24 MAR 11CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 11, 2024
6:38 P.M. – 7:42 P.M.
OPENING REMARKS:
The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on March 11, 2024. Chairman Moore opened the meeting at approximately 6:38 p.m. expressing appreciation
to those in attendance.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Mike Dietz, William Montgomery, Billy Hall, Jim Oakley, Jeff Twitty, Zeke Brown, and Chairman Jim Moore were present and answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Moore declared
a quorum. PRESENT (7) with chair, ABSENT (2).
CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Hall to approve the minutes of February 12, 2024 as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC HEARING(S): a. CONDITIONAL USE: 205 Dupree Drive auto sales in C-2 zone
Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:42 p.m.
City Engineer Adam Whitlow stated this the shop behind Walgreens, noting it has been a car lot, and possibly a beauty shop. He explained the petitioners are asking for a conditional
use for a mechanic shop and auto sales. He confirmed it was properly posted and advertised and the Public Works Department did not receive any phone calls for or against it. He mentioned
if the Commission did see fit to move forward with approval, he asked for careful consideration to the conditions, such as the number of cars, no nonworking cars, screening, etc. He
related it is a fairly small lot, so if they are going to have a mechanic and sales, it is pretty limited on space. He recommends if approved, it be subject to review of those items
by the Public Works Department. When Commissioner Hall brought up issues with a previous approval, he confirmed the Commission can assign whatever conditions they want, such as types
of screening, specific hours of operation, etc. He pointed out this is a highly visible area and is a small lot.
Co-petitioner Brandon Hearns clarified that the mechanic shop will only be for customers who bought cars from them so they do not get price gouged elsewhere. He assured it will not be
for anyone with car issues to stop by and get it looked at.
Co-petitioner Shauna Henderson confirmed on the dealership side, all her vehicles will be running with all tires aired up.
Mr. Hearns surmised, because it is not a lot of space, they would have ten cars at a time, noting they normally move them in and out fast. He said the only reason they are interested
in this location is because it has a mechanic shop attached to it to where he would not have to go down to his shop, then transport to her lot.
Chairman Moore closed the public hearing at approximately 6:58 p.m.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 11, 2024
6:38 P.M. – 7:42 P.M.
Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to approve the conditional use for a mechanic shop and auto sales in a C-2 zone for 205 Dupree Drive contingent on restricting
mechanic work to inside the building, to be for auto sales customers only, keeping the outside aesthetically pleasing and clean, the area in the back to be used for employee parking,
and restricted to 10-12 cars, subject to verification by the Engineering Department that the site can support it. MOTION CARRIED.
b. REZONE: 203 North Jeff Davis Drive Lot 16 Block 2 Crestview Addition from R-1 to R-3
Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:58 p.m.
Co-petitioner Carl Rice stated his two sisters inherited this property from their grandmother two years ago. He told how they have an offer on the property contingent upon this rezoning.
He pointed out a need for housing since the March 2023 tornado and this would be a chance to rebuild.
Co-petitioner Patricia Rice of 204 North James Street, related this is a vacant lot that could have some use that could benefit the City and the citizens if they need housing. She confirmed
she lives close to the property and building something on the property could cut down on the foot traffic there.
Mr. Rice mentioned reassessing at a higher tax value to benefit the schools. He surmised his grandmother had owned the property for 70-80 years prior.
Ms. Rice told how their grandmother built her house at 204 North James Street in 1950 and lived there ever since.
Council Member Dietz acknowledged the City does need property for people to live in, but would prefer single-family residency instead of apartments in the really nice subdivision where
people have lived for many years.
Mr. Rice stated it has been listed for two or three months and they have not received an offer for anyone wanting to build single-family.
City Engineer Adam Whitlow stated the Public Works Department has received phone calls from Bethel Baptist Church against this rezone and the callers were advised to attend this meeting.
He informed the Commission that the total property area is 20,000 square feet, which could potentially allow ten units, but would still have to adhere to setbacks, parking requirements,
and site plan approval. He noted that Staff recommends careful consideration due to R-1 existing adjacent to this property, but to his knowledge, they have not run across any restrictive
covenants in Crestview.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 11, 2024
6:38 P.M. – 7:42 P.M.
Citizen Herbert Highfill, employee of Jacksonville Towing, stating he has lived in Crestview Addition for 12 years or so, and most of the people have lived there their whole life. He
explained that their neighborhood is a single-family residence with most of the people being old and they, as much as he does, cannot see that many units in one spot like that. He confirmed
they would like to see a single-family residence on the vacant lots, not apartments. He brought up that the Police cannot police the apartments the City has now that have gunshots,
shootings, etc. He surmised it would bring trouble to their neighborhood.
Citizens Dave Winstead and Ida Jo Creed were present and opposed the rezoning.
Citizen Bobbie Burney stated that the neighbors around her she has talked to, even neighbors on North Hospital Drive, are all opposed to this rezoning and asked her to carry around a
petition against it. She recalled the owners’ father, Ben Rice, wanted to do this several years ago, but he dropped it because he was not one to go against the people who lived around
there. She brought up that all of those houses on the short street have half an acre lots and asked how you would fit apartments? She noted they have horrible drainage and any other
thing you build there is going to make it even worse.
When Chairman Moore requested to hear the potential buyer’s plan, Mr. Rice replied they do not have that information.
Chairman Moore closed the public hearing at approximately 7:18 p.m.
Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to deny the rezoning of 203 North Jeff Davis Street (Lot 16 Block 2 Crestview Addition). MOTION CARRIED.
REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S):
BUILDING PERMIT(S): SITE PLAN 7620 T.P. White Drive (previously submitted as 7708 T.P. White Drive)
City Engineer Adam Whitlow recalled the Commission saw a site plan last year as a steel place. He surmised they decided not to move forward with it and sold the property. He explained
their engineer has addressed all of the City’s outstanding questions, with the exception of those pending, such as health department approval and ARDOT approval for the driveway, but
they have revised and resubmitted the plans accordingly, so Staff recommends moving forward.
Representative Johnathan Hope with Hope Consulting stated there is no sewer in this area, so they would not be able to do a residential or commercial development with restrooms. He thinks
this is a good location for this type of use, being zoned C-4. He confirmed the use is allowed by right for the zoning and they are not asking for any variances.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 11, 2024
6:38 P.M. – 7:42 P.M.
Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Oakley to approve the site plan for 7620 T.P. White Drive as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
Addition to agenda:
GENERAL: Planning Commission Vice Chairman
Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery to appoint Commissioner Oakley as Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission and Chairman of the Board of Adjustment. MOTION
CARRIED.
ANNOUNCEMENT(S):
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Moore without objection, adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Susan L. Davitt