Fuel pumps proposed at Neighborhood Market

Fuel pumps may be installed at the Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge.

Engineers working with Wal-Mart presented the plan to Planning Commission members at a tech review meeting Thursday, March 6. The plans were approved and will be presented to the full Planning Commission at the April 1 meeting.

Greg Stellmon, engineer, said the station will have a "soda machine" and that "all cigarettes will have to come through kiosk."

Planners asked if the station would be open 24 hours; the engineer said he didn't know. Dr. Karen Sherman, planner, asked Police Chief Tim Ledbetter for his opinion.

"The other two are open 24 hours; I don't know why you'd keep them from doing it," Ledbetter said.

Street superintendent Nathan See said he had spoken to Bobby Keaton with the Arkansas Highway Department and said there was no problem with the highway entrance with a gas station.

In other business, Todd and Lisa Crowder asked planners about rezoning the old football stadium. They were advised to work with city building official Tony Townsend.

"We have a youth football league that wants to practice there and a minor league football team that wants to use it," Todd Crowder told planners. "Also, the mule jump could be held there. We want it to have a community-type atmosphere."

Developer Kevin Felgenhauer presented a plan to complete Phase 2 of Summit Meadows which includes 14 lots. He told planners he had easements from "the Cattlemen's Association" for adjacent land. Planners discussed drainage, utilities and curb and gutters for the area. The plan will have to be presented to the Planning Commission for approval.

"Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems," M.J. Hensley, planner, reminded fellow planners as they discussed water pressure and drainage.

The third issue discussed by planners was a request from Darrell Van Roekel (former city building inspector) for a lot split on an 18-acre parcel on Andy Buck Road. He said city ordinance provides for the city building official to approve three lots, but not more.

"This is our home; these are our stables... Ten years ago we bought this property to go with our stabling operation as well," Van Roekel said, adding that he wants to sell a portion to a neighbor but wants to keep a section of the land.

Just before adjourning, planners were asked by fellow planner Jerry Burton about building a temporary classroom at New Life Fellowship Church on Weston Street.

"I've talked to Mr. Van Dyke," Townsend said, referring to Mike Van Dyke. "I said we could probably set it up under conditional use. He said probably five years."

"He just wanted to know what the process was to get it approved," Townsend said.

Tech review meetings are scheduled the Thursday after Planning Commission meetings to discuss technical issues with plans that will ultimately be presented to the Planning Commisson. Planners M.J. Hensley, Zach Hoyt, Jerry Burton, Al Fowler and Dr. Karen Sherman were present March 6.

General News on 03/12/2014