Downtown Fort Smith homeless dorm project withdrawn

A brewing controversy over the construction of a 3,300-square foot dormitory-style housing for the homeless was temporarily calmed Tuesday night (Dec. 1) when the director of the Community Rescue Mission withdrew the application.

The move was made during Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Smith Board of Directors. The board was to consider a rezoning and conditional use request from the Community Rescue Mission (CRM) that had been approved by the Fort Smith Planning Commission.

Wally Bailey, Fort Smith’s director of planning, said the request was initially table in July so a homeless “problem solving meeting” could be arranged between CRM and the neighborhoods. The meetings resulted in the creation of a Task Force to consider the larger picture of homelessness and social service agency support in the downtown Fort Smith area. Recent efforts by the city to encourage investment in the larger downtown Fort Smith area, including adopting a comprehensive plan for the Belle Grove Historic District, have come into conflict with the homeless population in the area.

Bailey said the Task Force is expected to report its findings to the board by March or April of 2010.

The CRM recently withdrew from the Task Force, citing an objection to the push to merge the various social service agencies on one campus. Withdrawing and recent revelations that the CRM houses felons in addition to the homeless began to bring pressure on the dormitory project.

Possibly because of the pressure, CRM Director Brian Hilts told the board Tuesday he decided to “spare us all the agony of what we face here tonight” and asked to withdraw the application. His request came after three people spoke against the CRM dormitory plan.

David Harris said the board needs to consider the “bigger picture” that seeks to link downtown Fort Smith, the riverfront and the historic district in an effort to promote commerce and tourism. Also, he noted, the “larger plan” to build a campus so they can provide a greater range of services to the homeless and poor will die if CRM is allowed to build its dormitory.

Wayne Bledsoe, an historic district resident who opposed the CRM plan, said the city is at a “crucial juncture” with the development of the riverfront, downtown and the historic neighborhood.

“We need to look at innovative approaches, not the status quo being increased,” Bledsoe told the board.

Carolyn Plank said the other agencies that remain in the task force are working good together.

“Give the task force a chance,” she implored of the board.

Following Hilts’ request to withdraw the application, the board voted unanimously to accept the withdrawal.

OTHER BOARD BUSINESS
The board voted to approve the 2010 budget. The total budget is roughly $273.7 million, but the general fund is what pays for important city functions like police, fire, administration, parks and sanitation. The remainder of the budget is locked in with tax revenue supporting bonded projects like streets and water/sewer system improvements.

The budget approval also included a plan to provide pay increases only to city employees making less than $40,000 and with a hire date on or after Jan. 1, 2006. City Administrator Dennis Kelly had recommended a wage freeze for all city employees.