LOWELL -- The City Council on Tuesday announced its intent to accept new development restrictions for water quality.
The restrictions are the recommendation of a study by Ozark Underground Laboratory. It states certain types of development in some areas affect a threatened population of blind Ozark cavefish. Those areas fall into parts of Lowell, Rogers, Cave Springs and Springdale.
"These regulations are to protect the water quality of the Karst Recharge Area," Mayor Eldon Long said.
Lowell and Cave Springs are the most affected by the study.
Richard Stone, Lowell Utilities director, said the restrictions will not affect all development in Lowell. He said it will only apply to areas flagged as extremely high vulnerability by the study. An overlay district will encompass these areas, he said. This includes several portions of Arkansas 264.
The restrictions will limit the type of development that could happen in those areas, Stone said. He said concrete factories or fueling stations are examples of businesses that could be worrisome for the ground water.
Stone said it's possible those types of buildings could still be constructed in the area but with more restrictions. He was unable to elaborate on the type of restrictions that could apply to those businesses.
Other businesses in the area would be required to construct with a higher level of low-impact techniques than other businesses in the city, Stone said. He said this includes layering the bottom of water run-off ponds with a mixture of soil and sand to filter water better. He said other techniques, such as using more impervious surfaces, also could be used by the businesses.
Planning officials would work with developers to figure out the best techniques for each business, he said.
Tom Kieklak, city attorney, said the new plans will be announced via a legal notice in the newspaper. He said the restrictions will then be open to the public for viewing for up to 30 days. Following the 30 days, the council will be asked to officially approve the changes.
NW News on 05/18/2016