TEXARKANA, Ark. – The Texarkana Arkansas Board of Directors took up the issue of rezoning during Monday evening’s meeting. Specifically, they discussed a request for a boarding house.
Two residents told the Board they were against spot zoning in a single-family neighborhood at 14 Downing Drive in Ward 5. They asked for votes against appealing the denial.
Carlotta Powell had purchased a house in the neighborhood to use as a “sober home” to help 12 women residents with addiction issues to have a place to live to get them back on their feet and help them toward recovery.
City Planner Jamie Finley said that, based on a survey of the neighborhood homeowners, they were largely against it.
The Board upheld the denial of the rezoning request.
Austin Coleman, Field Representative for Congressman Bruce Westerman, representing the Fourth District of Arkansas, told the Board that he realizes Texarkana has been denied several times for the RAISE grant.
Coleman said Westerman’s office would review the grant for Texarkana and write a letter of support since it would be used to update and enhance State Line Ave.
This Saturday will be Texarkana’s Mardi Gras, with vendors and food starting at 10 a.m., and this year’s parade will be at night, beginning at 6 p.m.
