SPRINGDALE -- A developer plans to build rental units north of downtown Springdale one official said could increase traffic on Mill Street.
Aldermen at Tuesday's City Council meeting approved rezoning about 21 acres on Mill Street from medium density single-family residential district to a planned unit development.
Other business
Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• RAppointing Dave Chapman and Eric Harris to the Civil Service Commission.
• A permit for carnival at Parsons Stadium from May 25-29.
• Using $222,000 for park work from the Capital Improvement Program.
• A $597,260 contract for renovation at Shiloh Meeting Hall.
• A permit for a home occupation at 5338 Monica Marie Ave.
• Waiving street improvements, drainage, curbs, gutters and sidewalks at 13184 Robbins Road.
Source: Staff report
The property sits on the east side of Mill Street between Plum Street and Lowell Road.
The petitioner intends to develop the property for multifamily residential, according to the petition for rezoning. The buildings range from two units per building to five units per building, according to the plan.
The development, which would be called The Mansion at Mill Creek Patio Homes, would have 60 units with three bedrooms and a two-car garage, Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development, has said. There would be 20 units with two bedrooms and a one-car garage.
There would be no age requirement to live in the units, Tom Embach, president of Leisure Homes Corp., has said. The development company is based in Mountain Home.
The rent prices would be competitive, though the prices aren't yet set, Embach has said. The three-bedroom units could cost $850 or more per month. The two-bedroom units could cost $775 or more per month.
Larry Baker and his wife, Mary Baker, have lived at 818 Mill street for 43 years, Mary Baker said. Larry Baker spoke at the meeting about his concern the development will cause an increase in traffic on Mill Street.
Mill Street is labeled a collector street in the city's street plan, Christie said. It's also one of many access points to downtown.
"It's just a natural way to get across town," she said.
The streets in the development would be private, and there would be one access, Christie said. Each unit will have fire sprinklers because of the single access.
Mary Baker said she's concerned about the single access. She thinks there will be an issue if there's a major emergency.
"I think it's nuts to only have one for that many apartments," she said.
A large house that sits on the west side of the property off Mill Street would stay, Embach has said. It has been remodeled to contain four units, three of which are downstairs and one is upstairs.
The large house also has an Olympic-size pool, a community room and an office, Embach has said. This would serve as a sort of clubhouse, which he said residents would have to pay a small fee to use.
Other amenities would be free to residents, Embach has said. The development would include two small playgrounds and a dog park.
Embach hopes to start work on the development in late summer or early fall, he said. It will take about 1½ years to complete the development, depending on weather.
Mill Street intersects to the south with Huntsville Avenue, the northern border for the area of the city known as downtown.
Revitalization in the downtown area was a factor in the selection of this location for the development, Embach has said.
Diversity of housing is mentioned in the downtown plan, Christie has said. This development sits outside the boundaries for downtown. However, areas surrounding downtown also support the area within the boundaries.
Embach owns the Mill Creek Apartments to the south of the planned development, he has said. Those apartments are for people age 55 and older.
NW News on 04/27/2016