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Planning commission approves Bailey Heights subdivision variance and preliminary plat
Summary
The commission approved a variance allowing pay‑in‑lieu of roughly 770 feet of sidewalk and unanimously passed the 34‑lot Bailey Heights preliminary plat after staff explained a shallow transmission main limited sidewalk construction.
The Fort Smith Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 13 to grant a subdivision variance that allows the developer of the proposed Bailey Heights addition to omit about 770 linear feet of public sidewalk along South S Street and to pay into the city’s sidewalk fund instead. The commission also approved the preliminary plat for the 34‑lot single‑family subdivision.
Staff presented the variance request as an agent application from Hawkins Weir Engineers on behalf of the Fort Smith Housing Authority, saying construction would conflict with an active 24‑inch transmission main that currently has less than the city’s required 30 inches of cover. “There are places where today there’s less than 24 inches of cover over this water main and the minimum coverage required by normal city enforcement standards is 30 inches,” staff said during the presentation. Staff noted alternatives such as a cross‑access easement and an internal 16‑foot shared access drive that would provide pedestrian connectivity within the subdivision.
Blake Peacock, the engineer identified as the applicant’s agent, was present to answer technical questions. Staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat with standard conditions including compliance with franchise and utility easements, final‑plat requirements, recorded shared‑access and maintenance provisions, and submittal of construction plans prior to issuance of building permits. The commission voted 9–0 to approve the variance and then voted 9–0 to approve the preliminary plat.
The approvals are subject to the listed conditions; the actions are final unless appealed to the City Board of Directors, which will review rezonings and related matters on Feb. 3, 2026.
