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Fayetteville council tables ‘Rosie Row’ rezoning to Jan. 26 after repeated continuances
Summary
The Fayetteville City Council voted 8–2 on Oct. 27 to table a contested rezoning appeal for the ‘Rosie Row’ property until Jan. 26, 2026, after hearing resident frustration about multiple prior continuances and directing staff to communicate that the council expects to proceed on the new date.
Mayor called the Oct. 27 Fayetteville City Council meeting to order and the council moved quickly to a public hearing on a rezoning appeal known as ‘Rosie Row.’ Council member Davis moved to table agenda item 9.01 at the applicant’s request until Jan. 26, 2026; the clerk told the council the property owner was out of the country due to an emergency.
During the question phase, Council member Benavente said residents had repeatedly organized to attend the hearing and urged the council not to continue deferrals: “We've had citizens who've been very diligent about organizing around this issue... at a certain point... you've had enough continuances,” he said. Other council members and staff noted the applicant had asked for prior continuances citing medical and emergency reasons. The clerk reported that at the August meeting there were six speakers in opposition and one in favor; tonight there were six opposed and two in favor.
After discussion, a motion (as clarified on the floor) instructed staff to notify the applicant that Jan. 26, 2026 would be the next hearing date and that the council expected to proceed on that date. A separate conversation centered on whether the council should refer limits on continuances to the policy committee; some members said discretion is appropriate while others urged a formal policy change. The motion to table carried 8–2, with Council members Benavente and Banks McLaughlin recorded in opposition.
The council’s action postpones the rezoning appeal to allow the applicant to appear at the rescheduled hearing. Council members signaled a desire to communicate to the applicant that further continuances would not be granted absent exceptional circumstances; whether a formal ordinance or policy will follow was left to future committee discussion.
