Planning commission denies conditional-use request for tow/storage yard at 5500 Stadium Boulevard

The Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on Tuesday denied a conditional-use request to allow a tow-and-storage yard on a 6.5-acre property at 5500 Stadium Boulevard.

The commission’s decision followed a presentation by applicant Jim Heatherly and representative Russ Fletcher, who said the site would be a secured holding yard for vehicles towed to the facility and that the operator, Neets Towing (proprietor Melissa Higginbotham), intends to keep most vehicles on site 30 days or fewer. “It’s basically just a holding yard only,” Fletcher said, adding that vehicles are held for insurance or law-enforcement reasons and that the site is locked when not in use.

The commission’s planning staff recommended approval with multiple conditions, including that the site obtain all required permits and inspections, meet overlay-district standards, install screening so vehicles are not visible from the public right of way, prohibit vehicle stacking, and limit vehicle storage to 30 days without approval. Planning staff summarized the recommended conditions for the record.

Chair Dennis Olpher and other commissioners pressed applicants and staff on enforcement and existing conditions at the site and nearby yards. Commissioner Monroe noted that vehicles currently on the site appeared to have been stored for “months,” and asked what would happen to those vehicles; Heatherly and Fletcher said some are held at longer intervals for police or insurance reasons and that Neets maintains records at a nearby office. Planning staff and commissioners discussed that towing companies are inspected and regulated by state authorities and that the 30‑day standard is tied to those reporting and holding practices.

Commissioners also discussed the visual impact of stored vehicles when entering Jonesboro. Commissioner Nelson said he did not want to “clearly see” vehicles from the road; commissioners and staff agreed that existing chain-link fencing with netting would not meet the recommended screening condition because vehicles remain visible and that the required screening could be wood or metal panels that block views from the right of way.

During deliberations the commission considered and adopted an amendment to the staff conditions specifying that “No vehicle can stay on the property longer than 30 days without being moved or an approval from code enforcement.” The motion to approve the conditional-use permit with the amended conditions was moved and seconded, but, after members cast their votes, the chair announced that the conditional-use request had been denied.

Planning staff told the applicants the decision may be appealed to the City Council within 30 days, and staff offered to provide next-step guidance.

The denial leaves the property in its current zoning status; commissioners noted that other similar yards in the area are preexisting uses that would be subject to code if their use changes.