Leisure District proposal nixed by planners in Pea Ridge

PEA RIDGE — A proposed Leisure District for the realm north of Slack Road between Carr Road and North Curtis Avenue was turned down by town Planning Fee after it heard from quite a few space enterprise house owners Sept. 6 throughout a public listening to.

Metropolis legal professional Shane Perry left the room throughout each the general public listening to and the dialogue beneath new enterprise as he has a battle of curiosity. He owns Whistle Cease liquor retailer and is constructing a restaurant on the east finish of the constructing the place he plans to supply music, meals and alcohol.

The proposed ordinance would permit individuals to stroll across the outlined space with alcohol if they’ve a wristband and cup authorized by town and bought by the authorized enterprise. It was likened to the Railyard in Rogers.

A number of meals truck managers within the space spoke, most of them against the district.

“How about safety?” Roger Waterloo requested. “We do not know what individuals will do once they’re drunk. Who’s accountable if one thing occurs to our trailers?”

He additionally expressed issues about trash, parking, seating and restrooms.

“Our clients are take and go,” Waterloo mentioned, “and so they need to park near our trailers.”

He and different meals truck employees mentioned none of them have restrooms and all stroll over to each McDonald’s and Sonic simply east of there to make use of the services.

Tammy Pearson with Grateful Griddle mentioned: “It is on the agenda. Is the vote going to occur right this moment? To me, it is approach early. You do not have infrastructure for restrooms, seating, safety … district inside itself is a superb concept, however and not using a plan, I do not assume we’re prepared for a vote tonight.”

Chairman Al Fowler defined that there’s a course of and the Planning Fee might desk, approve or deny the request. If authorized, it goes to the Metropolis Council for consideration.

“I personal the property the place the meals vehicles are, and I personal a number of of them and lease them out. It is good to have discussions, however from my perspective, I feel town wants an leisure district,” Rigoberto Mendoza mentioned. “It should assist town growth and can present an extra place to go and hang around. I am in favor; it is useful for entire group.

“Regarding the infrastructure, I’ve plans to proceed to develop that property, together with including a everlasting restroom and will briefly usher in porta potties … along with a small pavilion … these gadgets are in my plans.”

“I’m personally against this for the straightforward indisputable fact that one enterprise goes to profit and taxpayers would foot the invoice for safety, wrist bands, trash, and so forth.” metropolis constructing official Tony Townsend mentioned. “The burden would outweigh profit for metropolis.”

Nathan See, Road Division superintendent, mentioned the price of the cups and wrist bands would “not come out of the pocket of town.”

“If the residents will not be asking for this, I do not see the purpose,” Planning Fee member Carolyn Wendel mentioned.

Planning Fee member Dr. Karen Sherman concurred and made a movement saying, “I feel we should always decline the institution at this level.”

The 5 Planning Fee members current voted unanimously to say no.