LOWELL -- Harps Food Stores received approval to start work on a location in Lowell during a Planning Commission meeting Monday.
Sarah Hopper, Harps real estate coordinator, said the company doesn't have a time-line on when it could start work on the 32,000 square-foot store. It's planned at the intersection of North Goad Springs Road and West Monroe Avenue.
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For more information about Harps Food Stores visit www.harpsfood.com
Developers are supposed to start work on projects within a year of approval, Kris Sullivan city planning director, said. She said the city often is willing to work with developers if more time is needed.
Commissioners had no questions during the development approval process Monday. Multiple variances were granted for the store earlier this month. Those included the size of signs along with the distribution of green space on the lot. A preliminary review of plans for the store was done by the commission in May.
"We are looking forward to having a Harps in Lowell," Mitch Wright, commission chairman, said.
Wright said businesses such as Harps bring tax money and convenience to residents.
"We only have one small grocery store," Wright sad.
Marvin's Foods at 203 N. Bloomington is the only grocery story in Lowell. Marvin's owns 18 stores in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma, according to its website.
Wright said many people have to fight traffic to get to larger grocery stores in neighboring cities.
Mayor Eldon Long said the store fits the need of the city.
"It is important to the growth of Lowell," Long said. "At the rate that Lowell is growing there is going to be room for more development."
The Razorback Regional Greenway runs near the planned site for the store, Long said. The greenway is a 36-mile trail that extends from north of Bentonville to south of Fayetteville.
Long said there are preliminary discussions with Harps officials about the company building a trail-head that will connect to the trail.
"It would create a community gathering place," Long said. "That would provide space for people to rest."
Long said he's hoping to see development on the store start sooner than later.
The Lowell store could look similar to the Harps in downtown Rogers, J. Max Van Hoose, Harps vice president of store planning has said.
Harps owns 78 grocery stores in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Van Hoose said two new stores were opened last year, including one in Mountain Home in December. The other store opened in Oklahoma. Two stores are set to open in Dover and Bellefonte this year.
NW News on 06/16/2015