Jonesboro · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Jonesboro public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Comprehensive growth plan preview
The city is holding a four-day design week March 30–April 4 at the YMCA building where residents can shape the comprehensive growth plan and Master Street plan.
Whiteman Street Creek to Briar Lane road connection
A rezone at 3030 Whiteman Creek Drive would let a self-storage facility build a road connecting to Briar Lane. Longtime residents Tony Green and Robin Jordan oppose it, fearing traffic on their quiet dead-end street.
Heartland Self Storage rezoning and Briar Lane road connection
A rezone at 3030 Whiteman Creek Drive would let a self-storage facility build a road connecting to Briar Lane. Longtime residents Tony Green and Robin Jordan oppose it, fearing traffic on their quiet dead-end street.
Gravel and fenced storage area at 5801 Kreuger Dr (VR-26-10)
Black Equipment wants a gravel, fenced storage yard for heavy equipment on Kreuger Drive instead of the code's required asphalt and curbing. The board granted the variance, treating it like similar industrial approvals.
Southern Ridge Boulevard rezonings
The new grocery store can have its own entrance instead of sharing a driveway with the vacant lot next door, sparing that neighbor from constant 18-wheeler traffic.
BZA appeal process and zoning ordinance updates
A resident argued the Board of Zoning Adjustments picks winners and losers, that outdated city ordinances create unnecessary variance requests, and that BZA appeals going straight to court — while MAPC denials go to council — is inconsistent and unfair. She also pressed for a decision on Tractor Supply at the old Fred's store on Caraway.
Duplex design variance (VR-26-24)
Walter Jackson wants to build a duplex without doors facing the street and with parking in the rear — which requires a variance from the zoning rules. The hearing didn't happen because the board lacked a quorum.
Rezoning 2038 North Church Street for limited multifamily
New duplexes on Labaume Street show redevelopment continuing in the older north-side grid, where 45-to-50-foot lots were designed for shotgun houses. The board granted setback relief to let a modern duplex fit the historic lot widths.
Council member legislation sponsorship rules
Council members have long been unclear on how one of them alone can get an ordinance or resolution before the council. The new rule spells out the process and adds a five-business-day deadline for committee assignment.
Southern Hills Block E commercial conversion
About 7.5 acres in Southern Hills will shift from high-density multifamily to commercial, part of a trend that has cut the planned apartment acreage roughly in half. A commissioner flagged concern that remaining multifamily strips could become undevelopable 'no man's land,' but the developer committed this is the last acreage to be rezoned.
East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging replat
The old Malco site along Highland Drive is being split into two commercial lots now, with a full replat of Lot 4 waiting on water and sewer installation that City Water Light line personnel won't sign off on yet. The site was rezoned to C-3.
Cross-access ordinance and private drive liability
The city's cross-access ordinance aims to keep traffic off Caraway by linking parking lots, but this case exposed a problem: the private drive behind Gina's carries heavy post office and cut-through traffic with no maintenance or insurance agreements, and neighboring owners have posted 'no through traffic' signs. Board members also heard complaints that the ordinance has been applied inconsistently to recent developments.
Plan Jonesboro Comprehensive Planning Process
The Plan Jonesboro kickoff drew 120+ people; officials urged residents to show up at upcoming meetings and surveys, noting zero attendance at a recent CDBG input meeting. Future meetings will be held in houses of worship.
Zoning changes: 2911 Browns Lane and 1004 N. Caraway Road
A 17-acre planned development would house a 12,000-square-foot farmhouse program for children with autism, run weekdays only, with donkeys, sheep, chickens and gardens. The mixed commercial/agricultural use is why a PD rezoning is needed.
Commercial rezoning of former Lexington Place nursing home
The old Lexington Place nursing home on Brown's Lane is the last residential parcel in its area, and the owner wants it rezoned to general commercial. It passed all six rezoning criteria and nobody spoke against it.
Apartment-density rezoning at 2038 N. Caraway St
NK & Sons wants to switch a C-3 commercial parcel to RM-16 multifamily, but density concerns raised before the meeting led to a tabling while the applicant considers a compromise.
Rezoning 6904 E. Highland Drive to commercial
A residential parcel at 6904 E. Highland Drive is now zoned C-3 commercial, opening the East Highland corridor to new business development.