Commission approves two-family subdivision proposal

Hunter McFerrin/Siloam Sunday
Hunter McFerrin/Siloam Sunday

Despite some pushback from nearby residents, the city's planning and zoning commission approved a revised preliminary plat and a final plat for the first phase of the "Lawlis Ranch Subdivision" during their meeting on Tuesday night.

The subdivision would be located on a 14.25 acre property on the 23000 Block of Lawlis Road and the proposal requests a total of 60 dwelling units on 30, two-family residential lots, according to a city staff report. This property is also not within city limits and is in the county, for that reason the proposed density is acceptable because the area has never been zoned.

This considered, the city is requiring the applicant to sign a pre-annexation agreement which will stipulate that in the event that the city requests it, the property will be annexed into city limits as a condition of its resident's reliance on city utilities, according to a city staff report. If the area is annexed into the city at some time in the future, the zoning would remain consistent with its use and be R-3, or two-family.

The applicant is also being required to construct an emergency access lane for the property due to the proposed density of 60 units, according to a city staff report. This violates the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, which mandates that a secondary access point be present at properties that consist of 30 or more dwelling units.

The revision that was made to the preliminary plat increased the density to 60 two-family units from 30 single-family units, and this was done because of unexpected costs on the developer's end, according to a city staff report. This revision, however, was not well-received by some residents who live near the project.

Susie Gilbert, who has lived in the area for a long time, said she was okay with the proposal before the revision was made but that now she is primarily concerned about traffic, adding that the houses would face risk of flooding because of drainage problems. Another nearby resident, Gary Mitchell, cited similar concerns and also said that he had no issue with single-family homes, but that duplexes or two-family lots would adversely affect his property value.

Nonetheless, the commission approved the proposal in a vote of 5-1 and it will go to the city board for the first time on March 5. Commissioner Todd Colvin recused himself from the vote due to his previous engagements in the area while working in code enforcement and the dissenting vote was Karl Mounger, who said he did so because he agreed with some of the concerns of the residents regarding traffic and drainage.

Another item on the night's agenda was the consideration of a significant development permit pertaining to a property located at 502 W. Tahlequah St. The applicant, Park Front Properties, wishes to build two, approximately 4,500 square foot, four-unit apartment buildings, which is consistent with the area's zoning, according to a city staff report.

This proposal is also the first, of what is likely to be many, in which the provisions of the city's new landscaping ordinance applied. The ordinance amended chapter 53 of the municipal code and was recently approved by the city board for the purpose of encouraging developers to preserve green space by offering certain incentives. It also outlines certain requirements for conserving green space for developments based upon their size, location and other factors.

Donnie Bunker, a representative of Park Front Properties, approached the commission to cite discontent with the new code and said that the area surrounding the property in question already has an abundance of green space that is not well maintained and also that complying with the new code to meet the city's standards cost will him $25,000 in landscaping expenses. While he is supportive of landscaping and green space, this doesn't sit well with him, Bunker said.

The proposal will go to the city board on March 5.

In other business, the commission:

• Unanimously approved a motion to table a rezone development permit for a property located at 303 S. Country Club Road to the commission's next meeting on March 12.

The planning commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. To view full agendas or watch video recordings of meetings, visit siloamsprings.com.

General News on 02/17/2019