Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Texa County, Arkansas Planning Commission is called to order. Agendas are available on the rail, so please help yourself. We will take the items uh we will take the items as they are listed on the agenda. I will read each item and ask the person representing the request to come forward to the podium. Please state your name and address for the recording secretary. present any information and make any comments you have about your request. Be prepared to respond to any questions that members of the planning commission may have of you. Thank you. Roll call. Anita Picket here.

Jason Dupri is absent. Um Boots Thomas is absent. Dr. Hickerson is present here. Chris Owens here, Corey Mobs here, and Chairman Neil here. We have a have a quorum. Okay. Next item number two is adoption of the summarized minutes for the January 13th meeting. Motion to adopt. Second. Motion to adopt. Second. All in favor? I

I minutes approved. Item number three, ordinance revision request by building official to revise section 50146 accessory building structure or use in order to allow for accessory structure in sideyards.

Okay. So, we currently have an ordinance that deals with accessory structures. So that's like detached garages and shops, swimming pools, gazeos, carports, things like that. Last meeting in January, we passed we passed an ordinance that deals with accessory dwelling units, which are accessory structures that you live in. So these first two items, the first one is dealing with the accessory structure ordinance. In the past, accessory structures were only allowed in the backyard. Um, it had to be behind the rear build line. After talking with code enforcement and the city manager, um, they don't see any reason that we couldn't allow them inside yards. Most lots are not going to be big enough anyway. Um, so this first item would change the accessory structure ordinance that's in place now to allow for them inside yards. And Roger's here if you have any questions for code enforcement. Okay.

All right. No. So, we need to pass number four first. No, we need to pass number three first. I mean three. Yeah. uh new for separate, right? Okay. I make a motion that we adopt the staff recommendation on item number three. Second. Well, I have a motion and second adoption number three. I need to pick it. Yes. Dr. Hickerson? Yes. Chris Owens? Yes. Corey Mobs? Yes. Chairman Neil?

Yes. Item number three passes. Item number four. Okay, item number four is the same thing except it's well it's a little bit different. So item number four deals with accessory dwelling units and those are the structures that people can live in that the state has now said we have to allow at least one. So this ordinance is different in that the accessory dwelling unit has to meet the same setbacks as the lot. So, if there's a 35 foot setback in the backyard, that accessory dwelling unit has to be 35 feet off the property line. And that was a recommendation that was made to us by the state to set it up that way. Um, so this would allow accessory dwelling units in sideyards. Again, most sideyards on these lots don't have room for anything, so it's

Okay. All right. But this recommendation would comply with all the states new Right. Okay. Right. All right. We've got one in my neighborhood going up right now. Okay. All right. If you have any any more question, if you don't have any questions of uh uh Jamie, the chair would entertain a motion. I move we approve um item number four. Okay. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve the proposed ordinance revision. Anita Picket, yes. Um, Dr. Hickerson, yes. Chris Owens, yes. Corey Mobs, yes. Chairman Neil, yes.

Motion item number four is approved.

All right. Item number five, conditional use permit. Request by Tedro Jefferson Malachi Group Trust for a conditional use permit in order to operate a board and house at 1415 East Broad, formerly Ritz the Redmote Tail. Property is legally described as west of Highway Northeast Southwest 20-15 south 28 West Miller County, Arkansas containing 1.05 acres more or less. Ward three.

Okay. So, this is the old Ritz Hotel out on Broad or 67 as I call it, but it's the old Ritz Hotel. Um, it's zone C3 right now. As you know, anything that you can do in R4, you can do in C3 with a conditional use permit. And boarding houses are allowed in R4. So, he could do that with a conditional use permit. There is water and sewer on East Broad. Um, we had to classify this as a boarding house. What Mr. Jefferson is going to do is operate a transition home for people coming out of incarceration back into private life. Um, and he is here to answer any questions you have. Good.

But because it doesn't fit our definition for family home or group home or all those that we did. Um, and he has told me he's been approved by the state for 25 people and our limit is 16 in those homes. So that's why we have to classify it as a boarding house. And Mr. Jefferson is here. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yes, sir. State your name and

tell Jefferson 1415 East Broad Street, Ter County, Arkansas. Good afternoon and thank you for allowing me to share this vision with you today. The program I am proposing is called Pathway to Higher Dimension. It is a faith-based transitional housing and restoration program designed to help men rebuild their lives after incarceration. Many individual many individuals returning to society face tremendous barriers. They often leave prison or recovery program with little support, no stable housing, limited employment opportunities, and unresolved emotional and spir and spiritual struggles. Without guidance, structure and support, many find themselves trapped in the same cycle that led them there in the first place. Pathway to Higher Dimensions was created to break that cycle. The program will provide structural transitional housing for up to one year, giving giving men the time, support, and resources they need to rebuild their lives and dignity and purpose. Participants in the program will receive safe and stable housing, job readiness training and employment support, life skills and personal development education, mentorship and accountability, spiritual guidance and faith-based support. A unique part of this program is its focus on internal transformation. Many men living in incarceration or addiction or had previous addiction have never been taught how to process trauma, build self-worth or develop or develop a positive identity. As a result, the program also incorporate mindfulness,

meditation, and personal reflection practices to support participal and emotional healing. The philosophy behind pathway to higher dimension is simple. True transfer true transformation begins from within. When individuals learn to value themselves, develop discipline and discover their purpose. They are far more likely to build stable and productive lives. The program will operate as a structured stepbased curriculum allowing participant to progress through different phases of personal growth. These phases focus on stabilization, restoration, personal development, and ultimately transition to independent living. Our goal is not simply to provide housing, but to restore hope, dignity, and purpose. By equipping participants with the tools, support systems, and mindsets necessary for long-term success, we aim to reduce going back and forth to prison, strengthen families, and build safer and healthier communities. Pathway to Higher Dimensions represent more than a program. It represents a pathway to healing, transformation, and a higher quality of life for individuals who's ready to rebuild their future. Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Question. Will there be uh staff on property? Um the state um you have to have mandatory staff there for for every so many people. They the state tell you how many people have to be there to work. So how many will be there for 25 P? Um it's 24 people for um every 24 people you have to have one person there at all times. Also we will not be taking any sex offenders. C can you tell us a little bit about uh I guess the type people you will be uh well the people who that did their time in prison. Okay.

