FCRA voices approval of Fort Smith Schools’ proposed millage increase

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) lended its support to the upcoming school millage vote on May 22. The FCRA board approved a resolution on Thursday (April 19) endorsing the plan from the Fort Smith Public School district.

FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen acknowledged there was “no secret that this is happening, and it’s no secret that we support it.”

“I’m sorry we were a month late in getting it done. We missed last month’s deadline. But we do fully support this, and anything that’s good for the Fort Smith Public School system is good for us. So we’re excited about what’s going to happen when this is passed,” Owen said.

FCRA board member Paul McCollum III encouraged “everyone to get out and vote, because it’s something that’s really needed,” adding the FSPS is “a top-notch district.”

The district still owns FCRA-donated land at Chaffee Crossing, where in 2014, it examined the possibility of adding a third high school. The estimated $65 million structure never came to fruition, and it is not a part of the current millage proposal.

If approved in the May 22 election, the millage would increase 5.558 mills to 42.058, the proceeds of which would go toward the funding of district-wide construction and renovation projects, including $35 million in security upgrades. Additionally, there would be an $825,000 annual technology expense. Following are the major projects funded by the millage increase — $120.822 million in all.
• Safety/security package and walls/doors at elementary schools, $15.865 million, 0.655 mills
• Southside High School and Gym, $43.824 million, 1.81 mills
• Northside High School and Gym, $34.696 million, 1.432 mills
• Career and Technology Center, $13.724 million, 0.567 mills
• Darby Junior High School renovations, $9.664 million, 0.399 mills
• Ramsey Junior High School renovations, $3.046 million, 0.126 mills
• Student Device 1:1 program, $825,000, 0.569 mills

The effect to the average homeowner would be $9.26 per month per $100,000 in real estate value. This would affect “frozen assessment” properties as well. Voter registration begins on April 22 with early voting running from May 7-21.

LAND SALES
In other items of business Thursday, the board accepted an offer from Rod Coleman of ERC Create for the purchase of six acres at the corner of McClure Drive and Wells Lake Road. Coleman offered the trust $20,000 an acre. He plans to develop a commercial space consisting of office, retail, and restaurant. The development will be an anchor for residential properties Coleman is developing to the south of the purchased property.

Additionally, the board agreed to sell 2.12 acres at a purchase price of $50,000 to developer Johnny Jones for the construction of upscale warehouse condominiums with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. The board also accepted an offer from Carrington Creek Holdings on 12.63 acres of land ($6,250 per acre). The land, located on McClure Drive, will be used to develop “upscale townhomes,” which are expected to be ready for move-in by Sept. 1, 2020.

Finally, the board agreed unanimously to repurchase the four acres of land comprising Constitution Park for $60,000 in Chaffee Crossing’s historic district. Lynn and Mary Marechka purchased the land for $50,000 in 2011 with the intention of hosting outdoor weddings and maintaining the property. The Fantasies at the Fort/Enchanted Wedding Chapel owners — not present on Thursday — decided to sell it back to the trust in March. Owen said the FCRA “intends to keep it like it is for now,” but added he was “glad we got it back, so we can go down there and fix it up and make it really pretty.”

As for the park’s future, Owen said, ”Until there is a better use from a recreational standpoint — because that’s part of the PZD (planned zoning district) — if someone comes in with a use of the PZD that includes those four acres, then we’ll sell it to them.”