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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustments Meeting - October 20, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 20, 2026

BodyJonesboro, Arkansas

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, October 20, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 47:06

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

1:09

One minute.

Speaker 2

1:51

Um, saying that's true.

1:57

So you can do it in the move.

Speaker 3

2:15

Thank you, sir.

2:16

My name's Bear Davidson.

2:18

I'm here on behalf of R Care.

2:20

Uh Justin Harris with Delta Blue, which is uh R Care's construction group is also here today as well.

2:27

Uh we submitted a request for a variance with regard to um lock coverage for what is to be a new R care um health clinic at two two one one Fowler Avenue.

2:43

This used to be the Morgan Stanley.

2:46

Uh regardless of today's outcome, our care will operate there.

2:51

Uh today's discussion just mostly has to do with what we can or can't do with with the site improvements.

2:56

So they're their intent and they've already started on the interior of the building.

3:03

So to remodel that old space as an as a health clinic.

3:07

Um but what we would like to also do is work on the exterior of the of the site.

3:12

Um, our goal would be to add a a drive-through lane for the pharmacy pickup window, as well as make some landscaping improvements.

3:22

And we submitted sheets associated with both of those um to the city for review as part of this submittal.

3:30

Uh the reason for the request for the variance this this side, as you can see, is pretty well built out.

3:35

I think it likely predates y'all's rules regarding lock coverage.

3:39

The current lock coverage is seventy-two percent.

3:43

Um, if we were to add this drive-through lane, and and it does require demolition of one space to make a turning radius, but the offset of those two is a six percent net increase in lock coverage.

3:57

Why it's important to us, we've got limited parking, especially limited ADA parking.

4:03

Uh, based on door locations and current sidewalks, adding ADA parking would be difficult.

4:09

But what this allows us to do is service some of our our cares uh elderly and and patients uh with disabilities better through their pharmacy by allowing them to pick up their meds at the window instead of having to park and then get out of the vehicle and go inside the building.

4:27

So overall, the goal here is just an improvement to accessibility.

4:33

I'll add

Speaker 1

4:34

not to interrupt, but let me interrupt.

Speaker 3

4:35

Yes,

Speaker 1

4:36

sir.

4:36

So it's just gonna be a pharmacy.

Speaker 3

4:38

No, mostly the the primary use is a health clinic.

4:40

So you go there to see.

Unassigned speaker

4:41

But the will the people that need ADA, will they have parking in order to come into building.

Speaker 3

4:48

Oh, yeah, we we meet ADA as far as the ratio of parking spaces.

4:53

Generally, if we're building a new clinic with our care, which we get to do from time to time, we generally exceed 88.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

We like to exceed just because of the use of what the requirements are.

Speaker 3

5:03

We can't do that with this site being a renovation.

5:06

So we're just trying to make it easier on those users to pick up their meds without having to go in the building.

5:12

But the primary use of the facility is a health clinic.

5:15

Um and the pharmacy is not full service like at a well, it is full service, but it's not retail like at a Walgreens.

Unassigned speaker

5:20

You can't go in there and get a Coke and a candy bar too.

Speaker 3

5:22

It's just a pharmacy.

Unassigned speaker

5:25

All

Speaker 3

5:25

right, continue.

5:26

Thank you.

5:26

Well, that's about summarizes our ask here.

5:29

I'll try to answer questions if you have some.

Speaker 1

5:31

Okay.

5:32

Well, thank you for answering mine.

5:34

Y'all have any?

Unassigned speaker

5:37

Uh

Speaker 4

5:38

a couple.

5:39

Um, Mr.

5:39

Darrell, this facility, we know what it was and what they're currently renovating it into.

5:48

Obviously, is a change of use, change of occupancy type.

5:51

So, since they're wanting to put a drive all the way around the back of the building, and out the other side, how are we how are they?

6:04

How are y'all addressing stormwater drainage, stormwater retention?

6:09

So as we change of occupancy and change of use, um to go along with you're wanting to change the density and the coverage of the lot, how are we addressing all the above?

6:26

Or have you?

Speaker 5

6:27

Kevin, good question.

6:29

Um, I have not looked at this as far as the for site plan review yet.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████69%

Healthcare Costs█████7%

Procedural█████7%

Water And Wastewater Management███5%

Public Safety███5%

Municipal Liens███4%

Budget Equity Analysis██3%

Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustments Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) convened on October 20, 2026, to deliberate on two formal variance requests and an additional fence variance. The board approved a lot coverage variance for an ARCare clinic drive-through, denied a variance for Summit Utilities to waive landscaping and sidewalk requirements, and approved a modified fence variance for a commercial property on E Nettleton Avenue.

Consent Calendar

The board approved the minutes from the September 16, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item VR-26-31: ARCare Drive-Through Variance

Bear Davidson (Davidson Engineering) and Justin Harris (Delta Blue) requested a variance for an additional 6% lot coverage (from the existing 72% to 78%) at 2211 Fowler Avenue. They explained the variance was needed to add a drive-through lane for a pharmacy at a new ARCare health clinic. Davidson stated the primary use of the facility is a health clinic and that the drive-through would improve accessibility for elderly and disabled patients.

