Texarkana planning commission approves rezoning of North Oates parcels for single‑family home

The Texarkana, Arkansas Planning Commission voted unanimously to rezone two adjoining parcels on North Oates from M1 (limited manufacturing) to R3 (low‑density residential), clearing the way for a single‑family house on the combined lot.

The commission’s action covers properties identified in the meeting record as 1612 and 1602 North Oates, a combined area described in staff documents as about 1.44 acres in Ward 3. Commissioners voted yea without recorded opposition; the chair told the applicant the item will go to the City Board at its first Monday meeting in October for final action.

The applicant, Cynthia Hawkins, told the commission the family’s longtime house burned and the parcel has historically been used for residential purposes; she said the rezoning is intended to return the site to residential use so the family can build a single‑family home of roughly 2,200 square feet. Neighbor Tiffany Willis Archie urged the commission to record objections and cited three concerns: a mailing/address discrepancy on the notice, potential loss of grandfathered residential rights if the site’s M1 designation is changed, and how frontage, sidewalks and parking will be handled along Oak Street. “We’re trying to get it back into residential so we can build a single‑family home,” Cynthia Hawkins said.

Staff confirmed water and sewer availability on Oak Street and that the applicant holds a contract to acquire the adjoining lot needed for frontage and access. Commissioners raised access and setback questions during routine staff Q&A before moving and voting to approve the rezoning.

The approval by the Planning Commission is a recommendation; the City Board will consider the item at its next scheduled meeting for a final zoning decision.