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Record of Proceedings

Texas County Arkansas Planning Commission Meeting - January 14, 2026

Board of Directors & Commissions — Wednesday, January 14, 2026
BodyTexarkana, Arkansas
SessionBoard of Directors & Commissions
DateWednesday, January 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:25:53

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:01

The regular meeting of the Texas County Arkansas Planning Commission is called to order.

0:06

Agendas are available on the rail.

0:09

Excuse me, so please help yourself.

0:11

We will take items as they are listed on the agenda with a few changes.

0:16

I will read each item and ask the person represented the request, come forward to the podium.

0:22

Please state your name and address and address for the recorded secretary.

0:27

Please present any information and make any comments you have about your request.

0:33

Be plan to be prepared to respond to any questions that members of the planning commission may have of you.

0:40

Thank

Unassigned speaker

0:40

you.

Speaker 1

0:41

Rol Call.

Speaker 2

0:46

Jason Depree is absent.

0:48

Dr.

0:49

Egerson

Unassigned speaker

0:50

here.

Speaker 2

0:50

Chris Owen.

0:51

Here.

0:52

I need a picket is absent for him off.

0:55

Here.

0:56

And Chairman Neal.

Speaker 1

0:58

Here.

0:59

We have four of seven, so we have a quorum and we can conduct business.

1:05

Item number two adoption of the summarized minutes

Unassigned speaker

1:09

of

Speaker 1

1:10

the December 9th 2025 minutes.

1:20

And a second to approve the December 9th minutes.

1:24

All in favor say aye.

Speaker 3

1:25

Aye.

Speaker 1

1:26

Any opposed.

1:29

Okay, as a point of privilege for the chair, I'd like to uh reverse items number three and four on the agenda just because uh uh item number three probably would take less time and we can go ahead and get that out of the way.

1:44

So any problems with the commissioners in doing that?

1:47

No.

Speaker 2

1:48

Okay,

Speaker 1

1:48

all right.

1:48

So item number three, request by VFW chapter number 4562, Tom Oenberg Post Service Officer to be name East Ninth from Locust Street to the city limits in honor of Denver Bull Randleman.

Speaker 4

2:09

Um

Unassigned speaker

2:10

just

Speaker 4

2:11

so we understand, we are not readdressing the property on East Knight Street.

2:16

This is going to be named in honor of um Denver Bull Randleman, and I'm going to turn this over to Tom because he's the expert.

Speaker 1

2:29

All

Unassigned speaker

2:29

right.

Tom Orenberg · Speaker 5Inferred

2:35

First off, um, my name is Tom Orenberg, 2523 Wood Street.

2:39

Um I have uh here Denver Bull Randleman Shadow Box that was presented to him posthumously by Frank DeAngelis, uh World War II veteran who created shadow boxes for over a thousand veterans to include most of easy company.

2:54

Um I just wanted to kind of do a little show and tell here, uh, show you guys and then put it on the chair.

2:59

If you want to look a little closer, I can definitely bring it to you guys if you're interested.

3:03

Um that picture that I gave you.

Unassigned speaker

3:13

So that

Tom Orenberg · Speaker 5Inferred

3:14

picture that I gave you is the family of Denver Randleman.

3:19

Um, just to show everybody here what I have here.

3:22

So if you look at the tallest guy, that's Bull.

3:25

And he was only 5'11, if you can believe that.

3:28

Um to the to the left is uh Max Randleman Sr.

3:32

Uh, these are all deceased, by the way.

3:36

Uh Max Radl Sr., who is a master sergeant, served in World War II and during Korea as a Green Beret as a Silver Star, Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts.

3:46

Jack was a gunny sergeant in the Marine Corps uh in World War II, Denver, of course, World War II, Dallas Jr.

3:53

World War II is the first sergeant, and Charles, a little boy that you see sitting there in the in the tie and suit.

3:59

He was in Vietnam and had several bronze star medals.

4:02

And his mother, their mother Zora, who raised all five boys on her own.

4:08

So with a little bit of background, um, I'd like to uh thank you for letting me present this to you to you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning█████████████████████████████████████37%
Community Engagement██████████████████████22%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Procedural███████7%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Housing██████6%
Historic Preservation███3%
Public Safety██2%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Texas County Arkansas Planning Commission Meeting - January 14, 2026

The Texas County Arkansas Planning Commission convened on January 14, 2026, with Chairman Neal presiding. Four of seven members formed a quorum. The meeting covered the adoption of prior minutes, a memorial street renaming, and a contested rezoning request for a planned unit development.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes of the December 9, 2025 meeting were approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

Honorary Street Naming (Item 3)

  • Tom Orenberg (VFW Post 4562) presented a request to name a section of East Ninth Street after Staff Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman of Easy Company, 101st Airborne, depicted in the miniseries Band of Brothers. No public opposition was voiced.

