GRAVETTE--A public hearing was held during the Gravette City Council committee meeting on Tuesday evening, March 12. The hearing was regarding a petition from Gravette resident Sarah Patron to amend city zoning requirements for family childcare homes. Patron wishes to get permission to care for up to 10 children in her home but said she had been told the property must be rezoned to commercial zoning before she can do so.
Patron said she has a waiting list of parents who wish for her to care for their children in her home. She emphasized the need for childcare services with the growing number of working parents and the lack of care facilities and said that Gravette is the only town in Benton and Washington counties that requires commercial zoning for family childcare homes. She reported that she has talked to all her neighbors, and none objected to her operating such a facility.
Tammy Rowland, administrator for the Northwest Arkansas Family Childcare Association, also spoke to the council and requested the council consider changing this requirement. She said she had not been able to find such a regulation but had been told it was on the books. She echoed Patron's statement that "the commercial zoning designation may be unnecessary and prohibitive for many prospective caregivers, hindering the accessibility and availability of essential childcare services for families in our city."
Rick Long, director of planning and development, acknowledged the need for childcare services and said he was willing to work with Patron but outlined several problems he saw with her request, including limited square footage in Patron's home, the fact that the caregiver's own children must be counted in the number of children allowed and a lawsuit brought several years ago seeking to prohibit a childcare facility in the neighborhood.
All department heads reported at the meeting except for Fire Chief David Orr, who submitted a written report.
Police Chief Chuck Skaggs said it had been a good month. He said that with spring break coming up he was going to have the school resource officers repainting the city kennel and doing some work on the shooting range. He mentioned the unusual search operation the previous week and expressed thanks to neighboring departments for their assistance.
Rick Long reported 72 building inspections and six code inspections were conducted in February. He reported progress in cleanup at the Gairy Osburn and Victor Hernandez properties and said a copy of the resolution to condemn structures at the Miriam Ruesink property had been posted there.
Long reported the preliminary large-scale submittal for Halff Engineering for a building with commercial space on the first floor and residences above had been approved and a public hearing had been set for March 14 for the proposed cabinet shop at 405 Second Avenue S.W. He said Anthony Bertschy and Jo Ellen Davis have been approved as co-chairpersons of the planning commission for 2024.
Richard Sutherland, water and sewer department head, reported the city's new generator has been received. He said rehab on the Detroit Street life station Wednesday or Thursday, and work would begin March 18 on moving waterlines for the turning lane project at Highway 59 and Mount Olive Road.
Karen Benson, Gravette library director, reported the library remodel is nearing completion, and a grand reopening event is planned for Saturday, March 23. She reported the library has received a second LTC accessibility grant that will be used to repair the floor in the KidSPACE. She said solar eclipse glasses would be available at the library reopening and have been made available to the school, the Senior Center, the eye clinic, the medical clinic, and local drugstores.
Tim DeWitt, head of the streets and parks department, said that since Cox has moved its cable, work on the walking trail is continuing. He reported that the spring citywide cleanup is being held the week of March 18-23, and the spring tree giveaway will be Saturday, May 11.
In new business, council members reviewed three ordinances rezoning properties, which will be on the agenda for the March 26 council meeting. The first involves rezoning 4.15 acres at 14001 Hatcher Hollow Road, owned by Aaron Slyter, from A-1, agricultural, to R-1, residential. The owner proposes to split the property into three tracts of at least one acre each. Rick Long noted this is consistent with other property use in the area and is fully compliant with city code.
The second ordinance involves rezoning 3.71 acres at 12982 Highway 279, owned by James and Sarah Sossamon, from A-1, agricultural, to C-2, commercial. Long said this would be consistent with projected future growth.
The third ordinance involves rezoning 1.24 acres at 1206 First Avenue S.W., owned by Nelson Watts, from C-2, commercial, to R-2, residential. Planning director Rick Long expressed some concerns about this rezoning because the owner proposed building two or more fourplexes on the property, and there was no sewer there. He said there is sewer at the Dollar General Store nearby, but extending it to this property would require boring under the Dollar General parking lot. If the fourplexes would have to be on a septic system, it would be county-regulated, but Long said he has requested a perk test.
In other business the council considered a conditional use permit to allow construction of a large-scale development storage facility on 3.02 acres at 138034 Arkansas Highway 279, owned by Sonic Lakes LLC. Long said this use is consistent with surrounding properties as it is located between a boat dealership and another storage facility. He has suggested a garden-style subdivision entrance and a circle drive to alleviate traffic problems in the area.
Carl Rabey, finance director, gave the February finance report and said the general fund has a $180,000 surplus year to date and a $14,000 surplus for the month. He also presented a resolution approving adjustments for the 2024 budget, reflecting the new library grant, which will be on the March 26 council meeting agenda.
Mayor Maddox reported the sewer project had been approved and said the engineer should be at the next meeting to present an estimate. He also reported surveying is going on for the stoplight project.
In remarks following the meeting's adjournment, city attorney David Bailey said he was enjoying using the city's walking trails. He is training for a half marathon and said he appreciates those who have worked on and maintained the trail system.