Planning Commission

Russellville Planning Commission Minutes December 18, 2017 @ 5:30 p.m. The Russellville Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Russellville City Hall Council Chambers. Members Present Chairman Dennis Boyd Nathan Barber Vice-Chair Peggy Stratton John Whiteside Secretary Wendell Miller Steve Hubbard Karen Yarbrough Council Liaison Eric Westcott Members Absent Shirley Hatley Frank Russenberger Also present: Mayor Randy Horton, City Attorney Trey Smith, City Engineer Kurt Jones, Planner James Walden, Lequitta Jones Planning Assistant, Dave Garza/Barrett & Associates Inc., Gregg Long/Crafton Tull, Joe Phillips and Tony Moore. Welcome The First Order of Business was a request to review and approve the November 27, 2017 minutes. Commissioner Miller made the motion to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Whiteside and passed unanimously. The Second Order of Business was a public hearing requesting review and a recommendation of approval to rezone property presently M-2 (Heavy Industrial District) and CON (Conservation District) to R-3 (Medium High/Density Residential) for property located in the 1400 Block of West Parkway for construction of apartments. Submitted by Dave Garza of Barrett & Associates on behalf of Joe Phillips. (ZO.17.12.210) Planner Walden said this property is located in the 1400 Block of West Parkway Avenue. This request is to rezone the current zone CD/M-2 to R-3 to support apartment residential land use. A portion of the property to the north is zoned Conservation District (CD) while the bulk of the area is zoned M-2. The property is currently vacant. The entirety of the property is located within a FEMA designated floodplain. The national wetlands inventory indicates wetlands are present on the site. The site is adjacent to the Arkansas Tech University (ATU) Campus. The R-3 zoning would allow apartments which would be considered a complementary use within the area due to the proximity of ATU. The R-3 uses would not likely have negative external impacts on adjacent property. A lot of that property is vacant and would never likely be developed. There is none of the property located within the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Flowage Easements. Mr. Garza, of Barrett & Associates, said he would provide documentation that the site is not located in the USACE Flowage Easement. Efforts are planned to mitigate potential negative drainage effects on properties downstream by developing the whole site. Portions of the property are being lifted out of the floodplain. Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan: The plan has the area designated for Open-Space Floodplain. This designation coincides generally with the USACE Flowage Easement and the broader floodplain area that is adjacent. Rezoning of the property is generally not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. However, with removal of the property from the floodplain and being located outside of the USACE Flowage Easement, alternate use of the property should be considered. The recommendation for action is approval. While the property is designated for Open-Space Floodplain use on the Comprehensive Plan, much of the existing property is already zoned for industrial use. Industrial use of the site would be highly incompatible with both the Comprehensive Plan and the area planned within the adjacent Downtown Master Plan - El Paso Focus Area. As such, given that measures are being taken to remove the property from the floodplain, in addition to not being located in the USACE Flowage Easement, R-3 use of the property would be desirable. Such use would complement nearby ATU, help meet student housing needs and help improve an area in need of investment and development. Mr. Garza said the developer plans to connect their development with ATU via a trail that will tie- in from the north end of the development up to ATU if approved by Tech. And we have recommended to the developers that we go ahead and make that same kind of connection south to tie into the Salters Group development that has already been approved. When this is built the students can take that trail to access the El Paso corridor and take advantage of all the amenities that will be going on. Mark Sullivan with Domus Development LLC of Dallas, Texas was present to respond to any questions regarding the development. Chairman Boyd opened the public hearing for public comments. None were provided. City Engineer Jones said he didn’t have any issues related to the proposed rezoning. There are going to be some challenges on this site when the actual site development plan is put together, but that is something we will address at that point. Commissioner Stratton made the motion to approve the rezoning. Commissioner Miller seconded the motion and passed unanimously. The Third Order of Business was a request to approval The Center Phase III Final Plat located on Sequoyah Way. Submitted by Troy Brown, P.E., of Crafton Tull. (SD.17.12.329) Planner Walden said this request is for approval of the final plat of an 8.91-acre site that is divided into 32 lots. The site was previously given preliminary plat approval. The site is located between Sequoyah and 12th Street and is southwest of Sequoyah Elementary School and Russellville City Park. The development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The property is currently vacant. The staff recommends approval. The requirements for approval have been met by either bonding or installation and inspection of the required improvements. 2 Mr. Gregg Long of Crafton Tull said all requirements had been met. City Engineer Jones said he had no issues with the final plat. Commissioner Hubbard made the motion to approve the final plat. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Yarbrough and passed unanimously. The Fourth Order of Business was a request to appoint or reappoint an at-large member to the Board of Adjustment for a 2-year term to fill the vacancy of Lannis Nicholson. This appointment will need confirmation by the City Council. Commissioner Stratton made the motion to reappoint Lannis Nicholson. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hubbard and passed unanimously. The Fifth Order of Business: Mayor Horton presented Chairman Boyd with a plaque for his service to the Russellville Planning Commission. Meeting adjourned. ___________________________________________ Chairman Dennis Boyd 3