Jonesboro planning commission denies 118,592-sq.-ft. Elmhurst Drive self-storage site plan after design and parking concerns

The Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on July 22 denied a site-plan application for a proposed 118,592-square-foot self-storage complex on Elmhurst Drive in the C3 General Commercial District.

Davidson Engineering presented the application on behalf of the developer. Bear Davidson told the commission revised renderings were submitted the day of the meeting to address earlier comments, including removing overhead doors from the east and north facades that face public rights-of-way. "We submitted today revised renderings... where there are no overhead doors on that, east or north facing exterior walls," Davidson said.

Commissioners repeatedly said their earlier conditional-use approval, granted Feb. 11, 2025, envisioned a facility with a retail frontage or "big-box" retail look with limited exterior doors and interior loading. One commissioner said they had voted for conditional use but that the submitted elevations did not match their expectations.

Concerns at the hearing included the number and placement of parking spaces close to exterior walls, the lack of protective curbing immediately around the building, and the potential for vehicles to dent the metal panels on exterior walls. City staff and the applicant said the design includes curb and gutter along the site perimeter and a raised six-inch sidewalk at the leasing front; the interior entries were left flush to allow customers to use dollies and move furniture. The applicant said bollards would be used at corners and doorways where exposed.

At least one commissioner proposed approving the site plan with an amendment requiring a photorealistic rendering submitted with the application. The meeting transcript records confusion over whether the commission voted on the amendment to the motion or on the main motion; after discussion of procedure and multiple votes, the commission declared the site plan "denied for tonight."

Why it matters: the facility would be larger than 75,000 square feet, which the planner noted triggered MAPC site-plan review rather than a staff-level approval. Conditional use for this site was previously granted on Feb. 11, 2025; denial of the site plan means the developer cannot proceed with the presented site configuration without returning to the commission or revising the plan.

Project details cited at the hearing: building size 118,592 square feet; zoning C3 General Commercial District; proposed landscaping along the north property line of nine columnar sweet gums, 48 Sky Pencil hollies, three red maples and 15 boxwoods; conditional-use approval date of Feb. 11, 2025.

Action taken: the commission voted to deny the site plan for the Elmhurst Drive storage facility. The transcript shows procedural disagreement about whether commissioners had voted on an amendment to attach a photograph to the application and includes a statement that minutes will reflect what Commissioner Zolper said initially.