Fort Smith Planning Commission Meeting – June 9, 2026

The Fort Smith Planning Commission held its regular monthly meeting on June 9, 2026, at 11:30 AM (UTC). The commission reviewed 18 agenda items including plats, rezonings, master land use plan amendments, variances, and development plans. All votes were unanimous except one variance that passed 6-3. The meeting also included a brief board of zoning adjustment session.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 – Final Plat, High Point at Kelly Ridge, Home Occupation License (8604 South Ridge Drive), Conditional Use (2201/2203 North 58), Development Plan (8716 Rogers Avenue): Approved with staff comments by a roll call vote of 8 in favor, 1 abstention (Commissioner Mendenhall). No public comments.

Discussion Items

• Items 2 & 3 – Master Land Use Plan Amendment and Rezoning at 705 Xavier Street: Request by Dana Rosa for Dungvoe to change from Industrial I-1 to Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM3) to allow two duplexes. A neighborhood meeting on June 1, 2026 had one attendee with no concerns. Staff recommended approval. The master plan amendment passed 9-0; the rezoning passed 9-0.
• Item 4 – Variance at 4300 Johnson Street (RM3 zone): Request by Jose Sanchez for lot width reduction (60 ft to 50 ft) and side yard setback (7.5 ft to 1.5 ft) at 4237 Worsing Avenue, and lot width reduction at 4300 Johnson Street. Neighborhood meeting on June 2, 2026 had no attendees. Staff recommended approval contingent on limiting the new lot to one single-family dwelling. Passed 9-0.
• Items 5–8 – Variance, MLUP Amendment, Rezoning, and Development Plan at 606 South 22nd Street: Request by Anthony Lerares for Gilbert Properties to build a professional office. Variance sought from street access requirements. Neighborhood meeting on May 28, 2026 had five attendees with no opposition. Public comment: Marcus Woodward (neighbor) expressed support. All four items passed 9-0.
• Item 9 – Rezoning at 5300 South Zero Street and 5991 Grand Slam Loop: Request by Tyler Teague and Isaac Lee to change from PZD (Ordinance 21-23) to a new PZD with two character areas (A: heavier commercial, B: less intense). Neighborhood meeting on June 1, 2026 had one attendee with no objections. Staff supported. Passed 9-0.
• Items 10–11 – Variances at 1320 Jacobs Avenue and 1708/1710 Jacobs Avenue: Both requests by Dana Rosa for Land Family Trust to allow lot splits for duplex construction.
  • Item 10 (1320 Jacobs): Variances for side yard setback (5 ft to 1.5 ft), street frontage (50 ft to 0 ft), and lot width (50 ft to 0 ft). Neighborhood meeting on June 3, 2026 had six attendees with no expressed opposition. Staff recommended conditions, including removal of existing ramp/sheds and walling off a door. Passed 6-3 (Commissioners Ludford, Wilson, Coleman, Hannah, Mendenhall, McCaffrey in favor; Taylor, Newton, Tyler opposed).
  • Item 11 (1708/1710 Jacobs): Variances for street frontage and lot width (50 ft to 0 ft). Neighborhood meeting on June 2, 2026 had no attendees. No existing structures; staff recommended conditions. Passed 9-0.
• Items 12–13 – Variance and Development Plan at 5400 South 66th Street: Request by Brett Abbott for Stoddard Revocable Trust to build an office/warehouse. Variance from 30 ft to 10 ft security military compatibility buffer (adjacent to Ebbing Air National Guard Base). Airfield operations manager Kyle Loney approved with obstruction lights. Neighborhood meeting on May 26, 2026 had no attendees. Commissioner discussion: although staff consulted the military, the planning commission retains final authority. Variance passed 9-0; development plan passed 9-0.
• Items 14–15 – Variances at 1919/2001 St. Francis Court and 1912/1916 Kathleen Trace: Request by Brett Abbott for St. Francis Crest Inc. for front yard setback reductions (30 ft to 17 ft on St. Francis Crest and 30 ft to 12 ft on Kathleen Trace) and a subdivision variance for double frontage lot driveway access. Neighborhood meeting on May 26, 2026 had nine attendees; questions about drainage were addressed. Public comment: Jim Craft (representing the architectural control committee) opposed, citing aesthetics and proximity to street. Applicant Daniel Cochran (would-be resident) clarified that the actual setback is 30 ft from the road due to easements, and houses in the neighborhood already have 30 ft setbacks. Variance passed 9-0; subdivision variance passed 9-0.
• Items 16–18 – Variance, Rezoning, and Development Plan at 1716 North 6th Street and 1725 North 7th Street: Request by Brett Abbott for O. Martinez to add a 1,200 sq ft restaurant addition and an off-site parking lot. Variances from perimeter landscaping and collector road access. The parking lot was built without a permit; staff noted penalties would be applied. Neighborhood meeting on May 26, 2026 had no attendees. Variance passed 9-0; rezoning passed 9-0; development plan passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items approved (8-1).
• Items 2–9, 11–18 approved unanimously (9-0).
• Item 10 (1320 Jacobs Ave) approved 6-3.
• No appeals or further actions noted; decisions become final unless appealed to the City Board of Directors.
• Meeting adjourned after all items.