A comprehensive ordinance that streamlines and updates regulations for commercial developments was approved Thursday night by the Mountain Home City Council.
Mayor Hillrey Adams said the ordinance, which was drawn up by the city’s engineer, street department director and building inspector, was developed in response to inquiries from potential commercial developers, which exposed some gaps in the current development process.
The ordinance establishes regulations pertaining to flooding and drainage control, as well as parking lot and landscaping regulations. Currently, there are very few regulations concerning landscaping, which could lead to the construction of a building that is not aesthetically pleasing.
The Council placed the item on its first reading at its April 1 meeting, and had asked for feedback regarding the ordinance. After city officials said that they had not received much if any feedback to the proposal, the Council read the ordinance twice Thursday night and then voted 7-0 to adopt it.
“I think we eliminated a lot of questions by inviting commercial developers to the table early on,” Adams said. “We had developers look at it and give their feedback before it went to Council. Everyone I’ve heard from is tickled pink by this.”
The commercial development ordinance will go into effect in mid-May. Ordinances approved by the City Council go into effect in 30 days’ time unless an emergency clause is attached to the proposal.
The sooner the Council adopted the ordinance the sooner it would be on the books, Adams noted during discussion on the proposal.
“If someone walks in 40 days from now wanting to build something, we could go ahead and give them the ordinance,” he said.
Council members Bob Van Haaren, Jennifer Baker, Wayne Almond, Paige Evans, Carry Manuel, Jim Bodenhamer and Nick Reed each voted in favor of the commercial development ordinance. Council member Susan Stockton did not attend Thursday night’s meeting.
Also on Thursday night, the City Council voted 7-0 to rezone three pieces of property from Residential R-1 to Residential R-2 at the request of the property owner.
The R-1 zoning designation is used for single-family homes, while the R-2 designation can denote a multi-family residence like a duplex or town home.
The property that was rezoned is three houses located at 308 E. 10th Street, 312 E. 10th Street and 1017 South Street. The owner hopes to demolish those houses and build duplex-style housing units in their place.
Council members also reviewed and approved the final plat of Glenbriar Commons Phase 1, lots 92-94, lots 104-106 and lots 113-115.
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