Questions arose about the city's stamp of approval on the Pea Ridge portion of the master plan for a bike and pedestrian trail during the city's January City Council meeting.
"We had a public hearing a couple of weeks ago," Mayor Jackie Crabtree told City Council members.
The city's January Planning Commission meeting did begin with a public hearing. No one from the public attended.
"The Planning Commission approved this," Crabtree said, adding that the city's approval is needed so that if the state Highway Department makes upgrades on the roads along which the trails is proposed, they have to be done to the standard in the plan.
"It was able to do something for us that we wouldn't be able to do," he said, adding that he anticipates that "eventually, get things over to us, like the Razorback Greenway... trails to Military Park."
"Who funds this?" asked Bob Cottingham, council member.
"The Walton family did for the master plan," Crabtree said. "All we're doing is approving the plan."
Ray Easley, whose family owns land east of Arkansas Highway 94 along Sugar Creek, said: "Where it comes through Sugar Creek, that's where I'm going to have opposition -- you can't have fences."
"Where they're going to cross down here under (Ark. Hwy.) 94, they'll undoubtedly go down under bridge," Easley said. "I can't see them trying to follow the old road from here to Bentonville."
Crabtree said the trail will go along a highway. "Even on Razorback Greenway, it's not going through fields."
Pointing to a portion of the map, Easley said the map shows the trail "run right across my dad's property down there."
"I like to ride bikes. I'd like to see it all connected, but property values would be affected. You can't run cattle on it," Easley said.
Lance Sanders, council member, asked whether the council could fight the route in the future if they adopt the plan as a whole now.
"We're pretty much just getting it on a map, it can be amended. There's some areas that it wouldn't work the way it is now," Crabtree said.
"... come down Sugar Creek valley, it's beautiful scenic route, but private property," Easley said. "I'm in favor of the plan, but not in favor of it coming across my parents' property. When it comes to that, I 'll have to be in opposition."
"Most likely, when we get the trails over here, we're not going to care," Crabtree said, alluding to the fact that it may be in the distant future.
"Will our Planning Commission be involved in any of this?" Cottingham asked.
"Yes, they had to go through and approve it at their last meeting," Crabtree said.
The plan was approved unanimously.
General News on 02/11/2015