BENTONVILLE — A permit for the Benton County Fairgrounds will better serve those who hold events at the site and attract additional events, according to organization officials.
The regulations for camping and RV stays are ambiguous, and the fairgrounds association’s board couldn’t accept event proposals from organizations wanting to serve beer, said Susan Koehler, event and fair manager.
A permit from Bentonville will open up options for both. The Planning Commission approved the permit at its meeting Tuesday.
BCFA Inc. is a nonprofit organization hosting the county’s annual fair as well as oversees and maintains the fairgrounds. Its officials initially requested the 60 acres at 7640 S.W. Regional Airport Blvd. to be rezoned from agriculture to commercial zoning, but commissioners and planning staff expressed concern the move would be too permissive.
The commission could revoke a permit if it’s violated, Jon Stanley, city planner, told commissioners earlier this month. It can also be reviewed every year.
The permit allows alcohol in the agricultural zoning, but organizers wanting alcohol at their events would still have to obtain a permit from the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board.
About 30 groups rent the fairgrounds annually, but officials would like to see that increase to 50 by 2019, according to the permit request. Event attendance is typically between 500 to 2,000 people coming and going over several hours.
“Our mission is to deliver the fair as well as other cultural events for the community,” Koehler said.
Some other events held at the fairgrounds have included Vintage Market Days, Cruising the Ozarks Car Show, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, horse and livestock shows and charity events. The ground’s facilities are available for private rental as well.
Adding lodging options and more food and beverage options would also benefit Visit Bentonville, which is paid for by a 2 percent tax on hotel and motel rooms and a 1 percent tax on restaurants and prepared food. That money is then spent on supporting events and amenities to draw tourism to the city.
“It will allow us to research and find some unique and additional events that we can bring to the area,” said Kalene Griffith, Visit Benton-ville president and CEO. She mentioned a cornhole tournament and dog agility shows as two examples.
The Advertising and Promotions Commission, Visit Bentonville’s governing body, has also discussed the need for camping options in the city.
More events at the fairgrounds means more money for the nonprofit association to maintain and improve the grounds to continue to attract a variety of events, Koehler said. Having more money would also allow the organization to help other nonprofits or charities by offering the grounds at a low cost for their use, she added.
The Washington County Fairgrounds is rented nearly every weekend except for when the board is getting ready for the fair in August, said Kendall Pendergraft, president. It took about eight or nine years for the grounds to get that busy.
“It’s very hard to maintain those facilities if the only thing you do is the county fair,” he said. “We try to rent it out as often as we can. That’s the only way to keep the doors open.”
The Benton County Fairgrounds was downtown between South Main and Southeast C streets and Southeast Eighth and Southeast 10th streets where the Thaden School is under construction. The fairgrounds was moved to its current site in 2007.
Melissa Gute can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@NWAMelissa.