Fayetteville, Arkansas

[itk]

Definitely and advantage Bentonville has is that they are growing so quickly and didn't start with a rather large town in which to enact planning guidelines ex post facto.

A lot of Fayetteville's issues are remedying past mistakes.

Good point.

[itk]

A downtown master plan is a small piece of the general concept of "city planning". Fayetteville's elaborate downtown master plan is posted on this forum already.

I'm speaking specifically of zoning and particularly of zoning in as-yet to be annexed areas in adjacent "buffer zones". This is particularly important in fast-growing areas, which Bentonville certainly qualifies as one. I think you'd be hard pressed to say that B'ville's road and infrastructure planning was that well-done.

Since I haven't caught up on all the posts, I apologize in advance if I'm taking your comment out of context, but are you saying Bentonville's road and infrastructure planning isn't all that great? If so how do you mean? IMO Bentonville's infrastructure planning is very smart. Part of this of course deals with smart growth/land use planning; however, the other part deals with the actual infrastructure itself.

The best example I like is Bentonville's implementation of access management on arterials. Access is smart planning of controlling and managing access along a corridor or roadway. (see www.accessmanagement.gov). Many states are starting to implement access management guidelines, Arkansas being one of them.

However, cities are starting to see the benefit of that, but many here in Arkansas still don't (mainly smaller ones with less qualified staff). Bentonville, though, does do access management (see 71B/Walton Blvd (the newer section between Rainbow curve and I-540). I haven't seen this in other NWA cities. This is smart planning at its best, because it is not easy to do and not easy to convince business owners. But it is in everyone's benefit. Fayetteville is starting to realize this I think the hard way (which is one reason why they want College Ave overhauled-- access management).

With a trained eye you can see the difference between land use/infrastructure planning on Hwy 102 in Bentonville... until you get to Centerton, where you see they have little to no planning along 102. I *garauntee* drivers will be wishing in years to come they did what Bentonville is doing (like what Fayetteville residences wished they had done to College Ave).

Edited March 30, 2006 by itk

[MDEM]

This group in Fayetteville is trying various sustainable argiculture practices such as permaculture. It's a backyard project, but something like this could potentailly grow into a large-scale project. Does anyone know about this kind of project in your area?

If anyone has any interst in this kind of project the group meets every Sunday at 2:00 PM at 128 Hill Street in Fayetteville. Evidentally it's open to the public to take part in this project and they are in need of seeds, garden tools and supplies.

Here's the link to the article about this project.

I was birthed by a Midwife on Hill Street. No crap. In the apartments right above the train tracks.

I know where you guys are at. Is Colleen around?

[Mith242]

It's official now, Fayetteville has made the smoking ordinance with restaurants and bars more clear. As what was thought, bars where smoking will be allowed, can no longer have any prepared foods. I haven't heard any news on what Alligator Ray's will be doing now.

[Mith242]

Drake Field doesn't get as much attention nowthat XNA is around. But Drake Field was honored as Outstanding Arkansas Airport by the FAA for 2005. It was one of 8 airports recognized in the 5 state southwest region that we are in. Nice to see Drake Field is surviving and doing okay even after XNA.

[Mith242]

Here's a link to a study done on a parking deck near Dickson St. I thought it might have some interesting info for some of you. Warning though, it's a pretty big pdf file.

http://www.accessfayetteville.org/pdfs/dow...=4370&revision=

[Mith242]

I think this was mentioned in another topic, but I'll just throw it in here. There was a mention of the powerline issue on Dickson Street in the Northwest Arkansas Times today. They could be put underground except for the problem of where to get the money. The costs of putting the powerlines underground near Dickson apparently is around $4-5Mil. That's a lot of money for the city to spend when there's a lot of other issues like roads that need money. As much as everyone dislikes the idea of big powerlines going up above Dickson St to the substation it's not too likely that these powerlines not going up. Not unless someone like the Tysons or Waltons want to suddenly pay for it. Doesn't look like the city will be able to do it.

[Mith242]

Fayetteville is also looking at annexing land to the west of Fayetteville. Mainly due to the fact that Farmington has talked about annexing land all the way north to Hwy 16. If this were to happen it could really hinder Fayetteville's potential growth to the west of the city.

