Bentonville Planners To Consider Design Standards
Last updated Sunday, May 18, 2008 6:52 PM CDT in News
By Richard Dean Prudenti
THE MORNING NEWS
BENTONVILLE -- Every time the Bentonville Planning Commission reviews a commercial development, members ask, "Is this a metal building, or will it have some masonry?" said Commissioner Joe Thompson.
Members feel at a loss because Bentonville has had no design standards to enforce when approving large-scale developments.
The commission on Tuesday will consider a proposed ordinance for site- and building-design standards for commercial development, redevelopment and expansion, including residential office and planned-unit developments.
"Finally. It would take some pressure off of Planning Commission to try to enforce things on case-by-case basis," Thompson said.
Thompson was one of seven members of a committee responsible for developing the proposed standards. Others are Planning Commissioner Lisa Bohn; councilmen Rod Sanders and Chris Sooter; Board of Adjustments member Janet Atwood; Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau President Kalene Griffith; and Harrison French of Harrison French and Associates.
The city intends to implement the vision for commercial development as prescribed in the general plan, according to the proposal.
The ordinance requires that some type of masonry material of mute, neutral, earthtones make up 75 percent of a building's wall area. The remaining portions of the building can be another material such as wood, masonite, aluminum, steel siding, stucco or vinyl.
If approved, the ordinance will go to the Bentonville City Council on May 27 for a final vote. If approved, the rules would take effect June 26.
Councilman Rod Sanders sees this as a sure way to protect the future of Bentonville.
"We're providing (developers) assurance that if they come in and spend $5 million to $8 million on a building, that they are going to have quality buildings next to them," Sanders said.
The proposed rules also say a developer would need to look to the surrounding area for design inspiration to meet the new standard for compatibility.
Say a new commercial structure is next to a residence, the height and roof material would reflect that of the residence, the proposal says.
Such an ordinance will make Bentonville better in the long run, said Councilman Jim Grider.
"You'll see some well-designed construction in our city," Grider said. "If you stop and look at today's construction, you see communities going that way no matter what. It's really nothing new."
Compared with other cities, "I think we have may have a touch higher standards, but it won't hurt us in any way."
The proposed commercial design standards call for detailing buildings.
"Change in the roof form, detailing around the windows are some of the things we are looking for," said Shelli Rushing, the city planning services manager.
The ordinance provides options and permits creativity in design, she said.
For example, a developer can choose two of nine architectural features listed in the ordinance so entrances are clearly defined. Some of those options include canopies or porticos, overhangs, arcades, peaked roof forms and arches, architectural details such as tile work and moldings, and wing walls that incorporate landscaped areas and/or places for sitting.
Or, the developer can recommend and request approval of a different architectural feature not on the list.
"What we put together we feel is reasonable, and we feel it will increase the quality of commercial development, but we have designed it so it is flexible. We have those lists there to choose from," she said.
The standards extend to requiring placement of buildings closer to the street. "If you are going to do all this detailing, you want it to be visible from the public right of way," Rushing said.
MEETING INFORMATION
Bentonville Planning Commission
Officials plan to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Development Building, 305 S.W. "A" St., to consider:
• Rezoning 1103 S.E. 35th St. from neighborhood commercial to general commercial. The site now is used for an auto repair shop.
• Rezoning 1012 S.W. "A" St. from residential office to central residential. The property has a single-family residence in a multifamily residential subdivision.
• Final plat approval for Riverwalk Farm Estate Phase Four, a 117-lot single-family residential subdivision at the corner of Greenhouse Road and Southwest 28th Street.
• A resolution to approve the updated Master Street Plan.
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