Planning Commission

Russellville Planning Commission Minutes November 24, 2014, @ 5:30 p.m. The Russellville Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, November 24, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. in the Russellville City Hall Council Chambers. Members Present Chairman Dennis Boyd Jimmy Sims Vice-Chair Eric Westcott Mike Wilkins Secretary Aldona Standridge Jimmy Davenport Members Absent Todd Meimerstorf Herschell Hargus Doug Skelton Also present: Council Liaison Richard Harris, Mayor Eaton, City Planner Harris, City Attorney Smith, City Engineer Jones, Bob Hiegel, Jeff Pipkins, Karen Brogdon, and Danny Motley. Welcome The First Order of Business was a request to review and approve the minutes of the October 27, 2014 Regular Meeting. Commissioner Wilkins made the motion to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Westcott and passed unanimously. The Second Order of Business was a request to approve a Large Scale Development for an expansion at Grace Manufacturing, 614 SR 247. Submitted by Bob Hiegel, Architect, PA. (DV.14.11.135) City Planner Harris said Grace had proposed substantial changes, but nothing that would overload the huge site. They would like to leave unpaved some portions of the equipment drop areas and maneuvering drives, and use compacted gravel instead. It has been fairly standard practice to allow this for manufacturers and other uses where large trucks with high axle loadings will be frequent visitors. If you put in standard pavement it will not last very long. In response to the opportunity to provide additional or clarifying information, Mr. Bob Hiegel representing Grace Manufacturing said he had nothing to add. Commissioner Westcott referred to the plan submitted. On the plan it states that Grace currently has 97 employees per shift. After the proposed building expansion you plan to provide just 92 parking spaces. Do you intend for five people to travel by taxi, or does the shortage encourage people to come early to work? Mr. Hiegel said they have work areas onsite in other buildings that are well away from the proposed addition, and those employees park at those buildings. Mr. Hiegel said, unfortunately, we did not show all the parking on the plan. Chairman Boyd asked Mr. Hiegel if City Corp had reviewed the proposal and whether they were satisfied with its particulars? Mr. Hiegel said yes. City Planner Harris said it makes sense to use compacted gravel instead of paving in some situations. Russellville already has water issues and every square inch that is paved results in more water that has to go somewhere else. He noted that compacted gravel is not as pervious to water as undisturbed ground with plants and trees, etc, but it is much better than pavement. Commissioner Wilkins made the motion to approve the request. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Standridge and passed unanimously. The Third Order of Business was a Public Hearing requesting review and recommendation of approval to City Council for a Special Use Permit to allow a motorcycle/ATV shop for property at 3223 North Arkansas Avenue in a C-2 zone (rezoning currently before Council, but expected to be approved). Submitted by Karen Brogdon, d/b/a Twisted Grip, Inc. (SP.14.11.126) City Planner Harris said rezoning this property was recommended by the commission to the City Council last month. The business is currently located in the rear of the building occupied by Subway on Lakefront Drive. C-2 is the most appropriate zoning for this business. The site is on a state highway near an interstate interchange. The only apparent complication is the presence of mobile homes to the rear of the site; however, the Brogdons have agreed to maintain the access. The applicants are aware of the Commercial Building Design standards and agree to utilize appropriate materials for the visible building facades. In response to the opportunity to provide additional or clarifying information, Mrs. Brogdon said she had nothing to add. Chairman Boyd asked if there would be pavement up to Highway 7. Mrs. Brogdon said yes. She also added that the north access to the mobile homes would be paved. Commissioner Westcott made the motion to recommend approval. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wilkins and passed unanimously. The Fourth Order of Business was a Public Hearing requesting review and recommendation of approval to Council for a Special Use Permit for an auto wrecker service/trailer rental business for property at 1221 East 14th Street in a C-2 zone. Submitted by Danny Motley. (SP.14.11.127) City Planner Harris said the applicant will move his business from his current location in the building next door. The surrounding area is home to a wide variety of uses with auto-related uses nearby. The only proposed change to the property is the erection of a privacy fence at the northwest corner of the property to create an impoundment area that would not be visible from the street. Commissioner Wilkins asked if there would be any auto repair done at this location or if it would just be a wrecker service and trailer rental. Mr. Motley said no repairs would be undertaken at 2 this location. Commissioner Wilkins asked if there would be a lot of noise generated that might bother the residents next door. Mr. Motley said no. Commissioner Sims asked Mr. Motley if he had agreed to put up the screening fence. Mr. Motley said that he had. Councilman Harris asked if this would be a permanent storage location for vehicles, or just temporary storage until the vehicles are taken to a repair shop. Mr. Motley said it would be temporary. Commissioner Wilkins made the motion to recommend approval. Commissioner Westcott seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Fifth Order of Business was a discussion in regard to “food trailers.” Commissioner Wilkins said he was concerned about all food trailers coming into the City. Food trailers are going into a lot, installing a permanent power hookup and then staying, rather than occupying the location temporarily. It appears to me that there is inadequate regulation. I welcome any new business that comes to Russellville, but we require permanent restaurants to provide numerous items such as restroom facilities, parking and water availability. Some food trailers have been in place three or four years. We just had a food trailer park in the lot at the corner of Weir and Parkway. The permanent restaurant operators have invested a ton of money to meet all of the zoning and building codes. Mr. Wilkins asked the commission whether or not it might be something we could look into and ask the City Council whether they should look into it. It appears that additional regulations may be necessary. The way things are going right now, if a lot is zoned commercial, someone can put a pole there, pull up a trailer on the lot, and they are in the restaurant business. With our current codes there is nothing that can be done about it. Mayor Eaton stated that he agreed with Commissioner Wilkins’ assessment 100%. He said he agreed that there needs to be some review as to how permits are issued and whether there should be additional controls in place. Alderman Harris said he would get this on the Council agenda for discussion as a continuation item for next month's meeting. Mr. Harris said he also agreed with Commissioner Wilkins. Chairman Boyd asked City Attorney Smith if the commission needed to take any particular action on this item in order to get it forwarded to the City Council or could the Liaison take care of it. City Attorney Smith said the Liaison could do it. Meeting Adjourned. ___________________________________________________ Chairman Dennis Boyd 3