Planning commission considering zoning for Highway 1 Bypass

The Forrest City Planning Commission is beginning to address zoning for the Highway 1 Bypass.

Jim von Tungeln, an urban planning consultant, visited with the commission Thursday evening to once again discuss what they need to do to establish zoning along that route.

According to von Tungeln, originally the land use plan was halted due to sewer and water access.

“It is my understanding things have changed," said von Tungeln. "Now we can create what is called a land use plan. The question is what should it be?"

He said the land around the Bypass should not be classified as residential. "If anyone is going to build a subdivision, it is going to be farther off than that," he said. "And there seems to be demand for commercial."

He stressed that the addition of sewer and water would make that demand higher.

According to von Tungeln, the commission needs to develop and adopt a land use plan and send it to the city council, which would have to approve the plan before zoning could begin.

"Then, you can put forward zoning maps and text to implement that plan," said von Tungeln. "The next thing we need to do, though, is look at this area, and I suggest confining ourselves to just the Bypass, and decide what the land uses can be."

He said a lot of times cities reserve at least 600 feet for commercial zoning around such areas.

"In order to adopt it, it is all set forth in the state law," said von Tungeln, who added the process will include a public hearing and advertising it in the newspaper 15 days in advance of the public hearing. "Then, based on what they say you do, you develop a plan to propose zoning. The plan, you again adopt by resolution. Then you send it to the city council who adopts it by ordinance."

He encouraged the commission to look at the area closely and said he would look at the area as well and come up with a sketch for the public hearing.

"That's a step in the right direction," said Forrest City Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy King. "At least that is some movement."

In other business, the group discussed city codes for the placement of storage buildings.

"Each of your residential zones have a setback," said von Tungeln. "It should say in there you can't put anything in that setback."

King said many residents have been putting the structures on the sides of their homes, to which von Tungeln said that would only be viable in an oversized lot, otherwise it should be placed in the back yard.