Now they getting ready to go back into society. Um, right now they have a huge waiting list because a lot of people can't get out of jail because many of them have to go through a pretty much a uh, as they say a halfway house to get back into society. The state have it set up where uh, they going to have a job. We get them set up with a job. We have to take them back and forth to work. We got to feed them. We got to give um, send them through the programs like, you know, make sure they don't get back on drugs and things of that nature. One of the things that we want to add is you know mind you know if you change your mind you can change your life and I mean everything start with a thought and it's all about how you see yourself and how you feel about yourself and how you think about yourself and those one of the things that we want to target you know give selfworth to a lot of these individuals I have talked well I'm in the mortgage industry been there for many years one of the things that I want to increment as well is show them how to clean the credit you A lot of them been in jail, they credit bad. While they got a job, we want to show them how they can clean their credit up. I got with a mortgage company as well. Um, they can buy a house long as they kept their job for three or four months because you can use their prison time as employment. And one of our goals is to get some of these houses that's been like torn down in the city or go in and build them up, make them new, and then sell them to pretty much the one that's on the program for they can have stable living when they, you know, go back into society.

Okay. Will your clients be able to just kind of come and go or what? Um, it's state guidelines that we got to strictly follow. Um, there's rules and regulations. um they already been out. They already um did they walked the property and um at this point the only thing that I'm waiting to do now is just send the letter out. But I didn't send the letter out because I had to get a special use permit and I wanted to make sure I was okay on this end before I sent that out. So what are the state requirements? Um the pretty much just the programs. Just make sure you have the programs in place. make sure that they get back and forth to work and make sure that they see their PO officer. That's the main thing.

And the educational components. So on the Texas side, it's a Haven home. Yes. Is this going to be sort of like what they have? It's similar. Yes. On the But it's going to be on the Arkansas side. Yes, ma'am. What state agency is this under? Um, it's coming from the state of Arkansas. Um, I didn't bring that information, but I

But is it Department of Corrections or? Yes. Um, whenever they get out of prison, um, it's through the state cuz state the state is the one that's going to send them through the program. It's nothing that, oh, I just go grab people. No, these are individuals that's coming straight out of jail and they got to put them through a facility. But right now, the state don't have too many places to send people to. And they so backlog they say a big need for it here in our city. But I want to make sure when the people go through the program, I want to make sure that they get the help, the training, and the resources they need for they won't be a repeat offender where, you know, many people they go through these programs. They get off the program. Um, soon as they get off the program, they'll have a job, they'll have a home, they buddy go, now they back to using drugs and back to crime. My goal is to change that. Uh my goal is is to really give them the help and the training that they need. Um I used to be a pastor back in the day and you know I am a humanitarian. I love to help people. That's my goal. Anybody know me? I help anybody and even within the city now I help a lot of people even get in houses that even qualify then charge them. Show them how to clean the credit up, how to get homes and things of that nature. Uh but you know that's what I'm here for to help people and this is

things you said in somewhere. Yeah. You have a case manager, a mentor and a program advisor. Is that provided by the state and they have to check? No, we have to put those in place. I'm getting ready to go through a training right now that the state told me that I need to go take that I can go do that as well. Someone doesn't follow the rules. Oh, if they don't follow the rules, you go back to jail. So, what's the plan with it being so close to Arkansas High? Like, how are you going to fence it? Are you going to barrier? Are you going to How do we keep our children from being influenced?

What the state said, I mean, and that's their guidelines. When they came out, it had to be um for sets of offenders. We're not taking any of those. There's a thousand ft radiance. You can't be within a park, a school, a church of that nature. But just for regular offenders, there's no um the state. So murderers, drugs, that doesn't matter. There's not a a radius to keep our kids, right? But where we located at is a creek right there. But I'm going to fence the property in anyway. Can I ask one more? Yes.

Uh what's your timeline? Because in your in our packet it says you state that he will be licensed by the state. Well, um what end up happening? What the state said once I get out of here? Well, once you approve Oh, this had to be approved before you could finish your application.

Well, no. I just didn't want to finish the application cuz I want to make sure I don't have any hiccups. It don't you know what they say, don't put the court before the horse. I want to make sure everything on this end was okay. I have to go send out a mailing um once I get this approved um letting the neighborhood know, hey, this is coming. This is gonna be here. And um it's like I have to send it out within that same thousand mile radius and I have to give

feet, thousand feet radius, I'm sorry. And um what they going to do is I have to send the mailing out. They're going to come to a open house. Um the state representative will be there for the program and any questions that the community have or whatever they can address it there at that time. Who's the state representative for the program? Um I don't know but I can get that in I mean I can get the information who they going to have out. Does the state monitor? Um oh yeah they come out. I mean they make sure you're doing your part. Yes. Ex prisoners are doing their part. Yes. and they'll have their monitors or whatever it is. Provide transportation to We got to provide transportation back and forth to work.

