Rogers panel OKs housing requests

Rogers City Hall, April 11, 2016
Rogers City Hall, April 11, 2016

ROGERS -- The Planning Commission approved two rezoning requests Tuesday to develop housing.

Gateway Homes received unanimous approval from the commission to turn almost 40 acres on West Shores Avenue into a residential neighborhood. Brett Watts, a representative of the developer, said there would be 2.5 homes per acre, totaling 16 homes.

Edward Rose Properties also received unanimous approval to turn almost 20 acres of agricultural property into apartments. The property would have seven, three-story apartment buildings and a clubhouse, said Bill Watkins, a representative of the developer.

Gregg Robbins, a resident who lives near the property, opposed the request and said he feared drainage and traffic issues would increase with the property's development.

"Traffic is bad and always congested," Robbins said. "With an extra 300 or more vehicles from the apartment, it just means there would be a constant gridlock."

Neighbor Rita Smith agreed with Robbins and said she feared her farm life would be disrupted with the apartment complex.

"I've got dogs that guard my goats and bark at the slightest noise. With these apartments, they would always be going off," Smith said.

Commission Chairman Don Spann said he understood the concerns, but noted the northwest area of Rogers is growing quickly and if something isn't developed on the property now, it will be later.

"The Planning Commission has a responsibility to look ahead and try to see the future," Spann said. "And the future says this will have a high volume of traffic and will develop into something. I feel for you all, but this is going to happen no matter what."

The apartment will bring more people to the area, but more and more people are coming into Rogers every day and not approving the rezoning will not change that, Spann said.

The zoning requests now move to the City Council for approval.

NW News on 08/08/2018

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