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Votes at a glance: Conway Planning Commission (Aug. 7, 2025) — rezoning, text amendments and design modifications
Summary
Planning Commission recommended approval for multiple rezoning requests and text amendments, approved several Brookhaven design modifications and deferred the contested Culture Road annexation to Sept. 4. The commission also advanced UDO text changes clarifying educational facility definitions and childcare rules.
The Conway Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 7 included multiple routine and contested items. The following is a concise list of motions and outcomes from the meeting:
- Brookhaven planned development (design modifications and street names): Street names approved (voice). Emergency all‑weather access for phases 1–2 approved (4–2); request to allow an additional 79 lots without another entrance denied (5–1); phase 3 single access approved (5–1); phase 14 single access approved (recusal noted for one commissioner). (See separate coverage.)
- Rezoning/annexation items recommended by planning commission for council action: • Parcel behind Coastal Center Shopping Mall (stormwater parcel): Planning commission recommended approval to rezone the parcel to Highway Commercial upon annexation (motion carried). Staff noted the parcel has historically served stormwater functions and is mostly in a flood zone; the parcel will be annexed and combined with the project. (First reading approved by council July 21; final reading scheduled Aug. 18.) • Conway Medical Center campus parcels: Recommended approval to annex and zone institutional upon annexation to allow additional hospital campus parking; applicant present, motion carried. • Coastal Heights / individual lot in Coastal Heights subdivision: Recommended approval to rezone to R‑1 upon annexation; motion carried.
- Culture Road annexation/rezone (109‑acre parcel): Deferred to Sept. 4 at applicant and staff request after staff identified an incorrect PIN in the hearing advertisement and following extensive public comment. Staff recommended re‑advertising and return with clarified exhibits (CP acreage and R‑2 acreage) for full public input.
- Text amendments and UDO changes: • Educational facility definition / conditional use standards (item B2): Planning commission approved Option 2 (staff preferred) to expand the definition to include adult education, therapeutic learning centers and related uses so the former Whittemore Park Middle School can host Conway Area Adult Education functions and limited childcare; motion carried. • Childcare and daycare amendments (item B3): Planning commission approved a suite of amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance intended to align local definitions with state DSS categories, ease barriers for family home childcare, and add standards for outdoor play areas, hours, proof of licensure/exemption, signage and loading. The commission approved the amendment with an explicit modification limiting the “group childcare home” zoning permission to RA, RR, and P (professional) districts and directed a clarification that proof of required licensing be submitted from the appropriate state authority. The motion included suggested fence material/height clarifications and enforcement notes. • Several administrative and procedural text amendments and a deferral request were also handled; some were deferred for subsequent meetings as noted on the agenda.
These items will now move to the city council as applicable for final readings or will return to planning commission (Culture Road) with corrected materials. Planning staff said the city is changing its process to separate annexation and zoning into two ordinances going forward—annexation will be a legislative function considered first by council and zoning will follow after planning commission review.
