The Fort Smith Board of Directors unanimously approved two rezoning requests at the regular board meeting Tuesday (Jan. 8).

The first rezoning ordinance changes zoning at the 8210 Massard Road, located on the corner of Massard Road and Phoenix Avenue, from residential single family-duplex low/medium density to Commercial Light (C-2). The rezoning will allow for a new proposed bank on a 1.25 acre tract at the intersection.

The bank will be the first phase in development of the much larger development of businesses surrounding the bank, all of which will share a single driveway.

The second rezoning ordinance zoned a tract at 6801 Veterans Avenue in Chaffee Crossing from unzoned to residential multi-family high density requested by ERC Create, LLC. The proposed development will include 13 single family homes on one tract by the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The homes will be between 1,400 and 1,550 square feet and will be basic starter homes, said Connor Threet of Crafton Tull & Associates, representing ERC.

“It is my understanding ERC will own the homes and lease them out. It is for student housing,” Threet said.

In other business, the board elected Kevin Settle to serve again as vice mayor.

At the opening of the meeting, there was a swearing-in ceremony for Mayor George McGill; Robyn Dawson, at-large position 5; Neal Martin, at large position 7, both new to the board; and Kevin Settle, who was re-elected to the at-large position 6 seat.