Council Approves Rezoning But Tables Special Permit For RV Park

By Editor | June 9, 2026 |

by Janice Penix

The Clarksville City Council approved a rezoning request during its monthly meeting on Monday, June 8, that will allow property off South Rogers Street to be utilized as an RV park, but members stopped short of authorizing a related special permit request.

Council member Ed Bradley was elected to chair the meeting in the absence of Mayor David Rieder.

The Council voted to rezone approximately 14 acres at 1431 South Rogers Street from R2AH (affordable housing residential) to C3 (highway commercial). The property is owned by the University of the Ozarks and is located near the site of the planned shooting sports facility the university is developing in partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Cody Graham, city inspector, said the rezoning request will allow for the construction of an RV park at the site, which would benefit individuals who travel to the area to compete at the shooting range. Graham said the park, which would also be open to the public, will likely be utilized by workers employed in the data center construction and those working outages at Arkansas Nuclear One.

The rezoning, as well as a special permit request that would allow the property to be used as an RV park, was approved by the city’s planning and zoning commission on May 28. While the Council readily approved the rezoning, members expressed concerns about a lack of stipulations in the special permit request.

Among the issues raised by aldermen were the age and conditions of the RVs which would occupy the site, as well as the length of time the vehicles would be allowed to park at a rented space.

According to the city’s zoning code, special use permits require Council approval; however, the Council can approve the permit with changes. If the Council denies a special permit request, another application cannot be refiled for 12 months.

Graham told the Council it could include any desired stipulations into a special permit, stating most RV park owners have regulations for the site that campers must comply with.

“I’m just trying to stay away from somebody hauling an old camper up there and living there,” Alderman Eddie King said.

Alderman Robert Thompson also said he wanted to ensure the site would be distinguished from a trailer park. Manufactured homes are permitted in R2AH zones, but city code requires the homes to be double-wide and removed from any wheels onto a permanent fixture, according to Graham.

The Council voted to table the special permit request until its next meeting but unanimously approved the rezoning of the property to C3.

Poplar And Palmer Rezoning

Council members approved the rezoning of 19.86 acres along Palmer Road, on the north side of Poplar Street. The property, owned by Big Piney LLC, is the vacant land south of Motion Fuels.

Several residents addressed the Council with regard to the rezoning, questioning whether the site was also a planned RV park development.

Graham said the use had not been disclosed, and City Attorney Clay McCall said an RV park would require the owner to obtain a special use permit, just as the university had requested for its South Rogers Street development.

Uses in a C3 zone that require Council-approved special use permits include pharmacies, medical marijuana dispensaries, wrecker services and RV parks.

Data Center Public Meeting Planned

Heather Fresard, a city resident, addressed the Council on behalf of a group of “engaged citizens,” who she said have many questions and concerns about data centers.

She said a public meeting has been planned for 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, at the Walton Fine Arts Center on the UofO campus.

“We understand you may not have all the answers, but we need you to hear our questions and work with us to find the answers,” Fresard said.

Fresard said the public will be asked to submit questions to city hall in advance to allow public officials time to prepare. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Graham encouraged Fresard, and any other citizens, to reach out to his office at city hall with questions and concerns, stating he would be available to share the information he has received.

Airport Change Order

The Council approved a change order in the amount of $21,659 for the taxiway extension project at the airport.

Steve Fisher, airport commission chair, said the change allows for the inclusion of signage into the grant-funded project, which will be fully funded through federal and state aviation programs.

Fisher said the lead program manager from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggested it would be more efficient to add the signage into the current grant rather than designing a new, smaller grant in the future.

City Clerk Not To Seek Election

Lisa Venson, city clerk, told the Council at the conclusion of the meeting she will not seek election to the position.

Venson, who had previously served as chief deputy clerk in the Johnson County treasurer’s office, was appointed by Council members to fulfill the remainder of Barbara Blackard’s term, after Blackard announced her retirement at the end of 2024.

While she is eligible to seek election for a full four-year term, Venson said she will not file for the post. She expressed her appreciation to the aldermen for selecting her to serve in the position.

Filing for municipal offices opens in July.

Council members present at Monday’s meeting included Patrick Baker, Bradley, King, Christel Thompson and Robert Thompson, while Rob Risinger was absent.

Read this story and others in the June 10 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.