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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-05 - Minutes -City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 1 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov City of Fayetteville Arkansas City Council Meeting March 5, 2026 A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council was held on March 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mayor Rawn called the meeting to order. Present: Council Members Robert B. Stafford, D’Andre Jones DHA, Sarah Moore, Mike Wiederkehr, Scott Berna, Teresa Turk, Mayor Molly Rawn, City Attorney Kit Williams, City Clerk Treasurer Kara Paxton, Chief of Staff Keith Macedo, Chief Financial Officer Steven Dotson, Staff, Press and Audience. Absent: Council Member Sarah Bunch and Minister Monique Jones. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor’s Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions: None City Council Meeting Presentations, Reports, and Discussion Items: Sales Tax & Monthly Financial Report – Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer Steven Doston reported on the December 2025 Sales Tax Report. Fayetteville received approximately $325 million in taxable sales for December, which was an increase of 1%, or roughly 3.28 million compared to December of 2024. Retail trade was mostly flat with a gain of less than 1%. Manufacturing was up 24%, wholesale trade increased 17%, and Council Member Scott Berna Ward 3 Position 1 Council Member Sarah Bunch Ward 3 Position 2 Council Member Teresa Turk Ward 4 Position 1 Council Member Min. Monique Jones Ward 4 Position 2 Mayor Molly Rawn City Attorney Kit Williams City Clerk Treasurer Kara Paxton Council Member Robert B. Stafford Ward 1 Position 1 Council Member Dr. D’Andre Jones Ward 1 Position 2 Council Member Sarah Moore Ward 2 Position 1 Council Member Mike Wiederkehr Ward 2 Position 2 City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 2 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov professional, scientific, and technical services were up 19%. Tax rebates also affected the construction sector by $5.3 million and the education services sector at $4.1 million. Taxable sales increased roughly 1% compared to the previous year. The one penny tax for December 2025 increased 1%, or approximately $30,000, compared to December 2024. The county portion distributed to the city rose 1.77%, or roughly $43,000. Combined, total sales tax collections increased 1.32% compared to December of 2024. When compared to what was budgeted, the one penny tax came in 1.98% below budget, while the county portion was down 1.19% below what was budgeted. December collections were down 1.6% from budget, around $94,000. Council Member Dr. Jones and Steven discussed what the educational services was compiled of. There were classification codes designated by the government that reports information to Fayetteville. Dr. Jones then questioned the fees associated with them. Steven explained it was anything related to previously mentioned sectors and the rebates were related to construction. There were many construction projections in both the Fayetteville School District and the University of Arkansas. Council Member Moore asked if there were any indications given the trend with tax rebates. Steven stated it was difficult to report on as there wasn’t enough data received. Steven explained that after the city had significant rebates, he spoke with the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and the Director of Economic Vitality to create a plan to obtain as much information as possible. They plan to reach out to the school district and University of Arkansas to ask for information on the magnitude of the rebates and why they may hit. It’s not information they would have to provide, but they plan to at least try. Council Member Moore thanked him for trying to open that line of communication. Chief Financial Officer Steven Doston reported on the January Monthly Financial Report. Property tax revenue was flat, and sales tax came in roughly 2% below budget. Franchise fees met budget expectations. Alcoholic beverage fees were down about 7%, or $7,300, while building permits were up 1%, approximately $3,500. State turnback revenue was flat, and charges for services increased about 5%. General Fund finished the month approximately 2% below budget. The street fund, state turnback was up 1%, or about $8,800, leaving the fund on target with budget expectations. The Parking Fund was down roughly 14% for January. January was a slower month and the decline aligned with lower sales tax activity. In the Parks Development Fund, Hotel Motel Restaurant tax revenue was down about 4%, or $14,000, while charges for services rose 28%, or $3,900. The fund ended the month down roughly 3%, or about $12,000. The Water and Sewer Fund, driven largely by charges for services, saw those revenues rise around 2%, or $74,000, resulting in a total fund of about 2% above budget. Stormwater Management finished January up 4%, or roughly $11,000. Recycling and Trash revenues were up about 3%, or $37,000, supported by a 2% increase in charges for services, totaling around $25,000. In the Airport Fund, gasoline sales were down approximately 1.5%, or $2,900, while flight operations increased by about 1.9%. Agenda Additions: None City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 3 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Consent: Council Member Stafford moved to suspend the rules requiring the Consent Agenda to be read. Council Member Dr. Jones seconded the motion. Upon roll call the resolution passed 6-0. Council Member Stafford, Dr. Jones, Moore, Wiederkehr, Berna and Turk voted yes. Council Member Min. Jones and Bunch were absent. Approval of the February 17, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Approved. 