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Joplin City Zoning and Planning Commission approves two rezones and a preliminary plat
Summary
The commission on July 14 approved rezoning at 912 S. Sergeant Ave. to allow a duplex, approved a second duplex request at 1001 S. McKinley Ave., and granted preliminary-plat approval for the Cottage at Emerald Glades after staff and applicants described minor technical changes.
The Joplin City Zoning and Planning Commission on July 14 approved two rezoning requests and a preliminary plat, moving the items forward to the City Council on Aug. 4, 2025.
At the start of the meeting the chair opened a public hearing and outlined the commission’s procedures and the evidence the commission accepts, including the 2012 comprehensive plan and elements of the Joplin Development Code. The first case, 021-25, requested rezoning 912 South Sergeant Avenue from M-2 (heavy industrial) to R-3 (multifamily). Applicant Sam Hickey told the commission he plans “to build a duplex on the property, and oddly, it is zoned M-2, and it's a neighborhood” and said most surrounding lots are houses. Staff and commissioners discussed lot width and district compatibility; Tyler (staff) explained that “R-3 is the compatible zoning district for what's in the surrounding area” but that an R-2 designation would also permit the applicant’s requested build. Following that exchange a commissioner moved to approve the case for R-2; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The commission then considered case 022-25, at 1001 South McKinley Avenue. Hickey (representing Compass West) said the slightly larger lot would likewise be used for a duplex and noted nearby R-2 zoning. The commission moved, seconded and approved the rezoning request by voice vote.
Next, the commission reviewed a preliminary plat for the Cottage at Emerald Glades (case 023-25, 642 East Fountain Road). Lillian Bryant, representing Shubert Mitchell and identifying herself as “with OWN,” said the resubmittal creates an outlot in the northwest corner, reduces the size of lots 12 and 3 to create room for an additional detention pond to meet stormwater requirements, and makes minor adjustments to how the sewer tap will be routed. Staff noted the resubmittal is largely the same preliminary plat previously seen but that the added outlot requires commission approval. The commission approved the preliminary plat by voice vote.
Votes at a glance • Case 021-25 (912 South Sergeant Ave.): Request to rezone from M-2 to R-2 for a small duplex — motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. • Case 022-25 (1001 South McKinley Ave.): Request to rezone from R-1 to R-2 to permit a duplex — motion moved by Ms. Clou Michael, seconded by Dr. Rosenberg; approved by voice vote. • Case 023-25 (Cottage at Emerald Glades, 642 East Fountain Rd.): Preliminary plat resubmittal with addition of an outlot and detention pond — motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.
The commission recorded no public testimony in favor or opposition on the rezoning items. All three cases were scheduled to be presented to the City Council on Aug. 4, 2025. The meeting concluded after a brief preview of an upcoming historic-preservation code amendment and the commission adjourned.
