Benton considering arts and entertainment district
The city of Benton is considering creating an arts and entertainment district in the downtown area.
Benton City Attorney Baxter Drennon presented the topic for discussion during Thursday night’s meeting of the Benton City Council Community Services Committee.
“An arts and entertainment district, effectively, under Arkansas code, is a specific area that contiguous in a part of a city that is zoned for, customarily used for commercial purposes and contains restaurants, tap rooms, taverns, entertainment establishments, hospitality establishments, music venues, theaters, bars, art galleries, art studios, tourist destinations…,” Drennon said. “State law allows for within that district that you create for the carrying of open containers.”
When recruiting new businesses and residents, Benton Community Development Director Brad Jordan said that having a “strong, vibrant downtown” is one of the most vital components a city needs.
“Not only when you are talking about restaurants or retail,” Jordan said. “We are talking about industry…when you are wanting to bring people in and their families, pretty much the first thing nowadays they look at is places downtown. That really just shows how strong the economy is, how strong quality of life is. If you have a vibrant downtown, it speaks volumes for your community.
I think it’s the most important thing.”
Alderman Shane Knight said he believes that creating an arts and entertainment district is something the city “should explore wholeheartedly” and that by doing so, it will help keep the revitalization of downtown going strong.
Knight said that one of the things the city has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that people are looking for a community where they can go and be with friends without having to go out of town or travel far.
“We have a perfect stage for that in downtown Benton,” Knight said.”
Drennon said that to create the district there needs to be at least three establishments that fulfill the requirements in order for a district to be created. The Benton Police Department would also need to approve the selected area.
Signage would be placed to inform residents and visitors that they are entering an arts and entertainment district.
Drennon also suggested that wristbands be required for those in the district who are purchasing alcohol while enjoying the district, but that other options can be discussed.
“In Little Rock, it’s cups,” Drennon said. “But we thought that, at least initially, cups may be cost prohibitive for restaurants or establishments that are participating. Wristbands, on the other hand, are considerable less cost prohibitive.”
Drennon added that temporary arts and entertainments districts are also a possibility.
“Arts and entertainment districts are something that we’re seeing in a number of cities around the state,” Drennon said. “This was created in 2019, I think, by the legislature, so it’s something we are going to see more and more and we’re trying to get a procedure in place for the city to be able to do that.”
While the topic was initially just intended to be a discussion, Benton Mayor Tom Farmer said that the committee members could request that an item be placed on the city council agenda that would outline the procedures for creating such an area downtown.
Alderman Jeff Hamm made a motion to place an ordinance on the city council agenda that would outline the procedures. He also said that he “wholeheartedly” supported the creation of such an area.
The motion was approved with no dissenting votes.