BENTONVILLE — The North Walton Boulevard enhancement plan made it through the City Council on its second appearance, laying groundwork for improvement to the struggling commercial corridor.
The council on Tuesday approved supporting the plan after sending it back to planning staff for revisions last month.
The plan aims to breathe life in the section surrounding North Walton Boulevard from Central Avenue to Ridgefield Drive near the Bark Park. Highlights include improving sidewalks, creating a merchant district and adding trees and art. The city will also encourage businesses to update facades and new businesses such table-service restaurants to locate along the corridor.
At A Glance
Project Timeline
The North Walton Boulevard enhancement plan lays out a timeline for projects. Improvements include:
• Remove crumbling sidewalks and replace with 6-foot wide sidewalks and green space
• Construct a bicycle/pedestrian connection to the North Bentonville Trail at the Bark Park
• Increase the number of restaurants with table service
• Create a concentration of commercial activity at Tiger Boulevard and North Walton Boulevard with a transit stop and improved intersection
• Adopt design standards scaled to pedestrians and create a lively public realm
• Develop a public art theme specific to North Walton and identify artwork to install on traffic light utility boxes
• Improve overall landscaping and increase tree planting
Source: North Walton Boulevard enhancement plan
The plan approved Tuesday didn’t include a recommendation to extend Northwest Fifth Street through to North Walton Boulevard. The street ends about two blocks east of Walton.
“I’d like to point out that all references to extending Northwest Fifth Street were removed,” said Troy Galloway, director of community development for the city.
Instead, the plan mentions a citywide traffic study this year that could determine whether an extension to Northwest Fifth Street is needed.
Council members unanimously approved the plan, then watched as Galloway showed a conceptualization of what an extended Fifth Street may look like. Council members requested the drawings when they sent the plan back for revision.
Northwest Fifth Street is 800 linear feet, Galloway said. Extending it to Walton Boulevard would mean adding between 500 and 600 feet.
A 5-foot sidewalk would run along the north side of the street, according to drawings from Morrison Shipley, an engineer. The plan avoids cutting trees along the street or permanently removing any fences, Galloway said.
Aldermen Roger Thomas asked Galloway what the speed limit would be for the street. Galloway and Ben Peters, city engineer, said it would likely be around 25 or 30 mph, comparable to similar streets.
If the city opted to extend the street, staff would negotiate the price of right of way with each property owner, Galloway said.
Several property owners showed up to the meeting Tuesday. Councilwoman Mary Baggett said she realized many were against the extension.
“I know there are several people here tonight that are in favor of not opening that street,” Baggett said. “But I would tell the council, and I’m sure you all have had some input too, many people want that street opened. They think it would be better for Bentonville, so we do have another side that we’re going to have to consider if this comes up again.”
Daniel Hintz, director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., presented a report to the council on services provided by the nonprofit group. The city contracts with Downtown Bentonville for $30,000 a year.
The group directs more than a dozen types of events including the Farmers Market, First Fridays and the Christmas Parade. Hintz said participation in downtown by people and business owners continues to grow.
Sales at the Farmers Market have grown from $91,000 when Downtown Bentonville took it over to $541,000 in 2012. Attendance at public events has also grown significantly over the same period, from 12,146 to more than 100,000.
Hintz lauded the “systematic approach” the city has taken in redeveloping the downtown area, starting with a University of Arkansas study in the 1990s and continuing with investments in infrastructure.