ROGERS — Planning commissioners approved on a split vote Tuesday an outdoor venue, food service and beer sales for a motorcycle business.
Commissioner Mike Shupe cast the only negative vote against a conditional use permit for private club at the Pig Trail Harley-Davidson Buell store, 2409 W. Hudson Road.
At A Glance
Commission Action
Rogers’ Planning Commission met Tuesday and passed:
• A conditional use permit for Zhangye’s Gourmet Cuisine to operate a private club at 2701 W. Walnut St., a highway commercial zone.
• An amendment to the District, phase 1, on Pauline Whitaker Parkway, consisting of a mix of highway commercial and residential office zoning.
• A plan for Metro Park, 1002 S. 52nd Street. The development is a 31,808-square-foot retail center on 3.94 acres with 187 parking spaces. The property is zoned highway commercial.
• An Ice It Down ice machine at 1700 S. Eighth St., a highway commercial zone.
What was tabled:
• A request to park a temporary trailer at 711 W. Persimmon St., the American Legion building. The property is zoned residential duplex patio. No one from the American Legion attended the meeting to explain the need for the temporary trailer permit.
Source: Staff Report
Frank Hardman, general sales manager at the bike dealership, said eventually the dealership plans to open a restaurant at 2407 W. Hudson Road, which is also owned by the dealership.
“Right now we want to open an area between the two buildings, with a stage on the north end, a food trailer and beer sales,” Hardman said.
The outdoor area would be fenced off to meet Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration requirement. The venue would be open Wednesday for bikers night and two Saturdays a month with regional bands. The venue would be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
“We’re not trying to open a bar business. The average age of our customers is 37 years old. We just want to get bikers to stay longer in Rogers rather than going to Fayetteville. This will have a positive economic impact in our area,” Hardman said.
Mark Rockwell, owner of a landscape nursery at 2412 W. Hudson Road, spoke against the conditional use permit during the public hearing.
“We’re right across the street from the dealership. I don’t want to complain, but when Bikes, Blues & BBQ is in town we have to nearly shut down because of the noise. I have to shout at a customer to sell a pansy,” Rockwell said.
Rockwell, his wife and four children live on the property as well.
“I think it will be too noisy if there is a band playing. First the county goes wet and then we have a saloon across the street, that just don’t seem right,” Rockwell added.
Mark Myers, commission chairman, said he thought the venue was a good idea, but warned Hardman the permit is conditional and could be revoked if there are complaints.
Shupe said he was against the venue, stating public safety issues.
“Hudson is a busy street and cars are moving pretty fast. I think the traffic is just too heavy for this type of business. I also think this is just a bad mix for that location. I can’t support it,” Shupe said.
Commissioner Don Spann expressed concerned this would be the first time beer was allowed to be sold out of a trailer.
“I’m afraid this could open the door for other people to sell beer out of a trailer like they do snow cones,” Spann said.
Ben Lipscomb, city attorney reminded commissioners alcohol sales are now legal in Benton County.
“Like it or not we are a wet county and we are going to have to change our mind set regarding alcohol. You are going to see restaurants with outdoor liquor sales in the future, you might as well get use to it,” Lipscomb said.