Latest news with #UnifiedDevelopmentCode
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'It's been a hell of ride' MPC Director Alan Clarke announces retirement
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A longtime city leader announces his retirement Tuesday. Alan Clarke, Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission told city council members he plans to retire at the end of this year. He has worked for the city for the past 46 years. The Metropolitan Planning Commission is in-charge of zoning requests and making sure properties are in line with the city's Unified Development Code. Bossier City's first-ever pocket park Council members and Mayor Tom Arceneaux thanked Clarke for his years of service, saying they always appreciated his calm demeanor and extensive knowledge of city code regulations. 'It's been a wonderful experience. It's been one hell of a ride. But I have appreciated every moment of the ride. People have always thought I was crazy because I said I enjoy my job. I said I wouldn't have your job if that was the only job there was. But I just wanted to share that information with ya'll. Thank ya'll for everything,' Clarke said. Clarke received a standing ovation after his announcement. Clarke's last day will be December 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Siloam Springs to discuss code update with residents
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The City of Siloam Springs will host a stakeholder roundtable on Monday, June 9, at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall Board Room to discuss the city's Unified Development Code update. The public is invited to attend. A news release from the city states that feedback from residents has shaped what is in the UDC. Work on the UDC resumed after a short pause to review pending legislation from the Arkansas State Legislature. On May 20, city planning staff held a workshop with the Siloam Springs Board of Directors to provide an update on the code's progress The meeting will be livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel and on Cox Channel 245. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rogers mayor calls for unified regional approach to housing crisis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — In a response to the Walton Family Foundation's recent report on housing affordability in Northwest Arkansas, Rogers Mayor Greg Hines says his city has already taken action. 'In Rogers, we've already done what the Walton Family Foundation is calling for: we've legalized multifamily and missing middle housing — and we've made it easy to build,' Hines said. Rogers' newly adopted Unified Development Code allows multifamily housing near all major growth areas, eliminating the need for rezonings and streamlining the approval process through administrative review, according to Hines. Hines said the results speak for themselves. 'A surge in multifamily development [is happening] without requiring a single rezoning,' Hines noted. 'No other city in the region is matching that pace, and it's happening because we've modernized the rules, not because we've relaxed the standards.' NWA 2050: As population climbs, so do housing costs in Northwest Arkansas The Walton Family Foundation's Our Housing Future report urges cities across the region to rethink zoning restrictions, encourage housing diversity, and invest in attainable housing strategies to maintain regional growth and workforce stability. Rogers' model, Hines suggests, is already proving that those recommendations can work. But the mayor also said that local efforts alone aren't enough. 'Housing doesn't stop at the city line, and neither should housing policy,' he said. 'We support a Council of Governments — or similar mechanism — to coordinate land use, infrastructure, and affordability across Northwest Arkansas. We're ready to lead, but we also need to act together.' With growth projected to continue rapidly across Benton and Washington counties, Hines says the time for coordinated, regional action is now. 'If Northwest Arkansas wants to stay competitive, it's time to get serious about working as a region, not just talking like one.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developer files lawsuit against Fayetteville, city attorney to ask council to reconsider vote
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Fayetteville after the City Council denied an appeal for a Dickson Street student-oriented housing proposal. A lawsuit filed on May 30 states that real estate developers Trinitas Ventures, LLC are seeking damages after a planned 611-bed housing development on 151 W Dickson St was denied multiple times. The suit claims that the project was submitted in full compliance with Fayetteville's Unified Development Code and met all required conditions for approval. It further states that although the development was recommended for approval by city staff, it was still ultimately denied at an April 14 meeting, through a 4-3 vote. Trinitas appealed the Planning Commission's denial of the project to the City Council on April 22. Adam Fire Cat to open drive-thru coffee shop in Fayetteville The Appeal from the Planning Commission's denial of the project then came before the City Council on May 20. The suit alleges that at that meeting, council members acknowledged that the project was in compliance with Fayetteville's UDC. However, five council members, Monique Jones, Sarah Moore, Bob Stafford, and Mike Wiederkehr voted against approving the project. Council members Scott Berna, Sarah Bunch, and D'Andre Jones voted in favor of granting the appeal. While council member Teresa Turk voted in abstention. Therefore, the appeal was rejected by the council in a 4-3-1 vote. However, the suit filed against the city claims that 'Turk illegally abstained from the vote.' In count one of the suit, Trinitas is asking for an 'Appeal of Final Administrative Decision.' Count two asks that the judge rule that Trinitas is facing 'Deprivation of Property Rights.' Through the suit, Trinitas is seeking damages 'including, but not limited to, lost rental revenue, increased loan carrying costs, and travel expenses required for the appeal.' It further states, 'The plaintiff should also be entitled to award of their cost of litigation and reasonable attorney's fees for this litigation and for the appeal to City Council due to the Planning Commission's violation of Fayetteville's UDC.' Now, Fayetteville's City Attorney, Kit Williams, says he plans to ask the city council to reconsider their vote regarding the development. In an interview with KNWA/FOX24, Williams says this would allow Turk to remand her vote, and choose to vote 'yes' or 'no.' Hobbs State Park launches firewood permit program to aid tornado cleanup KNWA/FOX24 reached out to the attorney representing Trinitas, Suzanne Clark, who stated that she 'wants the lawsuit to speak for itself.' Trinitas Ventures, LLC, and Trinitas Development, LLC, are the primary plaintiffs in the suit. Court records show that the City of Fayetteville, the Fayetteville City Council and the Fayetteville Planning Commission were served with the lawsuit on Monday morning. The full lawsuit can be found below. Trinitas-LawsuitDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lynn Haven officials approve Marina Island overlay district for potential mixed-use development
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) – A Lynn Haven development eight years in the making saw some progress Monday. In 2017, Lynn Haven city officials sold the old Air Force fuel depot property to a developer. After it sat vacant for years, a new developer came in with plans for a mixed-use community. Monday night, Lynn Haven commissioners unanimously approved a Marina Island overlay district. The overlay allows for flexibility in things such as setbacks, street design, and signage. The developers have not officially submitted design plans to the city, but they presented their preliminary plans and its features. 'Activating the waterfront was a big part of this, it's a big part of the marina and we imagine mixed-use buildings with retail and restaurants on the ground as well and residential above and of the wide promenade that's associated with many different kinds of activities.' The development is projected to take around 30 years to complete. The layout is comparable to Rosemary Beach, Seaside, or Alys Beach. The plans featured a variety of homes, retail businesses, a hotel, and apartment villas. They also highlighted walkable streets, hidden parking, and waterways woven through the community. Residents and neighboring businesses support the project. The main concern is creating a buffer between the industrial site and potential residential buildings to avoid noise complaints. 'We are an industrial site, we use our fair drive or y loads, industrial loads, a lot of trucks. We have worked three shifts which is 24 hours a day in the past. We would like to have that option in the future.' The overlay was approved without the industrial district, which will have to follow the Unified Development Code. This will uphold a 60-foot buffer between the industrial park and residential homes. Monday's approved overlay does not allow the developers to deviate from the comprehensive plan or state and federal requirements. The next step is to draft a development order, which takes about three months. It would take about 8-to-12 months to begin construction. There are plans for a children's museum, restaurants, and there is an easement with FSU Panama City on the property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
