By John Henley Jr.
ROGERS – Washington County residents may soon have another reason to visit Rogers.
Officials with the Walton Arts Center have commissioned a three-phase feasibility study to determine whether the center needs a new facility, and, if so, where it should be.
Center officials are still in the middle of that study and have released no findings.
Bill Schwyhart of Pinnacle Investments thinks he has the answer to the second question: The District at Pinnacle Hills, a 63-acre site that sits west of Interstate 540 between the interchanges at Promenade Boulevard and New Hope Road.
A planned-unit development plan, complete with a 2,000-seat performing arts center, was presented to the Rogers Planning Commission on Tuesday by Geoffrey Butler of Butler, Rosenbury and Partners of Springfield, Mo.
Commissioners present approved the plan, subject to amended wording that clarifies a 50-foot building setback for property abutting neighboring residences. Commissioners James Gosserand, Mark Myers and David Thrasher were not in attendance.
The plan shows a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, restaurants, office space, retail centers, a hotel, parking garages and an arts center.
Commissioner Dan Brown questioned whether what was on the concept plan was what would be built.
“We only have one contract in hand, which is the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market,” Butler said, adding, “But the concept plan shows what will probably go in there.”
Schwyhart would say little about the Walton Arts Center before the commission meeting on Tuesday, except he thought the development was a major contender should the Walton Arts Center move because of its visibility and proximity to Interstate 540.
Schwyhart also said state highway officials have said the section of Interstate 540 between New Hope Road and Promenade Boulevard will soon be the busiest in the state.
Schwyhart also said the parking garages shown on the plan would be built if the Walton Arts Center were to move into the new development
“We will keep the aesthetic value of the development intact,” Schwyhart said, adding the architectural designs were based upon buildings on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Schwyhart and Butler said there will be building and lighting restrictions property owners must adhere to so the aesthetics of the development is preserved.
Scott Lamers, 4409 Blossom Way, voiced concern about Schwyhart’s development raised by residents of The Manors subdivision. Chief among them was drainage issues any development would create.
According to a federal flood plain map, 10 to 12 homes in The Manors are considered to be in a floodway.
Rogers officials have contracted with FTN, a firm in Little Rock, to collect new data to determine whether the homes are in the floodway. Lamers said The Manors residents were also concerned about how visible the lights from the district will be in their neighborhood and the buffers between the district and residences.
Butler said the district will have a 40-foot buffer where the property borders residences with trees salvaged from other areas of the development.
“We will salvage all trees of merit,” Butler said, adding, however, some “junk” trees will have to be cleaned out.
Butler said he and Pinnacle Investments officials have met with residents in the area to hear their concerns, and said they will meet again individually with each neighborhood to discuss plans as they develop.
Schwyhart said he has received interest from several retailers not in Northwest Arkansas ooking at the development.
“These are high-end retailers that will provide services people in this area are in need of,” Schwyahrt said.
AT A GLANCE
Rogers Planning Commission
Passed:
• A large-scale development plan for the Habitat for Humanity office/warehouse on the south side of Commons Drive, east of 13th Street. The property is in a light industrial zone.
• A preliminary plat for Lancaster subdivision on the south side of Pleasant Grove Road. The property is in a residential single-family zone.
Tabled:
• A request for additional outdoor display for Rogers Outdoor Sports at 2115 W. Walnut St. The property is in a highway commercial zone.
• A request by Thornhart Ventures for consideration of a planned-unit development plan for Twin Bridges comprising almost 22 acres. The site is at 5723 Stoneybrook Road and is in an agricultural zone.
Browse Timeline
- « ARTIST-MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP ACT, S. 548 or H.R.1524
- » Dance Coalition presents Annual Spring Concert at Walton Arts Center