Planning and Zoning Tables Social Club Project

The Stuttgart Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing prior to their regularly scheduled meeting. The owners of Grand Prairie Social LLC held the public meeting to gather feedback from the community and neighborhood closest to the projected plans.

It was standing room only inside the council room in City Hall. After speaking to the audience about their plans for the 4.99 acre track of land that they hope to build their social club on. It is a covered pavilion and open-air space which will feature fire pits, games and activities, a stage, large televisions and vending stations for food and beverages, alongside entertainment. They want it to be a family friendly space where kids can run around while their parents relax with a beer or glass of wine.

After they explained their plan, Chairwoman Lana Roth allowed the audience to ask questions or make comments. Several citizens made comments opposing the project listing a variety of reasons. They listed concerns about noise, the fact it is so close to their neighborhood, asked if they would be actually running it or would they have a manager? The response was both. The audience also asked about if it would be available for private rentals, yes, and would they have security, yes either off-duty Stuttgart Police Department officers or a private security firm. There was also a concern about property values in the neighborhood and parking on their street and leaving their trash everywhere, also concerned about people drinking and driving.

Discussion was also brought up about a liquor store being put at that end of town beside the social club. Michelle Jacobs, City Attorney said that by State statute a liquor store can not be put there because of the proximity to the Hope for the Delta because it is under the umbrella of a church ministry and a liquor store there would be within 1000 feet.

Roth explained that a conditional use permit is granted to a site, not a business and that it can have conditions placed on it.

At that point the public hearing closed and anyone who wanted to could leave.

As they opened the regular meeting they approved the previous meeting minute. They moved on to discussion of the alley at 333 S. Porter, previously reviewed. They are still waiting to hear back on the utilities and the neighbor. They approved waiting for that information.

The ADU and tiny homes discussion was next. Roth said the State has not made a decision on these yet so they would wait until that happens to discuss further.

They discussed the hearing and said that they would need more information and would need to see a preliminary site drawing, setbacks, parking, water, other utilities, etc. before they could make a decision. Napoleon Davis made a motion to table the vote until they could get more information. 

The vote passed unanimously to table it. Roth said she would have Code Enforcement send the requirements to the owners. 

The next item was a manufactured home park on Theresa Gail Drive. There are manufactured homes already there that were grandfathered in previously. There was discussion about campers there, as well as manufactured homes. Roth said there really wasn’t anything they needed to vote on, it was brought up for informational purposes.

Next on the agenda was the Code Enforcement Officers building permits and report.

Lastly Roth brought up the November and December meetings, stating that previously they did not have November and December meetings due to holidays. After discussion they chose to not hold November and December meetings. If they decide they have something that needs to come before them, they will call a special meeting. It was approved.