ORD NO 14-2026 CITY OF VAN BUREN, RKANSAS
ORDINANCE NO. -2026
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL,FOR THE CITY OF VAN BUREN,
ARKANSAS,AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE VAN BUREN MUNICIPAL CODE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING THE ZONING CHAPTER 14
CONCERNING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONE AND AMENDING
THE PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL USE LEGEND WITHIN THE
CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS
WHEREAS, the City adopted Ordinance 07-1963 relating to the zoning laws of the city of Van
Buren, providing definitions, general provision; provisions governing zoning
districts, exceptions and modifications, enforcement, and a Board of Adjustment, as
allowed by A.C.A. 14-56-401 et. seq.; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 07-1963 is codified in Chapter 14 of the Van Buren Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 14.04.56 Historic District Zone of the Van Buren Municipal Code needs to be
amended to reflect current land uses,and correct conflicting language; and
WHEREAS, the Permitted and Conditional Use Legend needs to be amended to reflect the residential
land uses that are permitted in Section 14.04.56 Historic District Zone; and
WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing was duly published, and a public hearing was conducted by the
Van Buren Planning Commission on November 16,2025, to consider the amendments to
Section 14.04.56 Historic District Zone and amendments to the Permitted and Conditional
Use Legend;and
WHEREAS, the amendments to Section 14.04.56 of the Municipal Code and the Permitted and
Conditional Use Legend were recommended by a unanimous vote of the entire Planning
Commission; and
WHEREAS, Arkansas Code Annotated§ 14-55-207 allows for the adoption of technical codes, such as
amendments to the Zoning Ordinance,by reference; and
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF
VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS,THAT:
SECTION 1: The amended Section 14.04.56 of the Van Buren Municipal Code, Historic District Zone,
and the amended Permitted and Conditional Use Legend are and have been prior to
adoption on file in the office of the City Clerk,the availability of such codes,for inspection
by the public,has been duly published.
SECTION 2: The amended Section 14.04.56 of the Van Buren Municipal Code, Historic District Zone
as set forth in Attachment"A" is adopted in their entirety.
SECTION 3: The amended Permitted and Conditional Use Legend of the Van Buren Municipal Code as
set forth in attachment`B"is adopted.
SECTION 4: The various provisions and parts of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable,
and, if any section or part of a section, or any provision or part of a provision herein, is
declared to be unconstitutional, inappropriate, or invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction,such holding shall not invalidate or affect the remainder of this Ordinance and
to that extent the provisions hereto are declared to be severable.
SECTION 5: All laws,ordinances,resolutions,or parts of same that are inconsistent with the provisions
of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WH OF,thei Y of Van Buren,Arkansas,by its City Council,did pass,approve,
and adopt, by a vote of for and,,V against,the foregoing Ordinance at its regular meeting held on
the 9'day of February 2026.
G�erk Tres
U ��
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. H st
City of Van Buren
a
ATTESTED: ���rgCounty.P(�ac�h APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Shawnna Reyno ds Jacob Howell
City Clerk/Treasurer City Attorney
I
a
ulty Uf Vail Buren, Arkm,.,,'
a a
mumcipal complr--�:
1003 Broadway • Van Buren, Arkansas 72956
VAN BUREN CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR JOE HURST AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WALLY BAILEY,PLANNING DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: AMENDING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONE"H-1"AND THE PERMITTED
AND CONDITIONAL USE LEGEND
DATE: JANUARY 15,2026
Recently we were reviewing the Historic District Zone"H-1"(HDC) and noticed some language
that should be corrected. Our review included discussions with the Planning Commission and
The Old Town Merchants Association.
I have attached a copy of the HDC code section with the changes shown in legislative format and
which are highlighted. Also,there are residential land uses permitted in the HDC chapter that are
not shown in the Permitted and Conditional Use Legend(PCUL). The proposed amendment to
the PCUL is highlighted in the attached document.
