Fort Smith Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Adjustment Regular Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Fort Smith Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment held a regular meeting on October 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Blue Lion. The commission considered 15 agenda items, including consent agenda approvals, rezonings, conditional uses, master land use plan amendments, and variances. All items presented were ultimately approved, several with staff conditions or amendments.

Consent Calendar

• Final Plat – Grandview Subdivision, Phase I
• Preliminary and Final Plat – High Point at Kelley Ridge, Phase II
• Conditional Use #15-10-26 – Contractor's shop and storage yard at 7104 Texas Road
• Action: Approved 7-0-1 (Commissioner Mendenhall abstained).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Items 13-14: An email from a neighboring property owner was received expressing opposition to the rezoning and variances at Xavier Street.
• Item 15 (Variance at Walnut Street): Three neighboring property owners (Shane Snyder, Mark Lazarus, and Mickey Sullard) expressed opposition, citing concerns about congestion, noise, and impact on the single-family character. Ms. Sullard requested a fence be installed. Brett Abbott, the owner's representative, clarified the property's RM-3 zoning already permits a fourplex without variance, making the two-duplex proposal a less intensive alternative.
• Item 9 (Auto Body Shop): A member of the public commented briefly on the cost of the required opaque privacy fence.

Discussion Items

• Items 2-3 (Auto Quick Lube): Staff presented the rezoning from C-2 to C-5 and development plan for Josh Copeland at 6812 Phoenix Avenue, with conditions regarding a dumpster screening fence and land use change restrictions.
• Item 4 (Methodist Village PZD): A request to unify the zoning of the Methodist Village campus into a Planned Zoning District (PZD), which exceeds UDO standards for landscaping and natural buffers.
• Items 5-8 (South 11th Street Duplexes): Brandon Woodrome, agent for James Black, sought a variance, MLUP amendment, rezoning, and development plan to convert an industrially zoned property (I-1) to Transitional (T) for two duplexes. Staff noted the surrounding area developed residentially rather than as anticipated industrial use.
• Item 9 (Auto Body Shop, Midland Blvd): A request by Jessica Osorio for a conditional use for an auto body shop and paint. Significant discussion occurred regarding the requirement to replace existing barbed wire fencing with an opaque privacy fence and remove a vacant sign pole. The applicant cited cost as a hardship. The commission ultimately retained the staff recommendations.
• Item 10 (Chad Colley PZD): Rezoning of 2.06 acres from not zoned to a PZD at Chaffee Crossing, with enhanced design standards.
• Items 11-12 (Mesa Drive Variances): Variances to plat lots with zero street frontage and minimum lot width, and to allow an unpaved private access easement.
• Items 13-14 (Xavier St Rezoning & Variances): A corrective rezoning from C-5 to RS-4 and variances to accommodate two pre-existing single-family homes on non-conforming lots. Future construction on the lots will be restricted to single-family development.
• Item 15 (Walnut Street Variance): A request by Pineda Properties to reduce the minimum lot width from 60 feet to 50 feet to subdivide a lot for two duplexes. A commissioner noted the property could support a fourplex without any variances. The motion was amended to require an opaque perimeter fence on the south and east sides.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Item 1): Approved (7-0-1).
• Item 2 (Rezoning #15-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 3 (Development Plan #17-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 4 (Rezoning #16-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 5 (Variance #31-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 6 (Master Land Use Plan Amendment #10-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 7 (Rezoning #17-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 8 (Development Plan #18-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 9 (Conditional Use #16-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 10 (Rezoning #18-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 11 (Variance #29-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 12 (Subdivision Variance #3-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 13 (Variance #28-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 14 (Rezoning #19-10-26): Approved (8-0).
• Item 15 (Variance #30-10-26): Approved as amended (7-1). The successful amendment added a requirement for an opaque perimeter fence on the south and east sides.