Springdale Planning Commission Approves Business Park Plans

SPRINGDALE -- City officials have recently seen an increase in development. One plan shows a new business park in the southwest region.

Planning Commission members approved plans for Ozark Business Park during Tuesday's meeting. The property is owned by Mathias Shopping Centers and sits on Skyler Street north of Bleaux Avenue, according to the plan.

The plan shows six buildings on the property, three of which will be separated into two units. Units size varies from 3,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet.

The property now has several metal buildings, said Jason Appel, project engineer for Engineering Services Inc. The new buildings will have an exterior made from brick and other material.

The buildings will be used for commercial purposes, but Appel said he doesn't know what will be in them. He said there are some surrounding commercial businesses, such as a fitness facility and industrial sales.

The property will need a different type of landscaping than normal around the parking lots, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development. There isn't enough room to have berms separate the streets from the parking lots. There will be extra landscaping instead, such as trees and bushes.

Construction won't begin on the property for at least 90 days, Appel said.

The commission has seen more large-scale plans recently, which indicates an increase in non-residential development in Springdale, Christie said. Increased development means more property tax income for the city.

Charles Gaines, commissioner, said the increased development encourages him and makes him think "this area is moving in the right direction."

Commission members also agreed at the meeting to schedule a special meeting Jan. 26.

Four rezoning requests were on the agenda for Tuesday but couldn't be heard, said Mayor Doug Sprouse. An electronic alert about the public hearings hadn't gone out in time for the meeting.

The City Council recently approved an ordinance requiring the city to send electronic alerts about rezonings 10 days before the public hearing, Sprouse said. Aldermen previously debated whether it should be a policy or ordinance, which acts like a law and requires them to do it.

The City Council will vote on the rezonings at its Jan. 27 meeting if first approved by the commission, Sprouse said. The only change in the process will be the special Planning Commission meeting.

Tuesday's meeting was the last for Joel Kelsey, chairman. He resigned because he no longer lives in Springdale, Christie said. Sprouse will select his replacement, which will need approval from the City Council.

Commission members elected Kevin Parsley as the new chairman, Bob Arthur as vice chairman and Vivi Haney as secretary.