Rezone OKd

Two acres on Klaus Lane were approved to be rezoned from agricultural to residential (R-2) at the regular Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Gary Brown requested the rezone for land he has owned for several years. He said he plans to build apartments - two buildings of three two-bedroom units.

“I’d like to put some apartments down there… some economical … clean, brick on the front. It seems like we’ve got a call for apartments right now,” Brown said. “We’ve got 10 rental units and I don’t even have to advertise.”

A resident at the end of Klaus Lane, Steve Jordan, asked about maintaining the road which is a private road during a 12-minute public hearing.

“I do understand his concern,” Brown said of Jordan’s question.

“I want to have a decent place that people want to rent and stay.”

Brown said he has no problem maintaining the road up through his property.

Planning Commission member Jerry Burton cast the lone dissenting vote to the rezone request.

In other business, planners agreed to a lot split request from Bill Patton for about 54 acres onPatton Road.

“My mother died and we split it up between six kids. I’ve got two brothers who live on the place,” Patton said.

Building o◊cial Tony Townsend said: “This is not going to be a subdivision, but it’s beyond what I could do administratively.”

The land is not in the city limits, but is within the Pea Ridge territorial jurisdiction. The request was unanimously approved.

Planners approved a home occupation request from Ryan Power for 1114 Richards Street.

Powers said his business is a pressure washing business and he does post-construction clean up.

“Most of my work is done out of my truck,” he told planners.

Planners also approved reducing the territorial boundary from five miles to one mile as required by a new state law.

“What’s the purpose of asking us to approve it since it’s already been put into law?” Zach Hoyt asked.

Townsend also told planners that “islands” surrounded by city could be annexed into the city limits.

“We need to look at that at a tech review meeting,” Burton said.

The next Planning Commission meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.