The revised HDC code section is Attachment A to the ordinance and the revised PCUL is
Attachment B.
A summary of the proposed changes is as follows:
❖ Paragraph 3b. Addition of multi-family to the permitted uses. This allows
apartments.
•A Paragraph 4.Replacing minimum square footage requirements in the ordinance
with a simple reference to the minimum size requirements of the currently
adopted building and fire codes. This removes any potential conflicts between the
HDC section and the building and fire codes.
❖ Paragraph 5a. This section adds clarity to the front building setback line
requirement and addresses the subject of building additions. The added sentence
about additions conforms to the historic district guidelines.
❖ Paragraph 5b. This section removes the restriction or implication that only the
proprietor's residence is allowed on the first floor of a building. Also, a sentence
was added about the conversion of a commercial building to a residential building
must still comply with the commercial fagade requirement of the historic district.
❖ The PCUL amendment adds the residential uses that are mentioned in the Historic
District Zone section of the code.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 26, 2026. A majority of the entire
planning commission recommended these amendments to the City Council for approval.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
14.04.56 Historic District Zone "H-1".
1. Justification.
Regulations regarding the Historic District Zone shall apply only to the area that has been
identified as the Van Buren Historic District,with identical boundaries as the District.A
copy of these boundaries shall be a part of the Amendment and shall become a part of the
Official Zoning Map for Van Buren,Arkansas. Any properties outside of the Historic
District yet still within the Central Commercial District, C-1,shall continue to conform to
the regulations of C-1, Central Commercial District zone.
2. Declaration of Policy
It is the stated policy of the City of Van Buren,Arkansas,that the rehabilitation,
preservation, and restoration of the structures within the Van Buren Historic District is in
the best interest of the general welfare of the public. Additionally,the use,re-use, or altered
use of the structures within the Historic District is a beneficial and an integral part of the
redevelopment of the City. Further, any use,re-use, or altered use of any structure within
the Historic District must not violate any of the City codes or ordinances that apply and are
appropriate for the proposed use of the structure.
3. Permitted Uses
a. All uses currently allowable under the C-1 Central Commercial District;
b. Single family, two-family, and multi-family residences subject to the restrictions [ofl
5.b. of this section.
These dwellings must conform to the setback requirements contained in the Historic District
Zone regulations.
4. Minimum Square Footage for Residential Uses
a. The mim'mum square feetage fer the single family proprietor residenee shall be 650
square feet.
b. The —1--e feetage for the two family r-esidenees shall be 600 square feet per
The size of all residential dwelling units must comply with the currently adopted building
and fire codes.
5. Front Set Back
a. The front building setback line for the principal building shall be a maximum of zero
feet or the same as the existing feet adjacent building lines f em the een4er line
street.Additions that are accessory or subordinate to the principal buildingcan an be
constructed to a greater setback. The type of facade, its structural integrity and other
physical characteristics of the facade will be determined by the Van Buren Historic
District Commission's regulations.
Created: 2025-08-28 12:20:53 [EST]
(Supp.No.1,Update 1)
Page 1 of 2
b. When a single family r ieter's residenee residential dwellingunit(s)is located on
the street level floor of a retail or commmercial establishment,there must be a minimum
of 24 feet set back from the store front,so as to maintain the character of of the
structure as viewed from the street. This does not apply to other floors used as
residences within the structure. na;,r deer it apply to e fisting,widen+.,, .,tfueta fee
within the Dist iet When any portion of a building is used for residential purposes, the
commercial fNades must be maintained and the physical characteristics of the facade
shall be approved by the Van Buren Historic District Commission.
6. Rear Yard
Minimum:20 feet property line or center line of alley where one exists.
7. Height
Maximum height of any structure in the Historic District Zone shall be 3 stories and not
greater than 48 feet.
8. Loading and Unloading
Loading and unloading facilities shall be provided so as not to block any public way.
