Centerton Planning Commission Recap, August 4th 2026: Dune Coffee and Fox Haven Phase 2

By Allie Verdery, The Blue Haired Broker, Centerton resident, real estate professional, and candidate for Centerton City Council

Tuesday night’s Centerton Planning Commission meeting focused on two development proposals: a landscaping waiver for the future Dune Coffee at 567 North Main Street and the preliminary plans for Fox Haven Phase 2 near Bliss Street and Keller Road.

Both projects moved forward, but not without discussion about how they will fit into their surroundings. For Dune Coffee, commissioners worked through how to provide flexibility on a tight downtown property while still meeting the intent of the city’s landscaping requirements. For Fox Haven Phase 2, the conversation centered on roads, drainage, sidewalks, detention ponds, lighting, and the infrastructure needed to support the development.

Previous Meeting Minutes Approved

The Planning Commission opened the meeting by approving the minutes from its July 21, 2026, meeting.

Administrative Approvals Ratified

The commission also ratified two applications that had already received administrative approval from the Planning Department.

Paperback Porch Home Occupation

HOP26-30 Paperback Porch, LLC is an online purchasing and resale business operating from a home at 8721 Anise Drive in Magnolia Landing Phase 2.

There were no concerns raised about the home occupation during the meeting.

Fuqua Cell Tower Improvements

MSI26-02 Fuqua Cell Tower Improvements covers the addition of a walk-in closet and diesel generator at the existing cell tower site at 580 Kimmel Road.

Commissioners briefly asked about screening and potential noise from the generator before voting to ratify both administrative approvals.

Dune Coffee Landscaping Waiver Approved

The first new business item was DEV25-08 Dune Coffee, a request for flexibility from the city’s Screen Type C dense landscaping requirements.

The project is located at 567 North Main Street on approximately 0.62 acres zoned C-1, which is Centerton’s Central Business District zoning.

The proposal includes remodeling an existing home into a coffee shop with indoor seating and adding a detached, 108-square-foot covered patio for outdoor seating.

What the Applicant Requested

The waiver applies only to the landscaping along the north side of the proposed patio.

The city’s code would normally require two layers of landscaping between the commercial property and the residential zoning to the north. That typically means a row of trees and a separate row of shrubs.

Because of the limited space between the existing building, the proposed patio, and the property line, the applicant proposed combining the landscaping into one alternating row of trees and shrubs.

The applicant’s engineer explained that the landscaping would still provide an opaque, year-round screen at the required height. The request was not to remove the screening altogether, but to arrange the plants differently so the patio could fit on the site.

The Property to the North

The property immediately north of Dune Coffee is zoned residential, which is why the dense screening requirement applies.

However, that property is owned by the city and is intended to remain a park or other public use rather than being developed with homes.

Planning staff supported the alternate landscaping plan because it would still create separation between the two properties while recognizing the way the city-owned property is expected to be used.

The project also includes a drive stub near the western side of the property. That could allow a future connection if the city eventually adds parking or another feature to the park property.

No specific plan for developing the park was considered or approved during this meeting.

Patio Placement and Downtown Flexibility

Commissioners also discussed the placement of the patio and how setbacks work in the C-1 downtown zoning district.

The downtown zoning district provides more flexibility than many other commercial zoning districts because existing downtown buildings may already sit close to property lines or neighboring structures.

The patio was originally proposed approximately three feet from the northern property line. After conversations with staff and the fire department, it was moved farther from the property line to create more space for the landscaping.

The project still has a large-scale development application moving through the review process. The landscaping waiver was one step in that process rather than final approval of every part of the coffee shop development.

Four Shrubs Added Back to the Plan

During the discussion, commissioners noticed that the alternate landscaping layout appeared to remove four shrubs from the original plan.

The applicant agreed to relocate those shrubs elsewhere on the property, potentially near the front of the site or another area where they can contribute to the overall landscaping.

Vice Chairman Joey Ingle made the motion to approve the waiver with the condition that the four shrubs be planted elsewhere on the site. Craig Langford seconded the motion, and the commission approved it unanimously.

Why This Matters

A waiver does not always mean the city is eliminating a requirement.

In this case, the commission allowed a different landscaping arrangement while still requiring the applicant to provide the intended screening and retain the total number of plants.

That kind of flexibility can be especially important when an older downtown property is being converted into a new use. The city can recognize the physical limitations of the site while still making sure the project contributes positively to the area.

Fox Haven Phase 2 Preliminary Plans Approved

The commission next considered SUB25-02 Fox Haven Phase 2, located at the southeast corner of Bliss Street and Keller Road.

The project is an extension of the existing Fox Haven Phase 1 subdivision and includes additional single-family lots along with an approximately one-acre multifamily reserve parcel.

Multifamily Reserve Parcel

The multifamily parcel is not connected to a specific development proposal at this time.

The applicant explained that any future project on that portion of the property would need to return to the city through the large-scale development process. That means Tuesday night’s approval did not approve a specific apartment, townhome, or multifamily building plan.

Planning staff explained that the R3-MF zoning on the reserve parcel generally allows structures containing three to four attached dwelling units, but the layout and details of any future development would require a separate review.

