Council overturns planning commission, approves MF‑12 rezoning for Levine Avenue parcel with 50‑foot buffers

On Aug. 26, 2025, the Springdale City Council voted 5‑2 to overturn a Planning Commission denial of rezoning petition R25‑39 and instructed staff to prepare an ordinance to rezone a parcel at 4617 Levine Avenue to MF‑12 while adding 50‑foot MF‑4 buffer strips on the eastern edge and the south end. The motion carried after discussion and public comment and the ordinance will return to council Sept. 9.

Sharon Tromberg, director of Planning and Community Development, told the council the request matches the city's comprehensive land‑use plan calling for medium‑density residential along the collector and that MF‑12 is intended to sit between single‑family neighborhoods and higher‑density districts. Tromberg said the petition was brought by the property owners and that no development plan has been submitted for the site: "This request is still at the rezoning stage only," she said.

Neighbors who live directly behind the parcel urged protections. Victoria Gammell of 2116 Cobblestone said, "Anything that happens on this property is gonna affect my home, my way of life, my property value, etcetera." Rhonda Coates, whose yard floods…