Springdale Council Denies George?s Golf Complex

The Springdale City Council may have bitten a hand that helps feed the town recently when it voted against a rezoning proposal.

Gary George, CEO of George’s Inc., has a 47-acre tract of land at Luvene Avenue and 40th Street that had been a planned site for a golf course/apartment complex. Lindsey Management Co. would have developed the project as it has similar ones in Arkansas and several other states.

But in a 5-2 vote against the project — which was passed 7-1 by the Springdale Planning Commission — the council overlooked all the George family has done for Springdale and sided with some area residents who opposed the development. Aldermen voting against the project were Jeff Watson, Mike Overton, Bobby Stout, Billy Eden and Kathy Jaycox. Those for the project were Charles Farmer and Rick Evans. Larry Gibson abstained from the vote because he is an employee of George’s.

Gary George was the president of NARTI for its first four years and donated the land for the building off U.S. Highway 412. Other donations from George’s to Springdale include the land for Ozark Guidance Center and Gene George Elementary School. George’s was also a big contributor to Springdale High School’s new football practice facility and artificial turf.

Jim Lindsey, president of Lindsey & Associates, has golf course/apartment complexes in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee. He said he was “totally shocked” by the vote.

“The deal in Springdale is an all-time first for us,” Lindsey said. “We have never had a golf course turned down. I didn’t know anyone would turn down a golf course that would insulate them.”

George said he is “evaluating the alternatives available” for the land.

“I was surprised that [the council] didn’t look at the facts more,” George said. “It had a strong recommendation from the planning commission and the planning director [Patsy Christie].”

The property is zoned A-1 (agricultural).