9. Parking
a. For retail and commercial establishments,adequate parking exists in the municipal
parking lots and with the on-street parking.
b. For residential uses,the parking requirements are one (1) off-street space per unit.
10. Restrictions on Construction
No rehabilitation,restoration, or improvement work shall he done to any structure in the
Historic District Zone until the City Building Inspector indicates in writing to the City and
the person or persons having the work done that the improvements are in conformance with
City codes and appropriate regulations that apply to the proposed use.
Created: 2025-08-28 12:20:53 [EST]
(Supp.No.1,Update 1)
Page 2of2
Attachment
"B" January 2026
Van Buren
Permitted and Conditional
u
X= Permitted Use41
"' N
to @ m n
4+ +1 41 41 Y i •i r0 N O
C = Conditional Use (must be approved by y 4JL I
planning colmmission) Z N L ° ° ° °
v C) (D a) v' -a Q.
cc v c° s o
Detached one family dwelling x x X X X
Manufactured Homes(See Section 3-B) x
Single Family x
Two family dwellings x x x C
Multi-family dwellings x x C
Accessory Dwelling Units(See Section 14,04.22) x x x x x
Churches C C C C x C C C C
Schools offering a general education course x X x x C C C C C
Library x x x C C C C C
General purpose farm,garden,or nursery x x x C C C C C C x
Private club not conducted for profit x x x C C C C C C
Municipal recreation or water supply use x x x C C C C C C C
Accessory structures and uses pertinent to the principal structure x x x x x
and use
Parks,playgrounds,etc. C x x C x C C C C C x
Kindergartens(public or private),day care C x x C x C C C C C C
Hospitals,nursing homes,doctor,and dental clinics,etc. C C C C x x x x x
Mobile home parks x
Mobile home park accessory and service buildings x
Retail establishments providing goods and services such as grocery, x x C C X
drug,hardware,variety stores and similar uses,and hotels,motor
hotels,restaurants
Office and bank buildings and uses x x C C x
Processing and manufacturing that by reason of operation are not x x x x x
a nuisance in respect to noise,odor,dust,vibration,etc.
Wholesaling and warehousing x x x x x
Bulk storage and non-combustible materials x x x x x
Automotive service,repair,and storage,provided that wrecked or x x x x x
salvaged vehicles are stored inside a building or are enclosed by a
solid fence and not visible to the public from the street or sidewalk
The manufacturing,compounding,processing,packaging or C x x C
assembling of those products that will require the smaller sized,
cleaner and more quiet industries and will involve a minimum of
noise,dust,odor,or vibrations
The storage of bulk materials that will not endanger the health, C C x x C
safety and general welfare ofthe people
Retail uses that are accessory to the operation and other C C X x C
essentially similar uses such as animal hospitals,repair shops,
transportation terminals,wholesale outlets,farm machinery sales,
lumber yards,restaurants,and service stations
Single mobile homes on a lot where it may be advantageous to the x x
industrial development of the area provided said lot is at least 40
feet by 90 feet
X= Permitted Use N m d Ln u
L
f0 f6 fp (a E2
+ U
C = Conditional Use (must be = _ _ v ru —r o
-a v E E *' L
approved by planning commission) :y � 3; = y
CI: W U U S E = O
The manufacture of heavy,raw products and those C X
operations that are generally objectionable to
residential business uses;including animal and poultry
slaughter,foundries,sawmills and junkyards
Public facilities and utilities x
Home based business C C C C C
On-site real estate sales office C C C C
Indoor Firing Range C C C
Single and two-family residences subject to restrictions x
Recreational Vehicle(RV)Parks C C C
Retail Pharmacy X X X X X
Homeless Shelter/Transitional dwelling C C C
Mini-Storage Facilities C X X
Commercial Communication Towers C C C C C C X X X
Hogs,Goats,Sheep,Cattle and Horses C C C C C C C C C
Recycling center C C C
Salvage business C C C
Dog Kennel C X X X C
Auto&Vehicle Impoundment or Holding Yard C X X
(no salvage)
Bus,Truck and Tractor Sales and Service C X X
Commercial,Industrial machinery,and equipment C X X
(sales,service,rental,and leasing(salvage yard not
permitted)
Home Improvement Center X I X I X
Lumber Yard and building materials C X X
Manufactured Home and mobile home sales and C X X
service(salvage yard not permitted)
Motor freight terminals C X X
Oil and gas field equipment,sales,and rental yard C X x
(salvage yard not permitted)
Tire sales X X X
Travel trailers and recreation vehicle sales and service C X X
(salvage yard not permitted)
Mobile Food Truck X X X X C
Mobile Food Truck Court C C C C C
Special Temporary Use Permit(Vendors) X I X X 1 X
Attachment "A"
b. When a residential dwelling unit(s) is located on the street level floor of a retail or
commercial establishment, there must be a minimum of 24 feet set back from the store
front, so as to maintain the character of the structure as viewed from the street. This
does not apply to other floors used as residences within the structure-When any
portion of a building is used for residential purposes, the commercial fagades must be
maintained, and the physical characteristics of the fagade shall be approved by the Van
Buren Historic District Commission.
