Panel Set To Vote On Apartments

— The Planning Commission is set to vote today on an apartment complex on East Central Avenue that drew concerns from neighboring residents at the last commission meeting.

Meeting Information

Bentonville Planning Commission

When: 5 p.m. today

Where: Community Development Building, 305 S.W. A St.

Neighbors voiced privacy and crowding concerns regarding The Villas, a 104-unit complex at 2606 E. Central Ave. Gail Duncan, who lives adjacent to the planned development, said she was worried about people on upper floors overlooking her backyard, as well as increased traffic in the area.

Developers have since removed back windows on the second floor and reoriented the complex so it has fewer apartments abutting neighboring properties.

Developers plan 16 buildings with eight units per building for a total of 104 units. A 6-foot fence and a wall of 20-foot evergreen trees also are planned.

Troy Galloway, director of community development for the city, said Bentonville is running at less than 2 percent vacancy rates for rental properties.

“There’s not a whole lot available out there for rent,” he said. “This would help in that regard.”

Staff is recommending the commission approve the request for rezoning from commercial and agricultural to planned residential development.

The commission also will hold the first of two public hearings on a rezoning request from Walmart for 15 acres in front of Washington Junior High School on East Central Avenue. The commission was scheduled to vote on the request, but a discrepancy between the published hearing date and notices that were sent out led staff to recommend another public hearing in two weeks.

“We just want to cover down and give everyone an opportunity to speak,” Galloway said.

Walmart Real Estate Business Trust is requesting the property at 1703 E. Central Ave. be rezoned from agricultural to commercial.

“The purpose of the rezoning is for a retail facility to be located on the site within the next five to 10 years,” Stephen Giles wrote to city planners. Giles is an attorney representing Walmart in the request. “The retail facility will be developed on the eastern portion of this tract with the western section reserved for future commercial development.”

Galloway said the rezoning is consistent with the future land use plan for the city.

If the request is successful, the company would still have require approval of a large-scale development plan before it could build on the property. In the meantime, Giles told commissioners the company plans to clear and grade the property to prevent erosion.

The commission will likely table the rezoning request today after the public hearing. A second public hearing is planned for Dec. 4, after which the commission will consider a vote, Galloway said.

Also on the agenda is a property line adjustment at Hardcastle Estates at 1401 S.W. Second St. Staff is recommending approval of the request submitted by the John and Elizabeth Ault Trust.

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