Planning, zoning commission answers questions, works on zoning map

SUBMITTED Planning and zoning commission member Jim Kooistra and city attorney Jay Williams on Thursday hold a planning map with colors added to indicate suggested zoning changes for lands which have recently been annexed into the city. The commission has been working to make a recommendation to the council for zoning changes from the current agricultural zoning of annexed lands to zoning which best fits the lands' current and anticipated future uses.
SUBMITTED Planning and zoning commission member Jim Kooistra and city attorney Jay Williams on Thursday hold a planning map with colors added to indicate suggested zoning changes for lands which have recently been annexed into the city. The commission has been working to make a recommendation to the council for zoning changes from the current agricultural zoning of annexed lands to zoning which best fits the lands' current and anticipated future uses.

GENTRY -- The planning and zoning commission on Thursday answered questions from a planning-area resident regarding a possible subdivision, heard from a resident about the intended use of a property for which rezoning is being considered and worked on a zoning map and discussed fitting zoning changes for land annexed into the city, which comes into the city as agricultural.

Lora Weygandt said she and her husband are considering a division of 20 acres they own along Shady Grove Road, which is outside the city but still in the city's planning area. She asked if the city would require curb and gutter. She said they were considering three lots along the road with a fourth in the back.

Jay Williams, the city's attorney, said there would be no street requirements at the present time because the plans would only require a driveway to the fourth lot, with the other three on the road. The commission suggested a driveway wide enough to accommodate utility easements in the future should further division take place at a later date.

Ric Stripling addressed the commission because of plans he and his wife have to provide respite care service for 5-15 disabled adults on their property (the former Applecrest Bed and Breakfast property on Arkansas Highway 59). Stripling said he came to the meeting to be sure the use would be acceptable should the property be rezoned.

Williams said the current agricultural zoning allows for the proposed use and that the planning and zoning commission would keep that use in mind when it makes its recommendation to the council for rezoning annexed lands. He said the use would be allowed in R3, R4 and RO zoning.

The commission thanked Stripling for coming in and sharing his plans so the commission can make a recommendation to the council which would allow the use, even though the use could also be grandfathered in if the Striplings pursue the use prior to council action.

Following the questions, the commission worked on a map which includes the annexed lands to add color coding to show the proposed zoning. The commission is working on a proposal to rezone newly annexed lands from A1 (agricultural) to other zones which better match the current land use. It was suggested that a portion of land along Pioneer Lane, just east of the intersection of Marion Lee Road, be zoned R4 to allow for the placement of mobile homes and manufactured homes there but that land along Dawn Hill East Road be zoned R2. Commercial and residential-office zoning is being considered for lands along Arkansas Highway 59.

Any property owners of newly annexed lands with zoning concerns are urged to contact the commission.

General News on 07/25/2018