Olive Branch aldermen approve rezoning for Acree Farms subdivision, preliminary plat approved; final plat tabled

The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen voted to rezone two parcels totaling about 28.58 acres from AR (Agricultural Residential) to R‑01 (single‑family residential) and approved a preliminary plat for the proposed Acree Farms subdivision, which would create 71 single‑family lots and two common open spaces.

The rezoning and preliminary plat were the product of months of revisions and neighborhood meetings; planning staff and the developer agreed to conditions addressing lot sizes, house design, buffers and traffic mitigation before the board’s votes. Alderman Hamilton moved to follow the planning commission’s recommendation to rezone the property; Alderman Collins seconded the motion, and the board voted in favor.

Dr. Song, acting as the planning staff presenter, told the board the two parcels are vacant and sit north of Hamilton Place and west of Ivy Trail. He said the city’s comprehensive plan designates the area as “suburban neighborhood” and that the proposed lot sizes align with that designation.

“The future land use map in the comprehensive plan designates these two parcels … as suburban neighborhood,” Dr. Song said during the staff presentation, explaining the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation for the rezoning.

The preliminary plat shown to the board divides roughly 25.59 acres into 71 single‑family lots with minimum lot sizes around 12,500 square feet (the smallest lot shown is about 12,504 square feet), minimum lot frontage…