2026 Stormwater Education: A resolution to waive competitive bidding and authorize an agreement with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission for a Stormwater Education Program to be provided by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension service in the amount of $42,498.82. Resolution 58-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Award Bid 26-22 and Authorize the Purchase of Precast Drainage Pipe and Structures: A resolution to award Bid 26-22 and approve the purchase of precast drainage pipe and structures as needed within the approved budget from Scurlock Industries of Fayetteville through the end of 2026. Resolution 59-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Purchase of Security Bollards from Delta Scientific Corporation: A resolution to waive competitive bidding and authorize the purchase of high security bollards in the amount of $180,058.68 from Delta Scientific Corporation and to approve a project contingency in the amount of $19,941.32. Resolution 60-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Water Main Cost Share Agreement with OP III FAY S Duncan, LP: A resolution to approve a cost share agreement in the amount of $200,000.00 with OP III Fay S Duncan, LP for the construction of a 12-inch water main along South Duncan Avenue, and to approve a budget adjustment. Resolution 61-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk ARDOT TAP Grant - Razorback Greenway Improvements: A resolution to approve an Agreement of Understanding with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to utilize federal- aid Transportation Alternatives Program funds in the amount of $250,000.00 for the Fayetteville Razorback Greenway Improvements Project, to authorize the Mayor to sign additional documents as necessary to implement the project, and to approve a budget adjustment. Resolution 62-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 4 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov FY 2027 Federal Aid Transportation Grant Applications: A resolution to express the willingness of the City of Fayetteville to apply for and utilize federal-aid funds for the Highway 112 Tunnel, Mission Boulevard Trail Extension, Old Wire Road Lighting, Millsap Road & College Avenue Intersection, North Street Corridor, and the Huntsville Road Corridor projects. Resolution 63-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Resolution of Intent to Approve an Economic Development Incentive to Support Conagra Brands: A resolution of intent to approve an economic development incentive with Conagra Brands by supporting the issuance of industrial development revenue bonds. Resolution 64-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Approval of Police Department Donations: A resolution to approve a budget amendment in the amount of $683.00 recognizing donation revenue to the Fayetteville Police Department. Resolution 65-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Approval of State Forfeitures for Fiscal Year 2025 for the Police Department: A resolution to approve a budget amendment in the amount of $32,652.00 recognizing revenue associated with state law enforcement forfeitures. Resolution 66-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk City Hall Elevator Modernization: A resolution to waive competitive bidding and authorize a contract with Otis Elevator for major modernization of the elevator in City Hall in the amount of $129,840.00, pursuant to an Omnia Partners Cooperative Purchasing Contract, and to approve a project contingency in the amount of $12,984.00. Resolution 67-26 as recorded in the office of the City Clerk Unfinished Business: PZD 2025-0005 North Crossover Road & East Zion Road: An ordinance to approve a Planned Zoning District entitled PZD-2025-005 for approximately 9 acres located at North Crossover Road and East Zion Road in Ward 3. At the February 3, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the first reading. At the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the first reading and tabled to the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting. Mayor Rawn announced that to prevent any perceived conflict of interest she would not be participating in the discussion of the item nor voting on the item. She went on to say that she had spoken with City Attorney Kit Williams and his opinion was that she could still preside over the meeting even though she would not be providing any commentary nor voting on the ordinance. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 5 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Development Services Director Jonathan Curth provided a reminder where the property was located. He addressed potential changes to the existing Chandler Crossing Planned Zoning District, what potential entitlement updates or entitlement changes may need to be completed to the Planned Zoning District, the previously approved plat, the approved design for the Crossover and Zion intersection with a focus on pedestrian access and potential for a traffic study/analysis that had been requested by council. Representative Will Kellstrom spoke about the required changes that had been made to the initial site plan. He finalized his comments by noting two council members were absent and explained he supported the idea of leaving the ordinance on the