Agenda Highlights 3/1/22

There are multiple zoning items on the agenda for the 3-1-22 Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting. The first is a zoning change for 8700 Massard Road to allow for an undeveloped lot to be developed into a mixed use development including multi-family residential and commercial buildings.

The second zoning item is a change for 7020 Mahogany Avenue to allow for a vacant building to be turned into a tattoo shop.

The third zoning item is a zoning change for 5300 Heather Ridge Street that would allow for 43 undeveloped acres to be developed into the Treetops of Fort Smith housing development made up of a mix of single family dwellings, duplexes, row houses, and multi-family apartments. The applicant for the change has requested this item be tabled until 3-15-22, so it is highly likely that it will be postponed rather than voted on at the 3-1-22 meeting.

The fourth zoning item is a change for 110 May Avenue to allow a house that is currently at 108 May to be moved to the lot at 110 May that is currently a parking lot.

The night’s final zoning item will be a change for 404 Belle Avenue to allow for the sale of an existing single family home.

The Board will vote on approving the changes to the city’s Ward lines as a result of the population numbers from the 2020 Census.

The Board will vote to create a Sales Tax Advisory Committee. If the .25% sales tax renewal for Parks capital projects and the Fire Department and .75% sales tax renewal for the Police Department and consent decree sewer repairs are passed by the voters at the May 24, 2022 election, the new committee will make regular reports on the money being collected from the taxes and how it is being spent.

The Board will vote on approval of a new procedure for adjustments to water and sewer bills for incidents where a leak has caused a dramatically higher than usual bill. The new policy will allow both water and sewer volumes to be adjusted down to the customer’s average usage in the 3 months prior to the leak and adjustments can be made to up to 3 consecutive months’ bills. There is a limit of 2 leak adjustments per 12 month period.

The Board will vote on a resolution that would stop Service Line Warranties of America from using the official City of Fort Smith logo on their communications and advertising materials. Previously, the City had made an agreement allowing the private warranty company to use the logo.