By John Howell Sr.
Owners of property at 301 and 303 East Street received approval from the Batesville Planning Commission Monday to replace an older house with a duplex on one lot and add a duplex to a lot where a tri-plex is presently situated.

Property owner David Bynum attended the planning commission’s regular monthly meeting in support of his request for a conditional use permit to allow the changes. The property is located east of Highway 51 between the highway and Dell Street. A sign at the front of the 301 East Street property identifies the tri-plex as the Backyard Apartments. A small nursing home was once located in the building

Planning commissioners also:
• Approved a sign variance that will allow Ray Poole State Farm to replace an existing sign with a new message board sign;
• Approved a request by Neal family representative Shelley Province to classify family property on Highway 51 South as a one lot subdivision;
The requests will now go to the mayor and board of aldermen with a recommendation for approval.

In other action, commissioners also approved a change in setback requirements for the Okun’s Store under construction at the intersection of John R. Lovelace Drive and House-Carlson Drives near Walmart. The contractor requested the change to allow for better drainage, city code administrator Pam Comer said.

Mendrop Engineering spokesman Lauralee Gann presented for review standards for lighting fixture, irrigation systems, poles and signage in the city’s historic district. Gann told commissioners that the downtown renovation plans include fixtures that comply with the standards.

Planning commission chairman Richard Corson questioned Gann about whether the lighting fixtures complied with the “dark skies” requirements in the city’s building code. Outside lights that comply with the requirement cast their light down and out rather than up, Corson said.

Gann said that the recommended lights could easily be made to conform to the requirements.

Commissioners agreed unanimously to recommend the standards to the board of aldermen.
Commissioners attending the August 26 meeting, in addition to the chairman, included Judy Savage, Kim LaVergne, Billy Downs, Willie King, Barbara Bruce and David Billingsley.

Savage and LaVergne asked Comer to write a letter to car lot owners Michael Purdy and Ray Slaughter requesting that they landscape and improve the appearance of their facility on Highway 6 West.

Commissioners requested the landscaping at their June meeting when they approved the auto dealers’ request for a variance to allow the business at the site.