Sound like a great idea. I just hope it works. Oh, yeah. You know, if the state doesn't approve it, will you still do the boarding house of any kind or is this all dependent on state funding? Um, this right there is mainly state funding. You know, as of right now, you know, the rooms are rented out monthly cuz the rich, I don't know if you know, back in the day it was known for drugs, alcohol, and all of that. I got rid of all of that. You know, it's no longer there. It's still low income, but I want to kind of stir away from that and make it, you know, put it to better use. So, will you have to remodel the Rits and the rooms and like how how many rooms are there on the property? Will you be building structures to

um in the beginning? My to answer your question, I'm sorry for cutting you off to uh there's the house is uh four bedrooms. Uh uh four bedrooms, one and a half bath. Um but I'm going use that as office. I'm not going to put anybody in there. Um the rooms, um they have approved two person per room. It's 10 rooms with restrooms on the outside. Um, those rooms have already been redone. Um, I've been redone those the inside of it. I'm working on the outside of it. Now, if you drove by, I'm sure you see all the renovation. One of my goal was to get it cleaned up, you know, and

so you'll only be able to house 20 men because you've only got 10 rooms for 24. I'm approved for 24. So, are you building another structure? It depend on how this go. I mean before I talk about building first I have to make sure I get this first that have to come back before us to build a structure on it doesn't have to come back to here. Okay. You've already done I made a little spin through there yesterday. You've already done some cleanup there, haven't you? Oh yes. A lot of stuff been pretty much done over there. It was horrible, but you know it's it's coming together. Where where is the closest facility? Uh

in Arkansas, I don't know. Um when I talked to the gentleman, he said it was like two that they had at one time. Um one lady got shut down because they didn't follow, like I said, the state is very strict with their program and you got to follow their rules and guidelines. And I know one facility got shut down, they was telling me, but I don't know how long ago that was. You know, I didn't do any research on that. Okay. Question. What's the age? Um, I guess it would be 18 and older. Is it 182 or there's no limit? There is no limit. I mean,

now did you say how long they would be uh staying in the facility before they move on? A transition typically is a year. Yeah. Um 6 months to a year. And they're required to hold a job. Yes. And y'all will have counselors and a pastor and mental health and that's y'all are required state to do that.

There are programs. We don't necessarily have to do it. There's programs you can plug into that's around the city that um we got a list of those programs and the trainings that you can plug the people into. one of the classes, well, some of the classes that I'm getting ready to take, I will be able to do a lot of those myself once I get certified, which I will be certified before this go into effect. So, will these people um go and come as they wish or how will you maintain them staying there and not roaming around?

They're not in prison anymore, right? They have curfews that they have to uh uh follow or abide by. What's that?

Uh I that haven't been given to me yet. Um you have to remember they already these are people that's already served their time and that the the state of Arkansas is saying that they already served their time. Now I'm getting ready to put them back into the community. The halfway house is just a pathway for they can get back to the community, for they can have a stable job, for they can, you know, get back reunited with their families cuz a lot of them haven't been with their family and it's hard that you can just go throw somebody in something that's been in jail for so long. You got to work it back in. And that's the reason that the state set up these halfway houses instead of throwing them back into the community or throwing them back into home. They want them to gradually get back into society for they won't have a recontinuence of going back to to jail.

So will the persons that will be housed here will they be in the Miller County area or just for all I don't know that's Arkansas the state the state of Arkansas I far as my knowledge it's just the state of Arkansas. Okay. All right. Any other question of Mr. Jefferson? All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Is there anyone else here? It shows no opposition on the uh on the agenda here, but does anybody else have any uh any opposition to the proposed project?

Hearing none. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I don't have an opposition, but I do have a couple questions. Come forth and state your name.

Hi, my name is Toronto Hines Flowers. Address for the property for you?

Oh, I live in um I'm at 2974 Sadino Drive, Hartland, Texas. Um 75126 in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Okay. So my question is for the gentleman here. I was I'm going to ask um as Miss Picket was asking as far as the uh people that are being in transition moving around as far as uh them getting to the grocery stores. Um how are they going to get that? Uh what kind of what kind of um like recreation are you all going to provide? It's already desolate on that side of town.

Um, sorry to answer your question, um, it's our responsibility to feed them and to give them transportation, but the state requires that we have to give them three meals a day. We have to help get them in the job and they give us the resources. Many of them can work in this area. Um, we have to take them back and forth to work. We have to take them back and forth to their whoever their parole officer is. Um, that's pretty much pretty much what they have given me as far as far as activities or things that they do. Um, I don't have all the details of that because you have to remember these are grown people, right?

They're not children and we can't treat them as children and you can't treat them as convicts because they're not a convict anymore. They not in in bars or behind bars. We have to treat them like a real person and let them know that they important and that their lives matter as well. And our goal is, like I said, is to get them back rehabilitated with forest their curriculum or what it is that they do. It will be monitored. There are certain things that they will be able to do and there are certain things they won't be able to do, but that'll be passed out from the state and all of that information will be given to me as I continue the process. All right. So, I would love it if you take these questions back uh as well if you can remember them.

Uh so, there are um just concerns about them rolling around. Uh the last time I was on one of my properties, I did see some homeless people next to the property that I own. Um and the neighborhood, there's like a whole neighborhood across the street. So, that's really my concern. I understand that it's not going to be any sex offenders, um anything like that. However, with, you know, people using drugs and coming out of that certain, you know, mindset, um, anxiety, things like that. I mean, it's a it's a I applaud what you're doing. Thank you.

Because I have a masters in public health. So, I applaud what you're doing. It's just a concern. And it's no one's saying they're going to be treated like children because even us as adults, you know, we make mistakes and still need to get back on their right path, right? So, I'm just asking about, you know, like fresh food markets. Uh, are you going to have a library? I heard you say that there's going to be a house, but they're not going to be inside the home. No, no. The way that the property is set up, there is a house, right? And then there's 10 rooms right there on the side of the house. Sorry. Like a hotel room

right there on the side. Um, also going back to what you said about homeless. These people are not homeless. Our goal is is to prevent them from being homeless. Is to make sure because if you get a person and you take them through the salesman, if you give them a job, they can get back and forth to work. They got money coming in. First of all, they're going to feel great about theel now. They claim that they created up. They getting their life back struck. They getting structure back in their life.

