Springdale council approves multiple rezonings, plats and easement vacations

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The Springdale City Council on Tuesday approved a series of planning and development items, including rezonings, final plats and easement vacations, and amended a waiver for a large‑scale industrial site to require a sidewalk.

Sharon Tromberg, director of planning and community development, led the review of the planning commission’s recommendations. The council voted to rezone 0.88 acres at 1012 Schmieding Avenue from General Commercial (C‑2) to Thoroughfare Commercial (C‑5) to permit outdoor storage; council adopted the ordinance and the emergency clause. The council also approved a rezoning for a 3.8‑acre site on Treat Lane from C‑2 to I‑1 (light industrial) and a rezoning of roughly 23 acres on 48th Street from high‑density multifamily (MF‑24) to institutional (P‑1) for uses such as schools and churches.

At the city’s southwest edge, council approved rezoning about 3 acres along Arkansas Highway 112 to C‑1 (neighborhood commercial). Caitlin Gibbs, attorney with Watkins, Boyer, Gray & Curry, represented the applicant and said the change is intended to provide low‑intensity commercial flexibility given a planned Arkansas Department of Transportation condemnation nearby.

Several downtown and infill rezonings also passed, including an amendment to the downtown form‑based code requested by the Springdale Housing Authority to allow higher‑density redevelopment near Luther George Park; council adopted the ordinance and emergency clause.

Council approved multiple plats and replats. The I‑49 Industrial Park replat divides an existing parent tract into three lots for current and future industrial development. Whispering Springs Phase 1 — a single‑family subdivision of 74 lots in southeast Springdale — was approved subject to vacating a related utility easement; council recorded the approval contingent on the easement vacation. The Gap at the Crossings final plat (phase 1), a parcel near Tesla and Apple Road, was also approved with an emergency clause.

On waivers and conditional uses, the council revisited a previously tabled waiver request for Paramount Metals near Highway 265 and Old Wire Road. Staff described a revised plat that increased building clearance and eliminated a planned secondary access. Council members and staff discussed pedestrian safety and school walking routes; the developer offered to construct a sidewalk on the property’s frontage. After an amendment to require the sidewalk, council approved the waiver (motion carried, vote recorded in the minutes). In other actions, council approved a conditional‑use resolution for a tandem lot at 1840/1860 West Sunset (including dedication of a 25‑foot paved access easement) and approved a conditional use for a food‑truck operator, Angel Salvadorian and Mexican Food, at 3389 N. Thompson St. (council vote recorded 7–1).

Council also enacted two ordinances vacating portions of utility easements (item 13: 1840 West Sunset; item 14: Whispering Springs), referencing Arkansas Code as the statutory basis in each ordinance title. Both ordinances and their emergency clauses were adopted.

The planning and development approvals carry immediate next steps: plats and vacated easements will be recorded as required, site plans proceed subject to the conditions set by council, and applicants that received emergency clauses may submit development plans within the accelerated timeframe.

The council approved the package of planning actions by recorded votes; the meeting’s minutes show the majority of these items carried unanimously or by clear majorities.