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Commission recommends rezoning at 2748 Malvern Avenue; final decision set for April 1
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning for 2748 Malvern Avenue from R2 (suburban residential) to the new CN (Commercial Neighborhood) designation after applying the equivalency table for the code change effective March 1; applicant Jerry Young said rezoning is intended to help sell long‑held family property.
The Hot Springs City Planning Commission on March 13 voted to recommend a zoning map amendment for property at 2748 Malvern Avenue, forwarding the matter to the Board of Directors for final action on April 1.
The property owner and applicant, Jerry Young, told the commission he has owned the parcel since childhood and listed it for sale repeatedly; he said potential buyers asked whether the property could be rezoned commercial. "We've had it listed ... and the only action we had on it was people that were interested if it would be rezoned commercial," Young said during his five‑minute public presentation.
Staff told the commission the application was submitted Jan. 22, 2025, before the city’s new zoning code took effect March 1, 2025, so staff evaluated the request under the zoning rules in effect at the time of application submittal. The applicant sought a change from R2 (suburban residential) to C3 (office/neighborhood commercial) under the old code. Staff noted that the C3 name no longer exists under the new code and that the equivalency table converts former C3 districts to the new CN (Commercial Neighborhood) district; staff recommended adoption of CN to match the request's intent and to show compatibility with surrounding development.
Planning staff reported that the future land use map classifies the parcel as Residential Low; therefore a future land use plan map amendment would be required to change the designation to neighborhood commercial if the Board of Directors proceeds with ordinance action. The parcel was described in staff comments as having approximately 250 feet of frontage along Malvern Avenue (Arkansas Highway 270) and lying across the street from Pleasant Mobile Home Park. Surrounding districts include R2 to the west and south, C4 (Regional Commercial) to the north, and C3/CN to the east.
The Planning Commission voted to put the item forward with a recommendation for approval. Staff advised commissioners that the final decision rests with the Board of Directors, which will consider the item at its April 1 meeting at 6 p.m. in the same room.
Why it matters: Rezoning and any corresponding future land use map amendment would change permitted uses on the property and could facilitate commercial development along a state highway corridor. The commission’s recommendation reflects staff findings of compatibility and a zoning‑equivalency transition tied to the city’s new code.
