Land use, development stances come up during Fayetteville Ward 3 forum

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two candidates who want to represent the northeast part of the city differ on their approaches to land use and development.

The Chamber of Commerce hosted a series of candidate forums this week at the Fayetteville Public Library. Ward 3 candidates Lucas Regnier and Sloan Scroggin took the microphones Friday. Current Ward 3 Council Member Justin Tennant isn't running for re-election.

Ward 3 encompasses the northeast part of town. It includes College Avenue north of Township Street, Crossover Road north and southwest of Mission Boulevard, Root School, Butterfield Elementary, Gulley Park and Lake Fayetteville.

Regnier, 44, is a visiting instructor at the University of Arkansas School of Law. He teaches upper-level contract drafting and a course on representing startups. In 2015, Regnier suffered a major spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve damage after a bicycle crash. He now walks with a cane.

Scroggin, 34, is a math instructor at the University of Arkansas and licensed real estate agent. He also has served on the Planning Commission since last year. Scroggin has a background in construction and his family owns and operates Scroggin Custom Homes in Little Rock.

Regnier, who lives in the Huntingdon subdivision, spoke frequently at public meetings over a rezoning and proposed street plan for Rolling Hills Drive at Old Missouri Road. The City Council approved both plans in May, against the wishes of many neighbors.

Scroggin lives in a neighborhood south of JJ's Beer Garden & Brewing Co. and has been vocal about his concerns over the sound coming from the venue and violations of its permit pertaining to parking and sound checks. The commission last month granted the business additional concerts for the year, which Scroggin voted against.

Both issues came up during Friday's discussion.

One question pertained to whether the candidate would support his constituents if a majority of them were against a proposal on the city's master street plan.

Regnier said many residents may not be aware of what's on a street plan and real estate agents may not always make them aware of what's planned in a neighborhood. He said he wants to hold town halls for the ward at least twice per year.

"I want to hear from my constituents," Regnier said. "I don't want to hear what a panel of experts said five years ago."

Scroggin said roads drawn on street plans generally sit on the map for a long time before anything happens, and those plans are developed through the input of residents. Giving preference to a neighborhood would override the interests of a larger swath of residents, he said.

"There will be times when the guidance that comes from the thousands of citizens who've put in on these master plans -- they will sometimes bump up with the current citizens in that area," Scroggin said.

Another question referenced whether a council member should abstain from voting on issues directly affecting his neighborhood.

Scroggin said officials should abstain when there's a financial stake involved.

"I think it's insane to have the argument somebody shouldn't have a vote because they're negatively affected by the thing they're voting on," he said. "If you actually believed that, you would not elect people in the city."

Regnier said he wouldn't serve in simultaneous capacities as advocate and decision-maker.

"I feel like it would be an absolute fiduciary obligation for myself to recuse as an adjudicator of that map," he said.

Regnier said he feels it's time to give back to his community, like how people supported him through his injury and subsequent therapy. Scroggin said he would work hard every day, just like he did when he was 8 years old and his dad told him to shovel a pile of dirt taller than him.

City Council members earn $12,504 annually for their time and serve four-year terms.

The nonpartisan election is Nov. 6.

NW News on 09/08/2018