Council tables request to vacate tree-preservation easement at Ozarks Electric campus after dispute over mitigation and maintenance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fayetteville City Council on July 1 voted to table a request to vacate a 0.95-acre tree-preservation easement on the Ozarks Electric campus at 3661 West Weddington Drive after continuing disagreement over mitigation requirements and long-term maintenance responsibilities.

City urban forestry staff had recommended that the applicant be allowed to vacate the existing easement only if the owner dedicated a new 2.3-acre tree-preservation easement and completed an invasive-species removal program paid for by the applicant, with a three-year maintenance contract held by a performance surety equal to 150% of the work estimate. Staff described the new easement as abutting an existing 5.3-acre easement to the south and said the changes would leave roughly 4.5 developable acres adjacent to Persimmon Street.

The applicant and the Urban Forestry Advisory Board offered a different approach. The applicant…