Walker Park neighborhood plan read once, discussed with more talk to come

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/07/01/news/070208fzcouncil.txt
The Morning News
Local News for Northwest Arkansas

Walker Park Rezoning Delays Neighborhood Master Plan
By Skip Descant
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE - A change in the zoning for four parcels of property on South Street held up the approval of the Walker Park neighborhood master plan at Tuesday night's Fayetteville City Council meeting.
Fayetteville also became the seventh city in the local area to become part of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority.
The owner of the four parcels of land on South Street between College and Washington avenues petitioned the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission to zone the property as "downtown general," a change from the "neighborhood conservation," the planning process had originally designated the area. Council members decided to delay approval of the plan until more input can be received.
The complete 304-acre master plan is expected to be approved by the council at the next meeting.
But the slight rezoning for South Street does not sit well with everyone.
"It's very narrow there," said resident Tony Wappel of the South Street and a move to allow a higher-density zoning.
"I'm all for revitalization, and making it more dense is going to be a problem," added Wappel, who expressed his endorsement of the overall master plan. The area already serves commercial uses.
And Fayetteville will join the ranks of Lowell, Rogers, Springdale and others by having a seat on the soon-to-be-formed Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority.
"What we are doing tonight is adding to our representation at the table," said Fayetteville Council Member Shirley Lucas. "We need to have our voice representing our citizens."
The council voted unanimously to join the Authority. The first meeting of the newly formed board is likely to be in August. The Authority will address transportation priorities and how to fund them by building consensus across the region.
A key concern for many residents has been the board's authority over levying taxes and other costs to fund road projects. Those decisions are left to voters, and the Authority then decides how best to use the money, said Scott Van Laningham, a vice president of the Northwest Arkansas Council.
Even decisions around building toll roads are left to voters.
"The initial toll has to be approved by the voters and then the subsequent increases are at the discretion of the RMA," said Jeff Hawkins, the director of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission.