Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

One minute. Yeah. Hallelujah. Thank you for Perfect.

All right, now that we have got everybody here, we're uh we're going to go ahead and call the April um planning commission meeting to order. We'll start with our normal housekeeping items. Commissioner Black, our secretary is not here. Dylan or Commissioner Edge will be filling in there. Can you take a roll for us, please? Sure thing. Uh Miller here. Jot here. Black Monty Happy Duffield here. Edel here. Catherine Claire here and Kelly here.

We have a qu. All right. Okay. Um we've all had a opportunity to look at the minutes from last the last meeting here. What's your pleasure there? Approve them. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes from the March meeting. All those in favor acknowledged by saying I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carried. All right. Item number one, minor plat on for the Damascus Road edition located at 818 through 120 Damascus Road. Submitted by Barrett Associates on behalf of DNT and Investors LLC. You got a staff report on that, Victoria?

Yes, sir. So, as stated, this is a minor plat through 122 Damascus Road. The existing conditions, this is a vacant property in the Marina Heights district that is planned for the development of two new single family homes along Damascus Road. Damascus Road is a collector street that connects Marina Road to Riverview Road, which eventually connects to Hilltop Drive. The area is allzoned R1 single family residential and it is surrounded by single family homes and empty wooded lots. Currently, the empty lots um are being developed into single family homes at this location. So, under normal circumstances, this would be handled at the staff level. However, staff is only granted the authority to approve this type of incidental subdivision when all approval guidelines laid out in the land subdivision development code are met. And per article 6.2, 2.1 um two in this case uh is not met as it states no vacation of streets, alleys, setback lines, access control or easements is required or proposed. Um this application is to dedicate approximately 30 feet of rideway to ensure that there is sufficient ride ofway along Damascus Road. Uh the dedication again includes 30 feet from the center line of Damascus. As the survey indicates, the current owner owns a portion of Damascus Road. Most properties along Damascus exist outside of a platted subdivision and therefore do not have dedicated rideway. Um so any new proposed subdivisions of land or development along Damascus Road where rideway has not been dedicated would also have to go through this same process to dedicate sufficient ride ofway um for their half. The proposal does include a dedication again of approximately 30 feet along the eastern property lines in an acceptable alignment for Damascus Road. The legal description is correct and closes per our GIS department. And upon approval of

this final plot, the applicant will submit the final survey with accurate dedication information provided in compliance with the land subdivision and development code um as outlined by article 5.3 regarding the final plat. Lastly, the two lots that they have proposed do meet all uh area requirements as stated in the zoning code for the R1 zone. So, with all that, staff does recommend approving the application for the incidental subdivision plat um for the Damascus Road edition as a result of the findings below. The final plat conforms to the final plat requirements outlined in article 6.2.1 of the land subdivision and development code. The ride ofway being dedicated is adequate for the street section now and with any future sidewalk or trail improvements. Both lots meet the minimum area requirements for the R1 zone. And then lastly, residential development is the highest and best use for this property. That is my staff report. Are there any questions?

Thank you, Victoria. Mr. Garz, you got anything you want to add? All right, commissioners. Motion to approve this. Okay, we have we have a motion and a second to approve this as submitted. All those in favor acknowledge by saying I. Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion carried. Okay. All right. Item number two, special use permit to allow digital sign located at 800 Williamson Way. submitted by Ashton Smith on behalf of Christian and and Missionary Alliance Church. You got a staff report for that?

Yes, sir. So, this is a special use permit at 800 William Senway. The existing conditions. This is the location of an existing site of the uh Christian and Missionary Alliance Church or Amazing Grace Fellowship, I believe. Um this is located within the Oakland neighborhood. It is a C4 neighborhood and quiet business zone property and is bordered by uh C4 to the south. Properties to the north and west are R2 and the property to the east is zoned C2. Um you guys probably recognize this property. We looked at it a couple months to reszone it to C4. Um so properties within this area include uh two other places of worship, a mixture of single family and duplex dwellings and then the Boys and Girls Club. So, in our review, uh the proposed project for the property is a digital sign and it could be in line with land uses in this district. There are other uh digital signs within this area and this could be an appropriate use at this location. An adjacent residential property owner did come in and um contact staff and once we explained what the application was for, they had absolutely no opposition to it and had no issue with it. So, we did just want to note that as well. Um staff has confirmed the sign will meet all vision clearance requirements as outlined in article 4.7. So meaning this won't cause any traffic issues. It shouldn't cause any blind spots when people are entering and exiting the church. Staff has also confirmed that the sign is well within the um size and height requirements in article 7.8 which outlines uh requirements for freestanding signs. And then lastly, the sign company has confirmed that the sign will be in line with the digital sign requirements outlined in article 7.10. Um these are listed extensively in the staff report, but I didn't want to go through each one because it is quite a lot. Um but we have been ensured by the sign company they will meet those um that article which addresses brightness,

types of display messages and mechanisms in place in the case of malfunction. So, with all that stated, it is staff's recommendation to approve the special use permit to allow the installation of a digital sign as a result of the findings below. The proposed sign will utilize the same location as the existing sign and as such should be outside of the vision clearance triangle. And two, the applicant demonstrates compliance with the regulations within article 7.7, 7.8, and 7.10 of the zoning code. Are there any questions? Yeah.

