City eyes plans for subdivision

SPRINGDALE — The citizens of Springdale voted in February for a bond issuance to pay to build the Shaw Family Park and a new fire station in the northwest section of the city. The Springdale Public School district operates Shaw Elementary in that part of town and eyes land for others.

City officials pretty much agree that the northwest part of Springdale is growing.

The Springdale Planning Commission on Tuesday night approved 8-0 a preliminary plat for the Spring Creek Farms subdivision, a neighborhood that could include 122 new homes in the

first phase of development, said David Dallas, the developer. The homes would range from 2,000 to 2,300 square feet, Dallas said, with larger homes to be built in subsequent phases of development. He expects lots available for sale in the spring.

The new neighborhood will sit on 48 acres along West Miller Road, north of U.S. 612, the northern bypass of U.S. 412 opened in April.

Dallas said he researched neighborhoods in other Northwest Arkansas cities, focusing on those that include schools, ballparks and other amenities. He envisioned the neighborhood, with the new park and schools, “as a place people could come home from work and not have to leave again.”

“Living. Learning. Working. Playing.” That’s the vision Kevin Parsley, chairman of the Springdale Planning Commission, keeps in his mind. “All areas of town have this,” he said, but the percentages dedicated to aspects are different in the different areas. The northwest area of town will be largely residential, but he’d like to see development dedicated to a variety of uses that can serve residents.

City officials have focused most recently on guiding the growth of development in the area around Arvest Ballpark and in the downtown district. Parsley said he’d like to see some of the ideas from these areas to be used in that northwest quadrant.

“It’s the perfect project for those who will decide how the future homes are going to look in Springdale,” Parsley pointed out.

The Planning Commission for several months has been working to update the city’s design standards for single-family homes — things like construction materials, the placement of garages, landscaping and more.

The commission members asked area builders, developers and suppliers for their input, and Parsley hopes their ideas can be used in Spring Creek Farms.

A committee put together by the area Home Builders Association will hold its first meeting Sept. 13, Patsy Christie, the city’s director of planning, reported to the commission members at the meeting. And a representative of Landmarc Custom Homes wants to share some unique ideas that company has for homes in the northwest side during the commission’s planning meeting Sept. 18, she said.

“It is our intent that we are working to attract multiple levels of housing,” Parsley said. Affordable housing is needed, but so are middle-tier and high-end homes.

He said he sees opportunity in the northwest district as J.B. Hunt Transport continues to expand its workforce. The area also offers easy access to Interstate 49 and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.