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Neighbors press board over John Brown University rezoning for student housing
Summary
Residents urged the Siloam Springs Board to reject a rezoning request for 103 S. Holly St., arguing two-story or denser student housing would harm privacy, traffic and neighborhood character. John Brown University said the rezoning would let it house 10 students in a home rather than four; the board advanced the item to a first reading with one director recusing.
The Siloam Springs Board of Directors moved on Sept. 2 to place on first reading a rezoning request for 103 South Holly Street after several residents voiced strong concerns about potential student housing on a lot adjacent to single-family yards.
Senior planner Ben Rhodes told the board the applicant — shown in city records as John Brown University — seeks to rezone three lots totaling about 1.77 acres from R-2 (single-family/residential) to GI (institutional). Rhodes said the proposed GI zone aligns the property with nearby institutional uses and would permit institutional residential arrangements typical of university-owned homes.
The issue drew extended public comment from neighbors. Mary Hudson, 1607 West Alpine Street, said she feared loss of privacy and higher noise levels if the property were converted to student housing, particularly two-story townhouses. Dave and Kathy Flack, whose house backs the parcel, asked the board to preserve the existing residential zoning, saying higher-density housing would be “right up next to your backyard” and would change the quiet character of the cul-de-sac.
Kim Hadley, executive vice president at John Brown University, said the university has record enrollment and is seeking parity with other university-owned houses. Under current R-2 zoning, Hadley said the university could place only four occupants in the property; under GI zoning the university could put 10 occupants in a home, matching occupancy used elsewhere in the area. Hadley said the university had not finalized long-term plans for the site and had not yet engaged architects; the immediate need is to house students this fall in a manner consistent with other institutional properties.
Board members asked whether alternatives — including lot splits, use permits or R-4 zoning for higher-density residential rather than GI — could meet the university’s immediate needs while addressing neighbors’ concerns. Director Brad proposed a partial lot split to make the front portion GI and preserve the rear as R-2; other directors urged staff to explore special-use or administrative options for temporary relief. Director Mindy stated she works at John Brown University and said she would recuse herself; the board recorded her recusal/abstention when placing the ordinance on first reading.
The board did not take a final vote on rezoning at the meeting; the item was advanced to its formal reading process, giving directors additional time to request information from staff and to consider mitigation measures such as screening, occupancy limits or phased site changes.
The planning staff’s initial materials say the neighborhood around the site already includes GI-zoned homes used for student housing, and staff reported they had not received calls before the meeting. The record shows the board intends to revisit the item at subsequent readings and to request additional information from staff on alternatives and neighborhood impacts.
What happens next: The board placed Ordinance 25-28 on its first reading (suspending rules and reading by title). Directors said they will review additional materials before subsequent readings and votes.
