Senate committee adopts bill letting property owners pick which local planning process applies when land spans multiple cities

Senator Bart Hester (District 33) told the City, County & Local Affairs Committee that SB 547 would let a property owner select a single municipal planning process when a tract of land spans multiple cities, easing duplicative review and approvals. "It just allows you to say, hey ... If I've got three and I wanna pick, you know, Springdale, then I can deal with them," Hester said during his presentation.

Hester said the change responds to recurring development problems in fast-growing Northwest Arkansas where single tracts can straddle city boundaries, obliging developers to navigate multiple planning commissions, councils and inspections. He framed the proposal as a compromise worked out with municipal representatives that avoids cities losing land or tax revenue.

The committee first adopted an amendment offered by former Senator Coby Fulfer to require property-owner notice to affected property owners — a standard procedural safeguard, Hester said. After questions from members about runoff liability and utility provision, Hester emphasized that engineers remain responsible for preventing increased runoff and that utility service would continue to be provided by the city where infrastructure is located.

Committee members raised how the bill defines when an owner may pick a jurisdiction. Hester said the text refers to "substantial property" and acknowledged that the threshold can be fact-specific. The committee approved the measure as amended on a voice vote.

The bill will move forward from committee with the committee's recommendation.