6. Rear Yard
Minimum: 20 feet property line or center line of alley where one exists.
7. Height
Maximum height of any structure in the Historic District Zone shall be 3 stories and not
greater than 48 feet.
8. Loading and Unloading
Loading and unloading facilities shall be provided so as not to block any public way.
9. Parking
a. For retail and commercial establishments, adequate parking exists in the municipal
parking lots and with the on-street parking.
b. For residential uses,the parking requirements are one (1) off-street space per unit.
10. Restrictions on Construction
No rehabilitation, restoration, or improvement work shall be done to any structure in the
Historic District Zone until the City Building Inspector indicates in writing to the City and
the person or persons having the work done that the improvements are in conformance with
City codes and appropriate regulations that apply to the proposed use.
Created: 2025-08-28 12:20:53 [EST]
(Supp.No.1,Update 1)
Page 2 of 2
Attachment
«B»
January 2026
Van Buren
Permitted and Conditional
@(C f N V
X= Permitted Use L' o NL.
ILI
o
C = Conditional Use (must be approved by Y L I
planning commission) O
Y CC C' W O O C �^ a.
fY U U x O
Detached one family dwelling X X X X X
Manufactured Homes(See Section 3-B) X
Single Family X
Two family dwellings X X X C
Multi-family dwellings X X C
Accessory Dwelling Units(See Section 14.04.22) X X X X X
Churches C C C C X C C C C
Schools offering a general education course X X X X C C C C C
Library X X X C C C C C
General purpose farm,garden,or nursery X X X C C C C C C X
Private club not conducted for profit X X X C C C C C C
Municipal recreation or water supply use X X X C C C C C C C
Accessory structures and uses pertinent to the principal structure X X X X X
and use
Parks,playgrounds,etc. C X X C X C C C C C X
Kindergartens(public or private),day care C X j X C X C C C C C C
Hospitals,nursing homes,doctor,and dental clinics,etc. C C C C X X X X X
Mobile home parks X
Mobile home park accessory and service buildings X
Retail establishments providing goods and services such as grocery, X X C C X
drug,hardware,variety stores and similar uses,and hotels,motor
hotels,restaurants
Office and bank buildings and uses X X C C X
Processing and manufacturing that by reason of operation are not X X X X X
a nuisance in respect to noise,odor,dust,vibration,etc.
