Fayetteville council leaves contested Ramey junior-high rezoning on first reading after hours of testimony

Mayor Ron opened a long public hearing on RZN2025‑48, a proposal to rezone roughly 26.7 acres near Marks Mill Lane from RSF‑4/UC to P‑1 institutional to enable a proposed new Ramey Junior High. Fayetteville Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Mulford told the council the district identified the parcel after a multi‑year search and argues the site would reduce travel distances for students, improve feeder‑pattern equity and allow a campus that integrates preserved forest as an outdoor learning resource. “We checked a lot of boxes,” Dr. Mulford said, describing efforts to minimize the building footprint and to pursue environmental certifications and replanting to reach “mid‑to‑upper 30%” canopy preservation.

Planning staff and the planning commission recommended the rezoning: Development Services Director Jonathan Kurth told the council the commission forwarded the request 7–1 and the staff found the P‑1 district compatible with nearby uses, noting the site’s history, steep slopes and that an RSF‑4 entitlement could otherwise allow dozens of housing lots. Kurth warned the property includes slopes varying from about 15% to just over 22% and that prior subdivision attempts showed the site is constrained by topography.

Opponents urged delay and conservation. Dot Neely representing the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association said her group has raised significant private funds and is prepared to buy the land to preserve it as urban forest and public park, and urged tabling to allow time for talks. “We have a viable alternative now,” Neely said. Neighbors and technical commenters described ongoing slope instability, seasonal seeps and stormwater issues on adjacent yards; several asked the council to wait for geotechnical boring results and detailed traffic analyses before changing entitlements.

Supporters—including parents, educators and local sustainability professionals—argued the district’s plan would better meet long‑term city goals: shorter student commutes, stronger walk/bike access for many feeder neighborhoods, and an institutional owner that may protect more canopy than private development would. “This site reduces sprawl,” one supporter said, adding that a centrally located school would lower vehicle miles traveled and increase access for families who already walk to nearby elementary schools.

Council members pressed both sides on specifics: several asked about tree‑preservation targets, timing of required plantings relative to occupancy, whether alley or road improvements would be needed, and the legal implications if an adjacent owner failed to consent to other nearby property actions. Staff confirmed some engineering and geotechnical work was underway but said key soil and boring reports were not yet available.

Councilmember Turk moved to table the rezoning until Dec. 16 to allow more time for the FNHA offer and for boring results; the motion was seconded but the roll call resulted in a 4–4 tie and Mayor Ron declined to cast a tiebreaking vote, so the motion failed. The item remains on first reading and will return for further consideration at the council’s next scheduled meeting. No final zoning change was adopted tonight.

What’s next: the council will revisit RZN2025‑48 at a later meeting (second reading), after staff compiles outstanding geotechnical reports, any further proposals from the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association and additional traffic and stormwater analyses. The district and community groups will continue outreach in the interim.