New Bentonville Residential Development: Echelon

A new planned residential development in Bentonville promises to bring diverse housing options and community-focused amenities to the city. Spanning 3.58 acres, the project combines single-family detached and attached homes with features designed to enhance walkability, safety, and neighborhood connectivity.

Community-Focused Amenities

“Included in the plan is a walking trail along the western property line and a neighborhood park along the northern property line,” the applicant notes in their proposal. These features aim to provide residents with recreational opportunities while fostering a sense of community.

To ensure pedestrian safety and calm traffic, a 7-foot raised pedestrian table will be constructed where Echelon’s decomposed granite walkway crosses Appaloosa Avenue. Additionally, the development will offer ample parking, exceeding zoning requirements. Each unit will include two garage parking spots and space for two more vehicles in the driveway, providing a total of four spaces per dwelling.

The applicant emphasizes that while the streets within the development will remain private, they will meet Bentonville’s municipal standards, with widths designed to accommodate fire trucks and other essential services.

Addressing Community Concerns

The proposal reflects careful consideration of neighborhood compatibility and local concerns. “To address concerns voiced by surrounding residents, the applicant has introduced examples of the covenants they plan to write for the neighborhood to disallow short-term rentals, limit the number of long-term rental properties in the neighborhood to 5%, or one at a time, and keep noise at appropriate levels,” the report states. These measures are modeled after successful strategies from other developments in the region, such as Scissortail in Cave Springs and Aurora in Bentonville.

The development also incorporates traditional neighborhood design principles, such as orienting front entries toward one another and positioning garages in rear alleys where feasible. This design reduces curb cuts along arterial roads, a recommendation from the city’s Community Plan, and maintains visual harmony with surrounding single-family neighborhoods.

A Thoughtful Approach to Bentonville’s Growth

The applicant describes the project as “an ideal opportunity for context-sensitive infill development.” Located along Northwest 3rd Street, the development capitalizes on its proximity to a dedicated bike lane, nearby trails, and commercial amenities on Walton Boulevard.

With a mix of housing options, a focus on walkability, and an emphasis on preserving neighborhood character, this planned residential development reflects Bentonville’s commitment to thoughtful, community-driven growth.