Council approves eminent domain

Vote makes way for trail completion

ROGERS — The city council authorized the start of condemnation proceedings Tuesday to complete the Pleasant Ridge Trail.

In a unanimous vote, council members agreed to initiate eminent domain proceedings for 2,396 square feet on South Pleasant Drive. Eminent domain gives the government the right to take property for public use, as long as the property owners are paid at market value.

The decision to condemn the property came after a year of negotiation between the city and the owners, said Senior Staff Attorney Jennifer Waymack.

“An offer we made expired Friday and was not accepted, and we have to make a decision,” she said. “This property has the piece that the trail is missing, and we have been hearing from people in the community that we need to complete the project.”

The council also approved two rezone requests to develop housing.

Edward Rose Properties received unanimous approval to turn almost 20 acres in west Rogers into apartments. The property will have seven, three-story apartment buildings and a clubhouse.

“This complies with the updated comprehensive growth map, and while there are fears regarding the street and drainage issues, not passing this rezone will not fix it either,” said Bill Watkins, a representative of the developer.

Residents near the rezone voiced their concerns

over drainage and traffic issues on Dodson Road, which is next to the property, during the Planning Commission meeting last week.

Watkins told the council either the 2018 bond or the developer would pay to expand Dodson Road.

Councilman Mark Kruger

agreed the traffic is concerning, but that shouldn’t stop the council from voting on a rezone.

“I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix Dodson tomorrow, but legally we cannot let the road decide if the project is acceptable,” he said. “All we can do is pass or not pass and take care of Dodson road regardless.”

Gateway Homes also received unanimous approval

from the council to turn almost 40 acres on West Shores Avenue into a residential neighborhood. Brett Watts, who represents the developer, said there would be 2.5 homes per acre, totaling 16 homes.

The council also approved renaming a boulevard in northwest Rogers and a $135,000 purchase to upgrade the Police and Fire departments dispatch recording equipment.

Residents living on the boulevard asked to rename it from West Myers Ranch Boulevard to West Venture Park Boulevard because of plans to create a subdivision near it, said City Engineer Nathan Becknell.

“It’s a rebranding,” Becknell said. “The subdivision is changing and this goes along with it.”