Planning commission and zoning board approve two variances and three tree-removal permits

The Board of Zoning Adjustment voted to approve a pair of zoning variances and three separate tree-removal requests during a joint meeting with the Eureka Springs Planning Commission.

The board approved a variance at 38 Mountain Street to allow a two-car garage to be built within the side setback, following an applicant presentation that said the structure would respect nearby sight lines. Commissioners noted that 14 notices were mailed to neighbors and no objections were recorded. A second variance at 3091 East Van Buren also won approval; owner Zachary Weber said he planned to reuse an existing foundation located roughly 5 feet 5 inches from the property line, and commissioners added a condition that a licensed engineer verify the foundation’s structural soundness before building proceeds.

The board granted three tree-removal permits: a single large oak at 7 East Mountain removed because of root rot and risk of catastrophic failure; removal of four trees at 61 Peerless where several were growing into utility lines and one encroached on a roof; and a large, limited clearing on a roughly 40-acre parcel (Parcel 925) that flagged about 100 trees but where applicants said roughly 50 removals would be tied to a driveway and site access. Site planner David Clark of Axie Site Planning and Services described utility easement work and the need to bury primary electric for the long driveway.

The meeting recorded voice votes for each item; no roll-call tallies were given. Commissioners discussed utility coordination (including vegetation-management practices by local utilities) and asked staff to confirm engineering checks where foundations or public safety risks were cited.

The commission adjourned the Board of Zoning Adjustment portion and resumed planning-commission business.