Conway leaders are moving to rezone some of its city owned property to help protect the area’s natural landscape. 

During Monday’s meeting, city council approved first reading to rezone 26.63 acres of Low/Medium Density Residential property to Conservation Preservation. The designation is intended to prevent redevelopment in environmentally sensitive and flood-prone areas.

The properties are spread across the city, many of which were acquired through the FEMA Buyout Program following repeated flooding events, according to Jessica Hucks, Conway’s director of planning and development.

Most of the properties are vacant, according to Hucks.

The properties are located at: 

• 150, 163, 217 and 219 Busbee Street (1.55 acres)

• 215, 165, 118 and 117 Sherwood Drive (2.09 acres)

• 316, 317 Allen Drive (1.42 acres)

• 321 and 304 Crabtree Drive (2 acres)

• 207 Jessamine Street (.48 acres)

• 112 Park Avenue (.97 acres)

• 214 Magrath Avenue (.53 acres)

• 885 Kingston Lake Drive (.08 acres)

• Property located along New Road (16.66 acres)

• 1602 Sessions Street (.42 acres)

• 2001 Kenneth Street (.43 acres) 

Planning Commission held a required public meeting on May 7 and recommended to rezone the properties to Conservation Preservation. 

First reading passed council unanimously. A second reading is still needed and will likely come during council’s next meeting on June 1.