PEA RIDGE — The large scale development for the remodel and new construction of the Pea Ridge Intermediate School were approved by the Planning Commission Tuesday, July 5, on the contingency that all items on the check list be completed and pending an opinion from the city attorney as to whether the school must comply with the city’s landscape ordinance which was adopted Aug. 17, 2010.

Architect Steve Elliott said his firm does not do landscaping but will reseed disturbed areas. “We typically don’t do that because of maintenance,” he said.

City attorney Howard Slinkard issued an opinion July 7 that the school is subject to the landscape ordinance.

Extending a water line further than originally planned was agreed to in a cooperative arrangement between the city and the school with the city providing the eight-inch water line pipes toreplace planned six-inch pipes and the school digging the trench to bury the lines.

“If we’re providing the pipe, it would seem reasonable you install it,” Dr.

Karen Sherman, chairman of the Planning Commission, said. “You get credit for the six-inch line.”

“I don’t believe you’re talking but a few thousand - not tens of thousands - of dollars,” Elliott said of the substitution of pipe and longer trench.

Dr. Roland Smith, school superintendent, said: “I’ve appreciated all the work going on here to make this a community school district ... I think it will be a partnership we can all live with.”

Several items on the check list were not available, most notably a legal description of property and the zoning of the school’s property and that of the adjacent property owners.

“I don’t think there’s a legal description,” Elliott said.

“That’s one of the things that needs to be added,” Dr. Sherman said.

Elliott said the legal description could cost the school $10,000 to $15,000.

Planner M.J. Hensley noted on the property lines on the architect’s drawing that there may be an encroachment.

Hensley also noted that the plans appeared to call for Pike Street to be rebuilt to 30 feet wide, but the city is only requiring 24 feet.

“It was 24 feet that we discussed at the tech meeting,” Hensley said.

The plan was unanimously approved by city planners.

News, Pages 1 on 07/13/2011