El Salvadorian notary opens doors at Rogers location

ROGERS — El Salvadorians in Northwest Arkansas now have a central place to bring legal concerns.

The Planning Commission approved a request by Alicia Rodriguez to rezone 704 N. Dixieland Road from residential duplex and patio home to residential office. Rodriguez said the residence would function as a meeting place for a notary business she owns with her father, Raul Rodriguez.

The purpose of business “is to help out the community, those from El Salvador, to do legal matters,” Alicia Rodriguez said. “It’s like a law office, but we don’t do anything with U.S. laws, mainly El Salvador laws.”

Rodriguez said the notary primarily would function to assist people interested in buying property in El Salvador, which requires an attorney, as well as those who were married in El Salvador and divorced in the U.S. The Rodriguezes’ service allows for those legal actions to be recognized by both countries, which have different requirements by law.

Raul Rodriguez has owned the business for 14 years, and daughter Alicia joined him in the practice. Prior to using the Dixieland location, Alicia Rodriguez said they met clients off site at public locations. The pair expect to do business by appointment only and see a maximum of five clients weekly.

Commissioners questioned what other residences or establishments surround the notary site to determine whether the rezoning would fit the environment.

“We have a day care to our right, Farmers and All State [insurers], First National Bank, they’re all pretty much businesses,” Alicia Rodriguez said. “There are other houses that are zoned residential office.”

Commission chairman Don Spann agreed plenty of other residential office space exists close by.

Commission vice chairman Kevin Jensen noted the surrounding businesses would bring far more traffic than the notary would and suggested the commission recommend it to City Council.

In preparation for clients, the Rodriguezes created a wider driveway with a few parking spaces.

The commission on Tuesday also approved:

■ A preliminary plat for Chandler Run, a 96-lot subdivision in the residential single family zone and The Grove phase II planned unit development on South Dixieland Road, south of Laurel Avenue.

■ New Life Detail’s request for a permit allowing vehicle washing and auto detail at 2501 N. Fourth St. in the highway commercial district. New Life will have only one employee and service about one or two vehicles Monday through Saturday.

■ A request by At Home LLC to rezone 20 acres between South 26th and South 27th streets from agricultural to highway commercial. Commissioners said the zoning was “a long time coming” and fits the area well.

■ A lot split of a 3.84-acres on Blue Hill Road by Ed Smith for Blue Hill Investments. The property is in the Growth Planning Area east of Rogers.

■ A development project for The Blake at Rogers, a 43,230- square- foot assistedliving facility at 4211 S. Champions Drive. The project plans to create 100 units in a structure 38 feet tall.

■ A development project for Pleasant Crossing Power Center Outparcel 2, an 11,200- square- foot retail building at 4305 S. Pleasant Crossing Blvd. The multiuse building is expected to house restaurants, retail locations and have green space on the property.