City Council denies rezoning piece of suburbs

FAYETTEVILLE — A suburban area near a golf course that already experiences significant flooding won’t see development under a new zoning because of drainage issues and other concerns the City Council had Tuesday.

The council voted 6-1 to deny rezoning for just more than an acre at the Stonebridge Meadows subdivision and golf club. The spot lies south of where Spyglass Hill Drive and Goff Farm Road intersect on the south part of town, amid hundreds of homes.

Jorgensen and Associates

intended to build six “patio homes,” each about 2,000 square feet, on a vacant patch of grass. Developer Dave Jorgensen said the homes would look similar to surrounding houses in the subdivision.

The proposal drew the ire of several residents in the neighborhood. Dozens spoke during a previous Planning Commission meeting and wrote letters to city planners in an effort to stop the development. Commissioners ended up voting 7-2 to recommend the council approve the proposal.

About 15 neighbors showed up to Tuesday’s council meeting. Gerry Daly described springs, geysers, standing water and flooded roads during heavy rain.

The sloped land where the new homes would go soaks up some of that rain and keeps the water from spreading farther into the neighborhood, Daly said.

“It would make a bad situation worse,” he said. “It would not alleviate it.”

Council members Mark Kinion, Sarah Marsh, Adella Gray and Justin Tennant agreed dense development could worsen flooding.

“This development is a nightmare from a drainage perspective,” Marsh said.

Alderman John La Tour, the sole “yes” vote, said he trusted the city staff’s opinion the rezoning wouldn’t affect flood problems. Most people in a suburb want room for a yard and flowers, he said.

“We’re not going to have a complete concrete of this area,” La Tour said. “There will still be green space, which allows for some absorption.”

Developer Blake Jorgensen said far more than six homes are allowed under the current zoning. The entire 30-acre parcel is zoned as residential and agricultural, meaning one house could be built for every 2 acres, with 200 feet of road frontage.

“A ‘no’ vote doesn’t mean something won’t go in there,” he said.

In other business, the council voted 7-0 to allow private club The Vault to apply for an alcohol permit. A change in state law this year requires municipalities to sign off on liquor applications for private clubs before their owners seek a permit from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control division.