[DickSonstreetDFW]

I think this was mentioned in another topic, but I'll just throw it in here. There was a mention of the powerline issue on Dickson Street in the Northwest Arkansas Times today. They could be put underground except for the problem of where to get the money. The costs of putting the powerlines underground near Dickson apparently is around $4-5Mil. That's a lot of money for the city to spend when there's a lot of other issues like roads that need money. As much as everyone dislikes the idea of big powerlines going up above Dickson St to the substation it's not too likely that these powerlines not going up. Not unless someone like the Tysons or Waltons want to suddenly pay for it. Doesn't look like the city will be able to do it.

That sucks. I hate powerlines.

But I love electricity.

There could not be a worse place for them to run these high lines through Fayetteville unless they chose to run them directly across the top of Mt. Sequoyah.

I wonder if there is any way the power company could camouflage the lines, like painting them green, or something.

[Mith242]

Yeah I don't know. I've been trying to imagine what this is going to end up looking like. I get the impression they are going to be the somewhat typical tall metal ones. The only good thing that might occur, from my standpoint, is if they move the powerlines further up I might be able to get some shots I couldn't before without the powerlines in the way. Of course it stands to reason that they'll also take away from other angles as well.

[strmchsr77]

I've heard they may be as tall as 120 feet. That sounds quite high to me...I wonder if they can put height restrictions of powerlines too?

[Mith242]

I've heard they may be as tall as 120 feet. That sounds quite high to me...I wonder if they can put height restrictions of powerlines too?

I guess that would be funny until we started having power problems.

[masons_dad1]

I think this was mentioned in another topic, but I'll just throw it in here. There was a mention of the powerline issue on Dickson Street in the Northwest Arkansas Times today. They could be put underground except for the problem of where to get the money. The costs of putting the powerlines underground near Dickson apparently is around $4-5Mil. That's a lot of money for the city to spend when there's a lot of other issues like roads that need money. As much as everyone dislikes the idea of big powerlines going up above Dickson St to the substation it's not too likely that these powerlines not going up. Not unless someone like the Tysons or Waltons want to suddenly pay for it. Doesn't look like the city will be able to do it.

Couldn't the University of Arkansas front the city the money for this? Is that even allowed? Why depend soley on the Waltons and the Tysons when they don't even have anything to do with Fayetteville? Besides if Fayetteville continues to take an isolationist stance on regional affairs they can't expect other cities to help them out when they need it. If Fayetteville is the town that it's residents are so proud of they will come up with the money for this project, the same way they came up with the money to build the new Library that they'll be paying for out of their taxes for a long time to come.

[Mith242]

Couldn't the University of Arkansas front the city the money for this? Is that even allowed? Why depend soley on the Waltons and the Tysons when they don't even have anything to do with Fayetteville? Besides if Fayetteville continues to take an isolationist stance on regional affairs they can't expect other cities to help them out when they need it. If Fayetteville is the town that it's residents are so proud of they will come up with the money for this project, the same way they came up with the money to build the new Library that they'll be paying for out of their taxes for a long time to come.

I don't think I've ever heard of a university doing something like that so I don't know. But I really don't think the U of A is going to do something like that. True the city came together for the library, but I think we're talking about different things. People are more willing to support a library so that their kids can go and learn. Having the powerlines will be annoying but I think it will be a lot harder to get people behind it financially. Interesting idea though.

[masons_dad1]

I don't think I've ever heard of a university doing something like that so I don't know. But I really don't think the U of A is going to do something like that. True the city came together for the library, but I think we're talking about different things. People are more willing to support a library so that their kids can go and learn. Having the powerlines will be annoying but I think it will be a lot harder to get people behind it financially. Interesting idea though.

Nah... the city will just say "as long as they're not in front of my house". I don't think the steel high tension power lines would be as big a deal in a modern downtown since there's already a lot of shiny steel and glass but it would severely detract from Fayetteville's image of brick and mortar. Maybe they can make the pole look like those old fashioned wrought iron lampposts.

