Council Reverses Planning Commission Decision

PRAIRIE GROVE — With little discussion, the Prairie Grove City Council last week reversed a decision by the planning commission and voted to rezone property on U.S. 62 from agricultural to commercial.

Voting in favor of the rezoning request were aldermen Doug Bartholomew, Doug Stumbaugh, Rick Clayton, Marquita Smith, Tony Cunningham and Casey Copeland. Buddy Lyle voted against the request and council member Dale Reed, who serves as chairman of the planning commission, abstained.

Gary Stearman asked to rezone 6.59 acres on U.S. 62 from agriculture to General Business or B-1. The property is located on the south side of U.S. 62 before the Illinois River bridge.

The planning commission denied Stearman’s request, citing concerns by neighbors and adjoining landowners that a commercial development would harm the historical nature and scenic beauty of the Illinois River valley area. Stearman appealed the commission’s decision to the city council.

Fayetteville attorney, John Everett, representing Stearman, told the City Council that logic suggests the land should be commercially zoned. He said if the council used the reasoning the land should not be zoned commercial because of its historical nature, then he pointed out that the city would not be able to rezone anything commercial.

He pointed to commercial property and businesses already in place across the street from Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.

“After all, folks, it’s all historically significant,” Everett said. “I think the decision you make today is the philosophy of the city going forward on commercial development.

He added, “Mr. Stearman believes and I believe that it just doesn’t make sense there will be no commercial development along Highway 62.”

Property owners in the area spoke to the City Council and appealed to the aldermen to protect the historical significance of the valley on U.S. 62.

Stephen Black lives on property northwest of Stearman’s land and he argued that the historical nature of the area should be taken into consideration. Civil War forces moved through the valley during the Battle of Prairie Grove.

“That valley is important and is important to Prairie Grove and I think that’s a good reason (to deny it),” Black said.

His father, Russell Black, who lives across the highway, also urged the City Council to leave it as agricultural.

Russell Black said the rumor is that a new Harp’s grocery store will go on the site. He pointed to a six-acre commercially zoned lot further east on U.S. 62 that would be better suited for some type of development.

Katie McCoy, who also lives across the highway, asked the council to protect the land.

“In my opinion, you have a decision here. This is something that a lot of communities would give their eyeteeth to have. If you change it, it will be the same ole, same ole,” McCoy said.

Everett rebutted the neighbors’ comments, saying Spearman does not have any plans for the land at this time and that the rumor of a Harps grocery store coming to the lot “is simply not true.”

He said if the city denies the request to rezone, “you have effectively boxed yourself into a corner” as far as commercial development.

In a memo about the issue, City Attorney Steven Parker reminded council members that the land was annexed as agricultural but in annexing the land, the city is required to determine the highest and best use of the land. Just by annexing the land, the city has already determined the best use is not agricultural, Parker wrote in the memo.

Parker said the council’s vote had to articulate the reason for any decision.

In making the motion, Alderman Casey Copeland noted the city’s Land Use Plan shows that the future zone of the land is commercial. None of the other council members commented.

After the meeting, the neighbors expressed their disappointment in the council’s decision to rezone the land.

“There was no reason for us to be here tonight,” said Stephen Black. “I’m disappointed and it was pre-determined.”

McCoy said she believes the council will regret the decision down the road.