Planning Commission

Russellville Planning Commission Minutes March 2, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. Note: February 23, 2015 Regular meeting was rescheduled for March 2, 2015. The Russellville Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, March 2, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the Russellville City Hall Council Chambers. Members Present Chairman Dennis Boyd Herschell Hargus Vice-Chair Doug Skelton Todd Meimerstorf Secretary Eric Westcott Wendell Miller Jimmy Sims Peggy Stratton Mike Wilkins Mike Wilkins Council Liaison Bill Eaton Also present:, Mayor Randy Horton, City Planner David Harris, City Attorney Trey Smith, City Engineer Kurt Jones, Fire Marshal Richard Setian, City Inspector Brian Holstein, Jim Lynch/City Corp, Planning Assistant Lequitta Jones, and Laura Bean/Courier. Welcome The First Order of Business Chairman Boyd welcomed new commissioners Wendell Miller and Peggy Stratton. The Second Order of Business (Agenda Item #1) was to Elect 2015 Officers. Commissioner Wilkins nominated Chairman Boyd to remain as Chairman. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Westcott and passed unanimously. Commissioner Westcott nominated Commissioner Skelton as Vice-Chairman. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Wilkins and passed unanimously. Commissioner Sims nominated Commissioner Westcott as Secretary. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Wilkins and passed unanimously. The Third Order of Business (Agenda Item #2) was to nominate two Planning Commissioners to serve on the Board of Adjustment. Chairman Boyd asked if any commissioner wanted to volunteer to serve on the Board of Adjustment (BOA). There were no volunteers. Commissioner Hargus nominated Commissioner Wilkins to serve on the BOA. Vice Chairman Skelton nominated Commissioner Westcott to serve on the BOA. The nominations of Commissioner Wilkins and Secretary Westcott were seconded by Commissioner Wilkins and passed unanimously. The Fourth Order of Business (Agenda Item #3) was a request to review and approve the minutes of the January 26, 2015, Regular Meeting. Commissioner Stratton moved to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Skelton and passed unanimously. The Fifth Order of Business (Agenda Item #4) was a Public Hearing requesting review and recommendation of approval to City Council to rezone property presently zoned C-2 Highway Commercial to C-4 Neighborhood/Quiet Business District, for property in the 900 Block of West “C” Street. Submitted by Dave Garza of Barrett & Associates, on behalf of Emmitt Barnes III. (ZO.15.02.182) City Planner Harris said this section of town has a mixture of zones. Much of it is C-2, with C-4 and other zones mixed in, including C-1 nearby. This block currently has irregular areas of C-2 and C-4. The requested change will bring some order to zoning on the block, leaving it essentially C-4 on its northerly half and C-2 on its southerly half. Mr. Harris said he thinks the change is a good idea, and that the Planning Department had received no comments from adjoining property owners or other citizens. Commissioner Hargus moved to recommend approval of the rezoning from C-2 to C-4. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wilkins and passed unanimously. The Sixth Order of Business (Agenda Item #5) was a request to vacate a 50-foot alley running between East Main Street and East Second Street, and lying between Dollar General Store and Whitson-Morgan Car Lot, in the 2400 Block of East Main Street. Submitted by Odis and Miranda Grimes and Craig Hunnicutt. (ST.15.02.77) City Planner Harris said the Planning Department had no difficulties with this request. It will leave the stretch from Verona to Elmira without a connection between East Main and 2nd Street though it is debatable as to whether such a connection is necessary. Mr. Harris stated that the City Engineer could shed light on future plans for the area. City Engineer said Public Works has no issues with the proposed alley vacation. Part of our Master Street Plan includes a north-south corridor project in the vicinity of this proposed vacation; however, the proposed corridor would be to the west of this location. The proposed corridor project would also minimize the need for any connection between East Main and Second Street in this area. Mr. Jim Lynch with City Corp said he just received a replat of this area that includes the easement City Corp had requested. Mr. Lynch said City Corp would withdraw their opposition if the applicant will guarantee they’ll correct this one problem on the west side of the lot. 2 Commissioner Wilkins asked if we approve this tonight should approval be conditioned on City Corp signing off on this easement issue being clarified to their satisfaction, or should the vacation issue be tabled until the next meeting. Mr. Jim Lynch said the replat shows a 15-foot connection to the northerly portion of the property. If that is the case, then City Corp does not need an easement and the issue goes away. A waterline easement is noted, so the other issue goes away. He said that at this time it appears that City Corp's concerns have been addressed. Chairman Boyd asked Mr. Lynch if he would be okay with the commission recommending vacating with no conditions. Mr. Lynch said “yes.” Commissioner Skelton asked Mr. Lynch if City Corp needed access to water or sewer. Mr. Lynch said they gave us access to water and they kept the sewer line which is between the two iron pins. The replat shows a connection fifteen feet wide from 2nd Street to the northerly portion of the property creating what is sometimes referred to as a flag lot. The applicant’s attorney, Timm Murdoch, clarified that the request was to vacate a 50- foot easement, of which 25 feet would revert to Mr. Grimes, and 25 feet to Mr. Hunnicut. Commissioner Hargus moved to recommend approval of the request to vacate a 50-foot alley with that modification. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Skelton and passed unanimously. Alderman Eaton asked City Engineer Jones, in reference to the Replat of Backlot Argosy, if everything was in order for approval of the replat. Mr. Jones stated that the replat approval would have to come before the staff for approval, and that the request before the commission today was just for vacating the alley. City Attorney Smith said there did not need to be a contingency because the right-of- way vacation request will go to the City Council for a Public Hearing and determination of approval. Commissioner Hargus restated his motion to approve vacation of the 50-foot right-of- way. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Skelton and passed unanimously. Meeting Adjourned. ___________________________________________________ Chairman Dennis Boyd 3