Council to Study Eatery Permit

The Jonesboro Sun, November 15, 2010

By Karin Hill

JONESBORO — The City Council will make a final decision Tuesday on whether to allow a drive-through restaurant on a site currently restricted from containing such eateries.

Aldermen are scheduled to hear the third and final reading of an ordinance to rezone several lots on the east side of Stadium Boulevard between Sun Avenue and Parkwood Road to accommodate a proposed Panera Bread restaurant.

A 2007 rezoning approved by the city dictated that fast-food restaurants are not permitted on the site. During the Oct. 12 MAPC meeting, commissioners agreed that Panera Bread should be considered a “general” restaurant, even if it operates a pick-up window but not a full drive-through.

The MAPC failed to reach a consensus on a request to further ease the restrictions by allowing a full drive-through service, and on Nov. 5 that request went to the council.

Developer Kent Arnold, on behalf of property owners Mike Ebbert and Glen Talley, argued that the restaurant does not fit neatly within either category of restaurant and suggested the council should amend the zoning ordinance to allow for a specific use — a cafe-bakery with a drive through. He said Panera Bread officials estimate about 15 percent of the business would be conducted at the pick-up window, primarily for breakfast, and that would include an even smaller percentage of drive-through orders.

Panera Bread, a national restaurant chain, would occupy a 4,200-square-foot space on the property, according to a conceptual site plan. Other commercial businesses would be added to the site.

Also Tuesday the council will conduct the first reading of an ordinance to rezone 0.44 acres at 1504 Stadium Blvd. — south of Nettleton Avenue and north of Kingsbury Street — from R-3 high-density multifamily residential to C-3 general commercial.

Other items on the agenda include:

• a revised substance abuse testing program policy for the Jonesboro Economical Transportation System;

• a change order with Bailey Contractors for the construction of the city’s vehicle maintenance facility;

• a resolution to accept property donated by Charles Riley and Lisa Marks, or R&M Properties; and

• second reading of an ordinance to rezone 20.4 acres at the southeast intersection of Industrial Way and Parker Road from R-1 single-family residential to C-3 general commercial. The MAPC recommended approval of the rezoning in April but stipulated that any potential projects on the property must return to the MAPC for a site plan review.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Huntington Building, 900 West Monroe Ave.