Plan Proposes Developing Farm Land

PRAIRIE GROVE — A firm called Faith, Hope & Grace Properties has proposed developing a subdivision on 35 acres that fronts along Mock Street and goes back toward Rieff Park.

Memphis Snyder, owner of the firm out of Cave Springs, presented the concept plan to the Prairie Grove Planning Commission in August. The development, built in phases, would have single-family housing and multi-family housing, if approved by the city.

“I always go in with a concept plan first to make sure everyone is on board,” said Snyder, who also is a realtor.

Snyder said he has a contract on 73 acres in all but is looking at 35 acres right now. The property is owned by the Orr family and Snyder’s purchase is contingent on his plans being approved by the Planning Commission.

The concept plan shows the development would have 11 larger lots on Mock Street with houses that would range from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet in size. Snyder said the existing Orr house at 612 Mock Street would remain, adding his brother plans to renovate the house and live in it.

Beyond Mock Street, the concept shows a second phase with 42 smaller lots and a third phase with 22 duplexes that would be near Rieff Park. A fourth phase, Synder said, would be another 40-60 lots of single-family houses.

Snyder said he is the developer and his brother, Richard Synder, who has Frontier Building Co., would build the houses. They are currently constructing Wolf Subdivision in Highfill.

Snyder proposes to build houses along Mock Street that are old-style

homes with front porches, similar to what someone would have had in the 1920s for American farmhouses.

“It’s a bungalow look,” Snyder said. “We did a smiliar project in Arlington (Tenn.) and we want to do the same thing here.”

In a letter to the city about the concept plan, Snyder said he wants older style homes along Mock Street that would blend in with the historic downtown area.

Snyder said he and his brother have a history of building homes in small communities. They’ve built 500 homes in Cartersville, Tenn., and Arlington, Tenn.

He said they like Prairie Grove because “it’s such a neat, Mayberry-looking town.”

J.C. Dobbs, chairman of Prairie Grove Planning Commission, said he thought everyone on the Commission seemed to be supportive of the idea.

“We were in agreement it would be a good fit for the area,” Dobbs said, adding, “You hate to see your big farms turn into subdivisions but that’s the day we’re in right now.”

Larry Oelich, Prairie Grove director of administrative services and public works, also said the city supported the concept.

“There’s no reason not to be,” Oelrich said. “It ties into what’s already there.”

Oelrich said Prairie Meadows subdivision backs up into this land and this subivision was designed to go into this area.

“I think it fits really well,” Oelrich said.

Depending on the developer’s final plans, the owner may have to ask for some of the property to be rezoned, Oelrich said.