PEA RIDGE — Plans are progressing for the new Blackhawk football stadium as city planners made recommendations on the plans presented by Gene Pierce from Lewis Architects and Engineers Thursday. One more tech review meeting and the plans will be considered by the Planning Commission at the Oct. 2 meeting.

Drainage and parking were two of the main subjects discussed, as was the question of protecting a water line under a road which had not been sleeved because the road over it was not originally to be heavily trafficked. With the addition of the stadium, that may change.

The stadium is designed to seat more than 2,000 people and parking, including grass areas, isplanned for 767 spaces.

Planners discussed requirements for handicap spaces and questioned the percentage required by state guidelines.

The current stadium seats about 1,000 with people sitting in lawn chairs and standing around the field as well as in the bleachers.

Planner Jerry Burton requested handicap spaces closer to the building than originally designed.

Planners asked about fire suppression sprinklers for the concession stand, but Neal said that cooking would continue to be outside the building as it has been traditionally.

Plans include a track and a French drain around the field to carry water off the field to a detention pond.

Neal said a separate water meter was preferable to tying the meter to the current one servicing the multi-purpose facility building as the stadium will not be used year round.

News, Pages 1 on 09/05/2012