Rezoning Request for Duplexes (Item 4: C3 to PUD)

  • Proponents: Developer Matthew Cowert (4717 Boyd Road) and contractor Colin Kuhn (6211 Tennessee Road) advocated for the project, emphasizing a $1.3 million investment into Ward 1 and the removal of 40 loads of debris from the site. They stated a professional management company (Tri-Realty Group) would be used for strict tenant screening and maintenance.
  • Opponents: Several local residents spoke against the proposal.
    • Karen Rhodes (3500 East St) argued the PUD would change the area's rural character, create "attractive nuisance" liability issues for neighboring ponds, and potentially devalue properties.
    • Jerry Rhodes (3500 East St) called the project an "imposition of the many for the sake of the few" and voiced concerns about septic and drainage runoff.
    • Michael Giles (4500 Old Blackman Ferry) questioned the feasibility of five septic systems on five acres regarding well and groundwater safety.
    • Martin Thomas (3011 Lynn Ferry Road) raised liability and trespassing concerns for his pond property based on previous experiences with renters.
    • Linda Crawford (51 Team Country Road) expressed fear that this was the "tip of the spear" for much larger developments.
    • Terry Roberts (Ward 1 City Director) firmly opposed the plan, citing over 31 constituent calls and past problems with rental communities in the ward, including frequent needs for police, fire, and code enforcement.
    • Melvin Padgett (3620 Old Blackman Ferry) stated the development was inappropriate for the single-family neighborhood.

Discussion Items

Memorial Street Naming

  • Orenberg detailed Randleman's military service, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, and his quiet post-war life in Texarkana. Commissioners expressed full support for the honorary designation.

Rezoning Denial

  • Commissioners weighed the developer's investment goals against the residents' concerns about density, infrastructure strain, liability, and loss of rural character. Colin Kuhn addressed septic concerns by stating the State had approved the plans following percolation tests, but opposition remained strong regarding the density and type of housing. The commission found the PUD incompatible with the existing low-density residential area.

Key Outcomes

  • Street Naming: Approved (4-0). Motion by Chris Owens. The commission voted to recommend honoring Staff Sergeant Denver Bull Randleman.
  • Rezoning (Item 4): Denied (4-0). A motion to deny the rezoning of 3411 East Street carried unanimously. Commissioners Hickerson, Owens, Mobbs, and Neal voted in favor of denial. The applicant was advised they could appeal the decision to the City Board of Directors.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The regular meeting of the Texas County Arkansas Planning Commission is called to order. Agendas are available on the rail. Excuse me, so please help yourself. We will take items as they are listed on the agenda with a few changes. I will read each item and ask the person represented the request, come forward to the podium. Please state your name and address and address for the recorded secretary. Please present any information and make any comments you have about your request. Be plan to be prepared to respond to any questions that members of the planning commission may have of you. Thank you. Rol Call. Jason Depree is absent. Dr. Egerson here. Chris Owen. Here. I need a picket is absent for him off. Here. And Chairman Neal. Here. We have four of seven, so we have a quorum and we can conduct business. Item number two adoption of the summarized minutes of the December 9th 2025 minutes. And a second to approve the December 9th minutes. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed. Okay, as a point of privilege for the chair, I'd like to uh reverse items number three and four on the agenda just because uh uh item number three probably would take less time and we can go ahead and get that out of the way. So any problems with the commissioners in doing that? No. Okay, all right. So item number three, request by VFW chapter number 4562, Tom Oenberg Post Service Officer to be name East Ninth from Locust Street to the city limits in honor of Denver Bull Randleman. Um just so we understand, we are not readdressing the property on East Knight Street. This is going to be named in honor of um Denver Bull Randleman, and I'm going to turn this over to Tom because he's the expert. All right. First off, um, my name is Tom Orenberg, 2523 Wood Street. Um I have uh here Denver Bull Randleman Shadow Box that was presented to him posthumously by Frank DeAngelis, uh World War II veteran who created shadow boxes for over a thousand veterans to include most of easy company. Um I just wanted to kind of do a little show and tell here, uh, show you guys and then put it on the chair. If you want to look a little closer, I can definitely bring it to you guys if you're interested. Um that picture that I gave you. So that picture that I gave you is the family of Denver Randleman. Um, just to show everybody here what I have here.

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