South Fayetteville harmed by ‘corporate’ influences

As yet another zoning change request will be presented to the city of Fayetteville Planning Commission at its Sept. 24 meeting concerning 1248 S. Washington Ave. in south Fayetteville, it has become apparent to me that limited liability corporations, or LLCs, are driving development in the Walker Park Neighborhood. There are no less than four LLCs that have been buying up properties between Seventh and 15th streets along South Washington and South College. These LLCs have successfully changed zoning from Neighborhood Conservation to Downtown General, Residential Single-Family 18 units per acre (RSF-18) and Residential Intermediate-Urban (RI-U). The neighborhood zoning map now looks like a patchwork quilt. This patchwork quilt-type zoning is breaking up what was a rather consistent one of small, affordable cottages. The new homes built by these LLCs now sell for between $250,000 and $300,000. I do not consider those prices affordable by the average citizen of the Walker Park neighborhood.

It appears that the Walker Park neighborhood will go the way of the Parksdale neighborhood just up the road. Zoning changes in the Parksdale neighborhood have created an island of small and affordable cottages surrounded by towering three-story structures. In the Walker Park neighborhood, the RSF-18 zoning has resulted in multiple large homes on too-small lots. This isn’t planning with a vision; this is planning and zoning that benefits the developers at the cost of the local homeowner. Research into the Planning Commission members will show that most of its members are associated with realty companies with significant financial interests in those neighborhoods with rezoning coming easily to the LLC’s benefit.

If Fayetteville is to remain a progressive, eco-friendly and welcoming community, it is imperative that we all have equal voice and influence when it comes to zoning changes that benefit wealthy LLC’s over the average citizen that has little to no voice in what happens in their neighborhood. LISA MEEKS Fayetteville