SPRINGDALE — A proposal to open a new business in the city, once thought dead, has new life.
The City Council’s agenda for today’s 6 p.m. meeting includes a resolution to support a new Love’s Travel Center in Springdale. Alderman Mike Overton asked for the resolution.
A resolution is a nonbinding measure, unlike an ordinance, which has the force of law.
“We’ll see if there is support for this business or not,” Overton said. “Love’s would open with a sign that follows regulations. That eliminates the excuse to vote against them.”
Meeting Information
Springdale City Council
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: City Council Chambers, City Administration Building
On The Agenda:
• A resolution to begin condemnation proceedings on property on Dearing Road for the Don Tyson Parkway interchange.
• Approval for a contract to improve the Senior Center parking lot.
• A resolution to use Capital Improvement Program money for reconstruction and paving of streets in annexed areas of the city.
• An ordinance to restructure the open burning permit process.
• An ordinance regarding demolition of the Brown Building, 317 E. Emma Ave.
The travel center, if built, would be on the southwest corner of the planned Don Tyson Parkway interchange on Interstate 540. The property is owned by Victory Church of Northwest Arkansas. The church once planned to build on the property.
The city bought the church’s building, on the east side of the interchange site, through condemnation. Interchange construction will force the demolition of the building.
The proposed Love’s location is near Arvest Ballpark, which is at the southwest corner of Watkins Avenue and 56th Street. The area around the ballpark is a prime location for mixed-use development, said Mayor Doug Sprouse. Sprouse appointed a group to draw up an overlay district for the area.
The overlay district will probably include requirements for development, such as similar building elements. Sprouse proposed the overlay regulations be completed in a year. The plan may be ready well before that year is up, Sprouse said.
“With the interchange and the planned improvements on 56th Street, the city will have invested a lot of money in that area,” Sprouse said. “I’m concerned that we may miss an opportunity if we let anything go in before we have the overlay in place.”
Victory Church representatives applied to the Planning Commission for a rezoning from agricultural to general commercial and a sign variance for its property in August, hoping to sell to Love’s. Both requests were approved by the commission.
The variance was appealed to the council by the Tyson, George and Shaw families who own property in the proposed development area. The three families are among the most prominent in the area.
The council, after delaying a decision for a month, voted against the variance. The requested sign would have been 125 feet tall with a surface area of 800 square feet. Both measurements are larger than the city allows.
The church has moved to Ozark Center Point Place while waiting to rebuild on property it owns in Tontitown. The sale of land to Love’s would help that process, said Billy Coffman, church pastor.
Sprouse said he has to look at what is best for the city.
“I fully understand the church’s need to sell their property,” Sprouse said. “If we are not careful about the type of development that goes in that area, we could look back in a few years with regrets.”