SPRINGDALE -- Shoppers will have to wait until 2016 to see construction start on a new Sam's Club in the city.
The Planning Commission approved a one-year extension Tuesday to begin construction on the store, which is planned for the southeast corner of West Sunset Avenue and South 56th Street.
Commission Action
Springdale’s Planning Commission on Tuesday approved:
• A plan for Advanced Monitoring Services at Wagon Wheel Road and Acuff Drive.
• A plan for Miller Commercial on the southwest corner of Dixie Industrial Drive and North 40th Street.
• A plan for American Tubing on Turnbow Avenue.
• Rezoning of property at the intersection of Wagon Wheel Road and Acuff Drive from agricultural district to general commercial district.
Source: Staff Report
The commission approved the plans for the Sam's Club at a meeting in September 2014. The approval of plans gives the developer one year to start construction, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development.
Carrie Moore, spokeswoman for Sam's Club, said Tuesday said Sam's Club is committed to Springdale.
"As we examined our capacity to add new clubs this year, we realized that 2016 was the most favorable time frame for the Springdale club's construction, but there's no doubt that Sam's Club is committed to Springdale as evidenced by our purchase of the site," she wrote.
Michael Lindsey, director of public affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart, said construction will happen next year. He said building the store in 2016 was a business decision related to when the company wants to open stores.
Lindsey said there aren't yet set dates for starting construction or opening the store. It takes eight to nine months to build a Sam's Club store once construction begins.
Work was underway on plans for the store at the same time city officials were finalizing the Ballpark Area/Southwest Springdale District Overlay, Christie said. Those creating the plan used a draft of the overlay and gave city officials insight into the overlay's practical applications.
Aldermen approved the overlay in February, and it sets rules and regulations for property owners in a set area around Arvest Ballpark.
The Sam's Club is planned to be 139,037-square-feet, according to the development plan. The store will also have a fuel station, and construction will include building of two streets.
Access to the fuel station will be from South 56th Street and one of the proposed streets, according to the plan. Access to the store will be off the two proposed streets, which will be connected to South 56th Street.
Springdale lost a Sam's Club store between 2005 and 2006, Joel Kelsey, former commission chairman, said in September 2014. The store moved to Fayetteville when they were unable to get a license to sell liquor in Springdale. He said the store that left the city contributed $1 million to $1.1 million in sales tax each year.
Christie said the planned store will act as a sales tax generator. Kevin Parsley, commission chairman, said the new store could attract more retail to that area. The plan for the property shows areas for retail space around the store.
NW News on 08/05/2015