Fort Smith Board approves multiple rezones, property conveyance and policy updates; tables chlorine purchase

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Sept. 2 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions including two rezoning measures, an amendment to the municipal procurement code to add real estate agent services, the conveyance of city property back to Methodist Village and the appointment of an internal audit director. Board members also adopted a mission statement and a combined vision-and-values resolution and tabled a purchase of liquid chlorine from the consent agenda for further review.

The actions matter because they change land use and procurement rules, return city land to a nonprofit for a planned daycare, and add a professional service category that the city can use without competitive bidding procedures tied to qualifications-based selection.

The board first adopted an ordinance to amend the master land use plan map and rezone property at 1404 South Eleventh Street back to transitional zoning, allowing two duplexes on separate lots. Deputy Administrator Maggie Rice told the board the property is roughly 0.3 acres and that the planning commission voted 8-0 to recommend the change. The ordinance was adopted with suspension of the rules and approved on a 6-0 roll call.

The board then approved a rezoning package for multiple parcels in the 5200 block of South 30 Third Street. The set of parcels (listed in the ordinance as 5202–5226 South 30 Third Street) will change to RSD-4 (residential single-family/duplex high density) to allow…