[masons_dad1]

The state senate just passed the statewide smoking ban. So Fayetteville won't be able to decide who gets to allow smoking and will instead have to abide by the statewide ban. Of course Fayetteville can add restrictions to the ban but it's already more strict than Fayetteville's current ban. No business with more than 3 employees can allow smoking and only businesses that are restricted to people over 21 years old are exempt. You can read the full article from the Arkansas News Bureau here.

[mcheiss]

^

Wow, are you serious!!

Does this apply to Restaurants as well?

[masons_dad1]

^

Wow, are you serious!!

Does this apply to Restaurants as well?

It actually has to go through the House, but they're pretty sure it'll pass. It will include ALL businesses that have more than 3 employees... mainly restaurants and even clubs that don't restrict age entry... oh and yes even the Wal-Mart Home Office will have to get rid of their smoking rooms because the law says no area within a business even if seperated by walls can allow smoking.

Opponents say this will crush businesses throughout Arkansas, but Huckabee says this will save lives.

[vbfl85]

We have the same law here in FL and most people have been supportive of it. Im not sure if our law lets bars that have age limits become exempt. Anyways i dont think it will hurt business in Arkansas. However youll probably see alot of social gatherings forming outback of many businesses as that is the only place employees can smoke.

[mcheiss]

It actually has to go through the House, but they're pretty sure it'll pass. It will include ALL businesses that have more than 3 employees... mainly restaurants and even clubs that don't restrict age entry... oh and yes even the Wal-Mart Home Office will have to get rid of their smoking rooms because the law says no area within a business even if seperated by walls can allow smoking.

Opponents say this will crush businesses throughout Arkansas, but Huckabee says this will save lives.

Wooohooo, no more smokers rooms

[Mith242]

It actually has to go through the House, but they're pretty sure it'll pass. It will include ALL businesses that have more than 3 employees... mainly restaurants and even clubs that don't restrict age entry... oh and yes even the Wal-Mart Home Office will have to get rid of their smoking rooms because the law says no area within a business even if seperated by walls can allow smoking.

Opponents say this will crush businesses throughout Arkansas, but Huckabee says this will save lives.

I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure there were exceptions in the proposed law. I thought I had read that bars and perhaps a few other places would still be allowed to have smoking. So in some ways it wouldn't have addressed the recent change in the smoking ordinance here in Fayetteville between restaurants and bars. I'll have to check again on that.

[Mith242]

There are going to be some exceptions it appears. Here's a list of exceptions. Hotels, private residences, nursing homes, businesses with under 3 employees, bars and restaurants that only serve and employ individuals over the age of 21.

[masons_dad1]

I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure there were exceptions in the proposed law. I thought I had read that bars and perhaps a few other places would still be allowed to have smoking. So in some ways it wouldn't have addressed the recent change in the smoking ordinance here in Fayetteville between restaurants and bars. I'll have to check again on that.

It said bars are an exception if they are 21 years and up... so a sports bar that allows minors in would be affected by the ban. Also casinos and race tracks would be exempt. There are other exemptions, but what strikes people as an invasion of privacy is that even homes that have at-home businesses like daycare and elderly care will be affected by the ban. As far as normal businesses, including bars, the law is very clear... all businesses with 3 or more employees will be banned from smoking anywhere in the building. Except for the 21 and over exception.

Edited April 7, 2006 by masons_dad1

[razorbackfan]

There are going to be some exceptions it appears. Here's a list of exceptions. Hotels, private residences, nursing homes, businesses with under 3 employees, bars and restaurants that only serve and employ individuals over the age of 21.

Can anyone tell me why the heck nursing homes are exempt? I saw this in the paper and I couldn't believe that out of all the places, that it will still be allowed in nursing homes, considering that there are quite a few people in nursing homes because of their lovely habit to smoke.

[masons_dad1]

Can anyone tell me why the heck nursing homes are exempt? I saw this in the paper and I couldn't believe that out of all the places, that it will still be allowed in nursing homes, considering that there are quite a few people in nursing homes because of their lovely habit to smoke.

And many people in Nursing Homes are on oxygen... not a good place to smoke.