CENTERTON -- Residents stormed out of City Hall with anger and frustration Tuesday as the Planning Commission tabled two rezoning requests at the corner of Seba and Gamble roads.
Residents left cursing and criticizing, some under their breath, some more loudly. One man referred to the situation as a "horse and pony show."
At A Glance
Commission Action
Centerton’s Planning Commission met Tuesday and approved:
• Rezone 14 acres north of Timber Ridge Subdivision from agricultural to high-density residential.
• A property line adjustment at 3240 and 3250 Oak Tree Drive.
• A replat at 3200 and 3210 Oak Tree Drive.
• A 7,500-square-foot building for NWA Restore-It, a water and fire restoration business, at 13525 W. Centerton Blvd.
• A time extension for plans for Aspen Mini-Storage.
Source: Staff Report
About 55 residents attended the meeting, nearly filling the room to capacity. Most reside nearby the 20 acres to be rezoned. It's zoned residential medium density.
C. Holdings owns the land. The request was to have 15 acres rezoned resident townhouse duplex and five acres rezoned to neighborhood commercial.
Hunter Haynes with HCH Consulting spoke with residents about the rezoning at a community meeting Sept. 15. Haynes focused on what was and wasn't permitted in the current and proposed zonings. Residents expressed frustration there weren't details given about a proposed development.
Residents argued there was plenty of land available for commercial development along Centerton Boulevard. They said they were worried the development would decrease their property value, increase traffic and bring in lower-income families, which would create an increase in crime.
The same arguments were made during the nearly hourlong public hearing. No person spoke in favor of the rezoning.
Rebecca Powers, who said she spoke as a Centerton resident and not a Bentonville School Board member, Robin Reed, Centerton alderwoman, and T.J. Teed, candidate for Centerton mayor, joined nearly 20 others in urging the Planning Commission to vote against the request.
Reed was one of many who said the development of duplexes and strip malls would exacerbate traffic issues.
"The traffic's already a problem in that area," she said. "I personally don't want commercial (business) in my back door." She said she would rather drive the five to 10 minutes to stores to get what she needs.
Teed said the city needs to allow commercial businesses to build on commercial property and not allow commercial property into residential areas.
"Placing this type of structure within our neighborhoods would be devastating to our children and to our home values," he said.
Rich Kinney, who lives next to the land, said he's managed multifamily properties for 20 years.
"I can't think of a property I've managed that I would want to live next door to," he said. The audience responded with applause.
Kinney explained a good development might hold its quality standards for the first five years. Its quality decreases greatly once it changes owners' hands a few times, he said.
"After 15 years or so, once they're tired, you end up with some problems," he said. "I've seen some good properties get worn out."
Haynes asked the commission to table the rezoning after the public hearing because it was obvious he wouldn't receive support for it, he said.
The commission withdrew the neighborhood commercial request, 5-2, with Carol Parker and Craig Langford voting against it.
Cliff Mathis, commission chairman, said the property wasn't conducive to the density allowed in residential townhouse duplex zoning and the current zoning was aligned with the city's land-use plan.
However, the residential townhouse duplex zoning would require more quality duplexes to be built than allowed in residential medium density zoning, said Jeff Seyfarth, commissioner.
"I think that's a potential upside that we need to consider," he said.
Seyfarth said he was also concerned about density and asked common areas and green spaces be provided if the rezoning was passed.
Parker said the requested rezoning was still different than others around it.
"It's going to stick out like a sore thumb," she said.
Haynes requested the commission table the second rezoning request so he could address some of the issues discussed Tuesday.
The commission approved his request, 5-2, with Mathis and Parker voting against it.
The commission denied a different development on Gamble Road at its Aug. 26 meeting. The commission heard from seven residents about a proposed "up-scale apartment complex" on 15 acres on the northwest corner of Gamble Road and Cutberth Lane, according to meeting minutes.
Only one resident was in support the development. The others said they were worried the development would decrease property value, bring crime into the area and cause traffic problems, the minutes show.
The commission rejected the rezoning request as its members were concerned about the additional traffic it would add to Herbaugh Road. They believed the property would be better used as a neighborhood commercial or less dense residential development, according to the meeting's minutes.
NW News on 09/24/2014