GRAVETTE -- Gravette City Council members, at their regular meeting Thursday evening, Nov. 17, approved rezoning of 1.76 acres at 206 Fort Smith S.W., owned by Todd Renfrow, from R-4, mobile home, to R-1, single-family residential. Renfrow's intention is to construct three single-family homes on the property. Another request for rezoning, for approximately five acres at 14109 W. Highway 72, owned by Namaqua LLC, from A-1, agricultural, to C-2, commercial, failed for lack of a motion.
Jason Ingalls, a representative of Namaqua, had originally requested a rezoning to C-6, commercial, to allow for the construction of five office/warehouse buildings. The rezoning was the subject of much discussion at the Tuesday, Nov. 15, planning commission meeting, with several area citizens speaking against the move. It was argued that C-6 zoning bordered on industrial use and allowed too much flexibility in future uses for the property. After consideration of the citizen input, the commission voted to recommend a rezoning to C-2, commercial, rather than C-6.
Robert Hamilton, whose property adjoins the land in question, spoke to the council in the citizen comment period at the beginning of the council meeting. He was one of the citizens who spoke at the Tuesday meeting and simply restated his concerns and those of other neighbors. He thanked the council for dropping the zoning category from C-6 to C-2 but said he would really prefer that the zoning just remain residential since everything around it is residential. Ingalls plans a large-scale development for the property, and its only access would be off Highway 72, which Hamilton argued is already a busy highway and an entrance there would be a traffic hazard.
Hamilton's concerns also included the runoff of water from the property. The area is a watershed for Spavinaw Creek, an important body of water, and there is no sewer on the property. A sewer would have to be added, and possibly a retention pond, which he felt might be an environmental hazard. He said building office/warehouse buildings on the site would lower the quality of life for him and his family, obstructing their view, invading their privacy and causing an annoyance because of increased lighting and noise.
In other action at the meeting, council members voted to approve the reappointment of Susan Holland to the Gravette Public Library advisory board. Mayor Kurt Maddox swore her in immediately following the vote for approval.
Council members voted to approve adding billing for fire incident calls to the responsibilities of the current ambulance billing service, Ambulance Medical Billing (AMB). This billing is currently being done in-house and will now be transferred to AMB.
Council members voted to approve a large-scale development plan for 1.18 acres owned by Tanya and Charles Murray at 13422 Highway 72 and to approve the relocation of Stidham Lane to provide easier access to Highway 72. The Murrays plan to remodel an existing 1,500-square-foot office building and build a 2,848-square-foot addition for use as a daycare facility.
Council members voted to affirm the planning commission's vote to approve waivers for property owned by Chris and Amanda Flynt at 13587 Highway 279 in Hiwasse. The Flynts have remodeled an existing 3,500-square-foot building on the property and intend to operate half of it as a retail store and half as a history museum/meeting place. A gravel parking lot and trash pickup with no dumpsters on site will allow the building site to remain as close as possible to its original condition and design.
The city received a grant of $98,545 from the Walton Family Foundation in 2021 to support the city's tree-planting initiatives. Council members voted to approve funds for Fresh-n-Green to provide tree care and maintenance through the life of the grant, as recommended by the Walton Family Foundation.
A resolution was passed approving adjustments to the 2022 budget. Finance director Carl Rabey said there was no change in the financial statement since the Nov. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, and the only change in the bond fund was the addition of a small interest payment. Rabey reported an $8,900 balance in the 2018 parks bond fund. All other bond funds have been spent.