Rogers Proposes Major Zoning Changes: Shorter Buildings, Easier Tree Rules, New Sign Standards
ROGERS, Ark. — The City of Rogers is considering sweeping updates to its Unified Development Code (UDC), including new restrictions on building height, relaxed tree preservation requirements, and revised design expectations for commercial development.
Unveiled during the Planning Commission’s March 18 work session, the proposed changes reflect the city’s ongoing efforts to align growth with community expectations while streamlining the development process.
Among the most notable changes:
Reduced Building Heights: Maximum building heights would be scaled back in several urban zones. T5.1 would drop from 6 stories to 4; T5.2 from 8 to 6; and T5.3 from 10 to 8 stories.
Tree Preservation Standards: Developers would face a lower mitigation ratio, reducing how many trees must be planted or preserved after clearing land.
Sign Code Revisions: The monument sign code would be amended immediately, with further changes under review.
Drive-Through Regulations: The city would codify drive-through standards, which had been omitted from previous versions of the UDC.
Other Updates: New rules for driveway widths, outdoor displays, landscaping within parking lots, and building height transitions.
Community Development Director John McCurdy noted that the code changes are part of a broader push to “right-size” regulations for modern growth while preserving the spirit of Rogers’ long-term vision.
No formal action was taken during the meeting, but commissioners were asked to review the proposals and provide feedback.
“Some of these changes, especially the building heights and landscaping, will impact how new developments look and feel,” one commissioner said during the session. “It’s important that we get it right.”
A final draft of the proposed amendments is expected to return to the commission in the coming months for a formal vote.