second reading. A brief discussion took place regarding the changes that Will Kellstrom mentioned. Council Member Turk requested for the changes to be documented and placed into the agenda packet. Will provided a brief explanation of the documents that would be forwarded to the City Clerk’s office. Project Engineer Jonathan Barry summarized the second document presented. A brief discussion took place between Council Member Dr. Jones and Will. Will stated the applicant opted to submit the request to ask for a Planned Zoning District as opposed to using a different route. A brief discussion took place about the reduction of water flow and percentage of impervious surface. Jonathan Barry answered Council Member Turk’s question by explaining the city’s code allows up to 65% of impervious surface, therefore, homes and roads would be built. He stated it would allow for more green space due to detaining the water on site. Council Member Berna referenced a concern he received from the Elks Lodge that the runoff would affect the pond located on the Elks Lodge site. Jonathan Barry verified that the pond located on the Elks Lodge site would not be affected by the runoff since the runoff would be directed to the east. The City Council received 3 public comments regarding this ordinance. Council Member Moore explained that the initial Planned Zoning District was approved after the annexation of the property with the mindset that the Planned Zoning District would protect the waterway going into Lake Fayetteville. She explained she wanted all residents to get the same walkability experience as downtown but felt strongly that the council should reconsider the gas station and pedestrian pathways. A brief discussion took place about the surrounding area. Council Member Stafford requested a map that included the surrounding businesses. Council Member Wiederkehr had previously City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 6 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov prepared a map that matched the request and the City Clerk Treasurer Kara Paxton provided copies to the council. Council Member Wiederkehr explained why he created the map; it was to allow the council to have a more meaningful conversation about the surrounding area. Council Member Turk requested the applicant to provide verification of the drainage flow. She requested a topography map as well as verification of the proximity to Hilton Creek and Lake Fayetteville. Council Member Berna requested additional information be provided to the council regarding the traffic in the area and as well as any accident data. At the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the second reading. Mayor Rawn addressed a housekeeping item regarding the consent agenda. The council had taken the improper steps to approve the consent agenda earlier in the evening. The roll call vote had been completed without a motion to approve. This oversight happened due to an earlier motion being made which called to suspend the rules that required the Mayor to read the consent items. 516 North Fallin Avenue Sewer Damage Claim: A resolution pursuant to §39.10(C)(4) of the Fayetteville City Code to authorize a payment of $100,000.00 to Chris Skrocki for a sewer damage claim arising at 516 North Fallin Avenue. At the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting, this resolution was tabled to the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting. Utilities Director Tim Nyander presented the item and explained that staff considered the sewer damage Chris Skrocki experienced to be an extraordinary situation. He explained that the individual who was responsible for marking the sewer lines only marked the first half of the sewer line. The individual failed to go around the shed to determine if the sewer line continued. He verified that city staff were supportive of the maximum allowed by ordinance of $100,000 be paid out to the homeowner. He explained how the sewer damage payout tiers were established and implemented. A brief discussion took place between Tim and Council Member Stafford. Tim identified the discrepancy that Council Member Stafford referenced and explained the $495 difference was due to that amount being for lodging of the individual. Property Owner Chris Skrocki gave a presentation and spoke about the catastrophic damage to his property and shared documents he had obtained after submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to city staff. He expressed his displeasure with the lengthy process he was going through in order to obtain payment for the damage to his property that he was not responsible for and had no control over. He finalized his comments by stating the process wasn’t consistent with in terms of taking ownership and accountability and providing the environment for trust. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 7 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov There was a brief discussion between Council Member Stafford and City Attorney Kit Williams regarding the cap on the ordinance. Council Member Stafford requested clarification on a comment made by the property owner. It was verified that the city had not paid any claimant damages over the capped amount. It was later realized that the property owner had received documents pertaining to water damage claims and sewer damage claims which had a different capped amount. City Attorney Kit Williams explained to the City Council that the Utilities Director, Tim Nyander, verified the city was responsible for the damage. He went on to explain that the city was not liable for the damage and explained the difference. Chris answered the questions presented to him by Council Member Dr. Jones. He explained that it had been around 87 days since this incident happened and that his home was still not repaired. A brief discussion took place that identified the total cost of damage that had been incurred. Chris provided an approximate amount of $198,700. Council Member Moore spoke on how in the past the City Council had raised the cap to cover incidents and questioned if Fayetteville needed to have another category for catastrophic that was more tiered. She acknowledged the instances would be rare and stated that this scenario had many moving parts. She wanted to understand the plan going forward and felt there wouldn’t be finality on the item at the meeting. She then asked if the council needed to think more on the item and meet in the future about it. City Attorney Kit Williams explained the current city code stipulations. Tim had the authority to a certain amount but anything higher required the Mayor’s approval. To go up to $100,000 was a very extraordinary situation and required two third vote of the council. Council Member Wiederkehr reviewed different situations in which a payout would or wouldn’t be needed. When there was an error on the city’s side, he liked the idea of the ‘no fault max’ being what it was when there was an error. He felt that if the item required all 6 votes to be resolved it may be in the applicants’ best interest that the City Council wait to decide until all 8 City Council Members were in attendance. A brief discussion took place between Council Member Berna and City Attorney Kit Williams. City Attorney Williams clarified that the city had sovereign immunity and the only exception to that was automobile accidents. Council Member Dr. Jones asked the applicant if he would be okay with the City Council tabling the item. Chris replied that he would be okay with the item being tabled and would provide additional information regarding his sewer damage claim. A brief discussion took place between Chris, City Attorney Kit Williams and Mayor Rawn. City Attorney Williams explained that two-thirds vote in the affirmative would pass the resolution. The City Council received 5 public comments regarding this resolution. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 8 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov City Attorney Kit Williams explained that if the item was approved, Chris would be required to sign a release before being compensated for the damage. A brief discussion took place between Council Member Moore, Stafford, Berna, City Attorney Williams and Mayor Rawn regarding the Ordinance Review Committee. It was shared that it would take time for the Ordinance Review Committee to review and recommend changes to the ordinance that capped compensation for sewer damages at $100,000. Chief of Staff Keith Macedo was directed to provide more information by Mayor Rawn about sewer damage claims. He explained that over the last five years, a total of 37 claims had been filed and $161,000 has been paid out to compensate for the damage claims. Council Member Turk requested that Keith pull data regarding the water claims that the city had received over the years. Council Member Berna moved to table the resolution to the April 21, 2026 City Council meeting. Council Member Turk seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion passed 6-0. Council Member Stafford, Dr. Jones, Moore, Wiederkehr, Berna, and Turk voted yes. Council Member Bunch and Min. Jones were absent. At the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting, this resolution was tabled to the April 21, 2026 City Council meeting. RZN 2025-0071 South Willow Avenue: An ordinance to rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 2025-71 for approximately 1.80 acres located at 416 South Willow Avenue in Ward 1 from NC, Neighborhood Conservation to UN, Urban Neighborhood and RI- U, Residential Intermediate, Urban. At the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the first reading. City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Development Services Director Jonathan Curth gave a brief overview of the request and noted that the applicant had originally requested to rezone the entire property to Urban Neighborhood that had created city staff concerns regarding entitlement. Jonathan went on to explain that the alternate request was exactly as read by City Attorney Kit Williams. Jonathan finalized his comments by explaining city staff and the Planning Commission support the approval of the request. Representative Zara Niederman explained that he was available to answer questions of the council. Council Member Turk felt it was discourteous to provide information last minute. Jonathan explained the long process that the applicant had to go through to obtain the documents that City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 9 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Council Member Turk referenced. Jonathan also verified that the applicant had been actively working on obtaining the information. Council Member Moore moved to amend the ordinance to include the documents titled Exhibit A and Exhibit B. The motion died due to a lack of a second. A brief discussion took place between the City Council regarding the motion to amend. Council Member Stafford, Turk, and Wiederkehr voiced their support of not amending nor moving on to the second reading. Council Member Berna reminded the City Council that Jonathan stated the applicant was aware the item might not move to the next reading and was okay with it remaining on the second reading. At the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the second reading. New Business: VAC 2025-0033 East Center Street: An ordinance to approve VAC-25-33 for property located at 18 East Center Street in Ward 2 to vacate approximately 250 square feet of utility easement. City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Development Services Director Jonathan Curth presented on the item. The request was to vacate a portion of an easement north of the building, totaling 250 square feet. The small size of the easement was not a cause of concern so much as it was the downtown area and easements tend to be smaller. Staff identified no issues and all associated franchise consented to the request. He was available for questions. Council Member Berna moved to suspend the rules and go to the third and final reading. Council Member Stafford seconded the motion. Upon roll call the resolution passed 6-0. Council Member Stafford, Dr. Jones, Moore, Wiederkehr, Berna and Turk voted yes. Council Member Min. Jones and Bunch were absent. City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Mayor Rawn asked shall the ordinance pass. Upon roll call the resolution passed 6-0. Council Member Stafford, Dr. Jones, Moore, Wiederkehr, Berna and Turk voted yes. Council Member Min. Jones and Bunch were absent. Ordinance 6979 as Recorded in the office of the City Clerk RZN 2025-0069 S. Dead Horse Mountain Rd & E. Goff Farm Rd: An ordinance to rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 2025-69 for approximately 42.31 acres of a 157.05 City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 10 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov acre parcel located on South Dead Horse Mountain Road & East Goff Farm Road in Ward 1 from R-A, Residential Agricultural to UN, Urban Neighborhood and NC, Neighborhood Conservation. City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Development Services Director Jonathan Curth presented on the item. The rezoning request had recommendations of approval from both staff and the Planning Commission. The area covered about 150 acres southeast of Goff Farm Road and west of Dead Horse Mountain Road, adjacent to the Meadows at Stone Bridge subdivision and was included in part of the Stone Bridge golf course. He stated that a larger rezoning request had been submitted in 2023 for roughly 113 acres, but the new request was substantially smaller, proposing to rezone about 37.7 acres to Neighborhood Conservation and 4.7 acres to Urban Neighborhood, totaling around 42 acres. Staff found the proposal compatible with surrounding land uses, since Neighborhood Conservation zoning aligned with the single family homes in the area, and the smaller Urban Neighborhood portion allowed moderate housing diversity and small scale nonresidential uses. The site scored lower on typical infill criteria but was consistent with the future land use map, which designated the area for residential neighborhoods with a wider variety of housing types. He also noted that tree preservation requirements would decrease from 25% under Residential Agriculture to 20% in Neighborhood Conservation and 15% in Urban Neighborhood. He spoke on the infrastructure concerns raised in 2023, stating that the property had existing access to water lines and that additional connections would be available as nearby development continued. The sewer issues had been resolved, explaining that the lift station previously believed to be at capacity was operating within normal limits, and a sewer line thought to be an 8 inch line was confirmed to be a 12 inch line with adequate capacity. The reduced size of the rezoning request further lowered potential impacts on the system. Traffic and connectivity remained major concerns. The applicant had submitted a traffic study showing no level of service issues or required improvements. Dead Horse Mountain Road had previously flooded, limiting access, and the city was coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Transportation on signalization at Stone Meadows and Huntsville to improve controlled access. Many public comment concerns revolved around traffic access and the ability to get in and out of this area of Fayetteville. Concerns were also expressed infrastructure, stormwater as well as the size of the potential houses. Staff was recommending approval and the Planning Commission forwarded the request with an 8-1 vote in favor. Applicant, Blake Jorgensen presented on the item. They had unveiled a few things that he believed would help their case for the smaller rezoning request. They discovered that the sewer main that gravity fed to the west was actually a 12 inch line. They followed the line all the way to the next lift station and updated their model, which improved the sewer capacity report. As Jonathan had mentioned, they had water capacity and had included the traffic study. He was available for questions, as was Mark and Taylor Marquis from Riverwood Homes. Council Member Turk questioned if the error with the pipe diameter contributed to how the capacity of the lift station was being determined. Jonathan explained the differences between the two issues. The lift station concern was that it was operating at full capacity but with monitoring it was determined that it was no running at full capacity, even in wet weather events. Council City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 11 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Member Turk felt this was a large error and found it surprising to hear that it was at an okay