Planning - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the City of Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission meeting, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. I'll open up for a roll call. If you would, please press the button on your monitor. OK, everybody checked in. I'll open up for any discussion or changes to be made to the minutes from the April 14th meeting. Are there any changes?

So for my commotion, we approve as submitted. Silver's second.

I motion to second. Everybody in favor, press your aye button. Okay, you can vote. OK. Minutes are approved. First item we have on the agenda, this is a preliminary subdivision. John Easley is requesting approval for a preliminary subdivision for the Fountain Square Park. We have the proponent for this item here.

John Ely with Associated Engineering on behalf of East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging. We're asking for preliminary approval on the Fountain Square Park, the old Malco Theater Park, and the old Fountain Square Park. seven lots with a new right of way. We've submitted the plans, the subdivision plans, water sewer plans. We've also had a traffic study done. We've met with engineering last week. Recommendation was a traffic lot and realignment at the intersection. We've talked. That's out of the city's budget and sure out of East Arkansas's budget. So we agreed or talked about solutions and alternatives. East Arkansas is going to put in a dedicated right turn lane on the south side of Highland Drive and Bernard Street to allow at least right turn movements. We all know it's a bad intersection, but there's not much we can do with it.

Mayor? Nick, you have staff comments?

Yes, sir. The subdivision complies with all requirements for preliminary subdivision plan approval. And the preliminary plan complies with the purposes, standards, and criteria for subdivision design and site protection. Setbacks and minimum square footage requirements are properly depicted and satisfied by the applicant as required.

OK, perfect. Commissioners, have any questions of the city staff or applicant? Anyone ready with a motion?

I have one question. Oh, yes, sir. Is one of the existing buildings on one of these properties already, or is it not on one of these properties?

On the ones on the plot.

They've torn down all the buildings.

The existing building?

There's one on the south end that's still there.

The one on the south end of the old Fountain Square? That's East Arkansas's office, right?

Right. Is it one of these properties?

The new olives will be in the southeast corner of lot seven, down on Grant Street. Does it sit on one of these lots right now? It'll be on one of those lots, yeah.

No, but I mean the current building. Is that what you're asking, Jeff? Yeah.

Right now, they're building on, the property's been replanted into one lot, or a minor plot for one lot at the southeast corners where the new office is going. As part of this process, we'll dedicate a lot to them through the record plot.

What I'm trying to figure out is where this actually sits on that lot over there. And I was referencing the existing building that still remains.

The existing building? Yeah.

Is it on this property right now? No, it's basically on lot five. Lot five is where the existing building is. Okay. So there's a lot between that building and the existing strip center that's on Grants.

Okay.

Are you planning on tearing down that building too?

Are they going to tear down the building that's still there? Once the new office is complete, they will.

Any other questions?

Did Oprah make a motion to approve the preliminary subdivision plan that has been submitted?

Have a motion to approve. Do I hear a second?

Little second.

All those in favor cast your ballot. Your vote. Looks like you've been approved. Preliminary subdivision is approved. Thank you. Any other staff comments or not? Commissioners have any comments? We're adjourned.