Businessmen Oppose Design Standards
Last updated Friday, October 10, 2008 8:09 PM CDT in News
By Steve Caraway
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- The words "design standards" have become a synonym for antibusiness in Springdale, after candidates for mayor mentioned problems with the regulations.
Applying standards to existing buildings is most often mentioned as a problem for opening new businesses. The City Council will look at removing design standards for existing buildings at its 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday.
The agenda also includes proposals for compromises, including removing the standards for the downtown district, reviewing the standards every other year, delaying standards for a year on hardships or waiving the fee for variance requests.
Design standards for existing buildings were approved by the council in September 2007. The standards kick in when the use of a building changes, or if a business has not been open in the building for six months or more.
Rex Bailey, a former alderman who operates a barber shop in the Dwight Shopping Center, said it's hard to stay in business in Springdale's downtown district.
"It's not cost effective to open a business in an older building," Bailey said "There used to be 11 businesses in the center. There's only three now. Nobody is going to move in because it would cost too much to meet the standards."
The owner of the center, Claudia Thornsberry, does not have the money to add landscaping to the center, Bailey said.
Charles Farmer, a former member of the city's Industrial Commission, said he twice lost the sale of a building on Thompson because of obstacles thrown up by the city.
Potential buyers of the property, which once was the site of Liberty Bell Florists, were given a long list of improvements that would have to be made to renovated the problem, Farmer said. One was building a sidewalk along the front of the property, Farmer said, costing the business several parking spots.
"This city cares more about sidewalks than it does businesses," Farmer said.
The potential buyers backed out of the purchase. They were not told they could appeal the required improvements to the planning commission or the council, Farmer said.
The policy of the planning department is to tell everyone the requirements could be appealed, said Patsy Christie, director of planning. Many requirements mentioned do not come from design standards, Christie said. Firewalls and sprinkler systems come from fire safety regulations, Christie said.
"Parking, sidewalks and paving lots comes from zoning regulations," Christie said, "not design standards."
In two cases Christie remembered, zoning regulations or design standards kicked in because the existing business did not have a business license.
"That is the way we document the use of the building," Christie said. "If they don't have a business license, then we have to assume the use has changed."
The way the city has interpreted the regulations makes meeting them nearly impossible, Bailey said.
"It's like playing baseball and the umpire changes the rules in the middle of the game," Bailey said.
Farmer said he hates to spend money in Springdale, because the city administration receives the sales tax.
"I've lived in Springdale for 52 years and this is the worst administration we've had," Farmer said. "There is no leadership."
Reader Comments (7 comment(s))
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pam wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:07 AM:
troutjig wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:40 AM:
The reason they talked to them is because the current council members don't own business's so they don't know how the rules really effect anyone. It is pretty easy to see if you are supporting the current administration you aren't in tune with how bad they are. Maybe with a new mayor we can get a new planning director and then new ideas "
krazo wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:56 AM:
I think you should go by there and get the scoop. "
pam wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:01 AM:
mrs. kitty meow meow wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:01 AM:
brneyedgirl821 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:48 AM:
You need to get your facts straight. When Mike Overton ran for city council against Rex Bailey, he withdrew but his name still appeared on the ballot. His win is actually questionable. Rex has served on the city council and is one of the very few council members really have care about the citizens of Springdale. He may have a "mom and pop" business as you put it, but that gives him insight into the concerns and thoughts of the average Springdale citizen. All current incumbents should be voted out in this election if we want Springdale to grow. They have had plenty of time to do something. I wish Rex was running for mayor. He would have my vote. "
Not already registered?
72938 wrote on Oct 11, 2008 6:39 AM: