The Fayetteville Planning Commission on July 14 approved a conditional use determination for a private-dormitory (student housing) development on a vacant RMF-24 site off West Elm Street and North Leverett Avenue, finding the use compatible with surrounding multifamily and mixed-density residential neighborhoods.

Planner Jesse Masters said the site is zoned RMF-24 and that the commission is required by the city’s recent ordinance changes to review private dormitories through the CUP process. Masters told the commission staff recommended approval, noting the property is already zoned for multifamily, is undeveloped, and is served by multiple transit routes and the Meadow Valley Trail near the northern property line. Masters said the applicant plans to meet the residential parking standard adopted earlier this year and is not asking for any reductions.

Chris Farber of Moda Studio, the applicant’s designer, presented preliminary site plans showing an on-site amenity plaza and the intention to preserve existing significant specimen trees near the historic Evans house, while noting much of the parcel had been former farmland and that the 2025 aerials make the site appear more wooded than it is. "The ones that do exist on the site, we are planning to keep as part of a park community for the development," Farber said.

Two members of the public urged caution. Kathy Sauce asked the commission to study drainage and potential flooding along the existing ditch and to add crosswalks and lighting where students and residents would cross near the convenience store at Poplar and Leverett. Benjamin Hilliard said he supported housing but raised concerns about tree removal, stormwater runoff and affordable-housing trade-offs, and noted that the new private-dormitory code section (unit 48) is not yet reflected on the public city code webpage.

Commissioner Payne moved to determine the use compatible with adjacent properties and to approve CUP 2025-032 with staff-recommended conditions; Commissioner Garlock seconded. Commissioner Kaye recused due to a professional conflict. The roll call showed the motion carried with recorded votes in favor by multiple commissioners.

Staff noted that detailed drainage, landscaping and tree-preservation measures will be evaluated at the large-scale development and site-permit phases. The commission’s decision allows the development to proceed to the next entitlement steps where traffic, stormwater and site landscaping will be reviewed in detail.