BENTONVILLE — A bill being considered by the state Legislature could bankrupt Benton County, a county planning official said Wednesday.
Mark Curtis, planning board chairman, voiced concern with Senate Bill 367, by Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, at Wednesday’s board meeting.
“I think it’s imperative that we understand what it’s written about,” Curtis said.
The bill is designed to allow compensation to property owners whose land loses fair market value because of a government regulation. The measure has been approved by the state Senate and is awaiting before the Judiciary Committee in the state House of Representatives.
“It could bankrupt the county quickly,” Curtis said. “I think, as a Planning Board, we have to make a stand on this.”
Chris Ryan, planning director, said counties and cities in Arkansas could be forced to “roll back” their planning and zoning regulations to avoid the cost the legislation might otherwise impose on them.
“They’d have to,” Ryan said.
The board took no formal action regarding the proposed legislation after the brief discussion.
The board also discussed the status of the revision of its planning regulation. Ryan told the panel the Quorum Court’s Legislative Committee is set to complete its chapter-by-chapter review of the regulations when the committee meets Monday.
Ryan said the justices of the peace have recommended a number of changes or additions to the proposed rules and the planning staff will be bringing those to the Planning Board for discussion once the Legislative Committee has completed its work.
During the Technical Advisory Committee phase of its meeting, the board reviewed a large-scale development plan submitted for Tow Mate for 3.9 acres at 15704 Arkansas 12 in Rogers.
The company, which makes wireless lighting systems, presented plans for an 11,124 square-foot building to house its manufacturing, assembly and shipping of its products. The proposal calls for the facility to employ 20 to 30 people.
A public hearing on the proposal is set for the board’s April 3 meeting.