OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fort Smith Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Adjustment Meeting - August 12, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:38:54

Transcript — Verbatim
2:46

All right.

2:47

I'd like to welcome everyone to the August twenty twenty-five Planning Commission meeting.

2:52

And I said everybody stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:05

One nation under God in individual with liberty and justice for all right.

3:25

Vicky Newton.

3:26

Here.

3:26

Zach Ledford.

3:28

Rod Coleman.

3:30

Kelly Wilson here.

3:34

David Tyler.

3:35

Matt Marshall.

3:37

Sean McCaffrey.

3:38

Here.

3:39

We have eight commissioners present and one absent.

3:42

All right.

3:43

Thank you very much.

3:44

Uh if the commissioners have had an opportunity to review the minutes from the July eighth meeting.

4:01

Any opposed.

4:07

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the August twelfth, twenty twenty-five planning commission meeting.

4:12

The planning commission is comprised of a group of volunteers appointed by the mayor who offer diverse expertise and perspectives guiding the development and growth of Fort Smith.

5:01

The master land use plan amendments and rezonings if receiving approval of the planning commission with a minimum of five yes votes will also be presented to the city board of directors for their review at their September 2nd, 2025 meeting at 6 p.m.

5:16

The Board of Zoning Adjustment, which consists of members from the Planning Commission will be reviewing variance requests this evening.

5:22

The action of the Board of Zoning Zoning Adjustment will be final unless appealed to a court of jurisdiction.

5:29

All right, and thank you very much, Maggie.

5:31

Our first items this evening are consent agenda items.

5:36

They consist of preliminary plates and final plates at Vienna Hills, which we've seen before, and also a development plan at 2801 Kavanaugh Road.

5:47

I'd ask the city just to briefly show those on the screen.

5:53

Yes.

5:57

Okay.

5:58

Is there uh anybody here that wishes to speak against these applications?

6:05

All right.

6:06

If not, I will then ask for a roll call vote or ask for a motion to uh to move forward with these items.

6:18

All right.

6:20

All right.

6:20

All right, I'll call for a roll call vote then.

6:26

Four.

6:27

Brett Taylor.

6:28

Four.

6:28

Kelly Wilson, four.

6:29

Rod Fullman.

6:30

Matt Marshall.

6:31

Four.

6:31

Vicky Newton.

6:32

Four.

6:33

Griffin Hannah.

6:34

David Tyler.

6:35

Four.

6:36

Eight in favor, zero opposed.

6:39

All right.

6:39

We will now then uh move to items two and three, which are conditional use application and a variance at uh 6101 Arkansas Highway 45, 606021 Arkansas Highway 45.

6:54

Thank you, Mr.

6:55

Chair.

6:55

Conditional use 7825 is a request by Brett Abbott agent for Montana Properties Incorporation for conditional use approval for a contractor shop and storage yard in a commercial five or a commercial heavy zone at 6021 and 6101 Arkansas Highway 45.

7:11

Approval of the conditional use and companion variance application will facilitate the construction of three 2800 square foot contractor shop buildings and one 2100 square foot contractor office and showroom and two 3100 square foot office retail buildings.

7:29

The site will utilize two driveways.

7:32

Both of the driveways, and we'll get into the variance request here in a minute, will have driveway separations of 130 foot from the northern and southernmost driveways.

7:59

A 10-foot wide perimeter landscaping strip with parking lot streaming strip screening is located on Arkansas Highway 485 along with interior landscaping that complies with the UDO.

8:11

The plan indicates that all trash receptacles and HVAC units will be completely screened.

8:17

The parking does comply with the UDO as well, providing 35 parking spaces.

