Fort Smith Planning Commission denies proposal for military compatibility area overlay district
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The proposed military compatibility area overlay district in Fort Smith was not approved by the city’s planning commission at its meeting on May 14.
The district surrounds the Ebbing Air National Guard Base and the Fort Smith Regional Airport.
It aims to implement policies and regulations to protect the public and maintain operations at the airbase.
Those regulations include restrictions on lighting, sound and who people can sell their property to.
“It could mislead the citizens. Why are we promulgating rules for no reason? If it did not come from the FAA and wasn’t advised from the Department of Defense, then why are we creating our own rules?” said Stephen Wright, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8845.
“There’s always negatives with every positive, you just hope the positives outweigh the negatives and I believe they will,” said Rocky Walker, president of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders
The proposed regulations still have to go before the city’s board of directors. It is on the agenda for the board’s June 4 meeting.
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