Data center ordinance

Distributed Fayetteville's eight-page data center ordinance as a model, flagged Act 851, 373, and 548, and questioned claims about the revenue data centers would actually generate.

Asked about the timeline for the revised data center ordinance and argued the state law doesn't stop the city from adding stricter requirements, urging 'more teeth.'

Said online forums show widespread opposition that isn't just 'loud malcontents'; wants the ordinance to distinguish AI data centers, far taller walls, tenfold setbacks and much higher water rates.

Focused on northside Fort Smith: wants community centers, grocery stores and affordable housing there instead of a data center; called for 2,000-foot buffers, transparency and infrastructure cost requirements.

Said opposition spans across typical divides and that Fort Smith's proposal looks 'more like an invitation than a deterrence' compared to Fayetteville's rules.

Echoed earlier speakers and asked that hyperscale data centers be specifically restricted, warning the AI industry is a financially precarious bubble.

Generally supports adding hurdles to data centers but says the ordinance isn't thorough enough; warned about Act 373 passing grid upgrade costs to utility bills and suggested studying Fayetteville's ordinance.

Noted Virginia has the most data centers and public support there dropped from 69% in 2003 to 35% in 2026 because of electricity costs and water use.

A local business owner who's wary but sees a negotiating opportunity — data centers might fund the $500 million water transmission line fix; suggested restricting water wholesalers from reselling to data centers.

Wants real numbers on the $300-500 million transmission line made public first, notes promised data center jobs often disappear in 3-4 years, and says the city should secure wholesale water contracts before considering data centers.

Read about 40 questions from residents who couldn't attend — on drought water protection, who pays for infrastructure, noise limits, cleanup if a company leaves, and jobs/tax disclosure.

Urged the board to draft a legally defensible ban on conventional data centers, citing noise complaints in Sterling, Virginia, higher electricity costs in Maryland, and 260 million gallons of annual water use by a Microsoft closed-loop system.