Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Smith board rejects rezoning, annexation for 11100 Old Highway 71 after neighborhood pushback
Summary
The Fort Smith Board defeated an ordinance to amend the master land use plan and rezone nearly 17 acres at 11100 Old Highway 71 following resident concerns about traffic, drainage and proposed duplexes. The planning commission had recommended approval 8–0.
The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted 5–2 on March 4 to defeat an ordinance that would have amended the master land-use plan and rezoned roughly 16–17 acres at 11100 Old Highway 71, a proposal that developers said would allow a mixed‑use project with residential and commercial uses.
The planning commission held a public hearing on Feb. 11 and voted 8–0 to recommend approval. The developer representative, John Alford, said the plan includes a landscape buffer along existing single‑family lots and noted the city’s master street plan shows a future arterial bisecting the site. "Carrington Creek has proposed that there will be a buffer against the current single‑family residential," Alford said.
Neighbors and homeowners described concerns during the board’s public comment period. Elizabeth Allison, president of the Riley Farm Property Owners Association, said the developer told neighbors the homes near the existing neighborhood would be about 1,200 square feet and would be rentals; Allison told the board that the developer's claim that the area needs more rentals was inaccurate. "When the developer says that we need more rentals in this area, that is not accurate," Allison said. Harold Davis, speaking for the Riley Farm Property Owners Association, told the board the plan would cause traffic and drainage problems and warned rezoning next to Riley Farm could "unravel the entire neighborhood."
Deputy City Administrator Maggie Rice told the board the applicant requested four character areas in the planned zoning district; character areas ranged from single‑family only along existing residential edges to areas allowing duplexes, row houses and some commercial uses near U.S. Highway 71. Rice also confirmed the city has not received a development plan with the planned zoning district application.
Board members discussed the absence of a development plan, the timing of a projected master‑street extension through the site, and whether the developer could build duplexes under existing extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) zoning if the board rejected annexation. Director Settle emphasized neighbors’ fears about unknown building types and said a development plan helps reduce uncertainty. Director Rigo reminded the board that, under current ETJ zoning, the developer already has the right to build duplexes and that sewer access and annexation are motivating factors for the applicant.
Following discussion, the board voted on the ordinance with suspension of the rules; the motion failed by a 5–2 margin (Directors Goode and Rigo voted yes; Directors Kemp, George Katzavis, Kristina Katzavis, Settle and Martin voted no). After the failed vote the related annexation items were withdrawn from the agenda.
The planning commission record and neighborhood meeting notes cited traffic, drainage, building size and density, property values and potential crime increases as recurring resident concerns. The board did not adopt any rezoning or annexation tonight, and the matter may return in a revised form if the applicant files new materials or a development plan.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance amending master land use plan map & rezoning for 11100 Old Highway 71 — motion to adopt with suspension failed, 2 in favor, 5 opposed.
