By John Howell
Developers and entrepreneurs revealed plans ranging from a new subdivision to continued seasonal crayfish operations at Monday’s meeting of the Batesville Planning Commission.

Dave Smith and Brandon Crumpler submitted for review a preliminary plat for their planned Cottage Creek Subdivision to be developed on 12 acres north of Eureka Road on McBride Street.

The homes will be “… country cottage, craftsman-style homes,” Smith told commissioners. “Our goal is to make it one of the nicest subdivisions in Batesville.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat and to allow a cul-de-sac at a new north terminus of McBride Street once the length of the street is extended beyond 500 feet.
Sonny Simmons requested that 2.8 acres in the northeast quadrant of the I-55/Highway 35 intersection be rezoned from agricultural to I-2. The Panola Parnership CEO said the Partnership recently bought the small tract near the former Wardlaw property that it bought last year to expand the Airport Industrial Park.

Trees on the newly acquired property will be removed to make the industrial park visible from I-55, Simmons said.

Members of the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning to the city’s mayor and aldermen.

Commissioners also heard a report from Dennis Mangrum who was accompanied Danny Holland to report on work to convert the old Batesville Compress building into a classic car dealership. Planning commissioners initially approved the project last April.

Kay and Steve Nickle plan to enlarge their “Country Corner” store building at Mt. Olivet Road and Highway 6. Kay Nickle said that the addition’s exterior will be covered with the same material as the existing structure.

Commissioners also approved requests for conditional use permits for six vendors. The permits would allow:

• Kenny Anderson to sell fresh-caught fish on the downtown Square;
• Richard Monroe to continue his monthly trade days on Highway 51 North;
• Don Mays to sell fireworks at Barefoot Village;
• Margaret Bryant to sell sno-cones at Panola Plaza;
• Ernie Capwell to sell crawfish on Highway 6 between Woodland and Power Drive;
• Chris Smith to sell crawfish on Highway 6 from the Freds parking lot.
All of the conditional use permits were issued for two years. Approval by the planning commission moves the requests to the board of mayor and aldermen for final approval following a public hearing.