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Minutes for the Land Use Advisory Committee meeting on July 17, 2014
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Members present: Dr. Jim Sanders, Pamela Alexander, Councilman Todd Burton, Carroll Caldwell, Terry Bare
Members absent: Bill Hall, Darren May, James Dunivan, Mark Enos, Steve Smith, Eric Scarbrough, Jerry Halsey, Jr., Kevan Inboden, Nadine Straitt, Shawnie Carrier, and Wixson Huffstetler
Mr. Caldwell motioned, seconded by Ms. Alexander to amend the July 3, 2014 minutes as follows:
Along major arterials, where high intensity exists, the average depth of that district shall be amended from 660 feet to 1320 feet up to the property line. A roll call vote was taken with Ms. Alexander, Mr. Burton, Mr. Caldwell, and Mr. Bare voting aye. Mr. Sanders abstained from voting. The motion carried.
City Planner, Otis Spriggs provided members with an amended draft of the Bylaws and Operation Procedures for the Land Use Advisory Committee (attached). The amendments highlighted within the draft included the following:
• Proxy Voting: Proxy voting shall be allowed only for items that were studied in previous meetings and set previously for approval.
• Proxy voting shall be based on the fact that individual committee members making the proxy vote(s) have previously participated in the item discussion and/or deliberation.
• Chairman/Chairperson shall be a voting member on all action items.
• Quorum: In order for business to be transacted, there must be a recognized quorum of voting members. Five (5) appointed members or greater of the total committee voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings.
Discussion was held regarding absentee members and their replacement on the committee. Mr. Spriggs explained it would be up to Mayor Perrin to make recommendations to the Jonesboro City Council who would have to vote on the removal and replacement process. It was agreed if a member misses more than five meetings in a row they should be replaced. Mr. Caldwell moved, seconded by Mr. Sanders for adoption of the bylaws as amended. All members voted aye: Mr. Sanders, Ms. Alexander, Mr. Burton, Mr. Caldwell, and Mr. Bare.
Discussion was held regarding the responsibility of the Land Use Advisory Committee as opposed to the Master Street Plan with regard to connectivity. Mr. Spriggs explained what should be determined is some form of connection. He further stated right now the connections are sporadic. The group agreed input was needed from the Parks Department, Bikers, and the Master Street Plan Advisory Committee in order to make reasonable recommendations. Mr. Todd Burton stated he would like to see connectivity of the greenways and the northeast sector.
Discussion was held concerning the proposed Land Use Plan and what changes should be made. It was also discussed what Low Intensity and Moderate Intensity entails. Mr. Spriggs stated changes may need to be made to the typical land uses for Low Intensity due to the inclusion of neighborhood markets, which would overlap with small supermarket as listed in Moderate Intensity. Further discussion was held concerning lot sizes within different zonings. Councilman Burton expressed concern about the confusion over some of the details of the growth sectors. Discussion was held concerning what would be allowed in each growth sector, as detailed in the Future Land Use Plan handout (see attached).
Councilman Burton encouraged a transition area near the moderate intensity area off Highway 49. Mr. Spriggs asked if Councilman Burton would be in favor of the single family lots less than 1/3 of an acre in that transition area. Councilman Burton answered yes. He added he has concern about the multi-family living in the moderate intensity in that area. He would prefer to not have any more multi-family living than what is already there. He further expressed concern about growth sectors being too permissive.
Mr. Bare questioned whether the growth sectors have been adopted. Mr. Spriggs stated there was an unofficial vote, but not an official vote. He explained the vote was to proceed with the discussion of growth sectors, not to adopt them. Councilman Burton motioned, seconded by Mr. Caldwell, to accept the use of growth sectors. All voted aye, with the exception of Councilman Burton who voted nay.
Dr. Sanders questioned what growth sectors really are. Mr. Caldwell explained growth sectors will reflect what should be built in each area of the city, but it doesn’t change zoning. If a developer wants to build something that is not allowed under the zoning but is allowed under the growth sector, they will still have to go to the MAPC to change the zoning. Assistant MPO Director Travis Brooks further explained there’s not much difference between growth sectors and the old land uses in the sense that land uses permitted certain things within the land uses. But, now there will be fewer land uses and they will be called growth sectors instead of land uses. Mr. Spriggs added the problem with the old Land Use Map is people complained there are too many categories. The growth sectors will group things together to make it easier to understand.
City Engineer Craig Light stated at one time there were provisions on low and moderate intensities where commercial type uses could be and they would be restricted to areas such as intersections or collector streets. Mr. Brooks explained that is still reflected in the Future Land Use Plan handout. But, staff is trying to recognize the benefit of having some commercial activity in proximity to residential development and at the same time limit those commercial areas to certain areas. Mr. Light questioned if the wording that Mr. Brooks is referring to could also be added to the moderate intensity growth sector. Mr. Brooks answered yes.
Mr. Spriggs stated he doesn’t have a problem limiting the multi-family developments in the area off Highway 49 near Aggie so it doesn’t include high intensity multi-family, which would be anything above a fourplex. He explained they do have situations where building a multi-family residence, such as a duplex, may impact an area in a positive way. He further explained they could leave the language out of the moderate intensity growth sector that allows for multi-family developments, but allow for nodes in low intense areas that will allow for up to a fourplex. Councilman Burton stated he wouldn’t have a problem with that as long as they can review the wording beforehand.
Mr. Bare questioned whether the area north of Highway 49 near Greensboro Road going out towards Sage Meadows should be moderate intensity as opposed to low intensity. He explained Sage Meadows and that surrounding area would fit the moderate intensity description as opposed to the low intensity description. He noted Jonesboro has very few low intensity residential areas. Discussion was then held regarding changing the lot sizes in low intensity for the threshold to be 1/4 instead of 1/3. Mr. Light recommended changing the low intensity density to reflect 8,000 square feet to 5 acre lots. He then recommended the moderate intensity density should be 6,000 square feet to 1/3 of an acre lots. Further was held concerning multi-family developments. Councilman Burton noted the description that goes with moderate intensity does not regulate where multi-family developments can be constructed; rather, it allows for it to be anywhere within the moderate intensity growth sector. But, in the low intensity growth sector it does specify where multi-family can go. He suggested adding language that would restrict where in moderate intensity growth sectors multi-family can be built. Mr. Light also recommended changing the density from “no more than 6 dwellings per acre” to 8 dwellings. Mr. Caldwell expressed concern that 8 may be too low for moderate intensity. He added it is more neighborhood friendly to have two fourplexes facing each other than a triplex facing the street.
Mr. Spriggs stated he and Mr. Brooks will work on the transition area that Councilman Burton requested off the Highway 49 property. He added they will also work on the language changes.
Mr. Caldwell stated he would like to start marking up the map more at the next meeting. He also requested Parks Director Wixson Huffstetler be at the next meeting to add his input to their work.
With no further business, the committee adjourned.