BENTONVILLE — The Planning Commission heard opposition Tuesday night from residents regarding a land-use amendment that changed a designation to industrial.
The commission voted 7-0 to change about 170 acres on the southwest corner of Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard and Southwest Rainbow Farms Road from commercial and agricultural to industrial in the city’s land-use map.
Cross Mar Investments and Glass Investments were the applicant and are owners of the land, according to agenda documents.
Brian Crist was one of three residents who opposed the change during a public hearing before the vote.
He said he was notified about the rezoning in November and was concerned there was no mention of how the developers would handle a single-family residence in the middle of the site along Southwest Rainbow Farm Road or residential neighborhoods near the site.
The notification Crist received included plans for three buildings with the smallest being 100,000 square feet and the largest being 150,000 square feet. He's concerned about the increased traffic buildings those sizes would create along Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard, which already has traffic issues.
A representative for the applicants told commissioners the request changed from heavy industrial to light industrial, and the project would bring jobs into the area.
“We feel like this is something that can enhance the area if it’s done right,” he said. “We’re working with the city to do that. A lot of thought has been put into it.”
Beau Thompson, city planner said the 170-acre site was too big to have specific plans this early but the current needs are to have shell warehousing on 60 acres on the east side of the site.
“This is the first step of many steps for this project,” said Pat Carroll, planning commissioner.