SPRINGDALE -- The Planning Commission opened the doors Tuesday for about 300 new homes in Springdale.
Rezoning plots of land, accepting large scale development plans and granting waivers on subdivision requirements made this possible. The projects include low- and higher-density multi-family units, as well as neighborhoods of single-family homes across the city.
"I think we are beginning to see a demand for housing in Springdale," said Patsy Christie, the director of the city's planning department. "And a demand for different types of housing. Not everybody wants a large yard they have to mow."
Planning commissioners lauded a mixed commercial and high-density multi-family development planned by Phillip Taldo, a Springdale Realtor, on land he owns in the area of Arvest Ballpark and Arkansas Children's Northwest. The 16.8-acre tract sits on Gene George Boulevard south of Don Tyson Parkway.
"This is going to be a quality, upscale development of apartments," said Brian Powell, a member of the Planning Commission. "We are so ready to get multi-family construction that is very pleasing and that goes high end."
But another multi-family proposal just a few miles east was not as eagerly welcomed. Attorney Charles Harwell presented a rezoning request for the site on the south side of Don Tyson, east of Savannah Lane. The development would include 14 units built in duplexes, but nearly 40 residents of the neighboring Southwind Terrace subdivision came to the meeting to express their concern.
Other action
The Planning Commission approved:
• The Powell Street Apartments, a 112-unit apartment complex on the east side of Powell Street near the Springdale Municipal Airport.
• The Tapestry and Hearthside development of 60 units built in four-plexes at 3109 E. Robinson Ave. A number of those units will be dedicated to housing for senior citizens.
• Granted construction waivers for the 31 single-family subdivision Oasis and 62 single-family subdivision of Ramsey Place. The required curb and guttering will be built here as part of the road improvements planned with the construction of the Shaw Family Park, part of the 2018 bond issue. In return, the developers will donate land to the city for rights of way and easements.
"It's the intention of the buyer, Kevin Riggins, to build upscale duplexes, which would be about 1,800 to 2,400 square feet and rent for about $2,000 a month," Harwell explained. "They would be similar to the executive-style duplexes in Har-Ber Meadows."
The requested rezoning from its current agricultural zone would allow just four units per acre, the same as the single-family zoning of the Southwind subdivision, Christie explained. The multi-family designation would allow these homes to be built in duplexes, however.
Homeowners voiced common concerns about the appearance of the new units, property values, traffic and drainage. Then Kevin Riggins addressed the commission. He identified himself as the developer who built many of the homes in Southwind Terrace and said many of the residents there he considered longtime friends whom he didn't want to upset.
"I intend to buy the property to improve what's there," he said. "I plan to own and maintain [the complex] myself. I'm not trying to make a buck. I'm not going to get rich on seven duplexes."
He told the commissioners that he would support whatever decision they made and later offered to pull out of the project, if that's what the residents wanted.
Before the vote, Commissioner Peyton Parker pointed out the commission had just approved a high-density multi-family unit just up the road from Riggins'. "We liked it because it was close to the ballpark and close to Arkansas Children's," Parker said. "We applauded what a great multi-family complex it was going to be and talked about how we need such higher-quality developments."
"There are literally hundreds of families against this," responded Southwind resident Scott Culver. "There were none against Taldo, and there's not a subdivision there -- there's not a subdivision where hundreds of families are impacted. Why are we still considering this if Kevin doesn't care?"
The rezoning passed the Planning Commission 4-3.
Speaking with Southwind residents gathered after the vote, Riggins pointed out that the property was for sale and that someone would buy and develop the property, be it him or someone else. He explained his plans for the property and showed them pictures of the planned structures and they began to accept his plans.
NW News on 06/06/2018
