SPRINGDALE — Wrapping up overlay district regulations moved a step forward Monday after a four-hour joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission.
The attendees addressed items in the proposed regulations that would fine-tune the documents to fit Springdale better, said Mayor Doug Sprouse.
“We’d like to have this finished by the end of the year,” Sprouse said. “We want to make sure it fits Springdale’s situation.”
AT A GLANCE
Overlay District
Springdale’s Southwest Overlay District would not allow variances for the following regulations:
Access management
Street zone planting and site buffer landscaping
Street lighting
Sign district boundaries
Sign district requirements
Source: City Of Springdale
The proposed regulations were drawn up by a group appointed by Sprouse that included landowners in the district, as well as representatives from the council and planning commission. The group used examples from other overlay districts, Sprouse said, especially those designed by Hodges and Associates, the company that drew up the master plan for Springdale.
The district will cover the area around Arvest Ballpark — bounded by Sunset Avenue on the north, Interstate 540 to the east, South Maestri Road to the west and the city limits by Greathouse Springs Road to the south.
The site contains more than 1,000 acres with owners’ property sizes ranging from less than 1 acre to more than 500 acres. Most of the district will be between the Sunset Avenue interchange on I-540 and the interchange under construction at Don Tyson Parkway. Arvest Ballpark is in the middle of the district.
The district would include several common areas that would be maintained by a Property Owners Association. An Architectural Control Committee would review developments to ensure new building would follow the regulations.
The regulations would make sure all development would be of high quality, Sprouse said. Maintaining high quality would protect the developers, said Jim Reed, alderman.
“We want to protect this area from the one person who comes in and doesn’t give a hoot,” Reed said.
Reed asked how much input small property owners would have in the owners association.
“Why would I be a part of it if I wouldn’t have much to say in the development of my property?” Reed asked.
The voting in the owner’s association would be weighted to reflect how much property an owner had, Sprouse said, but other bodies, such as the Architectural Control Committee and Retail Management Organizations would have equal votes.
Some of the most influential families in Springdale — such as the Georges, Tysons and Shaws — own property in the district.
At the meeting, attendees discussed the elements that would be used throughout the development that would link the area’s buildings. The elements included using native stone, similar lighting, landscaping and design of buildings and parking lots.
Another meeting is planned for 3 p.m. on Nov. 19. A public hearing on the changes would come on Dec. 3 with a possible vote on the district plans on Dec. 10.