Fayetteville City Council clears path for Swarm Aero

• Residents have protested and spoken out against the business, commonly because of its contract to provide drones for the military, according to the Fayetteville Flyer.

Flashback: Swarm Aero recently opened with little public knowledge or input, in part because of nondisclosure agreements with Swarm Aero compounded with city staff's decision to classify the company as a "by-right industrial use" business. The classification meant the business met the qualifications to operate in the location and didn't need to rezone the property, which would have required a City Council vote.

• Fayetteville's Board of Adjustments then ruled city planning staff misclassified Swarm Aero as "heavy commercial and light industrial" business, which Swarm Aero appealed to the City Council on Tuesday.
• The business would have had to seek a rezoning or move if the council had denied its appeal.

Zoom in: Supporters argued the company could create valuable science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce opportunities, research partnerships and higher-paying jobs, the Fayetteville Flyer reported.

• City Council members Teresa Turk, Sarah Moore and D'Andre Jones voted against the appeal.