Springdale City Council voted 5‑1 on May 27 to grant a waiver of subdivision street and utility improvement requirements that would otherwise apply to a proposed three‑parcel lot split on East Emma at Huntsville Avenue, while carving out a requirement for a short sidewalk segment on Track 1.

Sharon Traumberg, the city’s Director of Planning and Community Development, explained that the applicant sought to split an existing tract into three parcels without completing full preliminary plat subdivision improvements because one parcel (Track 3) contains wetlands and may require additional study. "They're hoping to divide this into 3 tracks without having to do all those improvements in the plat," Traumberg said. The Planning Commission had previously approved administrative review of the lot split and recommended the waiver.

Council debate focused on what improvements should be waived and which should remain. Councilmembers raised concerns about legacy obligations for future owners and whether the waiver would permanently remove requirements. Staff clarified that the waiver would allow the split without immediate improvements, and that any future development proposals would be subject to standard subdivision and public‑improvement requirements.

Under the motion adopted by the council, the city granted the waiver of street improvements, drainage, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street lights generally, but required the owner to construct a short 6‑foot sidewalk segment from the existing driveway eastward to the east boundary line of Track 1 where no sidewalk currently exists. The council discussed existing sidewalk widths (an existing 5‑foot sidewalk was noted) and the classification of the adjacent roadway; staff advised the limited required segment was intended to match existing pedestrian infrastructure while avoiding unnecessary improvements across wetlands.

The property owner addressed the council and clarified intended uses: "She plans to keep the 01, Tract 1. She wants to donate Tract 2, the P1, to a church… and she wants to sell Tract 3," the owner said during the hearing. The waiver, as passed, will carry forward for the lots as split; staff noted that if a future owner proposes development or a non‑large‑scale project, normal improvement requirements would be re‑engaged or would require a new waiver.

The council approved the resolution (Waiver W25‑02) on a 5‑1 vote; the transcript shows an extended public exchange and an explicit vote to adopt option 1 as presented.