Planning commission OKs lot changes, recommends change to sign ordinance

GENTRY — The Planning and Zoning Commission in Gentry approved a number of lot splits and lot-line adjustments on Thursday and referred a proposed ordinance to the city council which would allow for swinging and appendage signs within Gentry’s city limits.

A lot-line adjustment was granted to Mark Smithson which involved an exchange of a small portion of his parcel and that of a neighbor to make their parcels more usable to each property owner. The new lot line will follow an existing ditch on the properties.

A tract split was granted to Laymon Donohew on land between Pioneer Lane and Dawn Hill East Road in Gentry. The change includes a 40-foot easement to a portion of the land which will become a new parcel.

A tract split and lot-line adjustment was granted to Donnie Millsap on land he owns outside the city, along Gann Road, but within Gentry’s planning jurisdiction (up to one mile outside of city boundaries). The action allows for the creation of a third parcel on the land and moves lot lines between the parcels.

The proposed ordinance being forwarded to the city council with a “do pass” recommendation will allow Gentry businesses to hang a swinging or place a fixed sign on the front of their buildings which extends out at approximately 90 degrees from the building front. The proposed ordinance limits the sign size to 8 square feet and requires clearance from the ground or sidewalk to be 80 inches for a swinging sign and 8 feet for a fixed sign. The signs may not extend over the street surface, and the number of such signs is limited to one per business or business entrance and allows for a second sign on the side street for corner buildings.

The proposed ordinance will need to be passed by the city council on three readings and published in the newspaper before it becomes law.

The commission discussed the issue of sidewalks in subdivisions and plans to take up the matter again at its November meeting. At issue is possibly amending city code to make contractors responsible for putting in sidewalks in subdivisions rather than homeowners when a home is built. Current city code requires the homeowner to put in a sidewalk when a home is built, which leaves gaps in the sidewalks when lots remain vacant or are purchased and no home built on the lots.

Also at issue if city code is changed is whether sidewalks are needed on both sides of the streets in subdivisions or if it would be sufficient to require sidewalks on only one side of the street.