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Board clears planned zoning district for mixed‑use development at Essex Place
Summary
The board approved a master land use plan amendment and rezoning to create a Planned Zoning District at properties including 1 Essex Place; the PZD establishes three character districts and allows retirement housing, single‑family, and commercial uses.
The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted 7–0 to approve a master land use plan amendment and rezone several properties — including 1 Essex Place, 9707 Essex Place, 204300 Brooken Hill Drive and 9200 Jenny Lind Road — into a Planned Zoning District (PZD) that would allow mixed‑use development with three character districts.
Deputy Administrator Maggie Rice told the board the Planning Commission held a June 10 public hearing and unanimously recommended approval. The proposed PZD contains Character District A (retirement housing, 55+ with a maximum density the applicant stated as 114 dwelling units), Character District B (single‑family residences), and Character District C (commercial development potentially including retail, offices and a restaurant). The developer‑representative Sam Seager and additional representatives Craig Boone and Alan Deaver were present to answer questions.
Directors asked whether the project would be gated and whether any access would be allowed onto Jenny Lind Road. Rice and the applicant said the PZD as presented prohibits access onto Jenny Lind Road; the applicant said the gated access would be from Bridal Hill/Brook And Hill and that Essex and Bramblebrae access would be gated (the board noted the applicant’s statement about gates was not in the ordinance language itself). Directors also discussed sidewalk provision and noted the project booklet describes no access to Jenny Lind Road. After discussion, the board adopted the ordinance and later the emergency clause; the roll call recorded 7 in favor and 0 opposed on both measures.
Board members and the applicant said neighborhood meetings were held June 5 and June 6 and that a combined 15 neighboring property owners attended with questions about zoning, financing and a phased timeline. Director Camp asked staff to confirm whether the development gate would close off neighborhood access; the applicant and staff said that was the plan and that access would be limited per the PZD language.
The board’s vote establishes the PZD as the controlling zoning for the listed parcels; the ordinance replaces prior zoning for the properties. Staff noted the change is largely administrative to implement the mixed‑use plan and that additional site‑specific permits and plans will be required as the project advances.