Wholesaling and warehousing X X X X X
Bulk storage and non-combustible materials X X X X X
Automotive service,repair,and storage,provided that wrecked or X X X X X
salvaged vehicles are stored inside a building or are enclosed by a
solid fence and not visible to the public from the street or sidewalk
The manufacturing,compounding,processing,packaging or C X X C
assembling of those products that will require the smaller sized,
cleaner and more quiet industries and will involve a minimum of
noise,dust,odor,or vibrations
The storage of bulk materials that will not endanger the health, C C X X C
safety and general welfare of the people
Retail uses that are accessory to the operation and other C C X X C
essentially similar uses such as animal hospitals,repair shops,
transportation terminals,wholesale outlets,farm machinery sales,
lumber yards,restaurants,and service stations
Single mobile homes on a lot where it may be advantageous to the X X
industrial development of the area provided said lot is at least 40
feet by 90 feet
i
X = Permitted Use
io R ra h
C = Conditional Use (must be v c a`, a`, •L L o
..,
approved by planning commission)
o m c
a� v CuW a, o o 'a Q.
The manufacture of heavy,raw products and those
operations that are generally objectionable to C X
residential business uses;including animal and poultry
slaughter,foundries,sawmills and junk yards
Public facilities and utilities x
Home based business C C C C C
On-site real estate sales office C C C C
Indoor Firing Range C C C
Single and two-family residences subject to restrictions X
Recreational Vehicle(RV)Parks C C C
Retail Pharmacy X X X X X
Homeless Shelter/Transitionaldwelling C C C
Mini-Storage Facilities C X X
Commercial Communication Towers C C C C C C X X X
Hogs,Goats,Sheep,Cattle and Horses C C C C C C C C C
Recycling center C C C
Salvage business C C C
Dog Kennel C X X X C
Auto&Vehicle Impoundment or Holding Yard C X X
(no salvage)
Bus,Truck and Tractor Sales and Service C X X
Commercial,Industrial machinery,and equipment C X X
(sales,service,rental,and leasing(salvage yard not
permitted)
Home Improvement Center X X X
Lumber Yard and building materials C X X
Manufactured Home and mobile home sales and C X X
service(salvage yard not permitted)
Motor freight terminals C X X
Oil and gas field equipment,sales,and rental yard C X X
(salvage yard not permitted)
Tire sales X X X
Travel trailers and recreation vehicle sales and service C X X
(salvage yard not permitted)
Mobile Food Truck X X X X C
Mobile Food Truck Court C C C C C
Special Temporary Use Permit(Vendors) X X X X
Attachment "A"
14.04.56 Historic District Zone "H-1".
1. Justification.
Regulations regarding the Historic District Zone shall apply only to the area that has been
identified as the Van Buren Historic District, with identical boundaries as the District. A
copy of these boundaries shall be a part of the Amendment and shall become a part of the
Official Zoning Map for Van Buren,Arkansas. Any properties outside of the Historic
District yet still within the Central Commercial District, C-1, shall continue to conform to
the regulations of C-1, Central Commercial District zone.
2. Declaration of Policy
It is the stated policy of the City of Van Buren,Arkansas,that the rehabilitation,
preservation, and restoration of the structures within the Van Buren Historic District is in
the best interest of the general welfare of the public. Additionally, the use, re-use, or altered
use of the structures within the Historic District is a beneficial and an integral part of the
redevelopment of the City. Further, any use, re-use, or altered use of any structure within
the Historic District must not violate any of the City codes or ordinances that apply and are
appropriate for the proposed use of the structure.
3. Permitted Uses
a. All uses currently allowable under the C-1 Central Commercial District;
b. Single family, two-family, and multi-family residences subject to the restrictions [ofJ
5.b. of this section.
These dwellings must conform to the setback requirements contained in the Historic District
Zone regulations.
4. Minimum Square Footage for Residential Uses
The size of all residential dwelling units must comply with the currently adopted building
and fire codes.
5. Front Set Back
a. The front building setback line for the principal building shall be a maximum of zero
feet or the same as the existing adjacent building lines. Additions that are accessory or
subordinate to the principal building can be constructed to a greater setback. The type
of facade, its structural integrity and other physical characteristics of the facade will be
determined by the Van Buren Historic District Commission's regulations.
Created: 2025-08-28 12:20:53 [EST]
(Supp. No.1,Update 1)
Page 1 of 2