OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro Planning Commission Meeting - July 14, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, July 14, 2026
BodyJonesboro, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, July 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:48

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, everyone.

0:01

Welcome to the City of Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission meeting for Tuesday, July 14th, 2026.

0:08

I'll open up for a roll call.

0:10

Are you ready?

0:26

Okay, got a quorum.

0:28

First item we'll discuss is the minutes from the June 23rd meeting.

0:32

Are there any changes to be made?

0:36

Or I'll entertain a motion for approval.

0:38

And is Oprah make a motion to approve the minutes as presented?

0:41

Mr.

0:42

Chair.

0:42

Yes, sir.

0:45

That's what I was about to do.

0:46

Last month.

0:51

That was for the meeting before.

0:54

No.

0:59

Meeting before we just got approved.

1:01

It was a minutes from the meeting before you have so we'll have to do that at the next.

1:09

So anybody want to second these?

1:12

No.

1:13

Okay.

1:14

All those in favor say aye.

1:16

Anyone opposed?

1:18

The minutes will carry.

1:20

First item we have tonight is a preliminary subdivision.

1:22

This is Southern Oaks phase two preliminary plat.

1:26

So have the proponent for this item.

1:34

Carol Caldwell.

1:37

So I guess that's on the screen what I'm wanting to do.

1:45

I'm wanting to uh rezon the lot one to commercial.

1:48

Right now it's on residential, but it joins commercial to the left.

1:51

I'm building a group grocery store right next to it.

1:54

Across the street, it's commercial.

1:56

So it's uh and this may be the only thing I ever did in 50 years that I didn't have opposition.

2:04

So this part's just for the plat approval though for what you're about to ask for the rezoning, correct?

2:09

Yes.

2:10

This is just for the plat for what you're about to ask rezoning for in a few minutes.

2:13

That is correct.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

City planner, you have comments on this?

2:17

Uh yes, sir.

2:18

We reviewed it.

2:18

It meets all the requirements of the subdivision code, so we wouldn't recommend approval.

2:23

Okay, commissioners have questions or comments about the platform.

2:28

I'll entertain a motion.

2:34

Here a second.

2:36

Have a motion and a second.

2:37

You ready for vote?

2:38

You would cast your ballot, cast your vote.

2:52

Your plot was approved.

2:55

So now we move on to the rezoning of the same property.

2:58

So I got it backwards.

3:00

I should have started with the code of sacking.

3:01

That's all right.

3:02

That's residential.

3:03

All right, then the closer part is what I just said a minute ago.

3:06

So this is for a rezoning request for the property from R1 to C3 limited use overlay at 1400 Southern Ridge.

3:12

Is that correct?

3:13

Correct.

3:13

Any other comments to add to that?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Procedural█████████████████20%
Public Engagement███████████████18%
Affordable Housing███████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Meeting – July 14, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 11:30 AM with a quorum present. The commission considered a preliminary plat, a rezoning request, and a site plan for apartment development. Several residents provided public comments expressing concerns about lighting, traffic, privacy, and property values. The commission approved all three items and announced upcoming housing study meetings.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes from the June 23, 2026 meeting were approved by voice vote without opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Vanita (resident of Southern Oaks): Expressed concern about potential lighting from the commercial development affecting her home, which is the first house in the subdivision. She also asked about traffic on Jackson Drive and the safety of young families. She stated she was not opposed to growth but wanted clarity on the planned use.
  • Henry Pueya (resident): Raised concerns about fencing and construction height, the impact of construction traffic on daily life, and potential effects on property values for homes adjacent to the commercial lot.

Discussion Items

  • Southern Oaks Phase 2 – Preliminary Plat: Carol Caldwell, the proponent, presented the plat for a subdivision. City planner staff confirmed it meets subdivision code requirements and recommended approval. The commission approved the plat.
  • Rezoning of 1400 Southern Ridge from R1 to C3 with Limited Use Overlay: Carol Caldwell requested the rezoning to align with commercial zoning on the south side of Southern Ridge Boulevard. Staff recommended approval with stipulations (compliance with city engineer, stormwater, floodplain, site plan review, and future planning department approval). The limited use overlay restricts uses to a list including animal care, assisted living, bank, church, daycare, government service, library, medical service, nursing home, office, parking, recreation, pharmacy, restaurant (no fast food), and retail/general service. During public comment, Vanita and Henry Pueya voiced concerns, and Carol Caldwell noted a 30-foot buffer, detention improvements, and screening would be provided. The commission approved the rezoning.
  • Citadel Minor Phase 1 – Site Plan: Carlos Wood, engineer for the developer, presented a site plan for six apartment buildings (R3 zoning) on a former trailer park site. Staff noted no comments but brought the plan to MAPC due to the number of units. The commission approved the site plan.
  • Announcements: Commissioners informed of a housing study meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from noon to 1:30 PM via Zoom (part of the comprehensive plan update) and a steering committee meeting on Wednesday, July 15, also at noon.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Minutes from June 23, 2026.
  • Approved: Southern Oaks Phase 2 preliminary plat.
  • Approved: Rezoning of 1400 Southern Ridge from R1 to C3 with limited use overlay, subject to staff stipulations.
  • Approved: Citadel Minor Phase 1 site plan.
  • Next Steps: The rezoning request must be placed on the Jonesboro City Council agenda before Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the City of Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission meeting for Tuesday, July 14th, 2026. I'll open up for a roll call. Are you ready? Okay, got a quorum. First item we'll discuss is the minutes from the June 23rd meeting. Are there any changes to be made? Or I'll entertain a motion for approval. And is Oprah make a motion to approve the minutes as presented? Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. That's what I was about to do. Last month. That was for the meeting before. No. Meeting before we just got approved. It was a minutes from the meeting before you have so we'll have to do that at the next. So anybody want to second these? No. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Anyone opposed? The minutes will carry. First item we have tonight is a preliminary subdivision. This is Southern Oaks phase two preliminary plat. So have the proponent for this item. Carol Caldwell. So I guess that's on the screen what I'm wanting to do. I'm wanting to uh rezon the lot one to commercial. Right now it's on residential, but it joins commercial to the left. I'm building a group grocery store right next to it. Across the street, it's commercial. So it's uh and this may be the only thing I ever did in 50 years that I didn't have opposition. So this part's just for the plat approval though for what you're about to ask for the rezoning, correct? Yes. This is just for the plat for what you're about to ask rezoning for in a few minutes. That is correct. Okay. City planner, you have comments on this? Uh yes, sir. We reviewed it. It meets all the requirements of the subdivision code, so we wouldn't recommend approval. Okay, commissioners have questions or comments about the platform. I'll entertain a motion. Here a second. Have a motion and a second. You ready for vote? You would cast your ballot, cast your vote. Your plot was approved.

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