Council denies annexation at 550 Dunn Shortcut Road after members cite principle of consistency

The Conway City Council voted to deny an annexation request for a property at 550 Dunn Shortcut Road during final reading on July 20, 2026. Planning staff recommended approval under the city's utility annexation policy, but Councilmember Goldfinch moved to deny the request, stressing that "this is a matter of principle" for protecting long-term residents.

Goldfinch told colleagues the property owner "has been in this house with her husband for a long, long, long, long time" and urged denial; the mayor then called a hand vote and said, "There are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for the denial," allowing the council to deny the annexation. Several council members pressed staff and the mayor on whether the ordinance could be amended to avoid similar outcomes in the future; Councilmember Helms asked, "Can we change the ordinance and add husband or wife?" Staff and council discussed that any ordinance change would have to return at a later meeting as a separate action.

Planning staff had noted the annexation followed the city's utility-service rules and recommended approval because the parcel is adjacent to the Wood Creek subdivision and consistent with prior annexations; staff also provided a table comparing city and county financial impacts. Council members who opposed annexation said they were sympathetic to the owner but prioritized applying existing policy consistently. The council did not take further ordinance action at the meeting and directed that drafting potential amendments be considered at a later date.