They're going to feel they'll be more positive in order to be more productive in the society. That's the main goal and objective. Um, if someone come in and they're a problem, they will be sent back immediately. We will not deal with any problem here. Period. All right. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. I forgot. I have one more question. Who's going to live in the four bedroomedroom one and a half bath house? That's the office.

Okay. Um the employees that there that would be working, they will be in the house. Also within the house is where you know you'll have your one on and whatever your different meetings and when we got to feed them or they have to work and clothes all of that will be in the main house as well. Okay. Probably two deal. Okay. Any other questions? Any other comments from the Seeing none, the chair will entertain a motion. I'll make a motion we approve. Got a motion to approve. Second.

Motion. Got a second. Roll call. Anita Picket. Yes. Dr. Hickerson. Yes. Chris Owens. Yes. Corey Mobs. No. Anderson Neil. No. Got a 32. We have 32. Motion's passed. Those fail. You have to have a forum the whole board. Okay. All right. We have to have a forum of the whole commission. Okay. So that would be four people.

Okay. All right. Conditional use permit item number five is uh denied. Denied. Okay. Item number I have a question. Do I need to bring an attorney in because I need to know? No, it can be appealed. I you have to you have to request you can appeal it to the board of directors. You have to request it in writing within 10 days. Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. Item number six.

Okay. Um, remember when we created the mixeduse highway zone for truck stops and we had the discussion about Flying J and that it was now legally non-conforming and wouldn't be allowed to expand. and I got in touch with Flying J and explained to them that we were going to reszone them mixeduse highway so they would be conforming and be able to expand. That's what this is. This is a request to reszone the Flying J truck stop to mixeduse Highway. Okay. And I'm sure they've done everything legally to get it worked out. I've talked to the legal office,

Miss I've got her name up somewhere here. But yes, they're aware. All right. And it won't change anything about the way they operate. It's actually to their benefit because it will allow them to expand if they ever decide to do that. Okay. All right. Is there anyone from J here to speak to it? There's no need. Is there any opposition to it? Seeing none. The chair would recommend.

I move we approve item number six, resoning of Flying J. Okay. Second. We have a motion and a second. Roll call. Anita Picket. Yes. Dr. Mr. Hickerson, yes. Bruce Owens, yes. Cory Mobs, yes. Chairman Neil, yes. Motion passes.

All right. Item number seven, the conditional use permit request by Forward Battle Investments for conditional use permit for the property located at 3411 East for the purpose of constructing duplexes. Property is legally described as part southeast southwest section 4 township 16 south range 24 west of Miller County Arkansas containing five acres more or less ward one.

Okay. You will remember this came to us in January and they requested that they reszone it to a PUD in order to build duplexes and that was denied. Um because it is zone C3, they are allowed to do anything in R if it's allowed in R4, you can do it in C3 with a conditional use permit. So basically, when they decided they wanted to build duplexes, there were two paths they could take. They could either reszone it or they could do it as a conditional use. So we had the resoning in January and that failed. So they've now come back to do it as a conditional use. Um, so you all will remember this. The property is uh the building there says bucks and ducks. The building is still there. They started clearing the land. Um, it's zone C3. There is water out there. There is no sewer, but they have um had the health department come out and map septic fields. So that's what that is. And they are the developers are here. All right. Thank you, K.

Good afternoon. I'm JC Cowart, 3837 East Street. Uh, so our business, our line of work is uh construction. We uh do a lot of commercial um work in the area this uh southern part of the state. A lot of texture Canada's work uh we at least uh get to look at or participate with. And uh over the years, you know, we've uh got to see the projects that do come in and also the projects that um turn away from texture can. And uh I think the chamber u the ready group uh people that um you know are involved with the city will tell you one of the biggest um negative feedbacks they get from these um u potential sites that come in are uh the lack of housing affordable housing in the area. And uh it's just it's a shame to see um as a younger person here in Texas uh us not getting the growth that we should. Um I don't like seeing it go to Texas side. I don't like seeing it go to other towns. U I'm really disappointed in some of the negative feedback we have uh gotten um presenting this project. Uh I I had no idea that we would catch some of this slack for this. Um we're in no means trying to bring something in that's going to bring the city down. Uh we want to bring in uh quality housing. Um you we don't want an eyesore on the side of the road there. Our our business is literally around the corner. Uh we we want to take pride in the area. Um

we we've done a lot of of leg work on this thing. Um and we've we've had our bank appraised uh got appraisal back and uh the appraisal was was higher than all surrounding um anything even close to there. It's going to raise the value of the um the properties in that uh ward in that area. Um, but like I said, as a a younger person here in Tetra, Canada that I I don't plan on ever leaving, uh, I want to bring good things here. And, um, you know, there there was two comments that, uh, I want to touch on on the last meeting. Um, you know, one one was, uh, we wouldn't have no problem if it was single house uh, single houses brought in instead of duplexes. Well, what's the difference in uh that there there's no difference with the structures that you're still going to have five units there. Uh the only difference would be the people in the uh in the units. And uh how I look at it is uh with duplexes, u it's someone that might just they might not have the credit to go buy a house or they might be getting started and and need something that they can afford uh while they get on their feet. And uh then the other comment was uh why don't you just go do it somewhere else? That's that's a great idea. Just go do it somewhere else. No, let's let's do it in texture can Arkansas. Um I mean that that's how many times are we going to let people keep saying that and push it to somewhere else. Uh you know I I don't I don't like seeing the rundown uh places on this side of town. I I want to see growth over here. Um we have the uh real uh the management group um Stacy and

Rachel with Tri-State uh Realy and uh they were nice enough to come here tonight and they're going to touch on a few things that they uh uh are going to require and uh I mean they're they're professional group. They uh they're going to be on top of things and uh you know we're we're willing to to we've talked about fencing. We've talked about all kinds of things cuz we don't we don't want bad blood with the neighbors. Uh I don't know if that's avoidable at this point, but uh we don't want that. And uh so we're trying to do everything uh we can on our side to um have good quality people, good quality housing, and hopefully spark some growth. And I mean, I know five duplexes is isn't much, but I mean it's something. So, uh, I'd like to turn it over to Rachel and Stacy at this time.

