SPRINGDALE — Plans for two new parks were approved by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, but not without protests from neighbors who didn't know about one of the parks.
Kay Squires, who lives with her husband Bob across Ball Road from the proposed northwest park, said a letter she received about the park was the first time she heard about it.
At A Glance
Commission Action
Springdale’s Planning Commission met Tuesday and approved:
• Rezoning 5.2 acres at Elm Springs and Oak Grove roads owned by Steenbergen Family from general commercial to thoroughfare commercial; rezoning 1 acre at 1503 Carley Road owned by Jimmy and Mary Allred from neighborhood office to general commercial
• Plans by Memco Safety for the northwest corner of Huntsville and Emma avenues that will move the company into a larger building.
Source: Staff Report
"I think a responsible city would let people know when something like this is happening," Squires said.
The northwest park runs between Carrie Smith and County Line roads along Ball. The other park, in southeast Springdale on the southeast corner of Don Tyson Parkway and Hylton Road, was approved without opposition.
Both are part of a park expansion program, which raised $16.1 million for parks through bonds. A sales tax will repay the bonds.
The Squireses, as well as neighbors Scott Briggs and Doon Muehlback, live in Elm Springs. Briggs and Muehlback also questioned the design of the park. Ball Road divides Springdale and Elm Springs.
The city held two public meetings on the parks, said Mayor Doug Sprouse. Also, Sprouse and Alderman Brad Bruns met with the Elm Springs City Council to let them know about plans, Bruns said.
Some Elm Springs residents attended the meetings, Bruns said.
Squires was concerned lights from the fields and cars leaving the park would have a negative effect on their land. She suggested the entrance to the park on Ball Road be moved.
The plans are complete and should go to bid soon, said Brian Moore with Engineering Services, the firm that designed both parks. Any redesign would cause a delay in the construction, he said.
Sprouse said he wished he had heard about the concerns of the Ball Road residents month ago.
"This is public money and we can't waste it with changes this late," Sprouse said. "We will look to see if there is anything we can do that will not cost a lot of money."
Plans for the northwest park include eight softball fields, six soccer fields, two football fields, a dog park and two playgrounds. Only four of the softball fields will be built in the first phase, Moore said.
The southwest park will be completely developed with remaining money used on the northwest, Moore said. When the bids are opened on the southwest park, officials will know how much will remain for the northwest park, he said.
Bob Squires said they lived in Springdale previously and had to move twice for other developments. An extension of Oriole Street caused one move, and construction of Don Tyson Parkway behind their house in Timber Ridge caused another.
"We thought we were in the middle of nowhere, but the city has followed us out here," Kay Squires said.
The commission also approved plans for CVS Pharmacy at 2001 S. Thompson St. The old Sunrise Inn will be demolished to make room for the new building.
NW News on 03/05/2014