Agenda Highlights 6/14/22
The Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 6-14-22 will begin with a discussion about putting a moratorium on issuing any new residential building permits for areas surrounding the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The pilot training program likely to come to Ebbing Air National Guard Base is expected to cause increased noise in that area. There is likely to be an FAA sound study required in 2023. The results of the sound study could be useful in developing future sound regulations and in decision making about building concerns. The area mapped out for the moratorium is drawn based on the results of a sound study from 1997 when F-16 planes were active at the National Guard Base.
The Board will discuss design plans for the new dog park to be built at Chaffee next to the soccer fields. The design includes 24 acres with woodlands, a dog wading pool, dog washing station, agility course, dog playground, and restrooms.
The Board will hear a presentation from Conventions, Sports, and Leisure International’s Bill Krueger about the results of the feasibility study for an indoor sports facility. The study started in November.
The study found that there is a moderately strong to strong demand for a facility. Volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and soccer are the core recommended uses for the facility. It is recommended that the facility be publicly owned by the city but managed by a private management company (like the Convention Center and Parrot Island Waterpark). The recommended facility would be a 120,000 sq ft building on 10 acres and include 8 hardwood basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, a regulation size indoor turf field, a walking track, food court, and locker rooms with optional space for performances and e-sports. Three possible sites were all seen as being suitable, one in northwest Fort Smith, one at Ben Geren park, and one at Chaffee Crossing. The construction cost of the facility is estimated to be $31.2 million. After the 4th full year of operation, it is predicted that the facility would generate a profit of $319,000, an annual city tax revenue of $.76 million, and an annual economic impact of $42.4 million.
