Crowded Field Eyes Ward 4 Seat

FAYETTEVILLE — West Fayetteville residents have lots of options to choose from as they select the City Councils newest Ward 4 member.

The race to replace outgoing Alderwoman Sarah Lewis features five candidates: William Chesser, Terry Black Coberly, Mike Emery, Alan Long and J.P. Peters.

Ward 4 hopefuls responded to three questions regarding their candidacy.

The ward encompasses most land west of Interstate 540, including several neighborhoods west and north of the University of Arkansas campus.

Wedington Plan

A community planning process that will chart growth in a 424-acre area along Wedington Drive began last week. City officials could reclassify streets, rezone land and create capital improvement projects using public input.

The west side has been the fastest growing part of town. According to Census Bureau estimates, the population west of the interstate nearly doubled, from 8,979 to 15,651, between 2000 and 2010.

Emery said infrastructure improvements havent kept pace with the growing population. He said more streetlights, water and sewer pipes, sidewalks, parks and trails are needed.

Long and Coberly agreed.

Connectivity should be a major focus, Long said.

Coberly said she hopes to make residents living west of I-540 feel more like theyre a part of Ward 4 and the rest of the city.

Peters advocated for a new pedestrian walkway on the Wedington Drive bridge. University students should have more than a narrow sliver of concrete to walk on or ride their bikes to class, Peters said.

Chesser said city officials should make zoning changes that require storefronts be built closer to the street and should tweak the master street plan to add on-street parking and bike lanes in residential areas.

I want us to move toward walkability, Chesser said. We admit that the car is a necessary part of life ... but it doesnt have to be given 100 percent of the transportation space.

University Growth

A Town and Gown Advisory Committee was formed this year in response to rapid enrollment growth at the University of Arkansas.

The 21-member committee, composed of university representatives, city officials and Fayetteville residents at-large, met for the first time Oct. 15.

Long said the most important issue facing the committee is a university overlay district that would manage growth and density around the university.

Even if this group is not where the final plan comes from, at least its a good place to start the conversation, Long said. Up until now there hasnt been a conduit for that conversation.

Chesser said he supports increased communication between the university and city, but he questioned how feasible an overlay district would be. As a state institution, the university does not have to abide by local zoning and development laws.

You cant guarantee your plan is going to work, because you never know where the university is going to buy and develop, Chesser said.

Coberly said the group needs to set clear goals before discussing an overlay district.

The largest issue, I think, concerns student housing and transportation, Coberly said.

She said improving roads and expanding hours for public transit would ease congestion near campus.

Emery agreed. He suggested giving students incentives, such as a tuition break, for not driving to campus.

Peters said she wished the committee had been in place during discussions about a 450-bedroom apartment complex planned across West Cleveland Street from university dormitories.

We may have had a better outcome in terms of peoples perception of the project, Peters said.

Candidate Qualifications

Coberly said her experience in municipal government sets her apart from the other candidates.

Coberly served as Bentonville mayor for 12 years and as the part-time city clerk for nine.

Long noted his experience representing Fayetteville residents. He is chairman of the Animal Services Advisory Board, and, as a member of the Waterman Woods Property Owners Association, Long advocated against the citys streamside protection ordinance and a change to Fayetteville occupancy limits that allows five unrelated people to live together in certain new developments.

Through experience representing people in the community and my neighborhood, I think Ive understood the commitment it takes and the time it takes to work with stakeholders in the city, Long said.

Chesser said he is the only Fayetteville native running in Ward 4.

I think that counts for something, Chesser said. I have a really good feel for what Fayetteville feels like. As you grow, youre going to change, but I think you can keep that family resemblance going forward.

Chesser said he has dealt with local planning issues from both the public and private sides as a former construction manager and professional planner and with six years of combined experience on the Fayetteville Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments.

Peters said, as a retired federal worker, she has a good grasp of budgetary issues and would work to procure state and federal funding.

From me youll get someone who will really do her own research and will listen to everyone before making a decision, Peters said.

Emery is the only candidate with military experience. He said, if elected, he would also be the first alderman to live west of I-540.

With the growth thats going on out there, I think that needs to change, Emery said.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election began Monday.

If no one candidate garners more than 50 percent of votes cast, a runoff election between the top two vote-getters will be held Nov. 27.

Registered voters can go online to voterview.org to see which ward they live in.