Planned zoning district and conditional use approved to convert former church at 4900 Spradling Ave. into event center

The Fort Smith Planning Commission approved a master land-use plan amendment, a rezoning to a Planned Zoning District (PZD), and a conditional use to allow an event center to operate from the existing church building at 4900 Spradling Avenue.

Planning staff said the applicant seeks to reclassify the property from residential detached (master plan) to mixed-use residential and to rezone from multifamily medium density to a PZD to permit an event center by conditional use. The PZD project booklet limits new exterior building materials, requires monument-style signage, and shows proposed new perimeter landscaping, parking-lot screening, interior landscaping, and a six-foot wood privacy fence on the east and south sides.

Staff recommended approval and recommended conditions including limiting hours of operation to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and obtaining a temporary revocable license for landscaping along Spradling Avenue before a building permit would be issued. The commission voted to approve the master land-use amendment, the rezoning, and the conditional use; roll-call tallies in the transcript show unanimous approval for all three companion items.

Background and neighborhood engagement: Two neighborhood meetings were held (April 17 and June 25); planning staff said five neighboring property owners attended both meetings and supported the request. The applicant representatives (the Bonillas) were present at the meeting.

Next steps: The rezoning and conditional-use approvals will be forwarded to the Fort Smith Board of Directors for final action as part of the standard review process.