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Record of Proceedings

Board of Zoning Adjustments Meeting – September 16, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
BodyJonesboro, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 16, 2025
StatusFILED
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0:03

Have a roll call, please.

0:08

Dilmore?

0:09

Here.

0:10

Mose.

0:10

Here.

0:11

Miller.

0:13

Bailey.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Thank you very much.

0:18

Motion to approve.

0:19

There he is.

0:20

Sorry, Steph.

0:28

He missed, he missed the roll call, but he is here.

0:30

I am here.

0:32

In the flash.

0:33

All right.

0:33

Need a motion to approve the minutes of the 18th August meeting.

0:38

Second.

0:39

Second.

0:40

Thank you.

0:41

Okay.

0:42

We got one today.

0:43

Weston Wagner.

0:45

1306 Charles Drive.

0:52

Sir.

1:00

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

1:02

I appreciate it for being the only one on the agenda today.

1:05

I am here looking for a variance at 1306 Charles Drive.

1:08

What I've handed you are all five properties that I've come before this board and received variances for to build single family homes.

1:16

So I know you were all aware that I'm building single family homes, but I just wanted to show you what I'm actually building and the quality that I'm building for our uh city of Jonesboro here.

1:27

That being said, um the lot I have is about a it is right at a half acre of lot.

1:32

I am looking to divide it into two to build two single family homes.

1:38

My plat, if it were divided, I am roughly if you take to the front of the house, it's about a hundred and ten foot, so I'd be about uh 110 foot in total.

1:47

So if you divide that until you'd be 55 foot, so I'm about five foot short on my frontage to build uh for a replat.

1:58

Is it one of them 52 wide?

2:00

No.

2:01

I was not reading there at the what's the width of the front edge.

2:11

So if you if you can't if you count at the front at Charles Drive, it's 52 foot.

2:15

One is 52, the other's 52.78.

2:19

So both of them are 52 foot.

2:21

If you count where the houses are, because as the lot goes back, it gets wider.

2:25

I think yes, correct.

2:27

And so it's a hundred and ten foot, 110.74 at the start of the houses.

2:37

I just don't uh well looking at this 26.4, then you got the curve radius.

2:44

Yeah, and and I've got a better one here.

2:46

Curve radius.

2:49

26.43.

2:52

Yes, but it's got a 52.78 down, so it's actually a little bit wider.

2:59

So 78.4 relation to 78.4.

3:05

Oh, that's what I'll curve.

3:06

Okay, never mind.

3:07

I'm good.

3:12

And you can also look at the the one I just handed at.

3:16

I'd have to look back at the numbers, but it's so it's so everything exceeds all of the zoning requirements and uh setbacks, everything.

3:24

The only thing I'm short is about roughly five to eight foot, depending on which measurement you're looking at for a replat.

3:34

Darrell, what's the side setbacks?

3:36

Uh one here is nine.

3:38

This looks like nine on each side.

3:39

Is that all the sides are seven and a half?

3:42

Seven and a half, okay.

3:43

So we're good there.

3:44

We're good on the sides, the rear is fine.

3:47

They're right on the front setbacks, so those are good.

3:50

It's just the lot width that we're having looking at a variance for.

3:53

60.

3:54

Yeah, from 60 down to 52 and whatever that addition is there, but 52 something on the other.

4:09

It meets, I mean, it meets the setbacks.

4:15

It doesn't meet the lot width requirements.

4:18

If it was a new plat, we would, you know, if we wouldn't have platted it.

4:24

No, if you're doing a new 60 foot wide subdivision, we wouldn't allow the be that way, but this is a kind of a remodel or rehab, so right.

4:33

Okay.

4:37

Any single family home north of Johnson is a good idea.

4:42

Yes, sir.

4:42

It is in North Johnsborough.

4:48

When this uh area was originally platted, there was there was no city sewer there, so the lots were a little bit bigger for allow septic tanks.

4:56

Now there is city sewer on Charles Drive.

4:59

You don't need as much property.

5:00

That's correct, yes, sir.

5:01

And it's still a ton of backyard there, front yard and everything.

5:15

So right now, West 20 and lot 18.

5:20

Are they still vacant?

5:22

Nothing on them.

5:27

That's the lots on the side of me.

5:29

There are there are houses on both sides.

5:30

So I own this one lot where it says one and two right there.

5:33

There are houses on on both sides of me, yes, sir.

5:35

Okay, so both of those are yes, sir.

5:38

There are they're already developed.

5:40

Yes, sir.

5:41

Okay.

5:42

Hey, Rick, there it is.

5:43

You'll see it.

5:46

Okay.

5:46

You can't see it.

5:47

Do you want to take my phone and look at it?

5:49

I do see it.

5:49

Thank you.

5:55

Um, there's uh um RS zoning that allows a 50-foot lot width, but he'd have to rezone it instead of applying for a variance.

