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Planning commission denies conditional-use request for tow and repair yard at 5500 Stadium Boulevard
Summary
The City of Jonesboro Planning Commission voted to deny a conditional-use permit for a tow-and-repair business at 5500 Stadium Boulevard after citing screening and long-term storage concerns; the applicant may appeal to the City Council.
The City of Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on March 25 denied a conditional-use request from Jim Healy to operate a towing and repair yard at 5500 Stadium Boulevard.
Healy’s request covered about 6.5 acres in the I-2 (General Industrial) district. City planning staff recommended approval with conditions, including landscaping and screening measures consistent with state highway department (RDOT) screening standards and the city’s overlay district, and noted that “upon issuance of conditional use approval, all other required local and statewide permits and inspections must be applied for and obtained.”
Commissioners questioned several aspects of the proposal, focusing primarily on screening and the potential for vehicles to be stored on the property for extended periods. The commission discussed RDOT’s screening specifications, which staff summarized as calling for permanent materials capable of remaining erect for at least 10 years, fencing tall enough to screen junk cars from view of the highway, maintenance obligations (repairs within 30 days if damaged), and that open spaces in non-solid fencing be small enough to screen junk materials. Staff also said RDOT allows evergreen plantings along a fence line as an alternative.
During the public discussion, the applicant described the business as a towing service (not a salvage yard) and gave varying answers when asked how long vehicles would remain on site; at one point the applicant said vehicles might be stored “indefinitely at times,” later suggesting a shorter duration. Commissioners noted that state RDOT rules allow a salvage designation when vehicles are stored beyond a certain number of days, but the transcript does not record a definitive storage limit from RDOT in the hearing.
A motion to grant the conditional-use request was made and seconded (Commissioner Bailey seconded). The commission voted; the chair announced a result as “35 to 5 to 0” and then stated, “The motion has failed. 5 to 0.” The transcript records a failure of the motion and indicates the applicant may appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council. The planner advised the applicant to “get with the city clerk” to file an appeal to request placement on the City Council agenda.
The transcript indicates the commission’s primary concerns were the sufficiency of screening along the highway and uncertainty about how long vehicles would be kept on the property. Commissioners discussed possible conditions—time limits for vehicle storage, fencing materials, hours of operation, and periodic reevaluation—but did not adopt additional conditions; instead the commission voted to deny the conditional use at the meeting.
