The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Oct. 14) is set to vote on annexation of property in south Fort Smith, and to consider an agreement with Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties to sell more than $2 million in “excess” property.
Deputy Fort Smith City Administrator Maggie Rice noted in a memo to Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman that three “unincorporated enclaves” are enclosed by city limits.
“When a city’s incorporated areas completely surround an unincorporated area, Arkansas Code allows for that property to be annexed by city ordinance,” Rice noted. “The Arkansas legislature adopted Act 314 abolishing Extraterritorial Jurisdictions. In the absence of an ETJ, the city no longer exercises land use control over the enclaves.”
The largest property to be annexed is in south Fort Smith along U.S. 271. It is 45 acres, has 20 property parcels, with nine residential and 11 non-residential, according to Rice. A public hearing during a Fort Smith board meeting was held Aug. 19, with no residents speaking for or against the annexation.
“In compliance with State law, staff published the legal description of the area to be annexed as well as mailed certified letters to the owners of all 20 parcels within the enclave notifying them of the public hearing and their right to present their views on the proposed annexation,” Rice noted in the memo.
PROPERTY SALE
City-owned property proposed to be sold is located at 4401 Massard Road, 7700 Texas Road, and 1400 Riverfront Drive are considered excess. The price for all three properties is $2.115 million. Following are the proposed prices for each property.
• 4401 Massard Road: $2 million
• 1400 Riverfront Drive: $70,000
• 7700 Texas Road: $45,000
The only company that responded to a request from the city to list the property was Fort Smith-based Ghan & Cooper[1].
“The enclosed listing agreements with Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties, LLC list each of the properties for one year,” Dingman noted in a memo to the board. “Should the property still be for sale following a year, the agreement automatically renews monthly but can be terminated without penalty.”
The board on Aug. 12[2] discussed during a study session plans to sell property the city no longer needed. City staff identified 18 properties that could be subject to sale or transfer.
The board also on Tuesday is expected to review the 2026 proposed operating budget. A copy of the budget was not included in the agenda, but will be provided to the board at the meeting. A budget hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.
Link here[3] for a PDF of Tuesday’s board agenda.
Related
References
- ^ Ghan & Cooper (ghancooper.com)
- ^ on Aug. 12 (talkbusiness.net)
- ^ Link here (granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com)