Rezoning issues arise from two commercial developments

EL DORADO — Rezoning and variance issues have arisen for two proposed commercial development projects that will be built on adjacent property on North West Avenue.

The El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission had intended to discuss Tuesday a pair of topics related to one of the projects — a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, which is planned on 4.8-acre lot in the area of North West Avenue and Maple Hill (behind McDonald’s).

However, the commission’s regular monthly meeting coincided with a special called meeting by the El Dorado City Council to address an order by Mayor Frank Hash to halt a project to build a circular driveway at a private residence in the 2000-block of East Main.

Michael Rogers, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, attended the special called meeting and was asked to weigh in on the driveway project as it pertained to the city’s zoning code.

Rogers noted then that while the project did not violate any zoning regulations, related zoning and usage issues are cropping up around town.

One such issue involves the proposed Fairfield Inn project, which calls for a four-story, 74-unit hotel on property that is split between C2 (general commercial) and R-1 (single family residential) zones.

Rogers said the planning and zoning commission needs to consider a variance to allow the entire site to be used and regulated under C-2 requirements.

“If the variance is approved, the property owner would be required to construct a minimum, eight-foot fence to serve as a visual barrier where the property adjoins residential properties,” Rogers said.

“Since the property has previously been used as commercial, it was sold under the understanding that the commercial use would continue,” he said.

Because plans call for a four-story building, the planning and zoning commission will also take a look at height regulations in C-2 zones, which call for such a review for any structures that greater than three stories or 35 feet.

Rogers said the tallest point of the hotel would be approximately 50 feet above the adjacent grade.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed project at their next regular meeting, which is scheduled for noon on May 9 in City Hall.

VA facility

By then, Rogers said he expects to have received plans for a proposed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility to be built just south of the Fairfield Inn on the site of the former County Market grocery store.

Rogers said he does not know the details about the project, which is being by SI Property Investments, based in Grove, Oklahoma, but the planning and zoning commission will face the same zoning and usage issues as the Fairfield Inn project.

He noted that SI has not yet applied for a city building permit for the VA project.

SI was awarded a federal contract to build the facility here. The bid award was contested by real estate developer Pete Dunn.

Dunn — who owns and has revitalized several commercial properties in El Dorado, including the El Dorado Federal Center and the Armstrong building, home to PJ’s Coffee, The Spot and El Dorado Creamery — said the legal matter was resolved in December.

Dunn purchased the former Warner Brown facility from the city in December 2015 with a quitclaim deed for $10.

He had submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the intent of opening a VA clinic in a portion of the old hospital complex.

The contract was for the VA clinic was ultimately awarded to SI.

Dunn said his development company, Deep Water Companies LLC, which is based in Alexandria, Virginia, pursued litigation against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dunn declined to comment on the details of the case, saying that the matter was settled in December and that SI is moving forward with the VA project at the old County Market location.

“We were able to reach a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. They will allow the facility to go forward. That’s something that the veterans need and something that was important to us in the settlement,” Dunn said.

A message left for SI Thursday were not immediately returned.

Dunn said he is working with a design team from Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects in Little Rock to develop a master plan and design for the old Warner Brown facility.

Polk Stanley Wilcox was the architectural team behind the El Dorado Conference Center.

Dunn said the old Warner Brown complex is being considered for a continuum of care facility with services for assisted/ independent living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

Work on the master plan is expected to be ongoing for the rest of the year, Dunn said.

He said is also in the process of purchasing the U.S. Social Security Administration building, 2600 W. Hillsboro, to expand Deep Water’s federal government real-estate portfolio.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@eldoradonews.com.