SPRINGDALE -- Customers will soon be able to buy food through a drive-through at the Sonic Drive-In at 1306 S. Thompson St.
The Planning Commission approved a plan for the business at Tuesday's meeting.
At A Glance
Commission Action
Springdale’s Planning Commission met Tuesday and approved
• Variances for reducing minimum street frontage from 200 feet to 172 fee and 200 feet to 168 feet for two tracts at 3317 S. 64th St.
• A variance for reducing rear setback from 20 feet to 10 feet at 3007 Sagely Lane.
• A variance to delete paving of off-street parking at 761 W. Randall Wobbe Lane.
• A variance for two signs at a planned Walmart Neighborhood Market at 4900 Jennifer Terrace.
Source: Staff Report
The current building doesn't have a drive-through, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development. The company bought the property to the south and plans to build a new structure with a drive-through.
Many Sonic locations have drive-throughs to meet customer demands, said Jason Acock, communications manager for the company. Many franchisees often evaluate their buildings and look into updating their locations through remodels or moves. There are three Sonic locations in Springdale, according to the company's website.
Both properties together are a total of 1.35 acres, according to the development plan. The new building will be 1,539 square feet. The land where the current building stands will become a grassy area.
Company officials and engineers are planning to build the structure before razing the current building, said Bo Wilkins, project engineer with Engineering Services Inc. He said his best guess is they will begin construction as soon as weather permits.
Commissioners also forwarded an addition to an ordinance to City Council without recommendation for its approval. The addition would allow residents to get an electronic alert if they live within one-mile a property that will have a public hearing for rezoning, Christie said.
The alert would go through the city's emergency alert system, said Wyman Morgan, director of city administration and finances. Residents can register for the alerts online and get them via email, text or both. The alerts are currently for weather and recreational events.
Jim Reed, alderman, said he brought the ordinance change to a City Council Committee meeting after a resident brought the issue to him. The desire for the change stems from a controversial rezoning request earlier in the year next to Shaw Elementary School, Christie said. Some residents in the neighborhoods around the school said they didn't know about the request.
Vivi Haney, commissioner, said there should also be an option for residents to sign up for this type of alert from any location in the city, not just a one-mile radius from their home. She explained some parents of students at Shaw Elementary didn't live near the property.
Haney also said she likes the idea of the alert option, but would rather it be a resolution than an ordinance. An ordinance acts as law and a requirement, while a resolution acts as a request, Reed explained.
Anthony Patterson, a Wagon Wheel Road resident, spoke to the commission. He said the change needs to be in an ordinance, because they can't know if future city leaders will abide by a resolution.
Mayor Doug Sprouse also spoke and said the change could also be done as a policy. He said the added service, in any case, could be an opportunity to attract more people to use the alert system.
Aldermen will vote on the amended ordinance at the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.
NW News on 12/03/2014