8:21

Additionally, the uh development plan proposes three new monument-style 30 square foot signs.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Variance█████████████████████████████████████████████74%
Public Safety████████13%
Procedural████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Transportation Safety██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Fort Smith Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Adjustment Meeting - August 12, 2025

The Fort Smith Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) held a joint regular meeting on August 12, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Blue Lion Main Room, 101 North 2nd Street. Eight commissioners were present (one absent). The meeting covered a consent agenda, conditional uses, variances, development plans, master land use plan amendments, and rezonings. Several items drew public comment, particularly the proposed event center at 2400 Dodson Avenue and the rezoning for duplexes on South 33rd Street.

Consent Calendar

  • Preliminary & Final Plats – Fianna Hills Lots (Mickle Griffin, LLC): Approved unanimously (8-0). The plats will combine portions of the former Fianna Hills Golf Course with existing lots at 3301 Caitlin Court and Queensbury Way.
  • Development Plan #14-8-25 – Contractor’s Shop and Storage Yard (Littlefield Oil Company): Approved unanimously (8-0) for a 3,000 sq ft commercial building with exterior storage at 2801 Cavanaugh Road, with conditions including sidewalk installation or payment in lieu.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Variance #20-8-25 (3429 Warner Street): Dorothy Love (neighbor, 3419 Warner Street) spoke in support, noting her own need for a carport and that Mr. Shepherd is handicapped. One neighbor attended the meeting in support.
  • Variance #15-8-25 (2906 Gary Street): No public comments were made, but the commission discussed requiring the carport to remain open (not enclosed).
  • Items 8-10 (2400 Dodson Avenue): Multiple neighbors spoke in opposition:
    • Leo Strange (2320 Dodson) raised safety concerns about angled parking on South 24th Street sticking into the street.
    • Lucy Dooley (2512 Dodson Avenue) objected to late hours, lack of a business plan, potential hourly rentals, and safety for children. She stated the applicant said he would "rent the rooms out by the hour."
    • Another resident from 2500 South Hail asked about noise and alcohol management.
  • Items 15-18 (South 33rd Street duplexes): Sean Hunt (5213 South 33rd) spoke against the development, citing truck traffic, airport noise, and property value concerns. Lane Ogen and Tim Ogen (6405 Atlanta Street) spoke in support for the property-owning family, saying the land has been vacant for 50 years and the family wants progress.