Hey, how are y'all? Yes. So, like Jaci was saying, make your name, Ed. I'm Stacy. Okay. This is Rachel. I'm Rachel Ashlin. We're with Triability Group. So, we have properties Sugar Hill area. We have them all over. Nobody knows who is a renter and who is an owner. We keep up with our properties. We keep up with the landscaping. We have a strict policy that we screen people by backgrounds which Rachel has some of that right there that we can we have copy of our lease agreements that you can look at.

Do they already have it? Okay. Um, we follow the same guidelines. Um, fair housing. Uh, we do not, this isn't section 8 housing. This is like what JC said, a lot of the young people now getting credit to buy a house is non-existent anymore. So, to be able to start out with their family in a nice home, what they've planned is something amazing. Okay.

And a part of our job is that we do the oversight. We make sure that all of the policies and rules are set in place. We strict we have strict guidelines, screening criterias. Um we do thorough background rental references, that kind of stuff. Um you know, we do at least three times the rent for the the income requirements. So we do have a very strict policy that we go with so that we have good qualified um prospects that are coming through. And then even when living there, you know, our lease agreements, we can add in any any type of addendums that there is. Um, if the neighbors are worried about, you know, trespassing, you know, we can put in there for special addendums that, you know, if they violate, they're just strictly to this area. If they violate it, then they're in violation of their lease, which can ultimately either be fines or a termination of the lease. Um, but our overall goal is to to get this done and um I think it will overall bring a um it'll be nice for that area of town like you said in Arkansas

kind of getting that area cleaned up. And I have a question. So in the lease agreement it says garbage and furniture disposal. So, will there be individual trash cans at each of these duplexes or will there be a dumpster on site for that street section? That's going to be for the owners to decide if they want to lease the dumpsters or we can require each resident to have their own roll out trash. Okay.

Um, as far as trash removal, people that want to leave out big garbage items, it's removed within 24 hours by us. um inoperable vehicles, flat tire after a day or two. It's it's it has to be fixed or it's moved. It's we want it um to be appealing from the outside, not just who we have inside. Okay. All right. Any other questions of ladies? Thank you. Okay. Do we have any other persons to speak for the project?

Okay.

Toronto High Flowers, 2974 Sadino Drive, H Heartland, Texas 75126. All right. So, uh, as I sit here, we, uh, everyone's consistently talking about putting people in these locations when how many grocery stores are there over on this side? Uh, the parks, there are people hanging out with music, drinking, smoking. I'm from here, so I know. And I have people that live on this side, on that particular side of town. However, the parks, I believe there's maybe one grocery store, a Family Dollar. I don't know where the nearest library is. I'm just So, when we speak about the social determinance of health, this is where minorities and people that don't have much are put in places like this. So once again, I'm just asking. We keep talking about putting all these people in these areas and there are no resources. There are no resources. Absolutely none. That's it. Cuz that's it. Leah Collie 4,400 Old Blackman Fairy Road around the corner. There is no personal beef with this. There is just I'm I'm a professional mom and that's about it. I've got three kids these amazing people's ages. Well, I guess how much is the lease? We all I need to see a lease. How much does it rent for? How much was it? Two bedroom, three breeb. per unit thousand

a th000 per unit per month. That is section eight. I that we that is that just is what it is. I'm not prejudice. I love I got all the colors in my family. Got all that that's tirana Arkansas keeps getting trashier and they have good thoughts. I love where their heart is, but that is inaccurate. That is not true. They do not live there. They do. The bats. Come on, brother. That's That's a twobedroom. That's a twobedroom,000. Okay, great. That's not

Okay. Well, that makes me feel better. It's still do what? Okay. So, what are the rules and regulations that we just keep adding addendums to it? We just keep saying, "Oh, the couch laid out by the street too long and somebody trespassed and and now Family Dollars getting broke into more." It's going to be across the street from Dollar General. Y'all can look at me stupid all you want to. That is fine. I respect what you're wanting to do. Miss, if you would address the

I respect what they are wanting to do. It is not a good idea. We do not have grocery stores. The one we got one on 82. Those people can't walk over there. The last grocery store close by just got shut down on each street. We have a bunch of liquor stores. We got a whole bunch of jail birds cuz it's a Miller County jail. We got bail bod spoons. We got you know it's there's nothing out there. Why would young people want to go out there? They that I don't this just doesn't work. It's country living. It is devaluing the property around them. Not the bats. They own a lot of the property around it. So they can extend this to god knows how big over the years. I just don't understand the the appeal to put five duplexes. They wouldn't put their families in it. They just wouldn't. I mean what what what we maybe we maybe he and Mr. Jefferson could get together and the people that get out of prison and go through that then they could move into the bat's place cuz that's how it feels. just a mod podge of broke people.

Thank you. Any any anymore? I don't hate you people. Like I respect what you're doing. This is just business.

One person at a time. I understand everybody concerned. I've been in real estate.

