Joplin Zoning and Planning Commission Meeting - December 8, 2025
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Joplin Zoning and Planning Commission Meeting - December 8, 2025
The Joplin Zoning and Planning Commission met on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 10:15 AM to consider five zoning and annexation cases. All seven commissioners were present. The meeting began with approval of previous minutes and concluded with unanimous approval of all cases. Cases will be presented to the City Council on January 5, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against any case.
Discussion Items
- Case 039-25 – Rezone from M2 (Heavy Industrial) to R2 (Two-Family Residential) at 1531 South Iowa Avenue: Heath Lanning (426 Westbur Road, Carthage) represented the request, stating that financing required rezoning due to rebuild restrictions. No questions or opposition. Commission approved.
- Case 041-25 – Voluntary Annexation at 4549 South Highway 43: Derek Lee (1200 East Woodhurst, Springfield, MO) represented the owner, explaining the need to annex a portion of property containing a gas station with non-conforming use. Commission inquired about underground tanks; Lee stated they would be inspected during construction. No opposition. Commission approved.
- Case 040-25 – Rezone from R1 (Single-Family Residential) to C3 (Commercial) at 4949 South Highway 43: Derek Lee again represented, noting that a portion of the existing gas station is zoned R1 (non-conforming) and needed C3 zoning for the new station. No questions or opposition. Commission approved.
- Case 042-25 – Rezone from M2 (Heavy Industrial) to C3 (Commercial) near Southeast 20th and South Geneva Avenue: A representative for Prospect Village (unnamed) presented the request. Commission asked about access points: access off Geneva, 20th, and Davis streets. Commissioners expressed excitement, calling it "a good thing for Joplin" and "an amazing project." No opposition. Commission approved.
- Case 035-25 – Rezone from C1 (Neighborhood Commercial) to R1 (Single-Family Residential) at the northeast corner of West 20th Street and South Empire Avenue: A representative described a planned three-bedroom, two-bath house for sale (not rental or Airbnb). No questions or opposition. Commission approved.
Key Outcomes
- All five cases were approved unanimously: case 039-25 (motion by Dr. Rosenberg, second by Ms. Harrington), case 041-25 (motion by Mr. Spruce, second by Ms. Warren), case 040-25 (motion by Ms. Harrington, second by Ms. Clue Michael), case 042-25 (motion by Mr. Spruce, second by Ms. Harrington), case 035-25 (motion by Ms. Clue Michael, second by Ms. Phillips).
- The meeting adjourned unanimously after a motion by Ms. Harrington, second by Ms. Warren.
- All cases will be presented to the City Council on January 5, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
We'll call to order the Monday, December 8th, 2025 Zoning and Planning Commission meeting. Would you please call order? Or uh please call roll. Ms. Clue Michael. Present. Dr. Rosenberg. Present. Ms. Phillips. Present. Mr. Kimball. Present. Ms. Warren. Present. Mr. Spruce. Present. Ms. Harrington. Present. Do we have a motion from the Commission to uh to accept into the record our minutes from the previous meeting? Move the minutes to be approved. That is a motion from Dr. Rosenberg. Do we have a second? I'll second. Second from Ms. Clue Michael. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. These are our public hearing procedures. It is requested that persons wishing to testify before the zoning and planning commission. Please follow these rules. State your name and address clearly for the record. Please give your testimony as briefly and completely as possible. Please do not repeat any testimony that has been given previously. We want you to state your facts, but limit your information to only new information. Everyone is invited to speak. However, if you have a spokesperson, please allow him or her to speak. When the public hearing is closed by the chair, no additional testimony is allowed except when invited by the board. Remember, this is a public hearing, and all sides have the right to give testimony or state one side of any issue. The zoning and planning commission of the city of Joplin through this introduction accepts into evidence the 2012 comprehensive plan, the development code of the city of Joplin being appendix 29A of the Joplin Municipal Code, resources, guides, industry standards of the City of Joplin, complete street design guide, walkable neighborhood design guidelines, applied approved tree list, historic preservation regulations, floodplain regulations, and the wireless telecommunications facilities citing regulations being appendices A, B, C, D, E, and F of the Joplin Development Code. The written recommendation of the city staff and all other written evidence presented at today's hearing.
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