Vet clinic, office building approved

Bentonville Planning Commission OKs rezoning in city’s southwest

BENTONVILLE — Two rezonings will allow a veterinary clinic and an office building to be built in the city’s southwest area.

The Planning Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to rezone nearly 5.5 acres on Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard from an expired planned unit development to general commercial. Commissioners Richard Binns and Rod Sanders were absent.

The land, owned by KCG BV LLC, is on the western edge of Southwest Buckley Street.

There are plans for a veterinary clinic to be built on the land’s northeast corner, according to Kelsey Kreher, project manager for HFA, the architecture and engineering firm representing the owner. Other parcels don’t have a proposed use yet, she said in a memo to the commission.

No one spoke about the rezoning. Commissioners didn’t comment before voting.

The commission also approved rezoning about a half acre at 2302 S.W. I St. from planned residential development to residential office.

The planning staff received two letters opposed to the rezoning and two letters in support of it. The letters, both from residents just west of the property in Arbors and Deer Crossing, said they didn’t want a commercial development that close to their homes.

Jim Albertson, the neighborhood’s Property Owners Association president, wrote a letter in support of the rezoning and also spoke during the public hearing.

“It’s not really conducive for a residential property because it’s so close to (Southwest) I Street,” he said.

A residential office zoning would be a better use of the property, he said, adding an office building would be an improvement to the rental residence there now.

Bill Burckart, owner of Burckart Construction, is in the process of buying the land, contingent upon the rezoning, he said.

He also spoke during the public hearing and submitted a letter of support to the commission.

“This parcel would establish a good transition between the boulevard known as (Southwest) I Street and the residences that are in the neighborhood,” Burckart said in his letter.

He told commissioners the zoning will allow a “much-needed change” to that corner.

There was minimal discussion among commissioners before they voted.

The commission also approved rezoning property at 109 S.E. 14th St. from mixeduse commercial to downtown core, a lot split at 806 N.W. A St. and amendments made to the subdivision ordinance.