Springdale City Council approves multiple rezonings, code changes and grants

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The Springdale City Council on Tuesday approved a series of zoning and administrative actions, including multiple property rezonings, an amendment to the downtown form‑based code, an ordinance aligning local purchasing rules with state law and acceptance of a federal subaward for environmental work.

Council members voted unanimously on several rezoning requests that the planning commission had recommended for approval. The items included rezoning a 1.0‑acre tract at 5217 Whittle Road from A‑1 (agricultural) to SF‑2 (low/medium‑density single‑family); rezoning a 0.61‑acre tract at 4031 Old Wire Road from SF‑2 to C‑2 (general commercial) for the area containing an office; rezoning 3.77 acres at the northeast corner of Cary Smith Road and Arkansas Highway 112 from A‑1 to C‑2; and rezoning a 0.22‑acre tract at 1094 Nichols Road from A‑1 to SF‑2. The council also approved a change to the downtown form‑based code to move a 0.4‑acre parcel at East Johnson Avenue from Neighborhood Center 1 to Neighborhood Center 2, which allows more mixed use and ground‑floor residential flexibility.

The council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article 5, Division 2 of the code of ordinances to reference the state statute that sets the competitive‑bidding threshold (the statute raised the threshold to $42,921 effective Jan. 1). The ordinance change was presented as a cleanup to avoid repeatedly amending local code when the state amount changes.

Other actions approved included: • Acceptance of a federally funded subaward through the Arkansas Tri‑Region Energy and Environment Innovation Coalition for roughly $3.9 million to support streambank restoration, wetland protection and related stormwater/stabilization work (no local match required). The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to accept and enter a subaward agreement. • Authorization to purchase a new station alerting system for the Springdale Fire Department and a waiver of competitive bidding for that purchase; staff said the equipment was budgeted. • A resolution to destroy records in the city clerk’s office in line with retention rules. • An ordinance authorizing the city clerk to file a cleanup lien for overgrown brush and debris at 1503 West Emma Avenue.

Most of the land use items advanced on emergency clauses the council adopted at the same meeting so the ordinances could take effect immediately. Several items drew brief public comment or questions from council members about future trail alignments, neighborhood impacts and how the city’s master street plan affects sidewalk widths, but no council member opposed the rezoning items recorded as unanimous votes.

The council also heard administrative updates from staff and a thank‑you message from Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation for ARPA funds granted earlier.

Votes at a glance (selected) • Ordinance R‑2456 (5217 Whittle Road rezoning): Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • Ordinance R‑2501 (4031 Old Wire Road rezoning): Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • Ordinance R‑2504 (Cary Smith/Highway 112 rezoning): Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • Ordinance R‑2507 (1094 Nichols Road rezoning): Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • FB‑2502 (Downtown Form‑Based Code regulating plan amendment): Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • Ordinance amending purchasing thresholds to reference state statute: Passed; emergency clause adopted; vote recorded as 8–0. • Resolution accepting CPRG subaward (~$3,900,000): Passed; vote recorded as 8–0. • Resolution to purchase fire station alerting system and waive bidding: Passed; vote recorded as 8–0. • Resolution to destroy records: Passed; vote recorded as 8–0. • Ordinance authorizing cleanup lien at 1503 West Emma Ave.: Passed; vote recorded as 8–0.

The council’s actions on these items reflect decisions recommended by the planning commission or by staff in committee reports; the meeting packet contained project plans, staff reports and the planning commission recommendations for the zoning cases.

Council members scheduled no additional public hearings on the approved items during the meeting; some matters included comments from nearby residents or property owners during the public comment portion of the related agenda items.

Springdale City Council is scheduled to meet again according to its regular calendar for future agenda items and follow‑ups on project implementation.