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.
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.
Rezoning near Math & Science Elementary School
A proposal to make 1.4 acres next to the Math & Science Elementary School general commercial split the neighborhood and the commission. Residents worry about school-day traffic, alcohol sales near kids, and unknown future businesses; commissioners want a recorded easement guaranteeing school driveway access before they'll support anything.
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.
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.
Senior living facility proposed at 300 East Pine Street
A developer wants to build a 55-and-older senior living community on 12.3 acres now zoned single-family. Part of the site sits in a floodplain, which limits density, and the applicant noted a similar RM-12 rezoning nearby cleared the council unanimously last year despite nothing being built yet. Aging residents in Jonesboro could gain more senior housing options if it moves forward.
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.
Comprehensive growth plan and master street plan update
The city is updating its land use and street plans with a consultant. Public hearing February 12 at Earl Bell; commissioners are being asked to fill out surveys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nepotism policy for mayor and council relatives
David McClain publicly pressed the mayor on whether department heads have been accused of taking money and what legislative audit found, saying residents expect transparency and trust needs restoring.
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.
Commercial rezoning next to Southern Oaks subdivision
About 17 lots at 1400 Southern Ridge Blvd could shift from residential to limited commercial zoning, with a list of allowed uses but no confirmed tenant. Neighbors worry about light bleed onto homes, cut-through traffic on Jackson Drive, screening, and property values. The city council makes the final call.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.