State your name. Tildra Jefferson, 1415 East Broad Street, Tes County, Arkansas. I've been in real estate for over 15 years. Y'all on some dangerous territories right now where it can go into lawsuits. Y'all need to be very careful. That's red lining and discrimination. And the state have laws in place to protect people. Even when you say it's section 8, you cannot single no individual person out. That's against the law, first of all. Second of all, people have different income statuses. Yes, everybody would want that $500,000 house. Everybody can't afford that $500,000 house. Yes, everybody would want that $1,000 mortgage. 70% of the people in Tester County can't even afford that because most of them making 2025,000 a year. And if that's $1,000, that mean your rent got to be three times that amount. I mean, they try, it look like to me they trying to give people something nice that they can afford. We all saying what the problems are, but who's stepping up to give solutions to the problem? You see what I'm saying? You saying, "I don't want this person. I don't want this person." It go deeper than that. Let's look at Tester County as a whole. Our city is dead. Look at our communities. They run down houses. And thank God that I sit our new city board and our uh people who work in the city, they doing things about it now. Turning down a lot of these old houses and cleaning up the lots, but we still got road. We need people in Arkansas. If we don't allow people in Tesla County and they moving to Texas, where the tax money going to go to Texas? Now, I understand your concern, but we got to be realistic. some things you got to do and just put the proper rules and guidelines in place to get whatever it is that you trying to

accomplish. But you just can't say I don't want this person here because they on section 8 or I don't want this person here because they don't make this amount of money. You can't do that. That's illegal. Leah Collie I agree with everything that you just said, but people going to break the rules and don't do right since the beginning of time. Now, these amazing people and investors and builders and I know your daddy and all the I I love it. I love it. I love it. if y'all could get together or all of us come get together and figure out how y'all's money could back actual, you know, let's get businesses over here that create the want to for for young families to come build their lives over here and build churches and be good students and all of that. Man, I could get behind that all day long. And and I think, you know, saying single housing, it's just different to a degree, not all the way. I I get I I see your point 100%. There's just more stability and less moving in and out. It's it's built on a foundation of quick turnover. That's how you make your dollar. I want to make a dollar, too. And y'all are so good at it, and I'm so proud of y'all. And you really are doing good things. I'm not here to knock y'all. as people. This I just wish we could invest in something that is going to actually grow because Arkansas side is dead. It is gross. People are running to the other side of the state state line. And I know where your heart is and I hope you understand where our hearts are. It's not we don't like y'all. We just want good safe things. That's

just like he wants good safe things on 67. Boy, it's a great idea. His heart's in the right place. That's a scary. I'm not trying to live in fear or or make us not want to grow and and integrate. That's that's not what I'm talking about. Just being able to bring business and money to our side. We would need businesses and money to start it, not just another duplex. That's that's all I'm saying. Okay. All right. Thank you. Cherry Roads, 3500 East Street. Okay.

Um, I want to, you know, we we've, uh, we're talking about a lot more things than I thought we'd be talking about tonight. Um, I want to kind of bring it back home to our concerns in the area. You know, there's been talk about people and um and the gentleman said something about there being um it's not it's about this the difference between single family and multif family. There's no difference in it's just the people. But the people that the only people that I'm really talking about are the people that are affected who've lived in that area for 50 years. It's the people that came out there and made a home there in a rural setting. They've invested in the area and that's where they've raised their kids. It's where I was raised. Um, we've run all through those woods and swam in those creeks and all that stuff. This is th this is country type living. It's not way out in the country, but it is country living. Um, it's just it's not a good mix. And um I don't feel like that this kind of meets the highest and best use of that land of that area. And um I think there's um there's other things you know a single family matches the area. Uh the gentleman was talking about what is the difference? Well, it's a it's a big difference in selling a single family home than renting multiple multif family com uh duplexes in a complex. It's a big difference, a huge difference and how many people come and go in that area. And one of the legitimate concerns that we have is that, you know, families coming and

going in that rural setting. you know, for for kids, it's it's hard to turn down, you know, running through the woods and doing the things that I did when we were kids. And when I would get on my neighbor's um uh property over there, Mr. Bullard, he'd come over there and show up at our door and say, "Would you please tell your son not to get on my land?" And uh my parents say, "Yes, sir. We'll do." And they talked to me and that was that was solved. you you we're not going to be able to handle that kind of thing when people are coming and going all the time. And that's the dynamic we're talking about here. It's not certain people. It's it's the dynamic of it. It it changes the entire living structure that we have out there and have had for for a long long time. It's just it's just a a very much an ill fit. And um you can tell by you know the people here. I'm sure that a lot of us are, you know, we're we're kind of experiencing a little bit of anxiety about this and it's kind of got us bothered and so you can see the level of energy that's already been in the room and that is just because of of how this is kind of it just doesn't fit well in there. It's just because we're so very rural and we're not anti- business. We're not anti-investment. It's just um there are potentially better places to do this um and make the same amount of money uh can be made and benefit our city. We can benefit our city just as well by having that same u business going on in a different area. This is just uniquely um a um not not a good fit. And the the the liability, we are concerned about liability of people coming onto these these areas that you know 3 to 5 acres

of lot. We can't fence that. We can't put fences up around ponds. You just can't do that. You can fence a pool. You can't fence a pond. And if some family has a child that goes out there and they hurt themselves on their property or god forbid get in that pond or that creek and they drown in that creek, we are concerned about our liability that we wouldn't be that we can't even prevent. We can't put any preventative measures up. If we put a sign that says no trespassing, I was a kid. I didn't pay any attention to no trespassing signs. And most kids are not going to. They are on the adventure of a lifetime walking out through those woods and they're just there to have fun. I get that. That's wonderful. But we have a legitimate concern about how that could really affect us profoundly because of the nature of our area. If it was if it was a neighborhood, that's different because it's just it's a better match for the the area. Um there are some other ancillary. I know they had the septic tank perked and I guess that went okay. I don't know um how a um conditional use permit limits uh the building like like a PUD did. I know the a PUD required them to stay in the very specific things that they presented. I don't know if a if a cup makes them stay indefinitely with that plan or not. Um, and if not, that could be a legitimate concern going down the road. We already kind of have septic issues out there in that area. And if we start loading it up more, uh, concerned about that. Um, also tapping onto the water. There's a another resident that lives in the area that some time ago when a number of folks moved in, his water pressure reduced. I don't know if that would be a

problem for us or not. It's just it's just possibility there. So, um, we just feel overall that it does not meet the highest and best use of that land, which which I think is probably a consideration in a conditional use permit situation. Needs to benefit the area. I don't know that this is going to benefit the area. It, you know, our our area, we're not we're not thinking there that this is a great neighborhood, but we would be complete. Oh, it would only be better if we could put in a multif family complex. That that's not really going to help our neighborhood. It's not going to help our area. Our area look works really nice the way it is. And um if it can be done elsewhere, why not do some research and and do it elsewhere? You know, we feel like we've been put upon

without being able to say anything about it. And it's very clear. It's very clear to the builders how we feel. And yet we're still here. They're willing to roll over, steamroll over us for the sake of making money. And that should be fundamentally wrong. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Any other persons want to comment? And let me just say, we we've heard a lot of what you're saying at the previous meeting. So, if you could just limit your limit your comments, state what you want to say, and just be brief as you can because we had we've got a lot of people out there that seemly want to have something to say. So, come on up here, lady. I brought a letter from State your name, ma'am.