capacity, trying to understand why that error was made in the past. Jonathan commented that one of the lines was not identified within an easement and it was unclear if the golf course property owner was willing to allow a developer to make upgrades to that line to accommodate what as ultimately a larger project. The projected unit counts associated with it were much higher with the 2023 project than what was currently presented. Blake clarified the easement that lead from Preserve at Stone Bridge to the lift station was a legal description that was written in error to the previous gold course owner. When Jorgenson Associates plotted the area, it did not follow the trajectory of where the actual main that went to the lift station. The report was updated with the correct information, that ended up supporting the rezoning. Council Member Moore commented on Stone Bridge being a public golf course, which was rare, and she felt it was important to continue to have accessibility to ensure everyone was welcome. She questioned what different types of housing were planned for the area as a way to welcome more neighbors in. Riverwood Homes Representative, Mark Marquis, explained they had been before the City Council a few times on this request and wanted to clarify some things from both the past and the present. The previous proposal included the entire 150 acres, but that was not the intention then and was not the intention now, and he admitted that was likely a mistake on his part. After listening to Fayetteville’s concerns, especially around workforce housing, they recognized the need for more attainable homes. He noted that his company had built a lot of workforce housing in Fayetteville over the years, but almost all of it had been on the west side of town, and they had never built any on the east side. After speaking with the public, they decided to shift direction and put the 43 acre area under contract, planning roughly 180 single family homes in the 1,400–1,600 square foot range, along with about 40 townhomes to add variety. He pointed out that their company had developed a neighborhood on the west side, a community of about 600 homes ranging from 1,300 to 3,000 square feet, and that it had become a vibrant, mixed neighborhood. He spoke on the unique nature of the Stone Bridge golf course, noting that it was the only public golf course in Washington County and one of only two public courses in Washington and Benton counties combined. He said that on a typical weekend, more than 200 people played there, and it was the only place visitors could play unless they had access to a private course. He added that the ownership wanted to expand the clubhouse, build a pool, and make the course even more accessible, and that the synergies between the housing and the golf course were exciting and unique for Fayetteville. The project would include over a mile of 12 foot wide trails connecting to River Walk and to the driving range. He acknowledged that some neighbors preferred only large homes, but he stated that this was a public golf course, not a private one, and the goal was to create an inclusive community. Council Member Stafford then confirmed with Mark that there would be a connection to Dead Horse Mountain Road. Council Member Turk asked staff if road improvements would be required. Jonathan stated that was typically evaluated with the development. He explained the subdivision standard requirements were to develop their internal street systems and any adjacent streets. The property did not abut any existing streets. What development came forward was what staff had to evaluate for street improvements. He stated it was possible that offsite improvements of some form would be required based on what the traffic engineer recommended, but the traffic engineer recommended there weren’t any off-site improvements needed to maintain the level of services. The Planning Commission would ultimately decide when a plat was submitted. Mark thanked City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 12 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Jonathan for clarifying and stated the land was purchased and would be developed with the expectation that it would be a public golf course for many generations to come. They were not looking for any future developments to take away from the golf course and felt that 100 acres of green space and Residential Agriculture was unique in this area of Fayetteville. Council Member Stafford felt due to the scale of the project and two members of the City Council absent, he felt it would be best to leave the item on the first reading to be heard at the next meeting. Council Member Moore respected what Council Member Stafford said and although she felt the item could move forward, she respected the feedback that could come from the absent City Council members. She had heard any public comment and felt there had been diligence on the project. She was comfortable moving forward with the item and did not have any hesitations. Council Member Stafford did not have any hesitations either and felt the project could really work. He thought that the roads would get up to size but only when more housing was built in the area. He was in support of the item and wanted to hear from other City Council members if they felt comfortable moving forward as well. Council Member Wiederkehr was curious to hear about negotiations with Arkansas Department of Transportation for the traffic signal on Huntsville Road. He thought that everything he heard was absolutely good news on the capacity of the community and existing infrastructure. He