Mike Ellis – Prior to the regular commission meeting on May 24, the Planning Commission held a workshop on code terminology, where Chair Steve Beacham outlined areas for consideration, including tourist lodging, a topic which became the focus of the following meeting.
After welcoming new commissioner Susan Harman, Beacham suggested the need for more specific regulations on tour homes. Commissioner Melissa Greene suggested hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., extended to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.
Beacham said city codes do not mention RV parks, although there are two inside the city limits and part of one on Passion Play Road. He said code should include some definitions and limit further RV parks to the commercial corridor along U.S. 62 or Arkansas Hwy. 23 South.
Greene said an RV park might not be appropriate even in some parts of the commercial zone, but commissioner James Morris said it would be no worse than other permitted uses, such as a gas station. With no guidelines in the codebook, Beacham said the commission would not be able to approve a new application. Other commissioners wondered if they could deny a new application under those circumstances.
Commissioners also noted the need for a definition of a campground. Tourist lodging includes hotels, motels, B&Bs, cabins, and more. Code even discusses boarding houses, although none operates currently. Regardless of specifics, all these constitute “a dwelling in which sleeping accommodations are offered to transient guests.” Beacham said although each type of lodging has its own regulations, they are all subsets of tourist lodging rather than distinct categories.
Discussion also covered weekly rentals. Beacham explained that five businesses are operating as weekly rentals, although no more permits will be granted. The owner of a weekly rental can offer it for less than the full weekly period, but cannot rent it to someone else during that week.