Several Appeals filed to stop the threats to our health and well-being
QUORUM COURT 5/26/26 UPDATE
Thanks to all who signed the PMCC circulated petition. We received over 140 signatures within 6 days which were sent directly to each Justice of the Peace ahead of their 6pm meeting 5/26 and representative of a majority of the 15 JP districts in Pulaski County.
The meeting began with an unscheduled panel of speakers organized by Judge Barry Hyde and was an "info-mercial" to the quorum court and the public on the subject of data centers, particularly the AVAIO data center planned near Wrightsville in unincorporated Sweet Home. The panel included Chamber of Commerce, Entergy, Central Arkansas Water, and AVAIO.
Here are results regarding the petition:
1. WIN: the court thankfully failed to pass the quarterly planning board meetings which would have been in addition to their monthly. PMCC pledges to continue to advocate for the Planning Board meeting time to change from the outdated 1948-set time of 2pm to a time later in the day for the working public to be able to attend. Stay tuned.
This ordinance required 10 votes to pass and received 9 = FAIL = WIN FOR THE VOTERS
Sponsors of the ordinance were: Justices Steven Person (district 5) , Natalie Capps (district 2), Patricia Young-Baker (district 10)
Here’s how the Quorum Court voted:
Voted in the public's interest (thank you): Rebekah Davis (district 1), Kathy Lewison (district 3), Julie Blackwood (district 4), Curtis Keith (district 8), Luke McCoy (district 12)
Voted in the interest of unelected bureaucrats; namely planning board commissioners and planning staff: Natalie Capps (district 2), Steven Person (district 5), Donna Massey (district 6), Dianne Curry (district 7), Tina Ward (district 9), Patricia Young-Baker (district 10), Phil Stowers (district 13), Paul Elliott (district 14), Staci Medlock (district 15)
Voted on the fence as "Present": Aaron Robinson (district 11)
2. NO ACTION TAKEN: No one made a motion to recall the data center resolutions and ordinances sponsored by Justice Julie Blackwood (district 4) back from the planning board. Therefore the planning board will be leading the effort and hosting public hearings at dates and times to be announced regarding the data center land use regulations communities are calling for. It is unclear if staff will have outside experts guiding the process.
3. TEMPORARY SETBACK: a 12-month moratorium (pause) on data center application processing by Pulaski County sponsored by our Justices Rebekah Davis (district 1) and Tina Ward (district 9) FAILED for two observed reasons:
First: AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION WAS SHARED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY LAST MINUTE at the meeting (there was no prior communication to our Justice Rebekah Davis the sponsor) which he said could cause the county to be sued. This flipped votes from "yes" to "no" as at least one Justice indicated this changed a planned "yes" to "no". Justice Davis had no time to research the opinion to refute it.
Second: There was also a last minute "grandfathering" amendment which was sponsored by Justice Phil Stowers (district 13) who stated he would vote for the moratorium if this was added. This amendment request came from an outside attorney group asking the county attorney that it be added PMCC has learned.
This amendment was approved by a majority of Justices upon warnings by the County Attorney who indicated the county is less likely to be sued if they added it. The amendment excluded the 2024 AVAIO submitted application for the data center near Wrightsville in the unincorporated community of Sweet Home. This was not a welcomed amendment and would not have helped the people of Sweet Home who will be living next to a data center the county kept under wraps for at least two years. This amendment is arguably unconstitutional according to comments made after the vote by Pulaski County Candidate for Judge Wendell Griffen (former circuit judge).
With or without the amendment, the moratorium could have paused future data center applications for 12 months.
This ordinance required 10 votes to pass and received 9 = FAIL = SETBACK FOR THE VOTERS
Sponsors of the moratorium we wanted passed (without the amendment): Rebekah Davis (district 1), Tina Ward (district 9)
Sponsor of the unwelcomed amendment: Phil Stowers (district 13)
The amendment was voted to be added by a majority of the court. Then they voted on the moratorium with the added amendment next.
Here’s the how the Quorum Court voted on the moratorium with the added amendment (it wasn't optimal, but we wanted it to pass to at least give a 12 month pause on future data center applications from being processed until land use regulations can be established):
Voted in the public's interest (thank you): Rebekah Davis (district 1), Natalie Capps (district 2), Kathy Lewison (district 3), Julie Blackwood (district 4), Steven Person (district 5), Donna Massey (district 6), Paul Elliott (district 14), Staci Medlock (district 15),
Voted for an unknown outside party who requested the amendment: Phil Stowers (district 13)
Voted in a way that benefits data centers probably out of fear of being sued: Dianne Curry (district 7), Curtis Keith (district 8), Patricia Young-Baker (district 10), Aaron Robinson (district 11)
Voted on the fence as "Present": Tina Ward (district 9), Luke McCoy (district 12)
Here is where you can find who your JP is:
https://agio.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8bd86088bb7b4068a69db5f6567a8d0b
- Click on the "Justice of the Peace Districts" in the pop up menu on the right side of screen
- type your address on the top left of the screen
- zoom out to see your JP district
If you don't like how they vote or have other comments regarding their job performance, you need to let them know by sending an email and definitely by your vote next time they are on the ballot.
