In the March 17 Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting, the board passed an ordinance for temporary entertainment districts in downtown and at the HUB at Providence. The HUB received permanent entertainment district status in the August 4 meeting and two more locations will come before the board on Tuesday.

One proposed ordinance will make a portion of the temporary entertainment district downtown into a permanent one while the rest will provide an optional expansion for events who want to have a larger area.

The second permanent entertainment district the board will consider is in Chaffee Crossing in the historic district. This entertainment district would be limited to the hours between 10 a.m. and midnight with the option for events to extend those hours to 2 a.m.

According to a memo from Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman, “Both proposed ordinances have additional provisions regarding hours of operation, and a requirement for participating establishments to administer unique wristbands for use in conjunction with 16oz paper or plastic cups that are required to walk about the entertainment district with an alcoholic beverage.”

Previous proposals for entertainment districts have been met with near-unanimous approval. At-Large Director Robyn Dawson has voted against them at both meetings.

Another big item on Tuesday’s agenda is an appeal from Skillcraft Homes on a decision by the Fort Smith Planning Commission to deny their application for rezoning and developing a stretch of property along Old Greenwood Road adjacent to Sebastian Hills subdivision.

Many residents of Sebastian Hills attended the Planning Commission meeting to speak against the rezoning and developing this stretch of land.

The developers intend to build up to 15 houses on the 6.3 acre piece of property.

The Board of Directors will consider their appeal and decide to overturn or uphold the decision of the Planning Commission.

The Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in A1 and A2 Halls of the Fort Smith Convention Center. A Town Hall will be held following the meeting.