Planning board approves Tractor Supply’s request for 12-foot display fence

The Jonesboro Planning Board voted to grant a variance allowing Tractor Supply to install a 12-foot outdoor display fence at its proposed new location behind the Subway restaurant. Jake Butler, a developer with Corolla Capital representing Tractor Supply, told the board the company uses a fenced outdoor display area at its stores and that its permanent racks can reach 12 feet, which creates a theft risk if the fence is limited to the standard height.

"Tractor Supply has what they call a fenced outdoor display area which at this site is gonna be the area behind the Subway," Butler said, explaining that "their racks...go up to 12 feet tall" and that a taller fence with screening would help prevent theft. Board members asked about historical precedent for a 12-foot fence; one member said, "I don't think we've ever done a 12 foot fence variance ever," but staff noted similar retail properties have comparable fencing built before the ordinance.

The board recorded no neighborhood opposition during the hearing. After seeing the sample black vinyl mesh proposed for screening and hearing that the fenced area would be tucked behind other buildings, a member moved to grant the variance and the board approved the motion in a roll-call vote. The board directed staff to include the submitted screening detail in the approved plan and to document the condition in the permit file.

The decision followed three related requests from the Tractor Supply proposal; the board handled the fence-height variance separately from the side-setback and cross-access requests. The applicant may proceed with building permits subject to the approved variance and any standard permitting requirements.