Planning Commission Agenda

Monday, August 5, 2019

6:00 PM at City Hall

The Commission reserves the right to reprioritize its consideration of the items on the agenda. Commissioners present: Brenda Reynolds, Charlotte Carnes, Paula Schoonover, Alan Swearingen. Called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

1.Follow up on recommendation to council about MH zoning. Since we already allow manufactured homes in R3, keep manufactured homes in R3 rather than reworking the code. If we need to change code in future, we can rework the code then. This was discussed with Council and approved with city attorney. We need to allow manufactured homes individually and not just parks. Additionally, there is a section of the Code that refers to a minimum square footage– this will need to be looked at in conjunction with #3 below.

2.Follow up on accessory building code work. Planning commission has no drafts from city attorney on accessory buildings. Citizen inquiry was made as to why we are doing this Code work. Chair advised the necessity of better defining the uses and what is/is not permitted; Swearingen advised initially there were fire code issues as well.

3.Tiny home allowance- secondary structures. Tiny Homes: Swearingen advised he had discussed this issue with Bentonville and they are facing the same issues. Utilities are an issue with multiple homes. Suggested we work with our utilities company on placement. Agreed that we allow in R3 as manufactured homes are allowed. Code work will need to be done in order to define “tiny home” and “tiny home community” as well as any other legal verbiage, such as size requirements, etc. that would relate to tiny homes. This will need to be added as part of the R3 Code section rework to be done by the City Attorney when he does the manufactured home changes to the R3 section (addressed in #1 above). Act 446 addressed again during this topic– Swearingen advised it was spoken about in-depth at the Planning 301 Session and it confirms the information provided to Chair and Carnes at the ARMC Summer Convention that the Code stands if it was in place before Act was passed. Also, the Act refers to “stick-built,” not manufactured homes.

Secondary Structures: Our Code states only one residence on one property. This is becoming more of desired arrangement of living due to aging parents, etc. As far as changing Code regarding only one structure on a lot, PC agrees to leave Code ‘as is’ and if the person has a large enough lot that they can do a lot split, they can request a lot split in order to do a second structure so each lot will have its own single structure.

R3 for a manufactured tiny home was suggested. Buildings such a mother-in-law home would need a lot split and allowance for 2nd home.

4. Continued R uses in C zones. Discussed page 204 and 205 in code book. Discussed re-zoning of Greenland and R zones that became C zones. States that if a home is damaged beyond 60%, owner cannot rebuild their home. Property would require a commercial building. Feel we need to change this so owner can rebuild their home. Also states residential home in C zone cannot add on to their home or build accessory building. Agreed to remove E3. Regarding F3, a provision needs to be inserted to require proof if rebuilding cannot start within 6 months (i.e., insurance delays, etc).

Agreed to remove F1. F2 stays, but reference to 60% would be removed. City Attorney will need to rework this section of Code after Council approval. Motion to approve above changed made by Commissioner Schoonover, 2nd by Commissioner Carnes approved 4-0.

5. Public comment. Discussed new owners of property at 60 West Smith and the possibility of growing plants such as hemp and possible greenhouse to sell wholesale. Discussed would need to find out what state requirements are. Would be organic fertilized. Conditional uses would be nursery, wholesale and greenhouse. Need conditional use permit and would need to provide layout and design of property. Would need to establish conditions for neighbors. Need to discuss with neighbors prior to application. CUP application will tell how many feet for contacting neighbors.

Chair and Secretary will review minutes and pass them on to the rest of the Commission.

Motion to adjourn: Commissioner Carnes ; 2nd by Commissioner Swearingen. Pass 4-0 Adjourn: 7:00 p.m.