Planning commission approves projects
The city of Benton Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Commission both approved a number of projects Tuesday night.
The BOA approved a variance request by Mike Parsons, of Parsons Tree Service, for an area located in Silica Heights to allow a gravel parking area rather than pavement. The vote to approve was unanimous and the item does need city council approval.
The Planning and Zoning Commission also approved a number of items. All approvals will move on to city council for approval.
A request by Parsons to rezone an area located in Silica Heights from Agricultural to C2 General Commercial was unanimously approved along with a separate request for a site plan approval for an area in Silica Heights to improve Parsons Tree Service.
“This is just a proposed shop building, maintenance building, if you will, on the back parts of Mr. Parson’s property where he operates and has a lot of yard ” said Eric Richardson, of Richardson Engineering.
A rezone request by Amanda Tarver to rezone an area in Silica Heights that will allow for the development of duplexes was also approved
“I have looked at this property for years,” Tarver said. “We used to live over there and I used to run by it. I’ve just thought for a long time and I knew of a lot of people through my church, that just need rentals. Nice rentals. Not run down rental properties and they don’t want to live in an apartment. They want more of a duplex that feels like a single family home.”
Tarver said the the area would be a rental property that feels like a subdivision. A number of commission members commended Tarver for the development plans saying that the proposed plans looked very attractive.
One local resident, Anthony Cook, spoke against the rezone stating that while he was not completely opposed to the project, he was concerned about that if it was low income housing, that could affect property values. He was also concerned about the construction of a privacy fence and the types of renters Tarver was seeking. He also stated that Tarver had reached out to him
and other property owners in the area to share her plans and get to know them.
Tarver said it is her intention to build a privacy fence for both her tenants’ and neighbors’ privacy. She expects the project to be completed in two phases over two years.
Other items approved by the commission:
• A rezone request by Lance Hicks for an area on Military Road.
• A rezone request by Steve Larue for a rezone on South Border Street.
• A preliminary plat approval request by Larue for South Border Street.
• A final plat approval for Eden Estates Phase Three.
• A final plat approval for The Fields Phase Two.
• A final plat approval for Del Rey Phase Two.
The commission also heard a request for help from a local family on how to go about getting approval for a trailer on their property. Commission head Brian Black offered to aid the family in getting the request properly attended to and have it officially voted on by the commission at a future meeting.