUBLIC HEARING(S): a. CONDITIONAL USE 211 South James Street C-3 use in C-2 zone Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:25 p.m. Real Estate Agent Nicholas Priest stated this location has been a car lot for auto sales for the past 22 years and the previous tenant closed in May. He explained Alex Merayo would like to purchase it and open it back up to be another car dealership, being the same use that it has been since 1999. He detailed it was a Car-Mart for 19 years and then was Jackson Auto Group. Buyer Agent Veronica Courtney assured it would be a nice car sales with nicer vehicles, not an auto repair place, and not an eyesore or junky lot. She confirmed when the cars get there they will be ready to sell with no repairs done on the property. Mr. Merayo added there will be some kind of detailing going on and asked if they will be allowed to do a portable carport outside to park a vehicle under. Chairman Moore mentioned that that request might have to go before the Board of Adjustment. Public Works Director Jim Oakley and Engineering Tech Mylissa Griggs clarified the petitioner would need a building permit and they would need to see more information on the plans before they decide. Seller Faye Williams stated she has owned the property since 1995 and they operated Friendly Computers in it for four years then rented it to Car-Mart, who were wonderful tenants. Discussion ensued about the location of the property and it was concluded that it was near Edward’s, next to Sherwin-Williams, and on 1.25 acres. 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6:25 P.M. – 7:01 P.M. Responding to a question from Commissioner Montgomery, Mr. Priest answered there is one Men’s, one Women’s, and one handicap-accessible restroom in the building. Discussion ensued about a nearby auto detail shop and it was concluded that it was named Time to Shine. Chairman Moore asked how many vehicles were they planning on putting on the lot. Buyer Alex Merayo responded that the lot is mapped out for about 40 parking spaces regarding cars to sell with 6-7 for customer parking, including 2 handicap spots. Responding to a question from Chairman Moore, he replied that he will not be selling campers, 18-wheeler trucks, or boats, but only cars, truck, and SUVs, with an occasional motorcycle if they trade for one. Chairman Moore asked how a car lot would enhance that C-2 area, pointing out that usually C-3 auto places are out on highway frontage. Mr. Merayo noted he was in Jacksonville about 8 years ago on Main Street, across from Popeyes, and he brought in a lot of traffic and business to Jacksonville. He mentioned they sometimes sell as many as 60 cars a month consistently at the lot they are at now and they did that 10 years ago in Jacksonville as well. Mr. Priest pointed out the Commission does not want another vacant building and if you look across the street on James Street, there are a lot of vacant buildings with zero growth, and a nice, clean car lot would be an improvement. Chairman Moore noted the Planning Commission does not approve things just to make sure there are no empty buildings and shared the purpose is to see the feasibility of a vehicle sales lot in that C-2 area for quiet type businesses. Commissioner Twitty agreed Chairman Moore was right about the beautification of that corridor off of Main Street, however, it has been an auto sales place for over 20 years. He related he believes the buyer runs a clean operation and reiterated that it will be auto sales and not auto repair. Chairman Moore stated there should be some stipulations because he is not sure the previous organization adhered to this, but there are some things that have to be met and engineers could share that with you but I will now. He continued saying each vehicle parking space cannot be less than 9’ wide and 18’ long, customers have to be able to maneuver in and out, pointing out there is only one ingress and egress. He added all parking of vehicles has to be on asphalt and not on grass, with no major repairs on the vehicles allowed. He then mentioned no 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6:25 P.M. – 7:01 P.M. non-operating or wrecked vehicles, RVs, or boats are authorized for sale on the lot and recalled that they have had wrecked vehicles sitting on a used vehicle sales lot before. He shared that he remembers the buyer had a great lot and he knows where his lot is now in Sherwood. He reminded the buyer the dumpster has to be screened due to the surrounding area there, and also, no residing on the property without the Fire Marshall knowing about it. He also brought up they had a car dealership where they had two dealers there that caused problems, and that is not allowed. Engineering Tech Mylissa Griggs noted the conditional use goes with the business, not the property, and if the business changes hands, they would have to reapply for a conditional use. Commissioner Twitty explained if they approve the conditional use, they are approving it for their business, and not making a permanent change. Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Dietz to approve the conditional use at 211 South James Street for C-3 use in C-2 zone, with stipulations. MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Moore closed the public hearing at approximately 6:40 p.m. b. REZONING Property located at Lee Mac Drive from R-4 and R-7 to R- 1A Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:41 p.m. Representative Mike Marlar with Halff Engineering stated this submittal is to subdivide the property from R-3 to R-1 single family residential so the petitioner can build houses similar to the ones that are in that particular area. When Chairman Moore brought up conflicting request information, Mr. Marlar clarified that it is R-1A and apologized saying he is a stand-in for Mark Rickett who had asked him to come in tonight. He explained the petitioner wants to do 13 lots that average about 50’ across the front and noted he has a copy of the preliminary plat here with him. Chairman Moore asked if the three mobile homes will be removed and property cleaned up, and also what size houses will they be. Mr. Marlar responded yes, they will be new lots in that location and they will be similar to what is already in the area, guessing 1200- 1400 square feet homes. Chairman Moore pointed out he provided the Commission with a handout pertaining to high density and R-1A since they do not get this request very often. He remarked it will make the area look better and it will go along with what is already across the street. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6:25 P.M. – 7:01 P.M. Mr. Marlar assured that the petitioner is a good, quality builder, noting that it is a separate builder doing the work across the street. Council Member Dietz agreed it will make the area look better with newer, single family residency there. Engineering Tech Mylissa Griggs requested that if approved, they stipulate that Lots 1 & 2 can be short of 100’, because they are currently short by a little over 2’. Mr. Marlar clarified they are roughly 98’ in depth, questioning if Lot 3 would need that request too. Discussion ensued with it being concluded it was just Lot 1 & 2 that are short. Chairman Moore closed the public hearing at approximately 6:48 p.m. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the rezoning of property located on Lee Mac Drive from R-4 and R-7 to R-1A with the stipulations for Lots 1 and 2 being 2’ shy of the lot requirements for R-1A. MOTION CARRIED. REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): a. PRELIMINARY PLAT Lee Mac Estates Commissioner Brown moved, seconded by Commissioner Ruple to approve the preliminary plat for Lee Mac Estates. MOTION CARRIED. b. PRELIMINARY PLAT Jaxon Terrace Phase 16 Representative Aaron Robinson stated this phase will connect Phase 9 and 15, and that as far as he is aware, everything is taken care of. He explained there are 22-23 lots with 4-5 lake lots and they will start construction and hopefully sell all of the lots as quickly as they did last time. Chairman Moore asked how many phases have we been working on the whole property of Jaxon Terrace. Mr. Robinson responded they had Phase 2 of Jamestown, which was the cul-de-sac, and Phase 8 started when Dick was still alive. Council Member Dietz move, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the preliminary plat of Jaxon Terrace Phase 16. MOTION CARRIED. c. REPLAT Lot 1-F Belz-Burrow Commercial Addition Representative Michael Boggs with Tralan Engineering confirmed this is for Slim Chickens in the Wal-Mart parking lot and they will be using the same entrances to Wal-Mart, on Parish Drive and John Harden Drive. He explained this would be similar to the Slim Chickens that was done in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Cabot, having the same kind of footprint. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2021 6:25 P.M. – 7:01 P.M. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Ruple to approve the replat of Lot 1-F Belz-Burrow Commercial Addition. MOTION CARRIED. BUILDING PERMIT(S): SITE PLAN Lot 1-F Belz-Burrow Commercial Addition- Slim Chickens Representative Michael Boggs with Tralan Engineering stated he is the engineer for this project and it has been approved by the Wastewater Commission. Engineering Tech Mylissa Griggs clarified they do not need Water Commission approval since water is available there, and they will only need service. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to approve the site plan for Lot 1-F Belz-Burrow Commercial Addition-Slim Chickens. MOTION CARRIED. GENERAL: Request to accept amended Bill of Assurance for Foxwood Estates Representative Bart Gray stated many times he has sat on the Commission and received Bill of Assurances with each of the final plats and as they are accepted, they are filed, recorded, and never seen again unless a neighbor protests and then it is handled civilly in court. He explained their Bill of Assurance has a way to be amended and states in item #19 that it needs to be brought back in front of the Planning Commission before they can record it. He assured they had a meeting with over 60% of landowners meeting the requirements to proceed with the change and asked for the Commission’s acknowledgement that they are changing it. Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Dietz to accept the amended Bill of Assurance for Foxwood Estates. MOTION CARRIED. ANNOUNCEMENT: ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Moore without objection, adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________ Susan L. Davitt 5