ROGERS — Planning commissioners approved Tuesday a development plan for the Downtown Mercy Rogers clinic, an apartment complex, a retail center and heard an appeal from AT&T regarding a cell tower
The 7,382 square-foot clinic will be built at 601 N. Second St. next to Harps market parking lot.
Correction
A previous version of this story had the incorrect address for the Mercy clinic. The error has been corrected.
“The site for the Downtown Mercy Clinic was selected to fulfill a promise we made when the hospital moved from downtown next to Interstate 540,” said Jessica Eldred, Mercy spokeswoman.
“We promised we would return and have a presence downtown. This clinic fulfills that promise,” she added.
Don Spann, commissioner voted in favor of the clinic, with some reservations.
“I’m concerned about the additional traffic the clinic may add to an already busy intersection,” Spann said.
Promenade Point Apartment, 4101 W. Huntington Place, will provide upscale living a short distance from Pinnacle Hills Promenade, said Daniel Ellis, an engineer with Crafton Tull, complex designers.
The complex will sit on 8.46 acres and have 200 apartment units, ranging from three sizes of one-bedroom, one-bath apartments to a three-bedroom, two-bath unit, an office and clubhouse. There will be 370 parking spaces available for residents. HSB Rogers Apartments is listed as the owner of the complex.
During the planning committee meeting before the commission meeting, there was some discussion regarding the complex failing to meet the setback of the overlay district.
“We realize the complex doesn’t meet the 75-foot setback limit it two places,” Ellis said. “We have designed the complex with plenty of landscaping and trees which will help separate the complex from New Hope Road.”
Mark Myers, commissioner, said he didn’t have a problem with the setbacks missing the distance mark.
“I think you have done a good job with the landscaping and trees that will line the north side of the complex and provide barrier between the complex and New Hope Road. I think we are getting what we want,” Myers said
Mike Shupe, agreed the setback shouldn’t be a problem, but added commissioners need to be aware that other projects in the future may request similar variances in the overlay district.
Pinnacle Heights retail complex at 4195 Pinnacle Hills Parkway has three restaurant spaces with the rest of the complex retail space. The original development plan listed only two restaurants. The third restaurant was added on the northwest side of the complex.
Tom Holiman, representing AT&T, appealed to commissioners to move forward on a request for a cell tower at 2315 S. Seventh St. that has been tabled twice.
The problem isn't the cell tower but the land where the tower would be built. The land was cleared without a permit last year by David Meadows, land owner. Several trees cut down and put into a large pile on the side of the property. City officials have been working with Meadows to clean the property. The pile is still on the property and commissioners have delayed the sale of the land and cell tower project until the property is cleaned, city officials said.
“We need to move forward on this project, we can’t wait forever. If we can’t move forward we will abandon the project,” Holiman said.
Ben Lipscomb, city attorney offered a possible solution to allow AT&T to move forward.
“AT&T is the innocent victim here,” Lipscomb said. “I propose the money AT&T is planning on paying Meadows for the property be put in escrow until the property is cleaned up and that AT&T be allowed to move forward with the tower.”
“No one knows what the cost of cleanup is,” Myers said. “Without knowing the cost of clean up we have no idea if the money AT&T is paying for the property will be enough to clean up the property.”
Steve Glass, planning and transportation director said he would get three estimates on the cleanup project to establish a baseline.
“If Mr. Meadows can get it done cheaper that’s fine. I think determining the cost will give us the information we need to know whether the money in escrow will be enough to clean up the project.
Commissioners, Lipscomb and Glass agreed to proceed with the escrow account idea.
“If there isn’t enough money to clean up the property at least we know that and we haven’t lost anything,” Glass added.