Extension Draws Ire

North Walton Plan Has Residents Worried

Shane Miller refers to a slideshow presentation Tuesday while addressing the Bentonville Planning Commission about his opposition to the Northwest Fifth Street extention in the proposed North Walton Boulevard corridor enhancement plan during the commission’s meeting in Bentonville. Miller was one of several residents that voiced their concern over the possible extension to North Walton Boulevard. Northwest Fifth Street is a deadend street.
Shane Miller refers to a slideshow presentation Tuesday while addressing the Bentonville Planning Commission about his opposition to the Northwest Fifth Street extention in the proposed North Walton Boulevard corridor enhancement plan during the commission’s meeting in Bentonville. Miller was one of several residents that voiced their concern over the possible extension to North Walton Boulevard. Northwest Fifth Street is a deadend street.

— The Planning Commission approved a redevelopment plan for North Walton Boulevard on Tuesday after hearing from several residents at a public hearing.

Most of the comments came from residents concerned about an extension of Northwest Fifth Street from Bella Vista Road to North Walton Boulevard. Northwest Fifth Street now dead ends behind Northwest H Street, two blocks east of North Walton Boulevard.

Resident Elizabeth Sanchez pleaded with commissioners to table the portion of the plan about Northwest Fifth Street and approve the rest.

“Please amend the plan regarding Fifth Street,” she said. “Because we’re very scared to death that it would go through if it’s in this plan.”

Troy Galloway, director of community development, said the Northwest Fifth Street proposal was a small component of the plan. He said the city would make every effort to preserve trees along the corridor and create a safe environment for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The city may not widen the street if extended, he said.

At A Glance

Commission Action

Bentonville’s Planning Commission setting zoning and regulations for businesses selling retail alcohol. Stipulations include:

• Alcohol may only be sold from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• No drive-through windows are allowed for alcohol sales.

• Any business that sells alcohol and is within 500 feet of a city park or trail must obtain a conditional use permit.

• Zoning specifications for liquor stores, microbreweries and wholesalers include commercial, downtown core and industrial classifications.

Source: Staff Report

“We’re getting way ahead of ourselves,” Galloway said in response to the concerns. “All we’re saying is it would be nice to have a connection.”

The street would connect the neighborhoods on the east side of North Walton Boulevard to shops and restaurants along the corridor, while also providing a connection to downtown from North Walton.

Deborah Reynolds, a North Walton resident, said she appreciates many of the improvements in the plan such added trees and wider sidewalks but is worried about increased traffic on Fifth Street. She asked if the stoplight at Northwest Fifth Street and Walton Boulevard would be moved. The traffic light provides an entrance to Walmart Logistics but the intersection isn’t a thoroughfare.

Galloway said the intersection would likely shift north if the street is extended.

Reynolds asked why the city is considering extending Fifth Street and not focusing on Northwest Seventh Street, which goes through to Walton Boulevard.

“Seventh only provides a connection to Bella Vista Road,” Galloway said. “But Fifth Street provides a connection to North Walton and to downtown. We’re trying to reintroduce people to North Walton, the business and facilities that we have in that part of town.”

Shane Miller said he was concerned the extension would hurt property values of people who live on what is now a dead-end street. He said the street is ideal for raising a family and is a popular pedestrian way for families walking their children to the two elementary schools nearby on Bella Vista Road. He said he felt the money would be better used improving streets downtown.

“If you want people to shop on North Walton Boulevard, they need to live in downtown,” Miller said. “If you want them to live downtown, you need curb and gutter, you need to invest in the places they are going to live.”

Sanchez suggested the city keep Northwest Fifth Street closed to traffic but make it a pedestrian and cyclist thoroughfare with a public park on the intersection with North Walton.

“We could take advantage of the dead end street and make it a pedestrian way,” she said. “We have an opportunity here that we can take something and make it more of a benefit for us.”

Planning commissioners asked Galloway after the hearing if approving the plan tied the city to implementing its proposals.

“There may be certain elements that are disagreeable to certain people here,” he said. “This is a plan, a playbook, a blueprint. It doesn’t obligate the Planning Commission or the City Council to any budgetary decisions. It simply states that this is what we would like to accomplish over the coming years in regard to Walton Boulevard.”

Debi Havner, commission chairwoman, said the city took similar steps when it drew plans for improving East Central Avenue.

“I like how you all did that with Central,” she said. “You had the plan that far in advance. It’s nice to have a plan in place.”

In addition to extending Northwest Fifth Street, the plan advocates improving sidewalks and crosswalks, adding trees and landscaping, a park, a gateway feature, public art and streetlights. The city is also encouraging a merchant district, private investment in renovation and mixed-use development projects.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the plan. The plan will go before the City Council on Jan. 22 for approval.

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