Surrounding Neighborhoods

Planning staff reviewed the surrounding developments to give commissioners context for how Fox Haven Phase 2 fits into the area.

Nearby properties include:

• Fox Haven Phase 1 to the east
• Crystal Cove Townhomes across Keller Road
• Skyline Cottages across Bliss Street
• Centerton Water and Sewer Department property to the south
• Kenyan Place to the northwest

The subdivision will have entrances from both Keller Road and Bliss Street.

Keller Road Improvements

Keller Road is classified as a minor arterial under Centerton’s Master Street Plan.

The project will include one entrance from Keller Road, along with additional right-of-way dedication and improvements along the development’s frontage.

Those improvements include:

• Street widening
• Curb and gutter
• Green space
• A six-foot sidewalk
• Street trees

Bliss Street Improvements

Bliss Street is classified as a major collector.

The project will also include an entrance from Bliss Street and improvements near the Keller Road intersection.

Those improvements include:

• Street widening
• A left-turn lane
• Curb and gutter
• Green space
• A six-foot sidewalk connecting to the existing sidewalk system
• Street trees

The commission’s approval also included the adjacent street agreement covering the required improvements along Bliss Street and Keller Road.

Drainage and Detention Ponds

Planning staff reported that there are no known floodplain or wetland areas on the property.

Stormwater runoff will be directed into two detention ponds. One will be located near the northwest corner of the development, and the other will be located farther inside the subdivision.

Drainage will be carried through designated easements and underground infrastructure before reaching the detention areas.

The project’s drainage report still requires minor updates because the location of one drainage structure was changed during the review process.

Streetlights and Landscaping

Streetlights are proposed at the subdivision entrances, throughout the development, and along the Keller Road and Bliss Street frontages.

The landscaping plan includes 29 street trees along Keller and Bliss, along with additional trees around the detention areas.

Because utilities are already located within portions of the right-of-way, the street trees will be planted within a separate landscape easement.

Planning staff recommended approval of the lighting locations, landscaping plan, and adjacent street agreement.

The Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat and plans unanimously, subject to the remaining minor labeling and drainage corrections.

Why This Matters

Subdivision reviews involve much more than deciding where homes can be built.

The Planning Commission also reviews how a development will connect to surrounding roads, where sidewalks will be located, how stormwater will be managed, whether turn lanes are needed, where streetlights will be installed, and how landscaping will be incorporated.

Those details can have a lasting effect on the surrounding neighborhoods and on the residents who eventually live in the development.

It is also important to remember that the multifamily reserve parcel does not yet have an approved development plan. Any future proposal for that property will need to return for additional review.

Downtown Plan Updates

Commissioners also received reminders about several upcoming meetings connected to Centerton’s downtown planning process.

Upcoming dates include:

• Downtown Plan Steering Committee: August 10, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
• Combined public, City Council and Planning Commission presentation: August 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
• Tentative City Council presentation: September 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Commissioners were also reminded to complete a survey related to the downtown plan.

The August 24 presentation will bring the public, Planning Commission, and City Council together to hear more about the future downtown plan. Residents interested in how Centerton’s downtown may grow and change should consider placing that meeting on their calendars.

FUSE Fellowship Positions

The commission also received an update about Centerton’s work with the FUSE program.

The city is interviewing candidates for two fellowship positions:

• A stormwater and flooding position
• An economic development position

The fellows selected would work with the city for two years. At the end of the fellowship, the city would have the option to hire them but would not be required to do so.

Final candidate interviews are scheduled for September 11, and the selected fellows are expected to begin work in early November.

The update was informational, and the Planning Commission did not vote on the positions or candidates Tuesday night.

Upcoming City Meetings

The commission announced the following upcoming meeting dates:

• Centerton City Council: August 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
• Centerton Planning Commission: August 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
• Technical Review Meeting: August 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. by Zoom

My Takeaway

Tuesday night’s meeting was a good example of how responsible growth is often found in the details.

For Dune Coffee, the question was not simply whether Centerton should have a new coffee shop. The commission had to consider whether an existing downtown property could be adapted for a new use while still meeting the purpose of the city’s landscaping requirements.

The solution provided flexibility without removing the expectation that the property be properly screened and landscaped.

For Fox Haven Phase 2, the discussion went well beyond the future homes. It included drainage, detention ponds, sidewalks, street trees, road widening, a left-turn lane, and the future review that will be required before anything is built on the multifamily reserve parcel.

These may not always be the most exciting parts of city government, but this is where thoughtful planning happens. It is where the city has the opportunity to ask questions early, require corrections, and make sure infrastructure is considered before development moves forward.

As a Centerton resident and candidate for City Council, I believe these decisions should be understandable and accessible to the people who will live with their long-term effects. That is why I will continue attending these meetings, taking notes, and sharing what happened.

For more Centerton meeting recaps and campaign updates, follow Verdery for Centerton.

For homeowners, buyers, or sellers with questions about how nearby zoning, road improvements, or development proposals could affect a property, reach out to me through The Blue Haired Broker. I am always happy to help translate the planning language into what it could mean for your home and neighborhood.