HOT SPRINGS — The city will change the zoning on property at the intersection of Alpine and Bell streets, allowing parking lots to be created for Oaklawn Park.
B&F Engineering Inc., on behalf of the property owner, Oaklawn Jockey Club, sought commercial transitional zoning for multiple lots making up about 1.5 acres at the corner of Alpine and Bell streets.
The Hot Springs Planning Commission failed to pass the rezoning request at its Jan. 14 meeting, even though the vote was 4-2 in favor of the measure. Three commissioners were absent. A majority of the commission, five votes, was required for it to pass.
Oaklawn argued on appeal to the city Board of Directors that there would have been enough votes to pass the request if the full commission had been present to hear the request.
On Tuesday night, the city board supported the appeal for the zoning change. The vote was 6-1. Mayor Ruth Carney was the dissenting vote.
Once the parking lots are built, vehicles will access the area through the existing facility to the east. Patrons could use the facility and exit through an egress drive onto Bell Street or back through the existing facility. The existing driveways would be filled in with curb and gutter, which eliminates the need for curb cuts and the possibility of multiple egress points.
Carney said during a recent meeting of the Hot Springs Christian Business Alliance that additional parking lots on the west side of Central Avenue create more foot traffic and increases the likelihood of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.
Humberto Calva, 49, of Hot Springs was struck around 11:30 p.m. Feb. 10 as he crossed from the west side of Central Avenue to the east side toward Oaklawn Park.
Carney brought up some of the same points Tuesday night that she had previously, stating that her main concern was public safety and that adding more parking lots would increase the number of pedestrians attempting to cross Central Avenue.
She said the parking lots would likely be available even after the live race meet ends.
Carney said there had been numerous accidents in the vicinity of the track, especially during live races, and adding sidewalks along the proposed parking lot on Alpine Street would not alleviate the increased foot traffic trying to cross Central Avenue.
District 1 City Director Suzanne Davidson suggested that removing the flashing pedestrian crossing lights and relying on traffic signals to control pedestrian crossings might afford more time for people to cross the street without long traffic delays.
Carney said she wants to accommodate Oaklawn but said the racetrack should be required to do a traffic study showing the pedestrian flows as well as vehicular traffic flows.