Springdale City Council Regular Meeting - September 24, 2025

The Springdale City Council held a regular meeting on September 24, 2025, at 8:12 PM. All eight council members were present. The meeting opened with a pledge of allegiance and an invocation led by Council member Jeff Watson, who prayed for those affected by recent flooding and for first responders. The council approved a series of zoning changes, conditional uses, and waivers, all by 8-0 votes, along with a mutual aid agreement and annual tax levies. A brief discussion on the use of emergency clauses concluded the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.
• Procedural motions A and B were approved 8-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the council regarding items not on the agenda.

Discussion Items

• Planning Commission Report (Sharon Tromburg): Sharon Tromburg, Director of Planning and Community Development, presented several items for council action:
  • Commercial Subdivision Final Plat (Clayton Street Business Park): Final plat for 12 buildable lots zoned C2 north of Sunset on Clayton Street. Approved with an emergency clause.
  • Rezoning – Ford Avenue Flats (South & North): Two adjacent projects by Mercy Housing and Community Development Northwest Arkansas. The properties will be rezoned to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow affordable multifamily housing reserved for households earning up to 60% of Area Median Income. Both ordinances were approved with emergency clauses.
  • Rezoning – 2101 West Huntsville Avenue: A remnant parcel rezoned from medium-density multifamily (MF12) to general commercial (C2) to match adjacent property. Council members discussed the history of the site and noted there was no opposition. Approved with an emergency clause.
  • Rezoning – 5829 North Thompson Street: Property rezoned from general commercial (C2) to thoroughfare commercial (C5) to accommodate a steel supply business with outdoor storage. Applicant representative Caitlin Gibbs explained the intended use. Approved with an emergency clause.
  • Conditional Use – Homes for Halos LLC (Memory Care Facility): A single-family home at 2350 North 48th Street will be converted into a memory care facility for up to 14 beds. The parking layout was modified to include 4 parallel spots and 2 ADA spots. The applicants were unable to attend due to an emergency. Approved 8-0.
  • Conditional Use – Casa de la Tribu del Leon de Juda (Church): A church at 2019 West Huntsville Avenue, previously used as a church, will resume operations. A shared parking agreement with an adjacent business was provided; an access easement is still pending. Approved 8-0.
  • Waivers (Street Improvements/Sidewalks):
    • Ford Avenue Flats: Waiver of a future collector road; right-of-way dedicated but road not required at this time (Option 1). Approved.
    • Overo Drive (Single-family home): Waiver of 5-foot sidewalk because no other homes in the area have sidewalks (Option 1). Approved.
    • John Dewey and Bryant/Kim Dillard (Duplexes at 1509 and 1501 West Huntsville Avenue): Waiver of 10-foot sidewalk to allow a 5-foot sidewalk due to existing utility conflicts; motion modified to specify 5-foot width. Approved 8-0 for both.
    • Panda Express (Highway 71): Waiver to retain existing 5-foot sidewalk instead of upgrading to 10 feet (Option 1). Approved.
    • Haverton Trails (adjacent to Don Tyson): Waiver to retain existing 8-foot sidewalk because upgrading to 10 feet would create a pedestrian safety issue with bicycle wheels (Option 1). Approved.
• Police and Fire Committee Report (Council Member Brian Powell): A resolution authorizing a mutual aid agreement between the Springdale Fire Department and the Johnson Fire Department was presented by the fire chief. Approved 8-0.
• City Attorney Report (Ernest Kate):
  • Resolution setting a public hearing for October 14, 2025, on a petition to abandon two utility easements. Approved 8-0.
  • Ordinance authorizing a cleanup lien for property at 1112 South Thompson. Approved with an emergency clause.
  • Annual resolutions to levy ad valorem taxes for Washington and Benton counties. Both approved 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• All items on the agenda were approved by unanimous 8-0 votes, including all emergency clauses.
• A discussion was initiated by Council Member Jeff Watson regarding the routine use of emergency clauses. He questioned whether some items truly justified an emergency designation. City Attorney Ernest Kate noted that for cleanup liens, time limits necessitate the clause, while Sharon Tromburg mentioned that many planning requests have pending actions tied to sales. Council agreed that staff should explain the reason for emergency clauses in the future, and council members should inquire if not clear. No vote was taken on this discussion.
• The meeting adjourned after the discussion.