24 MAR 11
CITY 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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