felt the addition of the traffic signal would be a positive addition and felt it would alleviate concerns the public had about the low water bridge. He felt it was a fortuitous opportunity to discover the infrastructure that wasn’t there the last the item was heard. Council Member Dr. Jones had heard from a resident that was waiting to hear about the developments that had been done to the project and he was inclined to hold the item. Council Member Berna asked Jonathan if he expected to hear from Arkansas Department of Transportation within two weeks. Jonathan stated more than likely not but explained it was not necessarily a negotiation with them. He went on to explain the process on obtaining a new signal with the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Council Member Berna stated that if the desire of the City Council was to hold the item, he would be fine with it, but he was very much in support of the project and was more than willing to vote for it. Council Member Turk questioned the probability on whether the signal would be acquired. Jonathan did not have the information to answer her question but he would follow up. Council Member Turk expressed concerns she heard about traffic in the area that the traffic signal would improve. Her preference was to hold the item and pick it back up in two weeks. At the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the first reading. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 13 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov RZN 2025-0075 East Ash Street: An ordinance to rezone the property described in Rezoning Petition RZN 2025-75 for approximately 0.34 acres located at 900 East Ash Street in Ward 3 from RSF-4, Residential Single-Family, Four Units Per Acre to NC, Neighborhood Conservation. City Attorney Kit Williams read the ordinance. Development Services Director Jonathan Curth presented on the item. Staff and the Planning Commission supported the request. When it was evaluated for land use compatibility, they found the proposed rezoning from Residential Single Family-4 to Neighborhood Conservation to be appropriate, since both districts allowed only single family homes and had largely similar standards. From a land use plan standpoint, the request also made sense. Neighborhood Conservation would still limit the property to single family dwellings but could allow density to increase from four to ten units per acre, and he felt the property’s infill characteristics supported that change. He noted that tree preservation would decrease from 25% to 20% if rezoned. He then explained the setback zoning standard. Residential Single Family-4 used traditional setbacks, requiring buildings to be at least 15 feet from the street. Neighborhood Conservation, however, used a build to zone, which required buildings to be placed within 25 feet of the street. He showed that existing homes in the area sat anywhere from 25 to 60 feet back, generally farther than the Neighborhood Conservation requirement. Even under current zoning, many of those homes could already be rebuilt closer to the street if they were ever redeveloped. There had been significant public comment, mostly focused on concerns about houses being built closer to the street under Neighborhood Conservation zoning. All public comments were included in the staff report. He reiterated that staff recommended approval and that the Planning Commission had forwarded the request on a narrow 5–4 vote. He was available for questions. Representative Konrad Siemek presented on the item. He described the housing that made up the area from a land use compatibility perspective. He stated that if the City Council decided to leave the item on the first reading, that was fine. Council Member Stafford asked Jonathan if an accessory dwelling unit could be built with no parking, additional stormwater and no setback requirement. Jonathan explained an accessory dwelling unit would have to be built on an existing setback. The state law did not allow parking associated with accessory dwelling units. Council Member Stafford and Konrad then discussed if a tiny house was being built. Konrad explained it didn’t meet the definition of a tiny house but it would be around 500 square feet. Council Member Turk and Jonathan discussed if the lot could be split under the current Residential Single Family-4 zoning. Jonathan had not seen a survey of the property but believed it to be just over 15,000 square feet. Residential Single Family zoning required 8000 square feet per lot so it could not be split. Council Member Wiederkehr and Jonathan discussed if fire code required a 10 foot separation between the two houses. Structures can be placed on the same piece of property together but they have to be designed and fire rated for it. