FAYETTEVILLE — Kevin Santos, a west Fayetteville representative on the City Council from 1999 to 2002, died Thursday, according to an obituary from Moore’s Chapel Funeral Home.
Santos, 54, was remembered Friday as a committed public servant and longtime University of Arkansas employee.
During his four years on the council, Santos supported infill development, rather than construction on the outskirts of town. He was an early advocate for the Fayetteville trails system and backed a strong tree preservation ordinance amid controversy about the CMN Business Park, where a Kohl’s department store is located.
Santos pushed city officials for years to implement impact fees, or one-time charges levied on new development, for increasing demand on city services such as water, sewer and streets.
“He was highly intelligent and very well-spoken,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan, who served alongside Santos as a Ward 4 alderman in 2001 and 2002. “He was a great adviser for me when I was on the council and even after I left the council.”
The two worked together at the University of Arkansas where Santos served as a senior planner for more than 15 years.
Santos supervised development and maintenance of the facility planning department’s interior space database, said Jay Huneycutt, director of campus planning and capital programs. He held a master’s degree in planning from Florida State University.
“He had a technology expertise that we really relied on,” Huneycutt said.
Before taking a job at the university, Santos worked at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
Santos is survived by his wife, two daughters, his parents and two sisters.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Moore’s Chapel, 206 W. Center St.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in Santos’ name.