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Jonesboro downtown merchants are considering taking area development to another level by hiring an expert to help solve parking problems. 

The Downtown Jonesboro Association and a City Council committee have wrestled with traffic issues for several months. 

While developers invested more than $10 million over the last five years on renovations to open new businesses and introduce residential opportunities in the Main Street area, parking has become more of a critical issue, according to developer Clay Young. 

Jonesboro Mayor Hubert Brodell broke a 6-6 tie Monday, granting property owner Anita Arnold's request to rezone 20 acres of property from single-family residential to commercial use.

Approximately 80 people indicated their opposition to the measure. One neighbor who voiced support for the proposal at the council's Sept. 20 meeting said Monday that he had changed his mind after doing further research.

The Jonesboro City Council adopted a set of guidelines Monday that city officials will use when considering applications for tax increment financing for commercial developments.

The city has authorized the new financing tool for development of the infrastructure associated with The Mall at Turtle Creek and has received formal requests for two other locations. Yet another developer said Monday he planned to request approval for another project.

Property once targeted for apartments may become a large-scale shopping center instead.

The Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to recommend that 20 acres belonging to Anita Arnold off of East Johnson Avenue be rezoned from Residential R-1 to C-3 General Commercial District. The property is located one-quarter mile north of Johnson Avenue and one-quarter mile west of Bridger Road. It joins 36 acres on Johnson that is already zoned C-3. Arnold also owns that property.

A resolution to place a moratorium on application and consideration of R-2A and R-3 rezoning proposals will be on the agenda for the Jonesboro City Council Monday night.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Huntington Building, 900 West Monroe Ave.

Recent R-3 rezoning proposals have attracted strident opposition from residents of single family homes who complain that apartment complexes ruin neighborhoods and attract crime.

A rezoning proposal for property owned by Anita Arnold of Jonesboro will be altered to spell out that it will be intended for senior citizen housing, when she returns to the City Council next Monday, developer Kent Arnold told neighboring residents Monday.

The property is located a quarter-mile north of Johnson Avenue and a quarter-mile west of Bridger Road.

Ted Herget moved his residence to downtown Jonesboro for economic reasons. Now, he tells a visitor, he loves the simple loft lifestyle and has no plans to move.

Herget is among a growing number of individuals who occupy loft apartments above downtown businesses. Several developers have taken note and are converting more second-story space for residential rental.

At least eight lofts are occupied, and work is underway on 10 more.

While agreeing to make some concessions, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to impose a 60-day deadline for Phillips Investments Inc., developers of Bill's Fresh Market at 3605 East Johnson Ave., to follow through with stipulations previously agreed upon two years ago.

After 60 days, if the commission isn't satisfied, Jonesboro City Attorney Phillip Crego will ask the City Council to authorize a civil lawsuit.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission rejected two controversial rezoning proposals on opposite ends of Jonesboro Tuesday night and formally voted to take further action to force a developer to comply with planning and zoning stipulations that commissioners say have been violated.

Commissioners voted to reject proposed rezoning of 25.67 acres located near the planned site of Southern Hills Mall on Southwest Drive (U.S. Highway 49 South).