Council hears debate on North Belt
By Greg Rayburn / Editor / grayburn@sherwoodvoice.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:57 AM CST
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| From left, real estate developers Steve Deere and Byron McKimmey, Michael Marlar of Marlar Engineering and developer Gregg Mueller asked the Sherwood City Council on Monday to keep the proposed North Belt Freeway off the city’s master street plan (Greg Rayburn). |
The Sherwood City Council on Monday night conducted a second reading of a proposed amendment to the city’s master street plan designed mainly for the streets of Gravel Ridge since it has been annexed into Sherwood.
According to council rules of procedure, proposed ordinances and amendments are to be read three times at three different meetings before they are voted up or down by the council.
As city officials conducted the ordinance’s second reading, three land developers and an area engineer asked aldermen to change the proposal to eliminate placing the North Belt Freeway on the master plan.
The developers argued that leaving the North Belt off the plan would not delay the highway’s development. However, if the North Belt were placed on the amended master street plan, it would slow or eliminate some of the development they are wanting to bring to areas such as Oakdale Road, Arkansas 107, Brockington Road, and areas of Gravel Ridge. They told aldermen that these sites are some of the best areas in Sherwood to bring commercial and residential development.
“No one really knows when there is going to be money set aside for the North Belt,” said Developer Steve Deere.
Developer Byron McKimmey said placing the North Belt on the city plan would translate in providing state and federal transportation authorities a endless timetable to develop the highway while substantially delaying their plans to develop the real estate.
“Who knows if the North Belt will happen in our lifetime,” McKimmey said.
According to past cost estimates, the highway has been projected to cost $200 million. To date, the state has set aside $4 million to purchase easements for land where the highway is to be built.
Mayor Virginia Hillman said city officials would bring the developers’ concerns to the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.
Alderman Charles Harmon said the council does not want to take any action that would prevent the North Belt from being developed.
Hillman agreed, saying the city wants to take no action to stop the project as what happened during the mid-1990s.
Dwight Patterson, Sherwood’s city planner, said placing the North Belt on a master street plan would be the standard protocol.
Alderwoman Becki Vassar said state transportation officials should be consulted to make sure the land is being developed in conjunction with the North Belt’s progress in such a way that Sherwood’s real estate is developed to its fullest potential.
Randy Ort, a spokesman for the state highway department, said the state plans highways routinely where no money has been set aside. Ort used for example highways such as the Highway 71 corridor to connect Ft. Smith and Texarkana.
“That is going to cost $1 billion but the money has not been set aside yet,” Ort said.
Ort said state highway officials continue to work on the designing of the North Belt. About two months ago, the federal government approved the North Belt’s Record of Decision, which sets aside a specific route for the North Belt.
