Jonesboro · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Jonesboro public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Neighbor nuisance concerns at 5435 East Nettleton Avenue
A cafe owner next to a lot with broken-down vehicles, a burn barrel, and frequent police calls wants a 6-foot privacy fence extending past the normal front-building line. The board approved it with conditions to keep sight lines clear near the road.
Private club permit for Blazing Buffalo Sports Grill
A resident opposed a private club permit for a grill at 3310 Southwest Drive, saying the area hasn't expanded into alcohol and it's a gateway U.S. highway into town. The ordinance was held at second reading, so a final vote is still ahead.
Six-foot front fence variance (VR-26-25)
Moss Fencing is asking to build a 6-foot fence along the front northwest property line at 5435 E. Nettleton, with the pickets facing inward. Neighbors will have a chance to weigh in once the hearing is actually held.
Setback compliance for legacy commercial building at 822 N Church St
An older commercial building sits closer to lot lines than today's rules allow. A variance keeps it legal so it can be sold or converted to office use without title problems, and if it's ever destroyed it would have to be rebuilt to current setbacks.
1973 unfinished cul-de-sac setback problem on Hubble Cove
A house on Hubble Cove sits about a foot and a half from a cul-de-sac right-of-way that was platted in 1973 but never built. The variance clears title so the owners can sell to a buyer who wants to live there; staff suggested the owner pursue abandoning the unused right-of-way.
Redevelopment of former trailer park tract on Mount Carmel Road
A buyer wants to replace a former trailer park with a single-family house, but the tract has no road frontage. A neighbor agreed to sell a 40-foot strip so the lot can meet R-1 zoning requirements once the variance is granted.
8-foot fence around construction storage at 628 Burke Ave.
A contractor renovating property near Burke Avenue can build an 8-foot chain-link fence with black windscreen to hide construction trailers — higher than the city's usual 6-foot cap. One member dissented on the hardship standard.
Cross-access waiver for Hill Park Avenue commercial project
New commercial parking lots normally must connect to neighboring lots so cars don't have to return to the street. The board waived that for a beauty-salon building between the Goddard School and a dental office, citing very low traffic on the street.
Fence height variance on steep lot at 703 Tall Oaks Dr
A homeowner wants a taller fence because his yard drops 5 feet toward a neighbor's driveway. The board balanced privacy needs against the 6-foot ordinance limit and capped it at 8 feet at the back corner, following the ground's contour.