Planning seeks opinions on parking

At last week’s meeting of the Planning Commission, much of the evening was devoted to parking issues. Commissioners looked at a proposed survey form for public input.

City Historic Preservation Officer Kylee Hevrdejs said she has shared some of the commissioners’ parking concerns with Mayor Butch Berry, but “it’s important to get a feel for what the residents would actually want.” For example, she asked if people would want signs denoting areas for residential parking, or would they prefer a stricter measure like parking permits.

Hevrdejs asked for suggestions on distributing the survey. A stamped envelope included with a survey form would help increase response, but costs would mount quickly. People taking the survey can drop off the completed forms at city hall, or they can take the survey on the city’s website. “As big as this topic is, I hope people will give us their feedback,” Chair Ann Tandy-Sallee said.

Hevrdejs said she suggested focusing the mailed surveys in R-1 areas. She said she would target the areas with the most problems. For example, only the portion of Spring Street above the Post Office would be affected. Other streets of concern would include West Mountain, Owen, and Elk, although commissioners made clear they would welcome input from everyone, not just the targeted areas.

The survey forms will ask respondents to list their street, but not the house number.

With a more defined area, Hevrdejs said it might be feasible to include stamped envelopes with the surveys. She said the survey mailing list will come from utility bills, rather than property owners. She received approval to proceed with the mailing, and commissioners divided up the streets under consideration. They will try to survey parking on those streets, to assess both on- and off-street parking.

In other business:

• Earlier in the evening, sitting as the Board of Zoning Adjustment, commissioners granted a setback variance for Kent Krug at 157 W. Van Buren. This item had been discussed at two previous meetings, and Krug had modified his request. Instead of five rental units of 2,500 square feet each, Krug planned on four units, each 1,400 square feet. Commissioners had previously expressed concerns about the topographical survey submitted with the application, but an updated survey of record confirmed the property lines of the original application.

 During public comments, Damon Henke of Ozark Mountain Vacation Rentals said he had no objection to the project but opposed the setback variance. Similar objections had been raised at previous meetings, but commissioners approved the variance. Krug will still have to submit a more detailed building plan, and that will give the commission another chance to review the project.

• At 275 N. Main St., Pat Fitzsimmons received approval for additions to five cabins. The additions, each 12 x12 ft., will neither increase the number of units nor decrease the number of parking spaces.
• A porch enclosure 8×18 ft., was approved for BPH Property at 101 N. Main St. The property is the parking lot for the Basin Park Hotel. Hevrdejs noted that the project does not add anything new, and Tandy-Sallee added that no parking spots will be lost.
• At 565 W. Van Buren, Paul and Tracellen Kelly received approval for a workshop and single-family residence.
• The agenda had called for election of officers for the coming year, but with only four commissioners in attendance, that item was postponed until the next meeting.
• Commissioners approved some minor changes to rules of procedure. Tandy-Sallee asked the others if they wanted to postpone this item with three commissioners absent, but they said the changes had been extensively discussed.
• Hevrdejs had prepared a list of possible areas of interest for the coming year. Tandy-Sallee asked the other commissioners to consider those items before the next meeting.
• The agenda for the Feb. 8 meeting will include a broadband update from commissioner Fergie Stewart, who did not attend this meeting.