Planning Commission denies annexation

FAYETTEVILLE — The city should not annex 69 acres of land near the northwest edge of town to build more suburbs, the Planning Commission decided Monday.

Commissioners voted 8-1, with Ryan Noble dissenting, to deny a proposal that would have incorporated part of the Wheeler township into the city. The land, owned by a family trust, sits west of Rupple and Weir roads, near Holcomb Elementary School.

Commissioners also denied a request to rezone the property for single- family homes. The developer on the project would have to appeal the commission’s decisions in order for the items to reach the City Council, City Attorney Kit Williams said.

More than 200 houses could sit on the land if annexed and rezoned. As it stands under Washington County’s jurisdiction, one home per acre would be allowed. Washington County Judge Joseph Wood signed an order of annexation on the property on Oct. 13, according to documents.

The property abuts the city limits to the east and south. A past proposal to complete the “Mayor’s Box” would connect two disjointed ends of Rupple Road. The idea behind the concept was to create a boundary for development. The 2030 future land use plan designates the property as a rural residential area, Senior Planner Jonathan Curth said.

City staff and planning commissioners referenced two of the city’s goals, to discourage suburban sprawl and to make infill development the priority, as reason to deny the proposals. Four residents who live near the area also spoke against annexing, citing concerns over traffic, privacy, preserving the natural landscape and home values.

Commissioner Leslie Belden said it’s likely a matter of time before the area is developed. However, residents who live near there now have to drive significant distances for services, and more development of the same pattern would exacerbate that problem,

she said.

“We’ve got to look at a bigger picture of this whole region, in my opinion, before we encourage any more dense residential development,” Belden said.

Commissioner Mat t Hoffman acknowledged the piece of property seems like low-hanging fruit from a development perspective. Suburban dwellings abound to the east and south. However, a blanket zoning of single-family homes over nearly 70 acres would not serve as the most appropriate plan, he said. “At the end of the day, this needs a far more finegrained approach,” said.

Commissioner Ryan Noble did not say why he voted against denying the proposals.