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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fort Smith Property Owners Appeal Board Meeting – April 13, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, April 13, 2026

BodyFort Smith, Arkansas

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, April 13, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 6:46

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0:00

Okay, I'll bring this this meeting to order.

0:03

Um here today uh April 13th, 2026, uh for a meeting of the Fort Smith property owners appeal board.

0:13

Um we have one item on the agenda today.

0:17

It is uh uh variance number 26-0001 for property located at 3112 South 40th Street.

0:29

Uh applicant bringing the request for variance is Craig McKenzie.

0:34

Uh sorry, I skipped the roll call.

0:37

Karen, would you mind taking a row?

0:40

Justin Farrell?

0:42

Sherry.

0:49

Present.

0:53

All right.

0:54

Uh first item on the agenda is approval of minutes for the December 8th, 2025 meeting.

1:00

I make a motion to approve the minutes.

1:04

Second.

1:05

Uh motion and second to approve the minutes.

1:08

All in favor say aye.

1:09

Aye.

1:10

Any opposed.

1:12

All right.

1:12

Those minutes are approved.

1:14

So now we'll get down to the variance uh 2600 one for 3112 South 40th, uh brought by Mr.

1:23

Craig McKinsey.

1:24

Is there anyone with the city to uh give us some details on this property?

1:29

On uh March 24th uh 2026.

1:32

Uh it would service the department received a variance request from Craig McKinsey in regards to property located at uh well 3112 South 40th Street requesting a variance from uh city ordinance section 14-52 parking screening vehicles on residential property, and within our ordinances say that the improved service shall consist of concrete as all of brick pavers and approved area for parking services and site yards shall be limited to 40% of the gross funding series side yard land area, and there is some exemptions and today uh Craig McKenzie is here to apply for variance and for the technicality part of this.

2:14

So Jesse Bennett, director of building services is going to cover that.

2:21

This area here will um eventually or is in the process of being developed uh three single family homes to be put down at the end of this road.

2:29

Uh the road does not extend all the way through.

2:31

The ditches on both sides are very deep and the road is very narrow.

2:35

Um the city of Fort Smith uh does support the um uh the recommendation here of uh allowing 50% concrete referring guard for turnaround apparatus uh for the fire department apparatus and uh for the safety of our fire department and the citizens uh we do uh support this.

2:58

Thank you.

2:59

Uh Mr.

3:00

McKinsey, do you have anything to add?

3:01

It's time.

3:03

My name is Brandon Woodrow on representation because we know that they said it for you.

3:07

Okay, could you could you uh tell us your name again?

3:10

Yeah, Brandon Woodrow.

3:12

Okay, sir.

3:13

Great.

3:16

Thank you.

3:17

Uh any members of the board have any questions for this?

3:21

Yes, I do.

3:22

Is this a code set?

3:24

No, it's not considered.

3:26

Is it in here?

3:26

Is there a picture?

3:27

No, normally we do allow 50 cold sacks, but this is just a day in the road.

3:31

It is on whole set.

3:34

Okay, so I don't see any pictures.

3:38

This is public.

3:40

Okay.

3:41

This is for the houses are being located, which is more less a day.

3:44

It's great.

3:54

So they're getting ready to build these buildings.

3:56

Is that what we're correct?

3:57

Yes.

3:58

Okay.

3:58

And the city supports this?

4:00

Yes.

4:01

I move that we accept this variance.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████65%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████35%

Summary of Proceedings

Fort Smith Property Owners Appeal Board Meeting – April 13, 2026

The Fort Smith Property Owners Appeal Board met on April 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM to consider a single variance request. The meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes and a public hearing on Variance #26-0001 for property at 3112 South 40th Street.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (December 8, 2025): Motion to approve made, seconded, and carried by unanimous voice vote (ayes all, no opposition).

Discussion Items

Variance #26-0001 – 3112 South 40th Street – Applicant Craig McKenzie, represented by Brandon Woodrow, requested a variance from City Ordinance Section 14-52 (parking screening on residential property) to allow up to 50% concrete coverage in the side yard for a fire apparatus turnaround. The property is being developed with three single-family rental homes. City staff, through Jesse Bennett (Director of Building Services), stated support for the variance “for the safety of our fire department and the citizens.” The road is narrow with deep ditches and does not extend through. Board members questioned the risk of future non‑conforming use (e.g., storage of large vehicles), noting that any changes would require a building permit. The applicant confirmed each home will have a single-car garage, limiting outside parking needs. No public comment was offered.

Key Outcomes

Variance Approved – A motion to accept the variance was made, seconded, and passed by unanimous voice vote (all ayes, no opposition). The variance allows up to 50% concrete coverage in the side yard at 3112 South 40th Street for fire apparatus access.
Adjournment – Meeting adjourned after the variance approval, with no further business.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, I'll bring this this meeting to order. Um here today uh April 13th, 2026, uh for a meeting of the Fort Smith property owners appeal board. Um we have one item on the agenda today. It is uh uh variance number 26-0001 for property located at 3112 South 40th Street. Uh applicant bringing the request for variance is Craig McKenzie. Uh sorry, I skipped the roll call. Karen, would you mind taking a row? Justin Farrell? Sherry. Present. All right. Uh first item on the agenda is approval of minutes for the December 8th, 2025 meeting. I make a motion to approve the minutes. Second. Uh motion and second to approve the minutes. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed. All right. Those minutes are approved. So now we'll get down to the variance uh 2600 one for 3112 South 40th, uh brought by Mr. Craig McKinsey. Is there anyone with the city to uh give us some details on this property? On uh March 24th uh 2026. Uh it would service the department received a variance request from Craig McKinsey in regards to property located at uh well 3112 South 40th Street requesting a variance from uh city ordinance section 14-52 parking screening vehicles on residential property, and within our ordinances say that the improved service shall consist of concrete as all of brick pavers and approved area for parking services and site yards shall be limited to 40% of the gross funding series side yard land area, and there is some exemptions and today uh Craig McKenzie is here to apply for variance and for the technicality part of this. So Jesse Bennett, director of building services is going to cover that. This area here will um eventually or is in the process of being developed uh three single family homes to be put down at the end of this road. Uh the road does not extend all the way through. The ditches on both sides are very deep and the road is very narrow. Um the city of Fort Smith uh does support the um uh the recommendation here of uh allowing 50% concrete referring guard for turnaround apparatus uh for the fire department apparatus and uh for the safety of our fire department and the citizens uh we do uh support this. Thank you. Uh Mr. McKinsey, do you have anything to add? It's time. My name is Brandon Woodrow on representation because we know that they said it for you. Okay, could you could you uh tell us your name again? Yeah, Brandon Woodrow. Okay, sir. Great. Thank you. Uh any members of the board have any questions for this? Yes, I do. Is this a code set? No, it's not considered. Is it in here? Is there a picture? No, normally we do allow 50 cold sacks, but this is just a day in the road. It is on whole set. Okay, so I don't see any pictures. This is public.

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