Developer seeks annexation and rezoning for 32-acre Jonesboro site; council presses for enforceable conditions

Representatives of W.P. Carey introduced a petition to annex roughly 32.65 acres at 7600 Jonesboro Road and to zone the property M‑1 (light industrial) if it becomes part of the city. Charles Stocks, head of construction and development for W.P. Carey, told council the firm has owned the site since 2002, that a current tenant (Do It Best) has a lease ending in early 2028, and that the company intends to "redevelop the property and build a modern class A facility that would create new jobs and spur economic growth within the city."

Planner and staff noted the annexation, rezoning and a subsequent conditional-use permit would be three separate steps. Staff had earlier recommended denial based on the property's current visual condition and potential strain on city services, but after recent developer meetings staff said the company presented a concept plan for significant reinvestment and indicated staff would amend its report to recommend approval with conditions. Council members repeatedly pressed for red-line, enforceable conditions — such as fencing, landscape buffering, lighting, and limits on trailer storage — and asked legal staff to research whether a reversion clause or other enforceable mechanism could be included if redevelopment commitments are not met.

Why it matters: If approved, the annexation and rezoning would extend the city's northern industrial corridor and set the stage for private redevelopment that staff says could improve a gateway corridor the city considers a priority. Council directed staff and the developer to return with clarified conditions and timing ahead of next week's public hearings.