Title: Efforts to Save Parts of Markham Hill – Part 2

*** Developer SREG Promises to Preserve 50 Acres on Markham Hill ***

Developer Specialized Real Estate Group (SREG) and their anonymous financial backers obtained 144 acres on Markham Hill, previously owned by Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer and later her son Julian Archer, through a questionable bankruptcy trial in early 2016.  Because this property is on hillsides and a hilltop plateau, the developer must follow the Hillside-Hilltop Ordinance which requires at least 30-35% of the tree cover to be preserved. This comes to approximately 43-50 acres since the previous zonings were a 72-acre RSF-4 intact urban forest (30% to be preserved) and a 72-acre PZD intact urban forest (30-35% to preserved). The 72-acre PZD also contained a meadow and four Pratt/Archer family-built structures on several acres.  To comply with the Hillside-Hilltop Ordinance and to gain City government rezoning support for their development plans, SREG agreed to put 50 acres located on the far west of their property in a conservation easement with the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust.  Most of this preserved urban forest is on the hillside next to Interstate 49. Some of this promised preserved land is in the area where one of the two known Native American sites is located, a bluff shelter locally known as Mossy Rock Cave. The conservation easement is not finalized as of today. 

Fayetteville’s Hillside-Hilltop Ordinance states in Chapter 167, “It is the purpose of this chapter to preserve and protect the health, safety, and general welfare, and enhance the natural beauty of Fayetteville by providing regulations of the preservation, planning, maintenance, and removal of trees within the city, in order to accomplish the following objectives: (1) To preserve existing tree canopy; (2) To create a healthful environment for Fayetteville residents, businesses, and industries; (3) To moderate the harmful effects of sun, wind, and temperature changes; (4) To buffer noise, air and visual pollution; (5) To filter pollutants from the air that assist in the generation of oxygen; (6) To reduce storm water runoff and the potential damage it may create; (7) To stabilize soil and prevent erosion, with an emphasis on maintaining tree canopy on hillsides defined as canopied slopes in Chapter 151; (8) To provide habitat for birds and other wildlife; (9) To preserve riparian banks and beds, and prevent sedimentation; (10) To screen incompatible land; (11) To promote energy conservation; and (12) To protect and enhance property values.

Markham Hill contains the last intact urban forest inside the city of Fayetteville and is the last refuge for wildlife on the east side of Interstate 49. It has significant historical value and at least two Native American sites. The natural trails were used by the champion University of Arkansas cross country and track teams for over 40 years. For these and many other reasons, like those specified in the paragraph above, the Friends of Markham Hill and others would like the entire 250-acre urban forest and natural land on Markham Hill to be preserved.  The Friends of Markham Hill are thankful that the City of Fayetteville is planning to preserve Joy Pratt Markham’s 63 acres on the northwest of the hill, that SREG is planning to preserve 50 acres on the west side of the hill, and that the Sutherland family has completed the process of putting their acreage on Markham Hill in a conservation easement with the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust.

SREG has completely deforested and started developing four of their 144 acres on Markham Hill. These four acres are on Markham Rd heading up the hill. The Friends of Markham Hill and others will continue their efforts to try to save the entire remaining 140 acres previously owned by Evangeline Archer, one of the co-founders of the Ozark Society which helped save the Buffalo River in the 1960s and make it the United States’ first National River in 1972.  

In spite of its several conservation projects, the SREG still plans to build over 500 living units, an 80-room hotel, a restaurant, other commercial buildings, parking lots, streets, and utilities, requiring major deforesting of the entire Markham Hill plateau and parts of the hillsides, killing the wildlife, destroying historical places, and desecrating the Native American sites.

I asked Marson Nance, Director of Land Protection & Stewardship with the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, if SREG had actualized their promise to preserve 50 acres. He wrote back, “Our office admin forwarded me your message regarding the status of the Markham Hill conservation easement.  Specialized has signed the letter of intent to place approximately 50 acres into permanent conservation with Northwest Arkansas Land Trust.  They are currently working through some paperwork that we require.  These conservation projects take a while to complete. We have all intentions of this easement project moving forward.” 

Two articles on SREG’s promise to preserve 50 acres on Markham Hill are below.

‘Deal reached to preserve portion of Markham Hill in Fayetteville’, August 29, 2020: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/aug/29/deal-reached-to-preserve-portion-of-markham-hill/

‘Agreement will preserve over 50 acres on Markham Hill’ by Todd Gill, August 31, 2020: https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2020/08/31/agreement-will-preserve-over-50-acres-on-markham-hill/

Photo1: Markham Hill is the intact urban forest just east of Interstate 49 (dark green), last place of refuge for wildlife this side of the highway. Go to Facebook group Friends of Markham Hill to see this photo under this weekly.

Photo2: Joy Pratt Markham's former property outlined in red is the 63-acre land swap between the U of A and the City. Evangeline Archer's former property outlined in blue contains the 144 acres that Friends of Markham Hill and others are trying to save from development. The surrounding properties are also on Markham Hill and contain intact urban forest and natural land. White S is the Sutherland Family conservation easement. We hope that the entire Markham Hill urban forest and its natural areas can be saved from development and be Mt Kessler Nature Preserve's little sister on this side of Interstate 49. Go to Facebook group Friends of Markham Hill to see this photo under this weekly.

Photo3: Royal blue on the right and baby blue in the middle are the 94 acres where developer SREG will do major deforesting to build their 520 living units, 80-room hotel, restaurant, other commercial buildings, parking lots, streets, and utilities. Dark teal blue on the far left and bright teal blue in the NW corner are the 50 acres that SREG promises to preserve in a conservation easement with the NWA Land Trust.

#SaveMarkhamHill #KeepFayettevilleForested #PreserveFayetteville #PreserveFayettevilleHistory #MarkhamHillHistory #MarkhamHillWildlife #MarkhamHillInspiredArt #MarkhamHillNativeAmericans