The Planning Commission held its first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 14, and a new slate of officers will preside in the coming year.
Former chair Susan Harman was term-limited, and Fergie Stewart will now take the gavel. Ann Tandy-Sallee will serve as vice-chair, and Tom Buford will remain as secretary.
Bill King and John Rankine have had an extended battle with the commission since their apartment building at 1 Washington St. burned. The multi-family building was already in place before city codes regulating occupancy, and the owners operated as a legally non-conforming business. That LNC status would ordinarily expire after 180 days without operation, but the owners have had extensive construction delays, some due to differences with former building inspectors.
King said he expects to complete work on the building within four months. Some commissioners commented on the lack of off-street parking, but King said off-street parking is not required in that zone. After a brief discussion, the commission voted unanimously to continue the property’s LNC status. Stewart thanked King “for continuing to work with us.”
Commissioners assembled a list of areas of focus for the coming year and discussion on possible expansion of city limits will continue. Stewart said he would like to discuss sidewalk issues, and said two tourists had recently gone to the hospital after falling on sidewalks.
Commissioner David Buttecali asked for more clarity from the mayor and city council regarding the planned roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 62 and Arkansas Hwy. 23 South. Stewart said he had contacted the Arkansas Dept. of Transportation, and they said work will begin in September.
Buttecali also asked for a more detailed definition of “long-term rental,” and said that would help clarify the situation for someone considering turning a motel into housing.
Several commissioners mentioned concerns about fencing. Cassie Dishman, Director of Planning and Community Development, said the Historic District Commission must approve fences within the historic district. In other areas of the city, a permit is still needed, but different codes apply.
In other business:
- An updated application form for tree cuts was approved. The form has been modified to comply with recent ordinances.
- Buford had previously mentioned the need for relaxing minimum lot-size limits, and he returned to that topic last week. He read a list of minimum lot sizes in various zones and mentioned a recent approval of a house on a lot measuring 3,200 square feet, where the minimum was set at 4,000 square feet. This approval also came with side setback variances. Buford asked if the regulations should be changed, so people would not have to come before the commission for every undersized lot. He said the lack of other building sites will make this more of an issue.
- Tandy-Sallee said she will work with Dishman to review tourist lodging. They will check for compliance with city ordinances, including obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy and paying applicable taxes to the City Advertising and Promotion Commission. Tandy-Sallee said she has not heard complaints about tourist lodging, which is often locally owned in a residential neighborhood. Stewart said city restrictions on commercial use of residential property may soon vanish, as the state legislature revisits the topic.
- A workshop was held prior to the meeting to discuss area development possibilities. The city can extend services up to a mile from city limits, with a view towards eventual annexation.
- The commission will continue to meet once a month, at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Commissioners voted to use a relaxed form of Robert’s Rules, as recommended by the Arkansas Municipal League.
- Sitting as the Board of Zoning Adjustment, commissioners overturned a stop-work order on a sign at 4052 E. Van Buren. The sign had been moved from a previous location on the property.
- Mike Larrew, a certified arborist, testified that two trees at 4 Armstrong St. were decayed and hollow. He said they lean over a public walkway and threaten power lines. Commissioner Mike Welch said he had looked at the trees and agreed with Larrew’s assessment. Sitting as BOZA, commissioners agreed. They rejected another tree-cut request, at 70 Clay St. Larrew said a tree is leaning, and may tear up the roadway if it falls. He said the root system might be compromised, but in response to questions, he said the tree was not in imminent danger of falling.