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Fayetteville council approves multiple rezones, easement vacations and a design contract in Dec. 16 meeting
Summary
In addition to the Ramey rezoning, the council approved multiple smaller rezonings and vacations, ratified a Public Facilities Board bond for Butterfield Trail Village, and approved a $180,235 pre‑bond contract for design work on a new animal services facility.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — At its Dec. 16 meeting the Fayetteville City Council approved a slate of land‑use and administrative actions in addition to a major rezoning for a proposed Ramey Junior High.
Key votes and approvals included:
- Multiple easement vacations and cleanups: The council approved a conditional vacation of approximately 4,850 square feet of a tree‑preservation easement (contingent on dedicating about 5,534 square feet of replacement easement, removing invasive species in the new easement and planting 22 mitigation trees). The council also approved vacations for small sewer, utility and water easements (VAC 25‑17, VAC 25‑29, VAC 25‑30) and a right‑of‑way vacation on South Van Buren Avenue (VAC 25‑25) after the council amended the planning commission recommendation to add a 20‑foot combined access and drainage easement to preserve potential future pedestrian connectivity.
- Smaller rezonings: The council approved several neighborhood rezones on consent or after brief hearings, including RZN 2025‑49 (258 W. Miller St., RSF‑4 → UN for small ADU‑style infill), RZN 2025‑53 (1539 W. Sligo St., RSF‑4 → RIU), RZN 2025‑55 (2040 NE Ave., RSF‑4 → NSG) and RZN 2025‑56 (1723 N. Chestnut, C‑2 → CS) to bring certain parcels into consistency with existing or planned uses.
- Public Facilities Board bonds: The council ratified a resolution authorizing Public Facilities Board revenue bonds to assist Butterfield Trail Village, a senior housing project. The board chair said underwriting and lender due diligence support the action; councilmembers thanked the board for the work.
- Animal services design contract: The council awarded RFQ 25‑15 to Rania Alomar Architects for pre‑bond conceptual design, site evaluation and refinement of an animal services facility program at a cost of $180,235 for the pre‑bond phase; further work would proceed if a bond measure is approved.
Votes on the routine consent items and the slate of smaller rezonings and vacations were generally unanimous or passed by comfortable margins; several votes included standard conditions requiring relocation or dedication of utilities and easements at the developer’s expense.
The council’s actions move multiple land‑use items to the implementation or development‑review stage; many approvals are contingent on subsequent plats, easement dedications and technical reviews before permits and on‑site work can begin.