6:07

Did you change any of the house requirements or anything like that?

6:11

Well actually it would reduce the front yard set back to 20 feet.

6:19

I think what he's showing as far as setbacks versus what's on Charles Street lines up kind of with everything on Charles Street.

6:36

It's off maze.

6:37

Yeah, yeah.

6:48

Oh whether it's stupid or not, I don't care.

6:53

Um 1306, 1304, 1306.

6:58

Now you got 1306 B.

7:07

Um we will have to look at that.

7:12

This hasn't been replatted yet.

7:15

It has not all those trees been cut?

7:23

Majority of them have, yes, sir.

7:27

There's a lot of grown-up mess, really.

7:33

No, no, please.

7:35

Yeah, this would be administrative, but since it's just a one lot into two.

7:43

More questions for Mr.

7:45

Wagner.

7:50

I want the um what's the reason for not just going for the rezoning and doing it that way?

8:00

You just time or it's all R1 in the area.

8:03

It would be the same same exact thing.

8:05

I'd be going from a I the reason is is because I'm trying to build a single family regardless.

8:10

I'm not trying to do any type of multi-family.

8:11

So if I do the I don't think the proper way to approach it would be a rezoning for that land because everything in the area on those streets is R1, so I think it would be better better maintained as an R1 zoning.

8:27

But we can get you a zoning that you don't have to have variance, though.

8:31

If it were to rezone.

8:33

There are zonings out there we wouldn't have to have a variance, yes, sir.

9:10

All notifications have been out and come back.

9:13

Yes, sir.

9:14

I turned them in.

9:38

Yes, I'm trying to my harder my the hard thing I'm trying to figure out is I'm trying to find the hardship.

9:44

And what I mean by that is I I I kind of know I think I see the reason why you're doing it.

9:48

You put two houses, double investment.

9:50

I get it.

9:51

Uh, but by doubling the investment is what caused your hardship.

9:56

So that's where I'm that's where I'm I'm trying to think through it.

10:00

We're usually here, usually the way I decide is what's the hardship, what's going on, but uh dividing the space to get two homes, which I think is also good for that part of town.

10:11

Uh but it's almost a created hardship.

10:15

Does that make sense?

10:19

It does make sense, but I think I do.

10:21

I mean, I I think an overriding factor would be the improvement to that street, two more single family homes.

10:31

As opposed to it, what is it?

10:33

R2, R1.

10:34

It is R1.

10:35

The whole thing's all okay.

10:39

Oh, I agree with you.

10:41

It doesn't need to be apartment complex, two flex or four flags, or anything else.

10:46

Of course, it couldn't be an R1.

10:49

Yeah.

10:50

And majority of all of our our our spots of land in Jonesboro before the new code came out, were all fifty by a hundred, you know, and so that one that one that property got platted a ton how many years ago at at double the size of a cent, you know, it's 104 total, 105 total, but because they had to have septic tanks.

11:09

Yeah.

11:10

And now that you know we got city sewer there, I think this would be a a great candidate to put to divide it and depending on how you look at it.

11:18

You look at at my my front corners, I got 52 feet.

11:21

You look at where the house is actually gonna be, there's 55 foot, and as the as the house goes or as the lot goes bigger back, it gets it gets bigger.

11:37

I just think I go back to you know, you come to BZA when there's no other option, and just has an option that he can pursue that doesn't require us to give him a variance, he can go through the proper channels to rezone the property to still a residential property, just something that would fit his lot size, and we wouldn't have to give the variance for it.

12:03

I won't I I want the houses.

12:05

I think I think this expedite is need, if you will.

12:15

Maybe not need, but want.

12:17

How many greetings you gotta go through?

12:20

I mean just one and plenty, but then is they take that to the city council.

12:25

Three a city council.

12:26

Then three at city council.

12:28

Yes, six to eight weeks.

12:29

Yeah, compared to today, and then you can start tomorrow.

12:33

So I mean uh expediting single family homes in Jonesboro is you looked at building permits lately?

12:44

There ain't none.

12:46

Single family homes unless it's DR Horton or somebody.

12:49

Oh, I agree.

12:50

Um like I said, I want I want you to build the house, I want you to build a million houses in Jonesboro.

12:56

I just think that you know what's the square footage on these the houses or the the lot.

13:02

So each lot would be about um the houses that I'm doing roughly are about 1,500, 1450 to 1500 heated and cooled, and then there were they will have either a carport or a garage on there.

13:16

That would be very similar to the the pictures I showed you right there.

13:22

Yeah, three three bedroom, two baths.

13:26

Yes, sir.

13:35

100% brick.

13:36

100% brick.

13:37

100% and are we allowed to ask am I allowed to ask if is if this is rental or would these houses be sold as individual family?

13:51

That's are we allowed to ask that?

13:53

I know we're not in MAPC, but here at BCA, so I don't think so.

