Fayetteville Planning Commission members voted on June 23 to forward a rezoning request by applicant Wesley Bates for a 0.12-acre parcel east of 1228 Southwest Avenue from RMF-24 (residential multifamily, 24 units/acre) to the Urban Neighborhood (UN) district, recommending approval to City Council while retaining an offered bill of assurance that would limit allowed uses to residential only.

Staff said the parcel, recently created by a lot split, falls inside the city’s City Plan 2040 future land use designation for residential neighborhoods and inside the 71B Corridor master plan area. Senior Planner Gretchen Harrison told the commission that, compared with RMF-24, UN would reduce the maximum building height from five stories to three, reduce the lot-width minimum (to 12 feet for residential uses), and change the tree-preservation requirement (from 20% to 15%). Staff recommended forwarding the rezoning with the offered bill of assurance, finding the UN district “largely compatible” with surrounding uses and aligned with the city’s infill and attainable-housing goals.

Applicant Wesley Bates described the proposal as an infill project that would produce three smaller, fee-simple houses—two in the interior and one fronting the alley—and said the approach is intended to yield affordable homeownership options, including an approximately 800-square-foot two-bedroom unit and a roughly 602-square-foot rear unit. Bates said recent code changes treating alley frontage as conforming enabled the site plan he is proposing.

Neighbors and architects spoke during public comment. Kathy Casita, who lives at 1227 Southwest Avenue, raised concerns about public-notification wording and compatibility with the neighborhood and asked that the commission table the item for more information. Architect Nick Thorn said the proposal is “a thoughtful infill development project that aligns with the city's goals and visions for the future of our city,” and Brian Teague of East Spring Street said he supported UN for this location, noting UN’s lower height limit compared with RMF-24.

Commission discussion focused on whether the offered bill of assurance (BOA) should remain. Commissioner Warner moved to recommend rejection of the BOA; that amendment failed on a roll-call vote (Brink: yes; Garlock: yes; McGatrick: yes; Casten: no; Werner: yes; Gulley: no; Madden: no; Gabe: no). The commission then voted to forward the rezoning to City Council with a recommendation of approval as presented (roll call recorded and motion carried). City Council will consider the rezoning and any binding conditions; staff and the commission noted that a rezoning does not bind the applicant to the site plan shown at the hearing.

If City Council approves UN for the parcel and the BOA remains, the BOA would stay with the property unless the council later amends or removes it. Staff clarified that fire and building-safety requirements are evaluated when site development or building permits are submitted and that building-code requirements would still apply to closely sited walls.

The commission’s recommendation will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for final action.