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25 FEB 10 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2025 6:30 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on February 10, 2025. Chairman Moore opened the meeting at approximately 6:30 p.m. expressing appreciation to those in attendance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Mike Dietz, Terry Sansing, Nick Priest, Vivian Brittenum, Jim Oakley, Zeke Brown, Greg Bollen, and Chairman Jim Moore were present and answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Moore declared a quorum. PRESENT (8) with chair, ABSENT (1). ELECTION OF 2025 OFFICERS: Commissioner Oakley moved, seconded by Commissioner Brittenum to elect Jim Moore for Chairman 2025. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Sansing to elect Jim Oakley as Vice Chairman 2025. MOTION CARRIED. Commissioners Sansing and Brittenum volunteered to serve on the Board of Adjustment from Planning Commission for 2025. CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Brittenum to approve the minutes of January 13, 2025 as presented. MOTION CARRIED. PUBLIC HEARING(S): a. CONDITIONAL USE 205 North Spring Street Mixed Commercial/Residential use under the Mixed Use Overlay District Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:36 p.m. City Engineer Adam Whitlow stated this request is for mixed commercial/residential use as provided under the Mixed Use Overlay District. He explained the City does not deal with this district much, but noted it is located in the central downtown area. He detailed that this is a commercial structure that has a tenant unit in it. He recalled it coming to the City’s attention, then brought up to Mr. Watts that there was no conditional use on file. He related that Mr. Watts agreed to get it legal, including certain fire code restrictions. He mentioned the Building Inspector and Fire Marshal requested the following improvements: a complete one hour firewall between the residential side and the business side, automatic closing fire doors on the bathroom and office, fire damper on the HVAC system, and any penetration in the firewall needs to be with an approved fire- rated device. He confirmed Mr. Watts agreed to those conditions. Petitioner Robert Watts related that this property has been used this way by the two previous owners. He explained there is a commercial area that has an office and showroom, then there is are living quarters separated from it. He recalled it being a bait shop where the owner and wife lived in it, then Sir Nash Auctions bought it and rented out the residential two-bedroom part that contains a full 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2025 6:30 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. kitchen and bath. He brought up that there is a firewall in between it, but where it is located is creating a problem. He told how he bought the building over a year ago and did not think it was going to be an issue since it had a history of it. He pointed out that the bathroom on the commercial side is behind the firewall, so that is the reason for the fire door, and the small office space is on the other side of the firewall for some reason. Engineer Whitlow explained if approved, the listed improvements would go through the building permit inspection to ensure they are done. He clarified they are not contingencies on the conditional use, but are code requirements. Mr. Watts noted there is not a commercial business being operated out of the building right now. Chairman Moore closed the public at approximately 6:44 p.m. Commissioner Brittenum moved, seconded by Commissioner Bollen to approve the conditional use for Mixed Commercial/Residential use under the Mixed Use Overlay District at 205 North Spring Street. MOTION CARRIED. b. REZONING 700 Gregory Street from R-0 to C-2 Chairman Moore opened the public hearing at approximately 6:45 p.m. Engineer Whitlow explained the request is to rezone from R-0, which is single-family residential, to C-2 commercial. He stated this was previously a school, which could go in any zone, but since it has been demolished, the school district is seeking to rezone. He mentioned the higher the number, the more intensive commercial use is allowed. He confirmed a C-2 would be on the less intensive end, being possibly quiet offices or bakeries, and C-4 would be like what is along T.P. White Drive; contractors, open display, car lots, etc. He confirmed some retail can go in a C-2, but probably not big box stores. Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Owoh passed out a packet that included the boundary survey of the approximately ten acre property, a parcel map, a letter of support from Director of Economic Development Robert Birch, and two deeds. He explained there is a road running east of the property, but in 2020 was deeded over to the Arkansas State Highway Commission. He related they want to rezone in order to increase buyers, because the District, with the approval of the School Board, decided there is no need to build a school there. He mentioned with an economic development movement and new bridge in the area, they felt they could add to it by asking to rezone to C-2, which would increase the number of potential buyers. He detailed that there are a strip of houses on the east side, Barnhill’s restaurant is on the other side of those houses, and north, west, and south of the property are houses. 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2025 6:30 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. Engineer Whitlow pointed out there is an application for next month where Billy Hall has applied for a rezone as well. He confirmed if that house and vacant lot is approved, then it would be contiguous commercial down Gregory Street, starting with Walmart and Barnhill’s, which is zoned C-3. Commissioner Bollen inquired if they thought about splitting it into twenty lots and selling them for homes to stay residential. Dr. Owoh replied no, they have not. Commissioner Bollen recalled being told not to put commercial surrounded by residential. City Clerk Davitt recommended considering C-1, rather than C-2. Dr. Owoh concurred they did, but are asking for C-2 so they can step down if needed. JNPSD School Board President Daniel Gray mentioned a support letter from Mayor Elmore being in the packet. Council Member Dietz showed support for the rezoning. Engineer Whitlow stated his Staff has identified this area as transitional with the new bridge, noting he has received several calls from entities looking for commercial property in this area. Mr. Gray brought up that the City has a limited number of spots for new restaurants and businesses, and when they are ready to come here, they are looking for build ready open sites. He related the amount of traffic on Gregory Street to James Street is going to be significantly increased, so this vacant lot is prime commercial property. He added that any development’s site plan would come through this Commission. When Commissioner Priest inquired, Engineer Whitlow replied that Arkansas Department of Transportation has studied this extensively, as far as putting in the bridge. He reiterated the City has identified Gregory Street as a transitional area because of the commercial presence of Walmart and more. He believes this is going to be a transitional corridor in time, especially when the bridge gets built. Council Member Dietz stated the best use for this land is commercial. Chairman Moore closed the public at approximately 7:06 p.m. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Commissioner Brittenum to approve the rezoning of 700 Gregory Street from R-0 to C-2. MOTION CARRIED with Commissioner Bollen voting NAY. 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2025 6:30 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): BUILDING PERMIT(S): GENERAL: ANNOUNCEMENT(S): ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Moore without objection, adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _________________________ Susan L. Davitt 4