Texarkana, Arkansas board approves College Hill convenience store despite lot size issue

The Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors voted unanimously Monday night to rezone a long-vacant commercial building at 1617 Dudley St., clearing the way for a convenience store called U.S.’s Get It and Go in a College Hill neighborhood that currently has no grocery or convenience stores.

The property, at the corner of Dudley and Ferguson streets, was rezoned from R-3 low density residential to C-1 general commercial. City planning staff told the board the lot does not meet the minimum size requirements for a C-1 zone, meaning the board effectively granted a variance in approving the request.

Staff said the building has operated as some form of commercial business for as long as city directories go back, though it has sat vacant for years. The property’s designation as a walkable neighborhood in the city’s comprehensive plan allows for commercial operations that serve the surrounding community.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning, and the applicants presented a petition signed by most of the surrounding neighborhood in support. The applicants live adjacent to the property and told officials they expect the store to operate mostly as a walk-up establishment.

The city attorney told directors the approval would not set a precedent for future rezoning requests, saying each case is evaluated on its own circumstances.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris, whose ward includes the property, said the applicants contacted him early in the process and that he supported the project from the start. He recalled the building operating as a store when he was a child, near what was then an A&P grocery on the same street.

“Anytime we get a chance to stimulate our local economy, it’s a good thing,” Assistant Mayor Brewer said before the vote.

Second rezoning approved on Old Ore Road

The board also approved rezoning 40 acres at 4620 Old Ore Road from R-1 rural residential to A-1 limited mixed use. The property owners want to add a second manufactured home to the land, which already has one. A-1 is the only zoning classification that allows two residences on a single property, and the parcel exceeds the required two and a half acres per home.

Staff said the city received no objections. The board approved the ordinance with an emergency clause at the applicant’s request, making it effective immediately.

Funeral home owner responds after director criticizes his business on Facebook

During citizen communication, Gary Carter, a retired Texarkana firefighter and owner of Tri-State Cremation and Funeral Services, told the board he recently purchased a building in College Hill to expand his growing business, only to see an elected official publicly criticize it.

Ward 2 Director Laney Harris made a public Facebook post last week criticizing Tri-State Cremation for opening a location in College Hill. The post showed a photo of the building with its new “Coming Soon” sign.

“Why is this coming to the poor neighborhood if you is already has a creamation of hwy.67,” Harris wrote.

Carter, who spent his last 12 years with the Texarkana, Arkansas Fire Department stationed in College Hill, said he and his wife could think of no better place to expand.

“I think it’s very disappointing that anybody in elected position would do anything like that, especially somebody who’s going to bring money into the area,” Carter said. He said he worries the same treatment has kept other businesses from investing in the neighborhood.

Carter did not name Harris during the meeting, and no board member responded to his comments.

At the same meeting, Harris voted in favor of rezoning a Dudley Street property for a new convenience store in College Hill, telling the board he supported that project from the start.

Harris’s post drew sharp criticism from Texarkana residents in the comments.

“You kidding, Laney Harris has held directors office too long! He wants College Hill to fail! We need a grocery store and a convenience store for gas and a drug store,” wrote Sammy Smith.

Charkeitha Washington wrote that all types of businesses should be welcome in College Hill unless they bring harm to the community. “I passed through College Hill a few days ago, and it was somewhat heartbreaking to see how so many of the small businesses are no longer there,” she wrote. “We still have a lot of residents, that I’m certain would benefit from rebuilding the College Hill Community with more stores/businesses.”

“A local business man is willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in College Hill its a good start and a good thing,” wrote Tony Miller. “When you attract more business’, more business’ are likely to follow!!!”

Downtown business owner asks city for help with weeds, trash

George Dotson, a downtown resident and co-owner of Hopkins Ice House, asked the city to do a better job maintaining downtown, describing knee-high weeds and trash cans that overflow from Friday events until Monday pickup.

“This is the golden egg of downtown,” Dotson said, noting he recently dug out dead landscaping and planted flowers in front of his own building. “That shouldn’t be my responsibility.”

Dotson, who serves on the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission, also warned against efforts to eliminate the A&P tax. He said residents he talks to are often shocked to learn that ending the tax would mean zero dollars spent on tourism promotion, festivals and events in Texarkana, Arkansas.

“The last thing we need to do is throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he said, adding that he is open to more measurable ways to spend the money.

Director Roberts responded that the goal is to eventually phase out the A&P tax only if a replacement funding source that is not tax related materializes, saying “good things are going to happen, give us time.”

Other business

The board approved a water conservation and drought contingency plan as part of its consent agenda and adjourned to executive session at the end of the meeting. The city manager was absent.