Bikes, Blues & BBQ event approved

SPRINGDALE — A portion of Bikes, Blues & BBQ will again be held in Springdale after receiving approval from City Council members Tuesday.

Council members unanimously approved recognizing the 2016 Bikes, Blues & BBQ as an approved event.

“We’re pleased to have that event in our city each year,” said Mayor Doug Spouse, who presides over council meetings. “We’re happy to have Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Springdale and hope they continue to expand in the future.”

The event, which has become a Fayetteville staple, will return for its 17th year Sept. 21-24, and will present both familiar and new events at Springdale’s Arvest Ballpark, said Michelle Devers, event director.

The event has used the ballpark the past two years for a car and a vintage motorcycle show, and will bring those two shows back this year, Devers said.

“There will be other events but we haven’t made any announcements on those,” she said.

The council approved rezoning land owned by Shiloh Hospitality at 4726, 4723 and 4641 Williamson Lane from an agricultural district to a thoroughfare commercial district.

“It’s the property across the street from the Holiday Inn Convention Center,” said Patsy Christie, director of planning and community development. “We got a large scale development plan for a hotel to be built there.”

The hotel will be around five stories tall, Christie said.

“It’s a major development in that area,” she said. “It’s a big investment.”

NWA Democrat-Gazette/FLIP PUTTHOFF Darrell Doss (right) chats Tuesday with volunteers Linda Meier (from left), Jill Arbuthnot and Milt Potee at the Rogers First Christian Church food pantry. Volunteers recognized Doss who raised money for the pantry by biking 514 miles during July.