Yeah. Absolutely. So, special use permits do are tied to the property themselves. Um, which is very funny. We actually had to ask our city attorney on this the other day about something else. So, I can confirm they do run with the property. If you're talking about like an advertising sign, that is something that would have to come back to the planning commission. This type of digital sign can only advertise what is on the property. So, it couldn't be something where they could sell ads. Does that address your question on that? Okay, perfect. Any other questions? All right. Thank you. Thank you guys. Is the applicant is anybody representing the applicant here that hadn't signed up?

Do you have anything? You have anything you want to add or question? Okay. All right. If you would step to the microphone and state your name for the record if you don't mind, please. Hi, I'm Pastor Azie. Um, so just one question. Uh, if approved today, when exactly do we have um the allowance to proceed with installing it?

Yeah, I was address that for the record. Um, all of that will be addressed in a letter of determination that goes out to the applicants the next day. So, tomorrow, um, I believe, and I will double check, um, special use permits, Trey, if I'm not mistaken, go into effect 30 days or would it be immediate? Immediate.

It's not going. You're right. So, it would be immediate. Effective tomorrow. Sweet. Yes. Any other questions? Okay, we have a motion to approve. Do I hear a second? Second. All right, we have a second. All those in favor of approving this request acknowledge by saying I.

I. Any opposed? Hearing? None. The motion carried. Okay. Uhuh. Thank you, pastor. All right. We have a uh a zone text update to adopt proposed changes to the Russell zoning code submitted by city of Russellville. You got us staff report on that?

Yes, sir. We do. As stated, this is an amendment to the zoning code, part of our regular meetings with the long range planning committee. Um, and the changes are as follows. Um, amendments to the zoning code shall be considered after the long-range planning committee or LRPC has reviewed to confirm that updates proposed are in alignment with the reimagine Russellville 2040 comprehensive plan and other applicable city regulations and will forward to the commission for consideration after being thoroughly reviewed by the long range planning committee LRPC. The LRPC meets quarterly to review and periodically update the zoning or land subdivision and development codes. On March 3rd, 2026, the LRPC met to discuss proposed changes. The following items were recommended by the committee to be advanced to the planning commission for consideration. The first uh change submitted was to article 3.23.1 um applicability of sidewalks. Um, this update is intended to provide specific clarifications on what scenarios a sidewalk must be installed by residential developers and allows for further flexibility in scenarios where installing a sidewalk either provides redundant connectivity or where a sidewalk connection meets the distance requirement, but cannot be practicably connected to by residential development alone. Um, it's not here, but staff does want to note that this specifically applies to infill development. This is not for um subdivisions or new subdivision developments. Those still have a mandatory sidewalk installation requirement. Um the second change is to article 12 definitions, specifically dwellings, townhouse or rowhouse. Um this update is intended to provide specific clarifications and close a loophole found by staff in the definitions of town homes which allowed for multiplex developments to be classified as town homes without properly subdividing the individual units.

Um this uh slide if you would like to I believe it's in your packets as well but also on the screen. Um this is a set of figures designed to provide clarification or specific examples um with regards to um with regards to the change to article 3.23.1 uh sidewalk applicability for those infill lot developments. Um these graphics were very graciously created by Miss Marshant as well. I would like to note and I'm I'm happy to run back to these as well if if there if and when there are questions. Um therefore, in light of this, it is staff's recommendation that the application be forwarded to city council with recommendation of approval in regards to the updates to articles 3.23.1 and article 12 of the Russellville zoning code based on the findings below that the long range planning committee recommended these additions and updates. Uh the updates provide clear guidance to staff and the changes are consistent with the objectives outlined in the reimagine Russellville 2040 comprehensive plan and the Russellville zoning code.

Are there any questions for staff at this time? Yes, sir.

Yes. We we had a uh member of the development committee come in our uh long range planning commission or committee meeting. U Mr. Garza works closely with developers and has extensively heard their their comments regarding our infill sidewalk uh excuse me policies in the zoning code. um the the recommendation seemed to uh to work for what uh what what he has been hearing. And so we were happy to see it did I would like to add that it did take a couple of long range meetings to be able to settle on these uh examples and these uh the definitions that we outlined in the um in the changes. So um we we did have some input from from the development community. Yes. Sure.

We have

Yes, we have not had specific comments from individual developers regarding this potential change. No. As far as far as I know, yes, that is correct. Right. Exactly. Absolutely.

Well, I guess to me it's a big a big change from the last time we were having a lot of discussions about sidewalks, improving the city to include sidewalks and continuity throughout the city was extremely important and now it looks like we've changed our mind on that. I can is that what's happened?

Sort of not really in a sense that yes, we are trying to allow for further flexibility for the development community and developers in Russellville um who have voiced concerns. However, the fact that this specifically applies only to infill development um and in lots being developed in an infill manner um we felt that because we have a large number of infill lots that do sit vacant in the city, we felt that this change could encourage developing those individual parcels. Um I'd love to re reiterate, excuse me, again, this does not apply to new subdivisions or future largecale developments or commercial developments. They would still be required to install sidewalks. Thank you. You want to go ahead and roll that over into a motion, please?

Okay. All right. We have a motion to accept. Second. We have a second. All those in favor of approving this and sending it on to city council acknowledge by saying I. Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion carried. All right. And if there's no other business, we are adjourned. Thank you.