04-01-1975 Regular MeetingPLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
A meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was held in the Council
Chambers on Tuesday, April 1, 1975. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
by Chairman Czech with the following members present: Mesdames Ray, Wilkins and
Blanchard and Messrs. Jones, Seaver, Cunningham and Dougherty. City officials
present were: City Manager Hopkins and City Attorney Baird. Others present
were: Messrs. Wayne Dean, Jack Mitchell and John Sargent, and Mrs. Dollar,
Secretary.
The Invocation was given by Mrs. Ray.
Chairman Czech announced the resignation of Mr. George E. Hovis from the P & Z
Commission in order to refrain from any possible conflict of interest due to
his partner in the Hovis and Baird Partnership having been recently appointed
as City Attorney. He advised that Mr. Tom Dougherty has been appointed to the
Commission to serve the unexpired term of Mr. Hovis, and=welcomed Mr. Dougherty
to the commission, and presented Mr. Baird, City Attorney to the Commission
members.
The minutes of the meeting held on March 4th were approved as edited and
distributed.
Chairman Czech announced the next order of business to be a Public Hearing to
consider request of Dal-Don Produce, Inc. for the rezoning of approximately
eight (8) acres located in Section 29-22-26 from its present R-lA Zoning to
C-2 Zoning. (General Location Description: Highway #27 - South East side of
Highway #27, South of Hook Street.)
There was no one present who objected to the request, whereupon motion was
made by Mr. Seaver, seconded by Mrs. Blanchard and unanimously carried that a
recommendation by made to City Council that the change in zoning be approved.
Mr. Jack Mitchell requested permission to conduct an automatic transmission
repair shop in a C-2 Zoning district. City Manager Hopkins explained to the
commission that Mr. Mitchell's request had been denied by the administrative
staff since it was their interpretation of the ordinance that the automatic
transmission shop is an M-2 use and not a C-2 use. Following discussion of
the request and the provisions of the ordinance for C-2 Zoniny, motion was made
by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Ray, that the recommendation be made to City
Council that permission be granted to Mr. Mitchell to conduct an automatic
transmission repair shop in a C-2 Zoning district. Upon roll call vote on pas-
sage of the motion the results were: Ayes: Czech, Wilkins, Jones. Total Ayes:
Three. Nayes: Ray, Dougherty, Cunningham, Seaver and Blanchard. Total Nayes:
Five. The motion failed to carry. The major objection to this request was
that it could open all of C-2 Zoning for transmission work. It was also stated
that granting Mr. Mitchell's request could result in excessive storage of
trucks and cars on the property awaiting repair parts.
With regards to a proposal adopted by City Council that a 12-module bank of
cremorials be installed at Oakhill Cemetery, City Manager Hopkins presented a
replat of Lots 14 and 15, Block A, Second Addition, Oakhill Cemetery, for
review and approval of the Commission. Motion was made by Mrs. Ray, seconded
by Mr. Cunningham and unanimously carried that the replat as presented be
approved.
Charter revision recommendations of the functions of the Planning and Zoning
Commission, as compiled by the Function Committee, were distributed to each
member of the Commission with a request by Chairman Czech that they study the
recommendations and be prepared to discuss them at the next meeting and before
final presentation to City Council.
Following a lengthy discussion with regards to a suggestion of Mr. Nick Jones
that the Commission consider recommending to City Council the hiring of a
full time Recreational Director, it was consensus of the Commission that such
a position was worthy of consideration in the planning objectives of the City.
A Committee consisting of Mesdames Ray and Wilkins and Mr. Jones were appointed
by the chairman to develop a proposal to include the appointment of a full-time
recreation director to plan, organize and direct a recreation department. The
proposal should include specific recommendations regarding programs and use of
of existing facilities as well as long-range recreational needs.
Mr. Czech referred to a letter from Mr. George E. Hovis, wherein he advised of
his letter of resignation to the City Council and asked Mr. Czech to express to
the commission his feeling of gratitude for having been able to serve with them;
also, that he was still willing to assist the commission in any way that will
not conflict with the position of city attorney.
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With regards to meeting of the Commission subcommittees, it was the recommen-
dation of City Attorney Baird, that all meetings be open meetings and that the
press be notified when they are to take place. Chairman Czech urged the
committees to schedule their meetings, using the facilities of the City
Manager's office, and further stated that the manager's staff was available
to offer their help.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P. M.
Henry Czech, Chairman
M. Do ar, Secretary