Annexation recommended despite questions

The Conway Planning Commission on Monday recommended the city move forward with the annexation of almost 5,000 acres along the Arkansas River.

However, with a number of residents from the area under consideration either voicing opposition or insisting the annexation be delayed until their concerns could be addressed, the commission asked that the proposal be redrawn, prior to city council consideration, to not force the annexation on those who do not wish to participate.

Attorney Bill Adkisson, representing Conway Development Corp. (CDC), said he would be willing and able to do so.

Adkisson had explained the annexation would be necessary for the city to move forward with plans for a new airport in the area.

By statute, a majority of real estate owners, representing more than one half of the land to be annexed, are needed before the county can approve an annexation petition.

Among the issues raised by residents were the cost and timetable for extension of city services, and how the city could enforce building permits and codes when things like suitable fire protection might not be available.

Many of those on hand for the public hearing also voiced objection to having been unaware of the proposal prior to reading of the plan in Sunday's Log Cabin Democrat.

Adkisson, however, said legal ads were published, and he had secured enough support for the project to meet with required support for a release of the land by the county.

The addition of the Lollie Bottoms land, to add more than 7.5 square miles to the city's current area of 40 square miles, would be the city's largest single expansion.

The land runs south from the western end of Dave Ward Drive, for about five miles along the Arkansas River.

The land is mostly agricultural and includes a commercial sand pit operation and about 50 residences.

The CDC, a private, nonprofit industrial-growth booster, owns about 700 acres of land in Lollie Bottoms, including the airport site. Long-range plans call for an industrial park to be developed near the proposed airport.

Also during Monday's three-and-a-half hour meeting, the commission denied a request for permission to build and operate a 225-student "early learning center" on South Donaghey Avenue.

Diane White applied for a conditional use permit to place a preschool on three unbuilt lots in the Woodland Springs Subdivision, south of Silver Springs Circle.

The Woodland Springs Property Owners Association, represented by about 50 residents, objected to the request. Subdivision covenants, as submitted to the commission, stated the lots are to be residential only.

The issue, however, was moot. An apologetic Planning Director Bryan Patrick explained that "a land mine section" in the city's zoning ordinance forbids building a commercial child care center in a residential zone, and that he erred in previously advising White to seek the conditional use.

Also Monday, the planning commission recommended for approval requests by:

Chapelridge of Conway III LP, to rezone about 1.5 acres north of Oak Street and west of East German Lane to MF-3, for a multi-family development.

Tony Salter, to rezone a half acre on the south side of Monroe Street west of Factory Street to C-3, for proposed office and warehouse buildings.

Rush-Hal Development, for a conditional use permit to increase density from 12 units per acre to 18 units for three vacant acres on the south side of the Monroe Street right of way.

A request by Rob Harkness, to amend a conditional use permit to increase the size of a planned pharmacy at College and Augusta avenues, was held for a December vote because of a question about the sufficiency of the legal notice.

Approved subdivision plans were:

Liberty Villages, a four-lot, multi-family project on 24 acres on East German Lane north of Oak Street.

Ridge Point Subdivision, 25 lots on 84 acres between Lower Ridge and Pickles Gap roads.

Harkrider Addition, Block 8, at Factory and First streets, to replat six lots to five lots.

(Staff Writer J.K. Jones can be reached by e-mail at kevin.jones@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236.)