Hot Springs board adopts housekeeping zoning ordinance to align code with new map

On Sept. 16, 2025, the Hot Springs Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance O-25-36, amending portions of city code in Titles 15, 16 and 17 to align wording and district names with the new zoning code and map the board adopted last November. The board suspended the rules and read the ordinance by title before voting.

The changes implement updated zone-district names that replaced old district names and add a small number of new district names. Planning and Development Director Kathy Selman told the board the changes are housekeeping to make the city code match the zoning ordinance adopted earlier.

"On November 19, the board adopted a new zoning code and a new zoning map, and those became effective in March," Planning and Development Director Kathy Selman said during the meeting. "Both Title 16, Chapter 2, the zoning code, and the zoning map employ new zone district names. Some of those names replace old district names, and we also have some entirely new names. There were ripples through district designations with the language and intent of Hot Springs code beyond the zoning code."

Director Dudley Webb asked whether the changes would affect the intent of the affected titles. "Is this a matter of housekeeping?" Webb asked. "Absolutely," Selman replied.

Director Marsha Dobbs Smith moved to adopt the ordinance; Director Dudley Webb seconded the motion. The roll call vote was unanimous: Aaron Holiday, Phyllis Beard, Marsha Dobbs Smith, Dudley Webb, Karen Garcia, Steve Trusty and Mayor Pat McCabe voted aye. The ordinance was adopted.

The ordinance text read to the board described the amendments as aligning specified code sections with "zoning code ordinance number 65 13." City staff provided the board with a red-line version of the proposed amendments before the vote and requested the board's support. The board took no further action on related items at the meeting.