Planning board approves three minor replats, postpones two public hearings after notification and quorum issues

The Washington County Planning Board approved three replat requests and announced postponements for two public hearings at its March 27, 2025 meeting.

The board approved the following minor plats and replat requests by voice vote: a lot-line adjustment for Lots 7 and 8 in the Country View Subdivision Phase 1 (Town Planning Area), a split of Lot 9 in Black Oak Addition into two lots, and an adjustment of Lots C1 and C2 in the Stevens Minor Subdivision. Planning staff said there were no outstanding neighbor complaints for the Black Oak and Stevens replats and only one comment on the Country View adjustment. All three replat motions passed on a voice vote; board members present voted in favor.

At the start of the meeting staff announced that two scheduled public hearings would not be heard because the required newspaper notifications had not been completed. Staff said notices for the Eagle Crest recovery conditional-use permit and a separate zoning public hearing would be reissued in the paper and on the planning department website and that the hearings would be rescheduled; staff suggested a special meeting likely on April 10, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m. to hear those items. The chairman also said the Zoning Board of Adjustments would not convene because only four members were present, and therefore the Magnolia Acres variance request and an adjoining Magnolia Acres Subdivision Phase 1 matter would not be heard.

Rhonda Scott addressed the board during the Country View replat item and said the proposed adjustment would create a third pasture and a second barn to support horses on her property; the board approved her replat request. Darryl Doyle, the surveyor and applicant representative for the Black Oak split, confirmed the two resulting residential lots would be larger than two acres each; that replat was approved. For the Stevens Minor Subdivision lot-line correction, staff said the adjustment was requested to meet Arkansas Department of Health septic-location requirements; the board approved that correction.

The board chair asked staff to ensure public-notification lists are updated and to post the latest ordinance on the county website; staff confirmed the current ordinance is already posted and would not change before the anticipated special meeting. The board adjourned after approving the replats and scheduling follow-up notices for the postponed hearings.