13:57

Okay.

13:58

So I didn't ask that.

14:00

I asked you is what I asked.

14:10

Mr.

14:10

Chair, I'm gonna make a motion that we place the variance request on the floor for vote.

14:15

Is there a second?

14:17

Second.

14:21

I can't vote yet.

14:22

Okay.

14:25

Yes.

14:31

No.

14:34

No.

14:37

Okay, West.

14:39

Hard way.

14:42

Appreciate your time.

14:45

Here's the houses.

14:48

Here you go.

14:49

Here's another batch of mine forget them.

14:51

Okay, any other business today?

14:54

Uh no, sir.

14:55

Okay.

14:56

A motion to be adjourned.

14:58

So moved.

14:58

Good deal.

15:00

We are adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████72%
Procedural██████████████22%
Economic Development████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Zoning Adjustments Meeting – September 16, 2025

The Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustments met on September 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM at the Municipal Center. The board considered one appeal case: a variance request from Weston Wagner for property at 1306 Charles Drive. The meeting included roll call, approval of minutes, and a public hearing on the variance. The variance was denied.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the August 2025 meeting. The agenda lists the minutes as MIN-25:078 for August 19, 2025, but the transcript references "the minutes of the 18th August meeting." Despite this discrepancy, the minutes were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Weston Wagner (Applicant): Mr. Wagner appeared to request a variance to divide a half-acre lot at 1306 Charles Drive into two lots for single-family homes. He explained that he has built multiple homes in Jonesboro and provided examples of his work. He noted that the lot had frontage of 52 feet and 52.78 feet on the two proposed parcels, falling 5-8 feet short of the 60-foot requirement for a replat. He stated that all other setbacks (side, rear, front) were met. He argued that the area originally required larger lots due to septic tanks, but city sewer now exists, reducing the need for large lots. When asked about an alternative of rezoning to a residential zoning that allows 50-foot lot widths (e.g., RS), he acknowledged that would take 6-8 weeks and preferred the variance to expedite construction.

Discussion Items

  • Variance Request (VR-25-24): The board discussed the proposed lot split and the hardship justification. Board members noted that the lot width was the only non-conforming dimension. Some members expressed concern that the hardship was self-created (dividing the lot to double investment) and that the applicant had an alternative path (rezoning) without requiring a variance. Others noted the benefit of adding two single-family homes to the area and that the lot, once divided, would meet all other requirements. The applicant emphasized the need for new housing and the speed of approval via variance versus rezoning.
  • Alternative Considered: One board member suggested that rezoning to a residential district (e.g., RS) that permits 50-foot lot widths would eliminate the need for a variance. The applicant resisted, stating the area is zoned R1 and he wanted to keep it consistent. The board did not formally explore this option further.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote and Decision: A motion was made to place the variance request on the floor for a vote. After a second, the board voted. The transcript indicates "Yes. No. No." – one vote in favor, two against. The chair then stated "Hard way," indicating the variance was denied. (Note: The vote tally is inferred; it appears the motion/request failed with 1 yes and 2 no.)
  • Next Steps: The applicant was informed he could pursue rezoning through the city council, which would take an estimated 6-8 weeks. No other business was discussed, and the meeting was adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Have a roll call, please. Dilmore? Here. Mose. Here. Miller. Bailey. Here. Here. Thank you very much. Motion to approve. There he is. Sorry, Steph. He missed, he missed the roll call, but he is here. I am here. In the flash. All right. Need a motion to approve the minutes of the 18th August meeting. Second. Second. Thank you. Okay. We got one today. Weston Wagner. 1306 Charles Drive. Sir. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I appreciate it for being the only one on the agenda today. I am here looking for a variance at 1306 Charles Drive. What I've handed you are all five properties that I've come before this board and received variances for to build single family homes. So I know you were all aware that I'm building single family homes, but I just wanted to show you what I'm actually building and the quality that I'm building for our uh city of Jonesboro here. That being said, um the lot I have is about a it is right at a half acre of lot. I am looking to divide it into two to build two single family homes. My plat, if it were divided, I am roughly if you take to the front of the house, it's about a hundred and ten foot, so I'd be about uh 110 foot in total. So if you divide that until you'd be 55 foot, so I'm about five foot short on my frontage to build uh for a replat. Is it one of them 52 wide? No. I was not reading there at the what's the width of the front edge. So if you if you can't if you count at the front at Charles Drive, it's 52 foot. One is 52, the other's 52.78. So both of them are 52 foot. If you count where the houses are, because as the lot goes back, it gets wider. I think yes, correct. And so it's a hundred and ten foot, 110.74 at the start of the houses. I just don't uh well looking at this 26.4, then you got the curve radius. Yeah, and and I've got a better one here. Curve radius. 26.43. Yes, but it's got a 52.78 down, so it's actually a little bit wider. So 78.4 relation to 78.4.

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