The city board will consider the approval of an economic development agreement during its meeting on Tuesday night that would waive the cost of certain fees during the construction of a new facility that is underway for Ability tree.
Ability Tree is a local nonprofit that specializes in providing services to special needs children in the community and its main location is at 300 E. Main St., along with additional facilities in Texas, Florida and New Jersey, according to a city staff report. In August, the board authorized a significant development permit for the organization that will allow for the construction of an approximately 10,000-square-foot facility on the 2300 Block of East Tahlequah Street.
The organization currently assists 57 families in Siloam Springs and a total of 157 families in Arkansas, but with the new facility it is estimated they would have the capacity to quadruple this number; they would also retain their current facility on Main Street, according to a city staff report. The agreement between the nonprofit and the city stipulates that so long as the organization conducts operations from the new location for a period of at least three years, the city will waive the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and building fees for the construction of the new facility.
The agreement was made possible due to a resolution passed by the board in May 2016, which permits the city administrator the discretion to offer incentives and negotiate with developers in order to stimulate economic growth, as well as encourage the growth of existing businesses, according to a city staff report. In this case, it is difficult to discern whether the city will receive a return on its investment, but city staff believes the economic advantage to keeping the organization and its current facility in the city will outweigh the cost.
Property annexation
Another item on Tuesday's agenda is the potential annexation of 20.707 acres of county land into city limits. This is the first annexation proposal of this size in recent months and the property in question is located at 3755 E. Kenwood St.
The annexation was approved by the Benton County Court on Jan. 15, it meets all state requirements and a petition for the idea received signatures from every property owner living in the area, according to a city staff report. If approved, residents of the property would immediately begin receiving police, fire, zoning and code enforcement and waste and wastewater services.
The property is located in Ward 3 of the city and therefore would be represented on the city board by Director Marla Sappington. Its designated zoning would be R-3, according to a city staff report.
Ongoing developments
There are also two ordinances for rezoning proposals on Tuesday night's agenda that will likely lead to property development. The first will be the third and final reading of an ordinance that will rezone a 10.02 acre lot, located at 801 E. Lake Francis Drive, from R-2 (residential, medium) to R-4 (residential, multi-family).
This ordinance was first presented to the board on Jan. 15, where it received considerable opposition from those living near the property because at the time, it was thought that a number of apartment buildings or multi-family dwelling units would be constructed on the property. During the board's meeting on Feb. 5, however, a representative of the applicant -- Upward Housing Group -- approached the board and said that a new plan has been established to instead construct about 80 mostly single family housing units for senior citizens.
Following this, the measure received little to no opposition from those in the audience who expressed discontent with it in the previous meeting. One resident, Linda Sheehy, approached the podium and said that she was pleased with the change of plans and that she believes senior housing would not present a problem in the same way that apartments would.
The second rezoning proposal relates to a 4.02 acre lot located on the 100 Block of N. Lincoln St. It is zoned as I-2 (light industrial) and the applicant is requesting to rezone a part of it to C-2 (roadway commercial), and the remainder to R-3 (residential, two-family), according to a city staff report. It is unclear what would go in the commercially-zoned portion, but the plan for the R-3 (residential, two-family) zone is to create a two-family subdivision that will appear similar to the Haden Place residential addition.
In other business, the board will consider:
• The decision to approve a five-year service contract for the disposal of the city's solid waste with Waste Management of Arkansas.
• The decision to approve a request from the electric department to purchase a 2019 Digger Derrick truck from Altec, Inc., in the amount of $338,810.
• The decision to place an ordinance on its second reading that would amend a section of the city code to allow the city's communication facility regulations to have provisions -- based on the best information that is available -- that relate to "5G" internet technology.
• The decision to place an ordinance on its second reading that would rezone a .53 acre property located at 992 S. Lincoln St. from C-2 (roadway commercial) to R-3 (residential, two family).
• The decision to place an ordinance on its second reading that would amend a section of the city code that pertains to the naming and numbering of the city's streets and buildings.
• The decision to approve a resolution that would eliminate a connection restriction that is currently on a city water line that runs to what used to be the Allen's Country Plant.
• The decision to declare artistry as a professional service in order for the city to be able to publish a request for qualifications (RFQ) to find an artist who will be tasked with painting a mural on a retaining wall for the new Memorial Park.
General News on 02/17/2019