Item VR-26-32: Summit Utilities Sidewalk & Landscaping Variance

Darrell Martin (Summit Utilities) requested a variance to eliminate a required sidewalk and reduce required landscaping (18 trees and 54 shrubs) by two-thirds. He cited that the costs were not budgeted for the current project year. Board member Mr. Gilmore immediately challenged this premise, stating the board does not grant variances based on cost or lack of budgeting. Martin offered a compromise to delay the work until 2027.

Fence Variance at 5435 E Nettleton Avenue

Paul Moss, representing the property owner, requested a variance for a solid 6-foot privacy fence extended 30 feet beyond the front building line towards the road, with the finished side facing the owner. He argued this was to block the view of a neighboring property that was unsightly and had frequent police activity.

Discussion Items

VR-26-31 (ARCare):

The board and staff discussed stormwater drainage impacts. Staff member Kevin Smith asked how the applicant would address the 20% reduction in impervious area required by code. The applicant confirmed they understood they would need to provide detention and that the variance vote was a preliminary step before completing full civil engineering drawings.
The board clarified the drive-through served the clinic's pharmacy primarily for patients. The applicant confirmed this.

VR-26-32 (Summit Utilities):

Mr. Gilmore expressed strong opposition, stating it was inappropriate for a corporation to seek a variance based on budget constraints. Staff member Daryl Smith noted the property had a recent history of a parking lot variance.
The board discussed using a temporary Certificate of Occupancy (CO) to allow Summit time to budget for the work. Staff expressed hesitation, citing past experiences where temporary COs led to indefinite delays of required improvements.
The board concluded it would vote on the variance as presented, and if denied, the requirements would be enforced by staff through the standard CO process.

Fence Variance (5435 E Nettleton Avenue):

The board expressed concern about the fence extending too far forward towards the road and blocking sight lines. The applicant offered to accept a reduced setback.
The board discussed requiring the finished side to face outward. It ultimately reached a compromise: a 15-foot setback from the power line easement and the finished side facing outward (or a shadow box design).

Key Outcomes

VR-26-31 (ARCare) – APPROVED

A motion to approve the variance as written was made and seconded.
Vote: Roll call vote: Yes (Millard, Bailey, Caples, Casey). Unanimous.
Result: The variance was granted. The applicant must now submit full civil site drawings to city engineering to address drainage requirements.

VR-26-32 (Summit Utilities) – DENIED

A motion to approve the variance as requested was made and seconded.
Vote: Roll call vote: No (Millard, Bailey, Caples, Casey). Unanimous.
Result: The variance was denied. The landscaping and sidewalk requirements must be met through the city's standard Certificate of Occupancy process.

Fence Variance (5435 E Nettleton Avenue) – APPROVED WITH STIPULATIONS

A motion to approve the variance with stipulations was made (Casey) and seconded (Kevin).
Stipulations: The fence must be set back 15 feet from the power line easement, and the finished side must face outward or a shadow box fence must be used.
Vote: Roll call vote: Yes (Millard, Bailey, Caples, Casey). Unanimous.
Result: The variance was granted with the stipulated conditions.

Meeting Transcript

One minute. Um, saying that's true. So you can do it in the move. Thank you, sir. My name's Bear Davidson. I'm here on behalf of R Care. Uh Justin Harris with Delta Blue, which is uh R Care's construction group is also here today as well. Uh we submitted a request for a variance with regard to um lock coverage for what is to be a new R care um health clinic at two two one one Fowler Avenue. This used to be the Morgan Stanley. Uh regardless of today's outcome, our care will operate there. Uh today's discussion just mostly has to do with what we can or can't do with with the site improvements. So they're their intent and they've already started on the interior of the building. So to remodel that old space as an as a health clinic. Um but what we would like to also do is work on the exterior of the of the site. Um, our goal would be to add a a drive-through lane for the pharmacy pickup window, as well as make some landscaping improvements. And we submitted sheets associated with both of those um to the city for review as part of this submittal. Uh the reason for the request for the variance this this side, as you can see, is pretty well built out. I think it likely predates y'all's rules regarding lock coverage. The current lock coverage is seventy-two percent. Um, if we were to add this drive-through lane, and and it does require demolition of one space to make a turning radius, but the offset of those two is a six percent net increase in lock coverage. Why it's important to us, we've got limited parking, especially limited ADA parking. Uh, based on door locations and current sidewalks, adding ADA parking would be difficult. But what this allows us to do is service some of our our cares uh elderly and and patients uh with disabilities better through their pharmacy by allowing them to pick up their meds at the window instead of having to park and then get out of the vehicle and go inside the building. So overall, the goal here is just an improvement to accessibility. I'll add not to interrupt, but let me interrupt. Yes, sir. So it's just gonna be a pharmacy. No, mostly the the primary use is a health clinic. So you go there to see. But the will the people that need ADA, will they have parking in order to come into building. Oh, yeah, we we meet ADA as far as the ratio of parking spaces. Generally, if we're building a new clinic with our care, which we get to do from time to time, we generally exceed 88. We like to exceed just because of the use of what the requirements are. We can't do that with this site being a renovation. So we're just trying to make it easier on those users to pick up their meds without having to go in the building. But the primary use of the facility is a health clinic. Um and the pharmacy is not full service like at a well, it is full service, but it's not retail like at a Walgreens. You can't go in there and get a Coke and a candy bar too. It's just a pharmacy. All right, continue. Thank you. Well, that's about summarizes our ask here. I'll try to answer questions if you have some. Okay. Well, thank you for answering mine. Y'all have any? Uh

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