Neighbors should have say in property's development
I think residents all over Fayetteville see there are problems with the process and practice of rezoning. It is time right now to change the laws, ordinances, codes so that studies and surveys are done prior to rezoning, especially if at least one of the surrounding property owners requests it.
Many residents would like the results of studies (traffic, noise, pollution, drainage, current flooding, harm of additional impervious surfaces, wildlife, trees, endangered species, historical and archaeological buildings and sites, etc.) made public for evaluation. We are suspicious when non-disclosures exist, when people are afraid to speak up in case they may get fired or their career may be harmed, or when their organization may lose money from loss of developers' donations or financial agreements.
Fayetteville belongs to the residents who have made this town their home, who have invested years into their properties and town, and who all live in neighborhoods of some kind. The people in neighborhoods matter and should be listened to. They should have priority over the new developer/owner who comes before the city making a request within their neighborhood.
Also, please legally bring back the importance of compatibility. Fayetteville believes in diversity, so allow neighborhoods to choose their type: low-density, quiet, little traffic, a lot of trees, or high-density, close to commercial buildings and work, a lot of traffic, few trees, etc. Please stop forcing higher density and more traffic on neighborhoods that don't want that.
Existing property owners in a neighborhood should have priority over the new owner (individual or developer) who buys property within that neighborhood. When someone buys property in a neighborhood, they know what the current zoning and makeup of the neighborhood is. It is no surprise. Even if a neighborhood is officially RSF4 but the surrounding properties are one house per acre, compatibility is one house per acre, no matter the zoning. Unless all the property owners within that neighborhood agree to higher density, it should not be forced on them. They have invested years into their properties and lives in Fayetteville. Otherwise, we have no protection for our investment. People in neighborhoods and subdivisions think they are safe.
In the case of University Heights and Haskell Heights, plans to develop Markham Hill into a higher density, commercial development in the middle of low-density surrounding neighborhoods does not make sense. Plus, Markham Hill is an urban forest and historical site within Fayetteville that should be treasured and preserved. If developer SREG really cares about conservation, the environment, ecology, climate change, wildlife, archaeology and tree preservation, they would be thrilled to find out that a conservationist philanthropist is interested in purchasing the 144-acre property for permanent preservation. They would still make money on the sale if it sold for the appraised value.
Please encourage SREG to be willing to sell the Markham Hill property to a conservationist who wants to preserve the entire property, for the good of Fayetteville and for the good of their reputation.
Lisa Orton
Fayetteville
Letter reflected Arkansans' respect for President Trump
Thank you for publishing Michael Toppen's letter, "Bashers don't realize positives from Trump" on Nov. 28. He did an excellent job pointing out the accomplishments for which people support President Donald Trump.
To read most of the articles, editorials and letters to the editor, one would think only a very small, ignorant, fringe element agreed with the current U.S. president, but that simply is not true. I think Mr. Toppen spoke for the majority of Arkansans, who will vote for Trump next November.
Ken Francis
Fayetteville
Commentary on 12/04/2019