Luxury apartments planned for rezoned property on Curtis
Using the impact fees that have accumulated as a result of the growth in construction in town, City Council members approved a request from Police Chief Ryan Walker to advertise for bids to pave the parking lot and repair drainage issues on the lot.
Walker told council members the driveway would be about 30 feet wide, allowing two vehicles to safely pass and said he plans to pave everything that is now gravel for the safety of the officers and community.
Mayor Jackie Crabtree reminded council members that impact fees are collected from developers when they receive a certificate of occupancy on a building and that there is an ordinance governing which departments receive what percentage of the fees. Those fees must be used within seven years of being collected or they must be returned, the mayor said.
“Is there enough earmarked for the Police Department?” council member Ray Easley asked.
“There is a certain amount for each entity,” Crabtree responded.
Two properties were rezoned, both for multi-family residential complexes.
The first property, 4.5 acres of a seven-acre tract between Carr Street and North Curtis Avenue, was addressed by Bill Watkins, attorney in Rogers, representing the applicant.
“My client is an LLC but is actually an individual,” Watkins told city officials. Watkins said a 72-unit luxury apartment complex is planned. He reminded
council members they rejected the first request to rezone that was approved by the Planning Commission. He said this request has been approved by planners and differs in that it is only 4.5 acres along the western side of the property and leaves a section of land along Curtis Avenue as commercial.
“What we’re doing today fits in with what previous owners wanted. It’s difficult and expensive to develop,” Watkins said, explaining that there is a drainage problem on the property. “Everything in this area drains to that property. This is an opportunity for this property is to have drainage managed properly for the first time.”
He said the development will have to justify paying that kind of cost and requested an R-3 zone.
“I’ve been doing this a lot and strictly speaking, this is the highest and best use of this land,” Watkins said.
He said the nature of the property and wise planning practices both lead to this use of the land.
“It’s good planning practice to create buffers, between commercial and single family to west,” Watkins said. He said that using the existing infrastrure for a concentrated dwelling facility is more efficient.
Watkins also said that less traffic would be generated by 72 dwelling units on that property than by commercial development.
Planning Commission member Donnie Ewald was present (as were Al Fowler and Dr. Karen Sherman) and said the discussion from neighboring property owners was mainly concerned with decrease in property values.
“I like the idea of commercial property staying there on Curtis,” council member Lance Sanders said.
“I hope y’all give my client a little credit for listening and coming back with this,” Watkins said.
The second rezoning request was for five acres to the west of a development by Kevin Felgenhauer who plans to purchase the property if the annexation and rezone are approved. Felgenhauer said he plans to build duplexes.
“We plan to turn this into one big piece of property,” he said.
Council members approved the annexation request from property owners Robert and Tawnya Pierce, 1211 Slack St., and the rezone request to rezone their property from agricultural (A-1) to multifamily residential (R-2).
Just before adjourning, council member Easley said: “I’m glad the school bond thing passed and we’re committed to pave Hazelton Road. So, we need to stick with that plan and start saving our money to work on that road.
“We’re working on what we need to do the next couple of years,” the mayor said, “to get Patton Street extended … and getting grants to take care of that. Yes, that is a priority.”
In other business, the council:
• Approved an annexation request from Robert and Tawnya Pierce, 1211 Slack St., and a rezone request to rezone their property from agricultural (A-1) to multi-family residential (R-2).
• Approved April 10-14 as the dates for the Spring Clean Up.
• Heard a report from the mayor that paperwork had been received from FEMA for repair for Peck and Patterson roads damaged by floods a year ago.