LOWELL -- The Planning Commission on Tuesday approved variances for a Wendy's restaurant at 104 S. Bloomington St.
Fredrick Greeson of Greeson Gatlin Gangluff & Associates Engineers said variances are needed for the fast-food chain to use the 36,771-square-foot lot.
"It is a small site," Greeson said. "These variances all have to do with the fact that this is a small site."
Greeson said the variances were needed to add parking to the site.
Commissioners approved reducing setbacks for the lot from 25 to 10 feet along West Monroe Avenue. It also approved reducing greenspace from 25 percent to 23 percent.
The restaurant will be developed as an "ultra small building," Greeson said.
"It would be the only one built at this size in Arkansas," Greeson said.
Exact square footage is presented during the development process. It's likely the restaurant will go before the commission for approval in upcoming months.
James Milner, planning commissioner, said the variances are understandable for the site.
"I think you have done a great job of maximizing everything that you have," Milner said to Greeson.
Mitch Wright, planning commissioner, said developers need to be aware of future right of way concerns. He said the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department could decide to widen roads nearby.
"You have to be careful that if the Highway Department calls, you may have to adjust the parking," Milner added.
The nearest Wendy's location to Lowell is in Springdale, Howard Martindale, Fourjay LLC partner, said. He said the company owns the franchise for the restaurant in Arkansas.
Fourjay website states the company opens between three to four stores per year. It owns 49 stores in Arkansas.
Lowell is an "obvious" choice for a Wendy's, Martindale said.
"It is a growing area," Martindale said. "It has a lot of traffic."
Martindale said the franchise opened a location in Siloam Springs and renovated the Springdale location in recent years. He said other locations in the state are planned for renovation as well.
NW News on 05/03/2016