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Conway council denies North Main rezoning, votes on multiple annexation and zoning items
Summary
The City of Conway council voted to deny a proposed rezoning on North Main Street and decided on several other land-use items May 5, 2025, including disapproval of one annexation and approval of multiple first readings and a subdivision name change.
The Conway City Council on May 5, 2025, voted to deny a rezoning request for property on North Main Street and Court Boulevard and took action on several other land-use items, including disapproval of an annexation at Old Cedar Lane and first-reading approvals for other rezoning requests.
Council members spent much of the meeting on land-use matters that included public comment, staff briefings and extended council discussion about housing, traffic and neighborhood character. The motions produced a mix of outcomes: one rezoning was denied after notable debate, one annexation was disapproved, two first readings of rezoning ordinances carried unanimously, and the council approved a requested subdivision name change.
Planning staff described the annexation at 125 Old Cedar Lane as a property with an existing single-family residence that would be required to connect to city services if annexed. "During the annexation process, Sanitation did identify the property and denied the request, ultimately, due to some concerns of being able to turn the trucks around," said Ms. Dennis, a city staff member. For that reason, "staff's recommendation is to disapprove the request at this time." The council voted to disapprove the annexation.
The council approved first reading of an ordinance to annex and zone multiple parcels on U.S. Highway 501 to the city’s Highway Commercial district; Planning Commission and staff recommended approval. The council also approved first reading to rezone property on Technology Boulevard to R-3 (high-density residential). Staff noted the Technology Boulevard request would allow the applicant to develop roughly 24 additional multi-family units on a vacant parcel under the site plan submitted to staff for review.
A previously deferred rezoning request for roughly 7.8 acres on North Main Street and Court Boulevard — to change from Highway Commercial to high-density residential — drew the most vigorous public and council debate. After discussion and public remarks about neighborhood impacts, traffic and affordability, a motion to deny the rezoning passed. Council members and constituents raised questions about the future land-use map, traffic studies, and neighborhood character during the debate.
The council also approved the requested name for a proposed subdivision, Hemingway Landing, after correcting an error on the agenda about the requested name.
Votes at a glance - Annexation (first reading) ZA 2025-05-19A: 125 Old Cedar Lane — motion to disapprove annexation carried; staff recommended denial due to sanitation/truck-turnaround concerns. (Action: disapproved.) - Ordinance ZA 2025-05-19C: Annex and rezone parcels on U.S. Highway 501 to Highway Commercial — first reading approved (motion carried unanimously). (Action: ordinance first reading approved.) - Ordinance (Technology Boulevard): Rezone property to R-3 (high-density residential) to allow multi-family development (site plan indicates ~24 units) — first reading approved (motion carried unanimously). (Action: ordinance first reading approved.) - Ordinance ZA 2025-04-07D (North Main / Court Blvd): Rezone approx. 7.8 acres from Highway Commercial to high-density residential — motion to deny passed after extended debate. (Action: denied.) - Subdivision name change: Approve naming as Hemingway Landing — motion carried unanimously. (Action: approved.)
Council members and staff emphasized that several of the items will return for additional public hearings or technical review. Staff said that if traffic or technical reviews are required, they would be relayed to applicants during the Technical Review Committee process.
The meeting also included public input on economic development and grocery-store recruitment, and councilmembers exchanged ideas about downtown programming and public art during council input.
The council went into executive session late in the meeting to consider appointments to city boards and commissions; no appointments were announced in the public portion of the transcript.
