Texarkana-area planning commission approves day‑care permit, digital billboard upgrade and multiple rezonings

The Texarkana Planning Commission met and unanimously approved a series of land‑use actions, including a conditional use permit for a non‑residential home daycare at 2602 East 19th, an upgrade of an existing static billboard to digital signage, rezoning and storage‑building permission for a private property owner on Big Rock Circle, and an expansion of Premier High School’s leased space, while a final plat was continued for missing test results.

At the start of the meeting Chairman Neil Anderson welcomed new member Steven Cross and the commission adopted the previous meeting’s minutes by roll call vote.

Barbara Stucky told the commission she has lived in the neighborhood for about 30 years and previously operated a daycare from the building; "it'll be approximately 20 kids," she said, and she confirmed she will pursue the required state license and site work, including drainage and electrical upgrades. Staff noted the property is zoned R3 and that a non‑resident home daycare is a conditional use under the ordinance; no public opposition was recorded. The commission voted unanimously to approve Stucky’s conditional use permit.

Representatives of Lindmark Companies asked to convert a long‑standing nonconforming billboard near Stateline and the Starbucks to a digital face. George Dodson, Lindmark’s land‑lease manager, said the company would not change the structure’s footprint and argued the sign became nonconforming only because of spacing relative to I‑30; he told commissioners the conversion would cost about $150,000 and offered the board a partnership to display Amber and Silver alerts on the sign. Dodson summarized the proposal: "all we want to do is change the delivery method... instead of a static board, it's going to be a digital board." Commissioners discussed whether the distance from the interstate should be treated as a spacing nonconformity under local code (cited by staff) and ultimately approved the upgrade by roll call.

Kimberly Jameson, represented by Stacy Grammar, requested rezoning from R1 to A1 so she can place a 24‑by‑30 building on her cleared lot to store household items ahead of constructing a new residence. Grammar said Jameson already has slab work completed and has been paying for off‑site storage pods. With no opposition present, the commission approved the rezoning and noted the item will go to the board of directors for final action in June; staff said the rezoning would be effective promptly after that approval because Jameson already incurred construction expenses.

A separate conditional‑use item for a new daycare building was effectively withdrawn after staff explained changes to Arkansas law: the commission cannot prohibit in‑home daycares operated from a residence; its remaining regulatory authority is limited to parking and traffic. Staff also reported letters of neighbor support for the operator.

Brad Schilcoat, representing Responsive Ed and Premier High School, asked to lease an additional 2,450 square feet adjacent to an existing 3,000‑square‑foot campus space for career‑education uses. He said the school will keep total enrollment capped at 150 students and will not alter drop‑off or parking; the added space is limited to an occupancy of 49 under fire code and will not be internally connected to the existing classroom. The commission approved the conditional use permit for the school expansion.

Separately, a rezoning request for 1206 Phillips — converting a parcel from M1 (limited manufacturing) to R3 (low‑density residential) so the applicants, Roger and Johnny Miller, may build a house — was approved in the applicants’ absence. Item eight, a final plat, was continued because required testing results from TWWU were not available.

Votes at a glance (roll‑call tallies recorded in the meeting): minutes adopted (unanimous); Barbara Stucky conditional use permit (unanimous); Lindmark billboard upgrade (unanimous); Kimberly Jameson rezoning for storage building (unanimous); Premier High School conditional use expansion (unanimous); Miller rezoning for 1206 Phillips (unanimous). No recorded opposition was noted in the transcript for the approved items.

The commission adjourned after a motion and second.