CAVE SPRINGS, Ark. — The City of Cave Springs hosted a public input meeting on Tuesday, May 21, on the possible land swap with Rogers.
The City of Rogers and the City of Cave Springs have been in talks to trade some land. If approved, Cave Springs would get some land west of Highway 112, which is where a neighborhood called Scissortail sits. Rogers would get 252 acres of the current southwest portion of Cave Springs, including 15 homes.
There was only one person in favor of the swap at Tuesday's meeting. Many residents from both cities spoke against the swap, including Shannon Stanton and her husband, who would be impacted if the swap gets approved.
"We are both retired active-duty military and we decided to move back here after our retirement in 2020," Stanton said. "This is where he grew up. And the property has been in the family since the early 90s."
The land swap raises questions for her that haven't been answered yet.
"We have Elder Airfield, which is a grass airstrip. That is probably our biggest concern about moving to a new city. And what are the zoning and ordinance requirements for having a grass strip," Stanton said. "Do we get the same ordinances or the same rights on the land? And if we are grandfathered in, what could change it?"
Stanton has created a petition for impacted property owners to bring to the Cave Springs City Council.
"We're at about 62% majority in opposition of being de-annexed. So that speaks volumes," Stanton said. "I think a lot of us came to the table saying 'Well, let's look at Rogers. Is that good for us?' And ultimately, we decided and that's why we signed the petition that it was in our best interest to stay in Cave Springs."
Other residents expressed concerns over their taxes going up and their property values going down. Cave Springs Mayor Randall Noblett said he feels that wouldn't be the case.
"I don't see it as a negative impact on their home values. I know Cave Springs home values are higher, but your home value goes up when you can access water and sewer, and they will be able to get to that much easier," Noblett said.
Stanton hopes the petition is something that her officials take into consideration.
"With a formal petition from those homeowners, we hope that the council considers that in their in their vote" said Stanton.
Both the Rogers City Council and the Cave Springs City Council will vote next Tuesday to finalize the land swap.
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