26 JUN 8OPENING REMARKS: The Planning Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on June 8, 2026. Chairman Oakley opened the meeting at approximately 6:30 p.m.
expressing appreciation to those in attendance.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Todd Underwood, Nick Priest, Billy Hall, Vivian Brittenum, Zeke Brown, and Jeff Twitty were present and answered ROLL CALL. Chairman Jim Oakley declared a quorum.
PRESENT (7) with chair, ABSENT (1), VACANT (1).
CORRECTION AND/OR APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Brittenum moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to approve the minutes of April 13, 2026 as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC HEARING(S): CONDITIONAL USE 200 North First Street auto sales, repair, & detailing in a C-4 zone
The public hearing opened at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Co-petitioner Craig Mosley of C & D Mosley Auto Sales stated he sells a few cars at this location, but mostly takes them to the auction. He explained that Capital Auto Group would like
to do the same and have an office located here.
City Engineer Adam Whitlow noted it is the same location and use with two different business licenses. He confirmed they are requesting the same conditional use that already exists;
it is just another entity added. He mentioned no additional exceptions were requested.
The public hearing closed at approximately 6:33 p.m.
Commissioner Underwood moved, seconded by Commissioner Hall to approve the conditional use for auto sales, repair, & detailing in a C-4 zone located at 200 North First. MOTION CARRIED.
REQUEST TO APPROVE PLAT(S): SKETCH PLAT SBS RV Park
Representative Aaron Robinson with Bond Engineering recalled a rezone two months ago. He requested feedback, noting they will most likely ask for a few variances or waivers. He confirmed
he has not met with the Fire Department yet and noted the City informed them they can only have 114 RV spaces per code, but have 137 planned. He brought up that once they start in-depth
designing, they may lose more spaces, but probably not 20+ more.
Engineer Whitlow related Staff’s comment regarding density, noting if this moves forward as is, they must request a variance. He noted RV and mobile home parks are heavily regulated
by the Arkansas Department of Health, surmising their standards are only 15’ between spaces, but that exceeds City density by quite a bit. He brought up the possible requirement of
a dump station and restroom, or restricting the park to fully self-contained units.
Mr. Robinson affirmed their intent to have nicer RVs, not the popup style campers that do not have a bathroom and kitchen area. He added that they are also proposing a building with
a restroom and washateria. He told how they will try to preserve the larger trees and may lose another 5 or so spaces, but they do not anticipate losing 23. He confirmed when they present
the preliminary plat they will request a waiver of 20 spaces, but they would like to know on the front end if the Commission would be open to that.
A brief discussion ensued regarding Fire and EMS approval where Mr. Robinson noted there will be an entrance on John Harden Drive that will connect to North First Street, so there will
be more than one way in and out.
Engineer Whitlow related that the State’s density requirement is not per acre like the City’s; it is a spacing between units, and this sketch easily fits that standard.
When Commissioner Underwood inquired, Mr. Robinson replied that the drainage will be handled the way it currently is and they will meet all City regulations. He recalled the Commission
approving sketch plats in the past and does not ever recall a denial.
Engineer Whitlow mentioned they will still have to comply with fire code.
Commissioner Priest moved, seconded by Commissioner Underwood to approve the sketch plat of SBS RV Park contingent on meeting all City standards. MOTION CARRIED.
BUILDING PERMIT(S): a. SITE PLAN Tract A, CMC Industrial Subdivision Earth Covered Magazine
Representative Aaron Robinson with Bond Engineering stated this is for an underground bunker for storage of material.
Mark Bailey with Sig Sauer stated this is a Corps of Engineers drawing used at military installations; it is government and Defense Contract Management Association approved for this
site. He explained that it is an ark concrete with 3’ of earth cover over the top. He told how this is the first of a phase to move away from their aboveground magazines since the earth
covered ones provide a better climate for materials.
Engineer Whitlow confirmed Staff has no objections since these have minimal impact on the environment.
Commissioner Brittenum moved, seconded by Commissioner Priest to approve the site plan for Tract A, CMC Industrial Subdivision Earth Covered Magazine as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
b. SITE PLAN Lot 26 & 27 Madden Subdivision
Representative Aaron Robinson with Bond Engineering stated the petitioner would like to develop a food truck court, noting the two lots are very narrow and not deep. He explained that
the front of the property was made ARDoT right-of-way when they built new on and off ramps for I-57. He brought up new Health Department requirements and possible setback issues. He
recalled having a restroom planned; they took it out, but Engineer Whitlow stated it needs to be there to meet Health Department requirements. He mentioned the current issue is sewer
access since the manhole originally installed for the construction of this subdivision does not reach these lots. He added that with all of the relocations of utilities, Entergy’s power
poles are grouped in one corner where the manhole is located and they cannot go straight to get to the property. He detailed that they will have to get an off-site easement in order
to extend the gravity sewer here. He confirmed they have a grease trap, but if they cannot get the easement, they will have to have a dump station with a contracted utility to pump
it out on a regular basis. He requested a waiver on sidewalks along T.P. White Drive because it is still under construction and ARDoT is not putting them on that street and stopped
it at Lowe’s. He noted they did not add them through to First Impressions, Bond Engineering’s office, and the dentist office. He told how there have been numerous conversations with
ARDoT about extending the sidewalks on both sides of I-57, and basically, they have said no, so they are not going to give them a permit to put it on their right-of-way. He affirmed
there is not enough room for them to put a sidewalk on this property and he does not think it is right for someone to pay the City for one to be built somewhere else since ARDoT does
not want it on their right-of-way. He believes this is the perfect example of the City’s ability to not require it. He related that most food trucks he has researched have gravel parking,
but per Jacksonville code, they have to have a dust-free surface. He would not asphalt or concrete that will speed up storm drainage.
Chairman Oakley pointed out that there are sidewalks further north at different businesses.
Mr. Robinson concurred, noting all of them are in the construction phase and are still needing an overlay. He explained that they built ditches right behind the curb and put in graded
inlets. He reiterated that the only place to put a sidewalk is on this property, but if you take out 5’ for that, it is being condensed down even more.
Engineer Whitlow stated Staff’s recommendation to table this since there is too much outstanding; easement acquisitions, restrooms, parking material, etc. He wants to work with the owner
to have a usable property, and if tabled, the City will work with them to make it such. He surmised this property may be better suited for a Planned Unit Development. He noted that
he is not a proponent for waivers on sidewalks since the City routinely applies for grants and if there is a history of granting waivers, it does not bode well for applications.
Commissioner Twitty moved, seconded by Commissioner Underwood to table the site plan for Lot 26 & 27 Madden Subdivision. MOTION CARRIED.
c. SITE PLAN 1900 John Harden Drive
Representative Sam Gassett with Pan American Engineers stated this is a closed bank building they will remove to build 2800 square feet with 12 fueling pumps in front of the existing
Walmart. He mentioned having an Easements, Covenants, and Restrictions (ECR) agreement with Walmart so they can utilize their drives.
Engineer Whitlow confirmed Staff has no comments, noting they came in early to have a pre-application conference. He brought up how they found some things that they went back and corrected,
so the current version is fully compliant with City regulations. He surmised the only thing outstanding is a pre-construction elevation certificate, which is not required by the Commission,
but for the building permit.
Commissioner Hall moved, seconded by Commissioner Twitty to approve the site plan for Murphy Oil at 1900 John Harden Drive as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
GENERAL:
ANNOUNCEMENT(S):
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Oakley without objection, adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:09 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Susan L. Davitt