Prairie Grove Planning Commission approves rezoning, conditional uses and subdivision concept

The Prairie Grove Planning Commission met Jan. 8 and approved a slate of land‑use actions, including a rezoning for a portion of 400 South Mock Street, multiple conditional‑use permits and concept approval for the Fairway Oak subdivision with a variance for an extended dead‑end street.

The meeting opened with routine business: the commission approved the Dec. 4, 2025 minutes after a motion; one commissioner opposed during that vote. The commission then denied a previously tabled conditional‑use request for a mixed‑use residence at 106 North Pitman Street after finding the applicant had moved and was not present to pursue the request.

Among the approvals, the commission granted a conditional‑use permit to operate a dog‑grooming business at 3714 East Heritage Parkway by applicant Dwayne Howard. Howard said the shop would operate weekdays roughly 8 a.m.–5 p.m., would usually have two staff on site at a time and that animals would be contained indoors; commissioners asked about parking and access and then approved the permit.

The commission also approved a rezoning request by RF LLC (Paul Reagan) to change the north portion of 400 South Mock Street from R1 to neighborhood mixed‑use to allow multifamily or merchant uses. Commissioners discussed nearby land uses and potential future parking to serve adjacent ball fields before moving and approving the rezoning.

A conditional‑use permit to store empty roll‑off dumpsters at 710 South March Street by Roger Hurst was approved with conditions: the commission required privacy screening (to be installed on the north and west sides of the dumpster storage area) and a dust‑free storage surface (asphalt or concrete) to address proximity to neighboring homes and truck traffic.

The commission approved a conditional‑use permit to operate a small martial‑arts academy inside the Church of God at 304 West Cleveland Street (applicant Milin Bird). Bird told commissioners the program expects about 20 participants and would meet twice weekly in the early evening; the commission treated the use as a small gym and approved it.

Finally, the commission granted concept approval for the Fairway Oak subdivision and a variance to allow a dead‑end street longer than the code 660‑foot limit by adding a mid‑street turnaround; staff and fire officials reported the proposed turnarounds could accommodate service and emergency vehicles. Commissioners discussed trash‑truck turning radii and access before approving the concept plan.

No formal action was taken on a staff discussion about the old candy‑factory building; staff recommended leaving the facility in its current R1 zoning and allowing the existing nonconforming use to continue rather than rezoning it to manufacturing, which could permit more intensive future uses.

The commission adjourned after closing business. Several approved items require applicants to obtain the city permit(s) and meet the stated conditions before operations commence.