Prairie Grove Planners Deny Requests

PRAIRIE GROVE — The Planning Commission, at its September meeting, unanimously denied two requests, one to rezone property from agricultural to business and another for a conditional use permit to allow a car lot/auto repair business along Heritage Parkway.

In both cases, people showed up at the meeting to voice opposition to the requests. However, the applicants who submitted the proposals did not attend the meeting to answer questions.

Jerry Coyle of Prairie Grove submitted a request to rezone property at 455 Wayne Villines Road from A-1 to B-1.

Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works, explained that the land was the old Wayne Villines’ property and was located adjacent to a storage building business already owned by Coyle. Oelrich said he thought Coyle wanted to construct more storage units but did not want to speak on behalf of Coyle.

Patsy Moncrief of 311 Wayne Villines Road objected to the request, sayng rezoning the property to business would place commercial property next to nice homes on the street.

She said the area already has a lot of traffic because of the storage buildings and did not want to see that increase.

“It goes on all day and night,” Moncrief said. “I think some of them sleep there. I think it would ruin all of our places if storage buildings were allowed to be built

up between our houses.”

Rhonda Yepez of 321 Wayne Villines Road said they like the neighborhood as it is. They recently bought their property and she objected to commercial buildings coming up around them.

Another resident, Nathan Frazier, told the Commission, “I’ve lived here proudly for 20 years. It’s an eyesore in all due respect. I understand Mr. Coyle has to make a living … but these are our homes.”

Oelrich reminded the Planning Commission that when considering a rezoning request, it was to “rezone based on the highest and best use of the property.”

Once an area is rezoned, the city cannot restrict what is built on the property, as long as it is allowed in the zone.

“You’re deciding if that’s what is best for that property,” Oelrich said.

Commissioner Shane Taylor made the motion to deny the rezoning request.

Coyle did not attend the meeting.

The second request came from Charlie Foster. He asked for a conditional use permit to allow him to build Mid-South Brokers/XNA Motors on the property at 2996 E. Heritage Parkway (the corner of Cactus Jack and Heritage Parkway).

This property is already zoned B-2 but an automobile business would only be allowed with a conditional use permit. Permitted uses in a B-2 zone include professional offices and retail space, not heavy commercial uses. A car lot and auto repair shop would be a permitted use in a B-1 zone.

Adjacent property owners with residential lots attended the meeting to object to the request, noting concerns that included noise from auto repair, lights from the business and how it visually would affect the value of their property.

Matt Taylor and Stephanie Ouyoumjian live in Farmington but own residential lots next to the property in question. They’ve built one home to sell and plan to build others.

“If it’s B-2 let it be used for B-2,” said Ouyoumjian. “But don’t let it be used for B-1, if it’s a B-2 zone.”

She added, “This would basically be in the backyard … we would not like to see a car place go in there.”

Oelrich noted that Foster’s current Mid-South Brokers’ business is located further east along Heritage Parkway and the city has had problems with Foster complying with zoning regulations.

Planning Commission members wondered why the city would allow Foster to move his business somewhere else in Prairie Grove when there have been problems with it at the current location.

Once the commission denied the conditional use permit, there was no need to consider a large scale development plan for Foster’s new auto service business.

Foster did not attend the Planning Commission meeting.

In other action, commissioners approved conditional use permits for a lawn care business at 520 Beca Lane, a stained glass craft business at 511 E. Center St. and a special event at 501 S. Mock St., for Junk at the Mill.

Another conditional use permit was approved to allow First Presbyterian Church of Prairie Grove to rent tent spaces for people attending the 2018 Bikes, Blues and BBQ event in Fayetteville. The church would use its large vacant lot so participants could rent space to put up their tents or park their campers for the week.