Oh, Karen Rhodess, 3500 East Street. Um, my son and I did some visiting, a lot of visiting around the neighborhood. And, uh, Mary Clayton is one of the residents on, uh, on East Street. She's not able to come tonight because she can't make the stairs. She's not in in good health. But she asked me if I would read a letter for her. And um Jamie said I can. And so uh if you don't mind, I will. This is on behalf of Mary Clayton at 3214 East Street. I have totally agreed with statements made at the previous meetings. Duplexes mean families with kids. As a mother of four and grandmother of 17, 12 of which are boys, I know the type of trouble they can cause. Listening to them talk about their exploits when they thought no one could hear them was mind-boggling. Parents think their children are good kids. They just don't realize what goes on behind their backs. We don't need even the possibility of this in our neighborhood. Most of us are elderly and have earned our peace. As far as the background checks, that is a joke. Background checks do not show what is hidden. Some illegal activities stay hidden a lifetime. A background check may show a person to be squeaky clean when in reality they just have not been caught. This is the real world. We are old. We worked hard for what we have and we deserve our peace and quiet. From Mary Clayton. Now from Karen Roads at 3500 East

Street. I've lived across the street from Jack and Maddie Friday for over 50 years. Maybe some of you know Maddie Friday. She was justice of the peace for many years. But I used to love watching Maddie on her little uh lawn mower, rider mower, going at breakneck speed, mowing the front of her property. And she didn't care what was in the way. She mowed it. When she got done and the dust settled, it was mowed. It wasn't manicured, but it was mowed. After Maddie passed, that property started to decline because it wasn't taken care of. And that's what happens. Unless there is constant care, things naturally move in a downward spiral. Last November and again in January and again tonight, many of our neighbors came to this meeting with concerns about the request for building duplexes in on the old Friday property. Their concerns include the enormous risk of liability from multiple family renters wandering through the woods and streams and ponds, the cost of protecting the property, which is impossible. And I would tell you something. You know, we talked a little bit about um attractive nuisance, the fact that that is an attraction to kids. They want to see what's going on in the woods. They want to see what's in the ponds. They they just want they're just naturally curious. Well, there was a time for six years I had an alligator living in my pond and that was a true attractive nuisance.

However, I didn't have renters living across the street and nobody bothered my pond. Nobody came over to look at the alligator. I don't think that would be the case today. But I would tell you what I learned about alligators. Alligators will never be a pet. They will eat your pets, but they will not become a pet. And they will become a greater risk the longer that they are there because the more familiar you are to them, the less scared of you they are. And so they Anyway, I digress. That's the alligator story. But the truth is that there's no way to control that. Some of the other issues that our neighbors have expressed is the fact that uh the problem with sewer system, we've talked about that or rather septic system. The fact we don't have a sewer system, water pressure, that's a problem. Right now, I've got blue flags all over my property cuz I live right across from where this potential construction is happening. They're going to be tapping into my water, which means a lessening of my water pressure and everything to the to the south of me. Garbage removal, that's an issue. Increase of on andoff traffic on that two-lane highway. risk of higher acly trafficked two-lane highway. Now, these concerns are valid, and I'll tell you why I know that. The Lingo property immediately to the south of the Friday property, they are direct neighbors of the Fridays. That property

has been up for sale for a number of months. There have been many people have looked at it. Some of them come and talk to me when I'm outside working in the yard. They'll come over and say, "Hey, tell me about this property. That property is pristine. That house is beautiful. They have kept that place maintained. They've built onto it. They've remodeled. And the and the yard is immaculate. Everything about it is perfect, a wonderful place, a wonderful opportunity. Their next question is, "What's going on next door?" And as soon as they hear the word duplexes, they back away. That property can't be sold right now. I think that's a real shame. In January, my son and I went door to door visiting almost everyone in our neighborhood, at least 20 different locations. Only one person was not totally against the idea of building duplexes in our neighborhood. And it has nothing to do with race. Nothing at all. It has to do with the other problems that come from a huge influx of renters who are in and out and back and forth. It's different from what we're used to. We're used to having neighbors. Man, I met some of the best people in the world as we visited our neighbors. They're wonderful people and that's great. And they've been there a long time and so have I. I've been there a long time. But the universal reason why our neighbors have said they don't want duplexes is number one property depreciation and number two liability issues.

Yes, you've you've hit the six minute mark. So could you could you I'm sorry. I I you've hit the six minute mark. So if you could just uh uh wrap up your comments.

