Copyright Arkansas Online
FAYETTEVILLE -- The planned new Ramay Junior High School project overcame another hurdle Monday. The Planning Commission approved the Fayetteville School District's rezoning request to build a school on property it owns to the east of College Avenue near the Poplar Street intersection. The commission voted 7-1 in favor, with Brad Payne the lone dissenting vote; Matthew Cabe recused himself. The School Board in May 2024 approved the $2.8 million purchase of 16.7 acres at 2200 N. Marks Mill Lane to serve as the site of a new Ramay Junior High; the board also approved a $1.25 million easement purchase for 3 acres to allow a direct connection with College Avenue. The School District has requested rezoning because the site is currently zoned RSF-4, which allows only residential single-family units to be built. School officials have said in past meetings the district was under the impression the land was included in the 71B corridor rezoning project and could house a school without rezoning. Mulford said Monday the Ramay Junior High project is part of an effort to overhaul feeder patterns to cut down on travel time and balance school demographics. He said the district wrote letters to property owners in the central portion of the district that would best complement feeder pattern goals, but no other property owners expressed interest in selling their property. Thirty people voiced differing views on the planned Ramay project during Monday's Planning Commission meeting. Those in favor praised the School District's commitment to building an environmentally friendly facility and working to balance demographics with its feeder pattern overhaul. Those opposed to the project shared concerns over disrupting the wooded hillside the property occupies and possible negative traffic impacts. A dozen people, including four Fayetteville School Board members, voiced support for the rezoning request. Justin Eichmann, a board member, said the School District has gone through an "arduous" multi-year process to address transportation concerns, demographic imbalance and overpopulation. Ashlea Milburn, a resident, said the district's feeder pattern plan will have a net-positive environmental impact in the long run because it saves 500 miles in drive time emissions daily. Commissioners voting in favor of rezoning stressed that traffic studies are typically conducted after rezoning is approved, and the developer is responsible for some of the necessary street improvements. Commissioner Fred Gulley said he was conflicted but supports the demographic considerations of the district's feeder pattern plans. Robert Porter, a resident living near the property, said he is worried about traffic on Ash Street. Multiple speakers said it is typical for drivers to cross the center line at the bottom of the hill on Ash at the Walnut Street intersection. The architect's latest site design calls for a vehicle entrance to the school property at the corner of Ash and Walnut. Some members of the public also spoke to environmental considerations. Susan McDonald suggested a nature center should be built instead.
