Commission members get first look at new Springdale city hall

Springdale City Hall
Springdale City Hall

SPRINGDALE --Members of the Planning Commission got their first look Tuesday night at the full plans for a Criminal Justice Center.

Roy Decker of Duvall Decker Architects in Jackson, Miss., led the presentation during a commission work session.

The 127,000-square-foot center will house the Police Department, municipal courts, tmayor's office, City Council chambers and offices of various departments. Decker said he expects to start "turning dirt" June 1. He said he plans to present large-scale plans for approval by the commission and City Council in April.

Planning Commission members peppered Decker and Jason Appel of Engineering Services Inc. in Springdale with questions about drainage, landscaping, parking and more.

"That's where things get hung up," Commission Chairman Kevin Parsley said. "That leads to a 30-minute conversation that doesn't need to happen."

Decker listened to their input and agreed to another meeting with the commission before submitting the large-scale designs.

City leaders at the meeting showed excitement with the project and their responsibility.

"We are setting standards of what we expect in future downtown development," said Kathy Jaycox, a member of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. "If we analyze how to do things differently, it might be worth the time. Rather than looking at it later and saying, 'If we had only thought this through.' We need to set the standard up front."

For example, Patsy Christie, head of the Planning Department, threw out the idea of underground detention for the building, rather than the standard ponds used throughout the city. Current plans show the detention pond sitting along Huntsville Avenue and serving as one of the main entrances to downtown, Christie said.

Sprouse issued a caution about the price of that proposal, saying many other large projects are in development for the downtown area. Voters in February approved a $40 million bond issue for the construction of the center.

"We're a couple of months from completing design plans," Decker told commission members.

The building will be constructed in two phases, allowing the city's business to continue through construction. Phase 1 will include the northern part of the building fronting on Huntsville Avenue and will include the Police Department and municipal courts. Phase 2 will see the City Council chambers and other city administrative offices completed.

Decker set June 2020 for the finish of Phase 1 and June 2021 for the completion of Phase 2.

NW News on 01/30/2019

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