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Votes at a glance: Conway council actions Aug. 18 — annexations, UDO first readings, parks plan and executive-session items
Summary
At its Aug. 18 meeting, the City of Conway City Council approved multiple first readings for annexations and development-code changes, adopted the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, approved a Pedal Pub franchise first reading that bans alcohol onboard, disapproved one annexation request and took several executive-session personnel and property actions.
The City of Conway City Council took several formal actions Aug. 18, including first readings on multiple annexations and zoning items, adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, approval of amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance on educational facilities and childcare (first readings), and executive-session decisions involving personnel and property.
Key formal actions recorded at the meeting (motions and immediate outcomes):
- Ordinance ZA2025-0902D (Pedal Pub franchise, Item 5): First reading approved with condition prohibiting alcohol aboard pedal vehicles. (Vote: unanimous on first reading)
- Annexation and rezoning ordinances — first readings approved (unanimous): - Annex/rezone ~1.34 acres off Sixteenth Ave and Elizabeth St. to Highway Commercial (final reading amendment applied to designate flood-zone portion CP in final ordinance). (Final reading handled during consent/final reading portion.) - Annex and zone ~35.00 acres at 152 Lander Drive to R-1 upon annexation (first reading approved). - Annex and rezone ~109.13 acres near Culture Road & Oak Street to R-2 and Conservation Preservation upon annexation (first reading approved; Planning Commission to hold public hearing Sept. 4). - Annex ~10.66 acres at or near Hwy 501 and Hwy 548 to Highway Commercial (first reading approved). - Annex ~39.10 acres at 5206 Columbia Street (first reading approved). - Annex of ~1.57 acres at 2373 West Road (Item 6c): Staff recommended disapproval; council voted to disapprove that annexation request.
- UDO amendments (first readings approved, unanimous): - Amend Article 2 and Article 5 regarding definitions and conditional-use standards for educational facilities (to better define uses such as adult education and limited childcare functions). - Amend Articles 2, 4, 5 and 6 for day-care facilities: allow family child care up to six children in residential districts and group childcare (7–12 children) as conditional use in certain districts, add parking and loading/unloading standards, align local definitions with state DSS categories.
- Parks & Recreation Master Plan (Item H): Council adopted the 2025 Conway Parks and Recreation Master Plan by unanimous vote and incorporated it by reference into the comprehensive plan.
- Public input and administrative items: Council discussed nuisance door-to-door water-testing flyers (not a city program) and storm/safety preparations for current flooding concerns.
Executive session outcomes (public action after executive session):
- Personnel: The council accepted Police Chief Dale Long’s request for a temporary separation from the city for a 30-day period consistent with related state retirement/return-to-work rules and appointed Captain Tammy Carter as interim police chief during the separation (motion approved unanimously).
- Grievances: Council moved to uphold the decisions of the grievance committee for two recent grievance hearings (motion approved unanimously).
- Property: Council authorized administration to offer up to $1,000,000 for the purchase of Jamestown Baptist Church and the property across the street; the motion passed unanimously. Council also approved entering into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) relative to a possible purchase of a property in the Jamestown area (vote passed with one member recorded as abstaining on the MOA vote).
What to expect: Several items approved on first reading will return for final readings after required notices and planning commission actions; staff said planning commission hearings are scheduled where required. Executive-session property negotiations will proceed administratively under the authorizations given by council.
