Fort Smith · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fort Smith public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Convenience store with gas sales at Jenny Lind and Jackson
Directors Settle, Martin, and Kemp pushed back hard on the proposed $2.3 million Jenny Lind extension, calling it an unwanted cut-through that would speed traffic through Fianna Hills. They want neighborhood input sessions before any vote.
Data center zoning regulations
Residents handed the Board Fayetteville's data center ordinance as a model and flagged Arkansas laws (Act 851, 373, 548) that limit local bans, allow construction-work-in-progress charges, and give developers sales tax breaks — urging strong protective language in Fort Smith's draft ordinance.
Demolition of chronic blighted properties
Three long-neglected houses will come down after years of failed enforcement, including one where the owner died and one with squatters. The city will demolish and lien the properties.
FCRA land use authority dispute
Director George Catsavis pressed whether the city can revoke the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority's land use authority, calling the arrangement 'a nightmare' for developers. The city attorney will review the governing documents and report back.
Mercy Health bond financing for Fort Smith hospital expansion
Mercy Health wants the city's sign-off on up to $212 million in tax-exempt bond proceeds for its Fort Smith facilities, including a big emergency department and ICU expansion. It's an IRS formality — no city liability — but it clears the way for major local healthcare investment.
Proposed reconstruction of the original Fort Smith
Private citizen Carl Corley wants to rebuild the original fort on federal land within the district, a $3 to $3.5 million project he reportedly funds himself. The board agreed Chairman Holland should meet with him to see how the CBID might help navigate tribal and federal hurdles.
Bailey Hill Redevelopment Project assistance
A $1 million commitment from the budgeted Sales Tax Program would help fund the Housing Authority's Bailey Hill Redevelopment Project. The item was tabled in June and brought back for this meeting.
City-owned former Crain Kia property at 8200 Highway 71 South
The board was set to discuss the future of city-owned property at 8200 Highway 71 South, the former Crain Kia dealership site, with the Police Department involved. No decision was scheduled — this was a discussion item.
Harbor House campus expansion and neighborhood parking
Harbor House got the zoning it needs to build a new transitional dwelling on North 18th Street and unify zoning across its campus. Neighbors previously raised traffic, parking, and tenant-count questions.
CDBG/HOME 5-Year Consolidated Plan 2026-2030
This plan sets how the city spends federal housing and community development grant money over the next five years. Adoption is set for July 7.
Small business incubator at 409 Garrison
Applications are open through April 3 for a program that gives one small business six months rent-free in a vacant 900-square-foot storefront at 409 Garrison. The challenge going forward: finding more turnkey vacant storefronts for future rounds.
Military security buffer encroachment near Ebbing
A new office-warehouse was allowed to encroach within 10 feet of the military security buffer around Ebbing airfield, with the Air Force on board as long as obstruction lights are installed on the building.
Housing density changes on Xavier Street and Jacobs Avenue
A 12-unit townhouse project won approval next to an existing apartment complex, but the neighboring owner from Shreveport argued the notice for the neighborhood meeting was late and the units are too narrow and deep for the 0.82-acre lot. Commissioners added conditions for wider awnings and privacy screens.
Grand Slam Business Park replan
A 17.72-acre planned zoning district near South Zero Street was reworked to allow heavier commercial uses in its northern lots and lighter ones in the south, with residential uses removed. Traffic studies will be required as each lot develops.
St. Francis Crest residence setbacks and drainage
A large new single-family home with garage and pool house won reduced front-yard setbacks and double-frontage driveway access after a neighborhood architectural committee member raised aesthetic and drainage concerns on behalf of residents.
Fianna Hills and Annalyn subdivision plats
A new 18-lot cul-de-sac subdivision called Kenna Court is coming near Wells Lake Road and Veterans Avenue, with sidewalk connections and entrance improvements at a growing corridor.
Duplexes on reduced-size lots near Willow and North 32nd
Two new brick duplexes are coming to the corner of Willow Street and North 32nd Street on lots smaller than zoning normally allows. The vote was 7-2, with concerns about lot size relief.
Temporary classrooms for Community School of the Arts
The arts school near the Marshals Museum is still short about $4.5 million to finish half of its main building, so students are learning in modular buildings. The commission gave it until August 2027 to keep using them.
Harvest Moon Bakery redevelopment of 505 Rogers Avenue
A local bakery family is buying the long-vacant 505 Rogers building and plans a phased redevelopment: cafe first, then production space, then possibly upstairs apartments or Airbnb. They're funding it debt-free, so it'll take three to five years, and they're facing a $250,000 fire suppression hurdle and a drive-thru variance.
Treetops mixed-use development and 58th Street traffic
Residents near the Treetops development fear adding roughly 500 units plus commercial space will make exiting via 58th Street nearly impossible, especially for the existing Hardscrabble Village neighborhood. Developers point to two traffic studies and a walkable design for foreign military personnel.
Bailey Heights subdivision on former reservoir site
A 34-lot affordable single-family subdivision is coming to the old Bailey Hill Reservoir site, but about 770 feet of sidewalk on South S Street will be skipped because a shallow water main can't be disturbed. Sidewalks will still run along South 16th Street and the new interior street.
River Valley Church of Christ activity center
The church gets to build a 2,400-square-foot activity center with kitchen and dining space and expand parking to 30 spaces, with a new sidewalk required along Skywood Drive.
Armour Street duplex setback error
A duplex was built two feet into the required front setback because of a measuring error — the board let it stay and allowed a second house behind it on a shared driveway, over a drainage ditch.