Paradise Valley Preliminary Plat Expires
County Planning sends developer letter
In a huge turn of events positive for the community, the developer was sent a letter from Pulaski County Planning in April 2025 informing him that his preliminary plat has expired and would need to re-file. See letter below. This now means any new filing will result in better notifications for the community since the changes we initiated in 2021 and passed by the Quorum Court in 2022 and another public hearing with option to appeal any adverse ruling.
Flooding Case Reversed and Remanded
Arkansas Court of Appeals decision favorable to community
The community is suing the Paradise Valley and Waterview Estates developer for flooding properties with uncontrolled stormwater. The case was ultimately appealed to Court of Appeals who reversed and remanded a lower court decision thus sending the case back to Circuit Court where it belongs. Judge Herbert Wright's decision was deemed to be in error in a unanimous ruling. See the Appeal Court's opinion below.
CAW seeks new water service area: Appeal filed
UPDATE 3/19/2025:
PMCC has filed an appeal of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commision's decision to uphold the Director's decision to approval the Central Arkansas Water (CAW) project expansion into the Ross Hollow/Southridge area of northwest Pulaski and eastern Perry Counties.
Stay tuned for more information by signing up for the PMCC emails below in the "Contact Us" section.
View a community member-edited CAW map showing the property owned by the two developers requesting service in the proposed new water service area.
Paradise Valley Preliminary Plat Extension: Appeal filed
PMCC files appeal of Pulaski County Planning Commission's approval of Paradise Valley's preliminary plat.
ENFORCEMENT REPORTS
NEW: Waterview Estates ADEQ CAO
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
Waterview Estates has received a proposed Consent Administrative Order from ADEQ for violations related to its sewage plant, which PMCC discovered from reading a cover letter posted on the ADEQ website. It was sent to the developer in May 2025 for violations of the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 8-4-201 et seq., at a site located one (1) mile south of Roland on Highway 300 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has determined that
this CAO is necessary to ensure compliance with the Act.
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
On January 18, 2024, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a Clean Water Act Violation for ground disturbing activities in the Waters of the US at Paradise Valley. Read the letter using the link below.
NEW: Paradise Valley ADEQ CAO
Paradise Valley Clean Water Act Violation
NEW: Paradise Valley ADEQ CAO
Paradise Valley has received a proposed Consent Administrative Order from ADEQ for violations related to stormwater runoff at the site location along Roland Cutoff Road: from the letter it reads "for violations of the Arkansas Water and Air
Pollution Control Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 8-4-201 et seq., at a site located at 23001 Roland Cutoff Rd in Roland, Arkansas. The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has determined that this CAO is necessary to ensure compliance with the Act."
Paradise Valley EPA AOC
Lakeview West Permitting and BMP Violations
NEW: Paradise Valley ADEQ CAO
On August 1, 2024, the EPA sent the developer of Paradise Valley a letter that included an Administrative Order of Consent requiring the developer to comply with the provisions set forth in the order.
Lakeview West Permitting and BMP Violations
Lakeview West Permitting and BMP Violations
Lakeview West Permitting and BMP Violations
Lakeview West is within PMCC's area of operation. Violations include: ground disturbing work without a permit and violations of Best Management Practices. A proposed CAO is being issued. Community video after a rainstorm in March 2024 were submitted to the appropriate agencies showing construction stormwater flowing into Lake Maumelle.
Pulaski County Land Use Study passed
The County-wide Land Use Study passed the Quorum Court in May 2025.
PMCC is working with a rural planner and our JP to proactively enact common sense solutions to protect the area's resources and rural character without unnecessarily intrusive provisions, which is based upon the recently passed Land Use Study.
Stay tuned by signing up for emails below in the "Contact Us" section.
Visit our Sister Site: likearkansas.org
This site has detailed information about the history of Paradise Valley, an online petition, maps, helpful links, and more.
Donations Gratefully Accepted
Please send checks (no cash) to:
Pinnacle Mountain Community Coalition
c/o Chris Centofante
P.O. Box 73
Roland, AR 72135
Make checks out to: PMCC
Thank you.
About Us
Area of Operation
Pinnacle Mountain Community Coalition conducts its activities related to the areas of Roland, Little Italy, Wye Mountain, Natural Steps, Monnie Springs and surrounding areas in West and Northwest Pulaski County, Arkansas.
Purpose
- The general purpose shall be to plan and act in ways to make the area a better community in which to live and raise a family.
- To encourage the residential character of the neighborhood and quality of life through compatible land usage.
- To protect the ecological integrity, biodiversity and water quality of the Lake Maumelle & Mill Bayou Watersheds and surrounding tributaries.
- To develop local leadership and resources effectively to deal with neighborhood issues.
- To inform the residents of the neighborhood of events concerning this area.
- To provide a vehicle through which group unity may be directed when needed.
Membership
Membership is open to all residents and property owners within the Area of Operation, who support the stated purpose, and attend at least 2 meetings a year. Members must be eighteen years of age or older.
Dues
No dues are collected.
Community Meetings
As announced by the President and usually located at the Lake Maumelle Fire Department, 20720 Clay Street, starting at 5:45pm with a meet & eat and 6:00pm meeting. Sign up for email alerts for the meeting dates and location.