Plans to construct Bentonville roundabout drive on

NWA Democrat-Gazette/MARY JORDAN Planning Commission members Scott Eccleston (from left), Richard Binns and Dana Davis examine plans Tuesday for city development projects during meeting in Bentonville.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/MARY JORDAN Planning Commission members Scott Eccleston (from left), Richard Binns and Dana Davis examine plans Tuesday for city development projects during meeting in Bentonville.

BENTONVILLE -- The Planning Commission was updated Tuesday on a roundabout project on John DeShields Boulevard.

The roundabout was determined to be necessary because of an anticipated traffic increase as a result of the Crystal Flats development project, said Tyler Overstreet, planner, at the meeting.

Other action

Bentonville’s Planning Commission met Tuesday and approved:

• Development plans for the 6,000-square-foot Osage Veterinary Clinic, Southwest Morningstar Road, by KCB BV LLC.

• A six-month extension for the development request for the Capstone Six-Plex townhouse project, 510 S.W. E St., for Capstone Partners.

• Rezoning 2901 S.E. J St. from agricultural and medium density residential to general commercial for Louise Bishop and Judith Basco revocable trusts.

• Rezoning The Bluffs Subdivision, Palisades Circle, from agricultural to single family residential for The Bluffs Property Owner Association.

• Splitting Lot 66 of the Wildwood Subdivision Phase 6, Southwest Joshua Avenue, to create Lots 33-43 and 64-65 for Dream Structures Residential.

Source: Staff report

The 28-acre project was initially approved by the commission in December 2017, said Nate Bachelor, project manager with CEI Engineering Associates.

Attendee comments at an August 2018 commission meeting varied for and against the development, as previously reported. Those against the project were concerned about building height, increased traffic and safety for Memorial Park users. Those in favor argued there's a greater need for more affordable housing options near the downtown area.

Crystal Flats will be built along Northeast John DeShields Boulevard, west of Memorial Park, Bachelor said. The initial phase of the project will include 487 residential units, 15,000 square feet of commercial space and 808 parking spaces.

Also included in the project plan are a central commercial and residential building, two townhouse buildings and three apartment buildings, he said.

Two rectangular townhouse buildings will be built north of the mixed-use building, Bachelor said, and three U-shaped, four-story apartment buildings will be on the east side of the development.

The mixed commercial and residential building will front DeShields Boulevard, while two rectangular townhouse buildings will be built north of the mixed-use building, he said.

DeShields Boulevard will be widened to three lanes with a center turn lane for about 300-400 feet in front of the development for traffic and safety concerns, Bachelor said. There will also be a roundabout at the intersection of Northeast J Street, Museum Way and DeShields.

The intersection now has four-way stop signs, Overstreet said.

"I think it's definitely going to have impact because of the location," said Dennis Birge, transportation engineer, concerning the effect the completed construction of Crystal Flats will have on area traffic.

The start date for roundabout construction hasn't been determined, Overstreet said, but planners anticipate completing the project by the fall.

The location of the roundabout presents some concerns based on accessing popular attractions in the area.

"You have the park right there to the east and Crystal Bridges to the west, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the area," Birge said.

City planners and project developers are working together to make sure there's as little impact on residents as possible, though.

"The current time frame is the best possible time to do it with school out and soccer out of season," he said. "The peak season for Crystal Bridges is close, but we shifted as much as we can to get away from that."

While the roundabout is being built due to increased traffic flow, Birge said the project is being completed at no cost to Bentonville.

"The need for the roundabout is caused by the additional traffic the developer is bringing in, and they are willing to do that," Birge said of the developer paying for the project.

Roundabout construction is anticipated to take 30 days to complete, and no alternate routes for motorists around the construction have been finalized, he said. Signs will be used to direct traffic during construction.

"We're trying to work with the owner and the engineer to minimize the impact," Birge said.

NW News on 05/22/2019

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