I will I will I'm almost finished if you don't mind. Um, perception can become reality. For me, I had planned on doing several upgrades to my home. That's on hold. That is on hold until this issue is resolved cuz I can't put more money into it if I'm going to lose everything that I've already invested. There are better places. There are wonderful places to do what you want to do. There are We've got um we are not even close to public transportation. You can't walk as far as you have to walk to get on one of the public buses that Texar Canada now offers. But there are areas that are much closer to it. There are areas where there would be employment opportunities. There are areas that have city sewer and adequate water where none of that would be an issue. Look at areas close to parks and recreational facilities. We've got those on the Arkansas side. Um, definitely look at places that are safe for children where they don't have to worry about their pets wandering onto a he a heavily trafficked highway or their children wand wandering out into traffic. There are so much better places. And for the city, we've got lots of places that are uninhabitable that could be renovated and rejuvenated and made a good place for something like they want to build. It would be it would

be excellent for the people and for the city both. And there those places are available on the Arkansas side. Property ownership is a precious right for American citizens. The right that was bought and paid for by our forefathers. And we bought our properties and built on our properties in order to have our dreams come true and to have continued peace and semi-privacy along with the expectation that our properties would increase in value and provide a good inheritance for our heirs. and at least or at least a good return on our investment. You have the power to shatter those dreams, men and women. But you also have the power to brighten our hopes. We are not here to make money. We are here to defend and protect what we cherish, which is our homesteads. And that's important to us. Micah 6:8 says, "What does the Lord require of you but to love mercy? Do justly and walk humbly with the Lord." I want you to know, men and women, I greatly appreciate what you do to preserve the integrity of neighborhood properties. You do that all the time, and I appreciate it. We all appreciate it. I pray that that you will understand what our concerns are. There's nothing racial or hateful in what we are requesting. We're just asking that you consider that we would like to be able to maintain what we've worked hard for.

Thank you.

Thank you. Oh, Doyle Holmes, 3,700 piece lane. And I'll be brief. Um, we still stand in opposition to um to this measure coming up. And um uh just want to put that on the record tonight. You know, I I talked a lot about uh why my family moved into this area in the first place. uh 50 years ago, over 50 years ago. And um that's still true and it's true to a lot of these people that are my neighbors, you know. Um so I just wanted to get that get that out. Y'all heard my testimony before and um I I hope that the vote tonight will be the same as it was the last time we met. Thank you.

Any other persons want to come forth to speak? Uh Colin 6211 Tennessee Road. Um I just want to briefly touch that um this property is zoned C3. Um so there are a lot of uses within C3 that are already permitted. Um that could be, you know, we could just pull a permit and start, you know, working on those. Um and after doing research, you know, there's I mean there's a lot of things. I mean, you could put an RV park in. Um, you can put in a a bar or a tavern. Um, there's a lot of other things that can be put in there. Um, after looking at that, we do feel that with this designation, you know, getting a conditional use permit, which is a permitted use for this property, we feel that this is actually the best fit for this property. Um, you know, it just the the city had those guidelines set up for a reason. Um, and that's why, you know, that's in place. So, that's what I'd like to say.

All right. Thank you.

I have a question. Where did Race get into this? I don't understand. We're Well, let let Hold if you would. Oh, would you hold on a second? Let's let's let's just, you know, we're a zoning commission

and we try to listen to folks and folks that build people that live in the neighborhood and our decisions and the decision we made last time was based on that and only that. Uh, and that's why I feel about that. I want to make clear, you know, we we try to do what's best in our minds. We don't You know, sometimes you can't please everybody. Sometimes you can't please anybody. But by the same token, there's certainly not any I don't know even know how to say this housing prejudice on our part. We don't zone or re do any Well, I'm not going to go there. Not go there.

Our decisions here are based on the best use of the properties.

Period. Period. Yeah. My name is Tracy Harris and I represent the family of 3417 East Street which actually borders the property there. And uh my comments will be very very brief. I just really I had I I'll say this before I make any other statement. years ago, I was on a board uh for 20 years and had one gentleman that would speak up and he would make a statement when we reached an impass and he would say, "You know, gentlemen, I feel strongly both ways." And so I I kind of resemble that remark tonight mainly from the last remarks that you made, which I appreciate very much. We want the highest and best use of the property. Totally understand the zoning situation. certainly understand the impassion plea of the emotions of everybody that that's affected because we have been affected and honestly because we border the property to be honest I'm probably the most principled that could even speak tonight because we have a real not an emotional response but a very real impact already that is we've had a an offer and an acceptance offer an agreed upon contract and then of course with all all that's going on. They chose not to purchase the property which could have already been sold from the estate mainly because of the uncertainty of what's going to be taking place. And I think the truth of the matter is at the end of the day. I just want to thank you for hearing the voices of the both, you know, those that are for and against. Um I don't want to reiterate because every situation is different. I only want to speak to the uncertainty. I will say that as Mr. Lingo, before he went to heaven, got in his elder years, we took care of the property. I personally trimmed the trees, tried to keep it up.

And you know, the city had a battle with what was next door. Um, they would ask him to put up the dogs. They never would. They would propagate. We went through three or four litters of puppies that dug up his yard. And it was and we've been back and forth with all of those kind of things. To me, those emotions don't enter into the equation. And they're just facts of what anybody can or cannot do. People make right decisions that make wrong decisions. So at the end of the day, I just want you to know as we represent it, again, I feel strongly both ways because I want you to prosper. I think you guys are doing a phenomenal job. I do want to see the best use of the property and the will of the Lord to be done in the area. I completely understand the single-use situation because someone was uncertain about what's going to happen and we don't want to purchase this property because it puts you in a tough position because I think you want to please everyone. You're not going to be able to do it. end of the day, my comments are done except to say I truly believe turn this over to the Lord fully prepared to accept graciously whatever decision you make, but I believe you're going to make the right one and I just want to thank you for all the time and effort. I know it's a tough call because somebody's going to take it on the nose, but at the end of the day, certainly not going to be against you. Thank you for all you do and I believe the right decision will be made overall. Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. All right.

Have you heard all you need to? No. All right. I'll make a motion we approve. I move a second. Got a motion and a second to approve. Anita Picket. No. Uh, Dr. Hickerson, yes. Chris Owens,

yes. Cory Mobs, yes. Chairman Neil, yes. The motion is approved.

All right. Next item number eight is staff comments. Anything. Okay. I move we conclude the board the meeting. I second that motion. Motion a second to to ajourn. All those in favor? I understand. Motion approve. Yeah, you got