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 14 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Council Member Wiederkehr went on to say that if someone moved into the home they were bound to want windows, especially with the trail. The concerns he had heard weren’t anti- development but were concerns about the front yard and the front yard setback. Council Member Stafford and Jonathan discussed the gravel driveway that led right into the intersection. He questioned if with the rezoning the road would have to be corrected or moved. Jonathan explained the zoning would not dictate that and building driveways into the radius of the curve was not allowed. The city could only require the developer to change their driveway once they develop or redevelop the property when an impact happens. A rezoning would not create the impact; it creates the potential for one. Chief Financial Officer Marley Stark agreed with staff in Development Services in terms of Neighborhood Conservation being appropriate for the project in the ability to potentially provide additional housing choices and maintain the character of the neighborhood. She was a former resident of Ash St and felt the investments in the area in relation to the trail had gone a long way in terms of increasing mobility and connectivity to the neighborhood and other amenities. She saw the project as an opportunity to deliver a gentle density within the neighborhood and increase access for another family. The City Council received 10 public comments regarding this ordinance. Council Member Stafford and Jonathan discussed parking requirements that went along with the zoning district. Jonathan explained if an accessory dwelling unit was built on the property it did not require parking. If a house was being built they would have to provide parking. Council Member Stafford then addressed that he found some public comments insulting when they mentioned that living in a small dwelling would increase crime. He stated citizens would not convince him to be on their side with comments like that and asked they keep those thoughts to themselves. Council Member Moore acknowledged that change was hard, especially when someone had lived in the city for a long time. She felt the area around Ash St was eclectic and there was a lot of variation in housing, adding that she couldn’t be a neighbor in the area if she tried to purchase a home with her current income. She shared her personal experience with her children and that she had all of her property in her front yard so it was disheartening to hear that her neighbors would not be supportive if they decided to have her child live close to her; adding that if everyone did a little, no neighborhood would have to do a lot. She acknowledged that the neighborhood in question hadn’t had development similar to the proposal before but middle housing was missing from the community and people were happy to have affordable housing. She was very supportive of the project and felt single units were needed to ensure all had a part of Fayetteville. She was hopeful the neighborhood understood and was available to speak with the public afterwards. Council Member Berna prepared for the item by driving through the area prior to the meeting and concluded that it was not compatible with the neighborhood. He expressed concerns with the trail and where the house was on the lot. He would not be in support of the item unless someone provided him with additional information he hadn’t seen yet. City Council Meeting Minutes March 5, 2026 Page 15 of 16 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www.fayetteville-ar.gov Council Member Turk and Jonathan discussed how close the accessory dwelling unit could be to the trail. Jonathan explained there was a specification in trail design for a shy distance, which was typically 3 feet. Council Member Turk expressed concern with how close the accessory dwelling unit could be to the trail. She thought the trails were wonderful but argued there was great uniformity within the neighborhood with their setback. She was not in support of the item and agreed with Council Member Berna. Council Member Wiederkehr shared concerns. He appreciated Council Member Stafford’s comments, stating it didn’t benefit anyone to overstate or exaggerate the impacts of a project and what was heard was unrealistic and unfair. His concern laid in the Planning Commission have a 5-4 vote, which he stated was rare. He thought it unfair to cast aspersions if someone were to express concerns about the particular site as the City Council had supported this developer before. He appreciated the developers’ previous work but added it didn’t mean every proposal they submitted would be rubber stamped. He felt he owed it to the developer to review the Planning Commissions’ meeting to hear the concerns that were expressed and to see who was in favor of it. Council Member Dr. Jones then asked Chief Housing Officer Marley Stark her opinion as it related to the housing crisis. Marley brought attention to Council Member Moore’s previous comments that neighborhoods change over time and in order to meet the evolving housing needs as a community as a whole, all will have to take on the mantle and know that some change was going to affect all at the neighborhood level. Council Member Dr. Jones liked the idea of evolving. At the March 5, 2026 City Council meeting, this ordinance was left on the first reading. Announcements: Chief of Staff Keith Macedo announced that the bond election that was held on March 3, 2026 was the largest municipal bond that had ever been approved in the state of Arkansas. Staff was working on plans and how to prioritize the funds. He was excited to get to work on the projects. Council Member Dr. Jones announced that on March 7, 2026 the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences would be launching a barber shop talks initiative in Fayetteville to engage the community about men’s health and wellness. There will be a special guest, Darren McFadden, who will share his story at Theatre Squared. Lunch would be provided and it would be the first time the research project was launched in Fayetteville. City Council Agenda Session Presentations: None City Council Meeting Minutes March 5,2026 Page 16 of 16 Citv Council Tour: None Ad iou rn ment: 8247 p.Ir. Molly Rawn,Kara Paxton, 1 13 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 www fayetteville-ar gov