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Planning commission approves multiple rezonings, variances and development plans across Fort Smith; votes at a glance
Summary
On Sept. 9 the Fort Smith Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment approved a series of master land use amendments, rezonings, variances and development plans affecting properties along Highway 271 South, Prairie Drive, Towson/Wheeler and Mazard Road; most passed unanimously or near-unanimously.
The Fort Smith Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustment approved a package of land‑use actions at their Sept. 9 meeting, including master land use plan amendments, rezonings, variances, development-plan approvals and plats covering multiple corridors (Highway 271 South/Texas Road, Prairie Drive, Towson/Wheeler, Huntington Circle/Mazard Road). Most items moved with unanimous or near‑unanimous votes; several were consolidated into companion approvals (master land use + rezoning + development plan).
Highlights (motions, key conditions, vote results):
- Annexation/master land use and rezonings along Highway 271 South / Texas Road (Items 1A–1E and corresponding rezonings 2A–2E). The city proposed master land use amendments (to Mixed Use Residential or Office Research & Light Industrial) and corresponding rezonings (O‑1, I‑1 or I‑1 special) to accommodate annexation and zoning conversions for approximately 70 acres across several parcels. Staff recommended approval for each item; the commission approved each master land use amendment and each rezoning by roll-call votes, typically 8–0 in favor. Several rezoning approvals included site-specific conditions such as no vehicular access from Texas Road and screening of container storage areas where noted in staff reports.
- Variance, master land use, rezoning and development plan for 6001 Prairie Drive (Companion items: Variance 24-925, Master Land Use Amendment 14-925, Rezoning 26-925, Development Plan 17-925). The applicant sought to convert an existing 22,996-square-foot building for use as an electrical/plumbing/HVAC wholesale trade establishment in an industrial light (I‑1) zone, with limited exterior work (landscaping, repair of rear privacy fence, screened dumpster). Staff recommended approval with conditions requiring compliance with the submitted development plan; the BZA and Planning Commission approved the variance, land‑use amendment, rezoning and development plan (votes recorded as 8–0 for the variance and companion approvals).
- Variances for single-family lots on South 20 Third Street (Variance 25-925) to allow existing duplexes to be platted on smaller lots by recognizing preexisting nonconformities (setbacks and lot width/area). Staff recommended approval; the BZA approved the variances (vote recorded 7–0 in favor).
- Setback variances and replat along Towson Avenue / Wheeler Avenue (Variance 26-925) to split three parcels into two lots while recognizing existing encroachments. Staff recommended approval; the BZA approved the request (roll call: 7 in favor, 0 opposed).
- Rezoning to a Planned Zoning District (PZD) for properties on Mazard Road (Rezoning 27-925) to permit adjusted setbacks, reduced lot areas and a shared open-space tract maintained by a property-owner association; staff recommended approval and the commission voted in favor (vote recorded 7–0 in favor).
- Conditional use and development approvals for industrial/light-industrial projects on Prairie Drive (KKJ Wholesale/6006 & 6120 Prairie Drive — Variance 27-925, Master Land Use 13-925, Rezoning 20-925, Development Plan 15-925). The commission and BZA approved the companion actions to permit a new industrial wholesale building with perimeter landscaping, parking-lot screening and architectural materials largely composed of stone veneer and metal panels; votes were unanimous or near-unanimous (most recorded as 7–0).
Across the meeting the staff repeatedly conditioned approvals on construction complying with submitted development plans and noted that material changes beyond the items described in UDO §27‑3‑307 would require further planning commission review. Several items required platting or replatting as a follow-up condition.
Votes at a glance (subset of items with outcome): - Master Land Use Amendment 9-9-25 (Item 1A) — Approved (roll call recorded: 8–0 in favor). - Rezoning 21-925 / Open 1 and other Highway 271 rezonings (Items 2A–2E) — Approved (multiple roll-call votes, generally 8–0). - Variance 24-925 / 6001 Prairie Drive (variance to allow I‑1 use without arterial access) — Approved (8–0); companion Master Land Use Amendment 14-925, Rezoning 26-925 and Development Plan 17-925 approved with staff conditions. - Variance 25-925 / South 20 Third Street (setback and lot area variances) — Approved (7–0). - Variance 26-925 / Towson/Wheeler replat encroachments — Approved (7–0). - Rezoning 27-925 / Mazard Road PZD — Approved (7–0). - Conditional Use 10-9-25 / 5119 Wheeler (mental health hospital) — Approved 6–1 (recorded in separate article). - Variance & rezoning applications for KKJ Wholesale at Prairie Drive (Items 12–15) — Approved (7–0).
What to expect next: staff will follow up on required platting and ensuring development follows the approved plans; any material amendments will require new review. Several approvals were explicitly contingent on conforming to the submitted development plans and UDO requirements.
