Fayetteville City Council To Weigh Mount Kessler Purchase, Urban Agriculture Adjustments

Monday, February 17, 2014

— Aldermen will consider using $1.5 million in reserve money to buy more than 300 acres atop Mount Kessler in southwest Fayetteville.

City Council members at Tuesday’s meeting could also approve a set of ordinance changes aimed at promoting urban agriculture.

The Walton Family Foundation has offered the city up to $1.5 million to help buy the Mount Kessler land from Chambers Bank.

Advocates say the property, next to a planned regional park, will provide outdoor recreation opportunities for mountain bikers, trail runners, bird watchers and photographers. The University of Arkansas and Fayetteville School District plan to use the rugged woodland as an outdoor classroom.

If approved, the transaction will preserve some of the land where a massive mixed-use development called SouthPass had been planned.

The urban agriculture measures would allow goats, bees and more chickens and ducks in residential areas.

The changes would make it easier for urban farmers and backyard gardeners to sell produce from their homes.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain St.

Other agenda items include: