BENTONVILLE - The Planning Commission rezoned property off Southwest Been Road to medium-density residential Tuesday night, paving the way for multifamily housing development north of The Links at Rainbow Curve
Plans for the Lindsey Management property were changed last week after residents of Thornbrook Village Subdvision north of the planned development voiced their concerns about increased traffic on neighborhood streets.
Hugh Jarratt, an attorney with Lindsey, told commissioners Tuesday the company decided to drop plans after reviewing potential problems with a planned golf course and anticipated benefits from the Razorback Greenway.
At A Glance
Name Change
Lindsey Management's development near Been Road was changed from The Greens at Rainbow Curve to The Trails at Rainbow Curve. The 40-acre multifamily housing development will include 492 units.
Source: Staff Report
The company had planned nine holes on the north side of the development to complement the nine holes at The Links at Rainbow Curve. Jarratt said they ran into problems trying to get golf carts from one course to the other.
They're instead focusing on the Razorback Greenway, which is planned to route through the southeast corner of the development. New drawings for the property will tie the complex’s walking trails in with the greenway.
“We thought this might be a better concept,” Jarratt said.
Grant Wade, a resident of Thornbrook Village, said he had seen preliminary plans and would like developers to funnel traffic onto Been Road instead of north into his subdivision. City Planner Beau Thompson said the plans were in the preliminary stages but staff was addressing traffic issues.
“We are looking to get direct access to Been Road and going back and putting an ox box on Ellington Road,” Thompson said.
An ox box is a gated entrance only accessible to emergency vehicles.
The traffic issues will be addressed during the development process, said Commissioner Pat Carroll. Plans should be on the Planning Commission agenda in August, Thompson said.
Commissioners also approved preliminary plats for Edger Estates Subdivision and phase two of White Oak Trails. Edger Estates will be a 91-lot single-family residential subdivision near Southwest Bright Road and Southwest Edinburgh Avenue.
The development will include a 10-foot trail along Bright Road and mid-block "chokers" on each block to serve as a "traffic calming measure." RLP Developoment will pay a $13,641 fee in lieu of street improvements to Bright Road.
Phase two of White Oak Trails will include 54 single-family lots near Southwest Second Street and Southwest White Oak Road. It will be built west of the White Oak Trails subdivision.
The two subdivisions are part of a trend in Bentonville, said Troy Galloway, director of community development. The city issued 238 single-family permits through the end of May, outpacing last year’s rate.
"We had a big year last year,” Galloway said. “On that pace, that would put us at 571 for the year. That would be a very big year.”
The average valuation for homes this year is $275,000, he said.
“We have a very healthy housing market right now.”