Commission approves rezoning and subdivision variance to allow single-family use at 721 N. Greenwood Ave.

The Fort Smith Planning Commission on April 8 voted 7-0 to approve a planned zoning district (PZD/PCD) rezoning and a subdivision variance allowing a single-family residence and driveway access on a minor arterial street at 721 North Greenwood Avenue.

City planning staff said the property owner, identified as Ms. Ortega, purchased the building intending to use the structure as a single-family residence and discovered the site was zoned C-2 (commercial light). The proposed planned zoning district would explicitly allow single-family use while preserving limited commercial uses listed in the land-use chart to maintain the corridor’s commercial character for future development.

Staff noted the proposed PCD would require higher-quality materials on all facades (100% high-quality materials) and that a neighborhood meeting on March 31 drew no neighboring property owners. For the subdivision variance, staff determined that the driveway complies with minimum separation requirements and provides sufficient on-site maneuvering space, and that Section 27.5032(e) of the UDO allows single-family access on classified streets under certain conditions. Staff recommended approval of both requests, with the variance approval contingent on the rezoning decision.

The commission first voted to approve the rezoning (vote recorded 7-0) and then voted 7-0 to approve the subdivision variance. Staff also said it would propose a future UDO amendment to include the minor arterial in the list of classified streets that may grant access to single-family and duplex structures.