Discussion Items

  • Conditional Use #7-8-25 & Variance #23-8-25 (Montana Properties, Highway 45): Staff presented a proposal for three contractor shop buildings, an office/showroom, and two office/retail buildings on 2.16 acres. The variance reduces driveway separation from 200 ft to 130 ft, supported by ARDOT and city engineering. The commission approved both items unanimously.
  • Variance #20-8-25 (Warner Street carport): Approved 8-0 with condition to comply with submitted plan.
  • Variance #15-8-25 (Gary Street carport): Approved 8-0 with an added condition that the carport must remain an open structure and cannot be enclosed into living space.
  • Variance #16-8-25 & Development Plan #13-8-25 (Shamrock Liquor, Midland Boulevard): The variance allows reduced perimeter landscaping and unscreened but painted HVAC ductwork due to existing utility easements and fire damage. The development plan authorizes rebuilding a 14,985 sq ft liquor store with drive-through. Both approved 8-0 with conditions including platting and a revocable license.
  • Items 8-10 (Tony Tran, Dodson Avenue): Considered together. Staff presented variance from 59 to 23 parking spaces, conditional use for an event center (1,950 sq ft), and remote parking agreement for 25 extra spaces at 2423 Dodson Avenue. Two neighborhood meetings were held with 10 neighbors expressing concerns about noise, alcohol, and late hours. The commission debated parking safety, noise, and the event center location (rear of building near residential). After public testimony, the votes were split.
  • Items 11-14 (Woodrome Holdings, South 11th Street): Unanimous approval for a variance (20 ft to 13 ft exterior side setback), MLUP amendment from Office/Research/Light Industrial to Mixed Use Residential, rezoning from I-1 to Transitional (T), and development plan for two duplexes with alley-access parking and new sidewalks.
  • Items 15-18 (Woodrome Holdings/Brown Trust, South 33rd Street): A comprehensive proposal to rezone 1.11 acres from I-1 to RSD-4 for seven duplexes (14 units) with variances for corner lots. Staff recommended approval with conditions including 6 extra parking spaces, sidewalks, curb/gutter, and sound insulation (MCAOD). The commission heard both support and opposition. Discussion focused on street width, industrial surroundings, density, and whether to reduce the number of duplexes from seven to six. The developer requested a vote on seven. The motion to approve as presented with staff conditions passed 5-3.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (8-0).
  • Conditional Use #7-8-25: Approved 8-0.
  • Variance #23-8-25: Approved 8-0 (BZA).
  • Variance #20-8-25: Approved 8-0 (BZA).
  • Variance #15-8-25: Approved 8-0 with condition that carport remains open (BZA).
  • Variance #16-8-25: Approved 8-0 (BZA).
  • Development Plan #13-8-25: Approved 8-0 (Planning Commission).
  • Variance #17-8-25 (parking reduction): Approved 6-2 (BZA).
  • Conditional Use #8-8-25 (event center): Approved 5-3 (Planning Commission).
  • Remote Parking Agreement #1-8-25: Approved 6-2 (Planning Commission).
  • Variance #19-8-25 (S 11th Street): Approved 8-0 (BZA).
  • MLUP Amendment #7-8-25: Approved 8-0 (Planning Commission).
  • Rezoning #18-8-25: Approved 8-0 (Planning Commission).
  • Development Plan #15-8-25: Approved 8-0 (Planning Commission).
  • Variance #21-8-25 (S 33rd Street): Approved 5-3 (BZA).
  • MLUP Amendment #8-8-25: Approved 6-2 (Planning Commission).
  • Rezoning #19-8-25: Approved 6-2 (Planning Commission).
  • Development Plan #16-8-25 (seven duplexes): Approved 5-3 (Planning Commission).

All approvals for master land use plan amendments and rezonings will be forwarded to the Fort Smith Board of Directors for a public hearing on September 2, 2025, at 6 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. I'd like to welcome everyone to the August twenty twenty-five Planning Commission meeting. And I said everybody stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God in individual with liberty and justice for all right. Vicky Newton. Here. Zach Ledford. Rod Coleman. Kelly Wilson here. David Tyler. Matt Marshall. Sean McCaffrey. Here. We have eight commissioners present and one absent. All right. Thank you very much. Uh if the commissioners have had an opportunity to review the minutes from the July eighth meeting. Any opposed. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the August twelfth, twenty twenty-five planning commission meeting. The planning commission is comprised of a group of volunteers appointed by the mayor who offer diverse expertise and perspectives guiding the development and growth of Fort Smith. The master land use plan amendments and rezonings if receiving approval of the planning commission with a minimum of five yes votes will also be presented to the city board of directors for their review at their September 2nd, 2025 meeting at 6 p.m. The Board of Zoning Adjustment, which consists of members from the Planning Commission will be reviewing variance requests this evening. The action of the Board of Zoning Zoning Adjustment will be final unless appealed to a court of jurisdiction. All right, and thank you very much, Maggie. Our first items this evening are consent agenda items. They consist of preliminary plates and final plates at Vienna Hills, which we've seen before, and also a development plan at 2801 Kavanaugh Road. I'd ask the city just to briefly show those on the screen. Yes. Okay. Is there uh anybody here that wishes to speak against these applications? All right. If not, I will then ask for a roll call vote or ask for a motion to uh to move forward with these items. All right. All right. All right, I'll call for a roll call vote then. Four. Brett Taylor. Four. Kelly Wilson, four. Rod Fullman. Matt Marshall. Four. Vicky Newton. Four. Griffin Hannah. David Tyler. Four. Eight in favor, zero opposed. All right. We will now then uh move to items two and three, which are conditional use application and a variance at uh 6101 Arkansas Highway 45, 606021 Arkansas Highway 45.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com