Jonesboro Planners Vote No On Rezoning Request

A proposed rezoning request for a seven acre plot of land in south Jonesboro drew supporters and opponents Tuesday night to the Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission meeting.

When the dust settled, the commission denied the request.

The commission voted 5-2 against the proposal of Duyen Tran to rezone 7.26 acres in the 3200 block of Colony Drive from R-1 Single Family to RM-6 Residential Multi-Family Zoning District.

Tran’s attorney, Don Parker of Jonesboro, said Tran wanted to put 40 single-level apartments on the property.

Parker said the complex would be a gated community, with security cameras; a buffer area from nearby neighbors; have a landscaped area with a greenway, along with a fitness center.

Parker also said Tran began looking at ways to develop the property and found out the land was not conducive to single family homes. However, the land was conducive for multi-family, commercial or industrial projects.

POINT/COUNTERPOINT
At least 30 people showed up in opposition to the proposal.

Several cited concerns with flooding, traffic, a nearby railroad, a similar proposal failing with MAPC and the Jonesboro City Council in May 2011 and safety concerns as reasons for their opposition.

Doug Ward of Jonesboro, who lives in the area, said the development has been an idea brought up by different people over the past two decades.

“I have lived on Colony since 1992 …. This is the fourth time the area has been rezoned. All have been rejected by the city,” Ward said. “And this is the second time from the current person doing this.”

Ward said he was concerned over the number of school buses traveling in the area as well as safety at a nearby railroad crossing.

Ward said flooding in 2013 caused problems throughout the neighborhood, even after work was done to stem the flooding issue.

Parker countered that a detention pond, to be built on the northeast side of the property could be expanded, and would help avoid some if not all of the flooding concerns in the area.

City planning official Otis Spriggs said a 2011 report from the previous proposal showed concerns over traffic and flooding. Spriggs noted that the city has worked in the area to make some improvements on the channels on the flooding issue.

Ward also said the development could curtail any type of infrastructure growth in the future.

“It is probably the busiest railroad in Jonesboro. And you would prohibited from having an overpass due to the ingress and egress in the area,” Ward said. “Also, there are two buildings (under the proposal) to be built near the railroad … No one will rent those.”

VOTE
Voting against the proposal were commission members Paul Hoelscher, Brant Perkins, Jimmy Cooper, Jerry Reece and Kevin Bailey.

Voting for the proposal were commission members Ron Kelton and Jim Scurlock. Commissioner Kim Schrantz was absent, while commission chairman Lonnie Roberts did not vote.

Typically, Roberts does not vote unless to break a tie.

Parker said after the meeting that Tran is considering his options at this point.

Tran has until May 14 to appeal the commission’s decision to the Jonesboro City Council.