Parks board reviews Lindsey proposal

Neighbors debate whether to take park land or money for golf course development

John Scott Bull kneels Monday to take a closer look at a map of the Razorback Park Golf Course and surrounding neighborhoods with members of the city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at the golf course in Fayetteville. A company registered to Jim Lindsey has submitted plans for a residential development on the golf course. For photo galleries, go to nwadg.com/photos.
John Scott Bull kneels Monday to take a closer look at a map of the Razorback Park Golf Course and surrounding neighborhoods with members of the city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at the golf course in Fayetteville. A company registered to Jim Lindsey has submitted plans for a residential development on the golf course. For photo galleries, go to nwadg.com/photos.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Where will the houses be built? What's the plan for Deane Solomon Road? Will there still be a golf course? Where will all of the kids go to school?

Residents asked those and many other questions Monday during a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting where plans for a massive residential development on Razorback Park Golf Course, 2514 W. Lori Drive, were discussed.

Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Also on Monday, members of the parks board recommended designating about 4 miles of soft surface trail at Lake Sequoyah as bridle paths for horseback riding.

The Lake Sequoyah Riding Club will be allowed to continue using the trails once the organization repairs several areas that have been washed out.

Source: Staff report

Some of the neighbors' questions were answered.

Eric Heller, an engineer with Blew & Associates, didn't go into specifics but said Deane Solomon Road could eventually be widened to four lanes.

Kim Fugitt, an architect and representative for Lindsey Management Co., said the nearly 60-year-old public golf course will likely be replaced by a "foot golf" course, on which players would kick a soccer ball toward a large hole rather than using clubs to strike a traditional golf ball.

Many questions related to Lindsey's plan to development the 125-acres remained up in the air after Monday's meeting.

Richie Lamb, chairman of the Parks Board, repeatedly told the 50 or so residents who showed up to the meeting -- first at the City Administration Building, then at Razorback Park -- the board doesn't deal with planning and development issues. Those issues are addressed later in the development review process by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Parks board members were tasked Monday with determining whether the developer of the property, JEL Land Acquisitions, a company registered to Jim Lindsey, should be required to dedicate park land to the city or give the city money in lieu of a dedication.

Based on the 668 apartment units and 233 houses proposed, Lindsey's company is required to donate at least 14.7 acres or pay $588,000.

Parks and Recreation staff's recommendation is to do a little of both: Dedicate 8 acres and pay roughly $265,000.

The 8 acres would be used as a trail corridor for the Clabber Creek Trail, which eventually will connect neighborhoods in northwest Fayetteville to Holcomb Elementary School and Holt Middle School.

Lamb said the trail could be used by kids who bike to a game at the Gary Hampton Softball Complex with their parents.

Money paid in lieu of a land dedication would have to be used to develop or outfit a park on the northwest side of town.

Brian Sorensen, president of the Prairie View Acres property owners' association, across Dean Solomon Road from Razorback Park, suggested requiring more land from developers.

"It would be an error to take money in lieu of acreage for green space," Sorensen said, adding, "We'd like to see something much more reasonable for this particular area of town, and that includes green space."

John Scott Bull was in favor of accepting some money for development of a park but said he would also like to see a green buffer between Deane Solomon Road and the Lindsey development -- not just along the trail corridor.

Jim Erwin wasn't in favor of either option. Erwin said the city should buy the whole 125-acre golf course and turn it into a public park. He added he'd gladly put his monthly property owners' association dues toward buying the land.

Lamb said that's an issue the City Council must decide.

Ultimately, the parks board voted to table the item to give project engineers and Parks and Recreation staff more time to come up with a proposal to address some of the neighbors concerns.

Fugitt said Lindsey representatives plan to schedule neighborhood meetings to take public input before zoning and development proposals head to the Planning Commission for review.

NW News on 06/02/2015

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