Meadows Development Seeks Variances for New Food Truck Court on S. 8th Street
Rogers, AR – Meadows Development is seeking several variances from the Rogers Planning Commission to facilitate the construction of a new food truck court at 2339 S. 8th Street. The development, proposed for a small and geometrically constrained site, requires adjustments to the Overlay District landscape requirements and front setback regulations.
Variance Requests and Justifications
The development team, led by Phil Swope of Swope Engineering, has requested three key variances:
Front Setback Reduction: A request to reduce the required 75-foot front setback to 56 feet. The variance is necessary to accommodate a canopy structure over the food trucks, ensuring adequate space for the development.
Bufferyard Reduction: A proposal to reduce the front 25-foot bufferyard to as little as 2.3 feet at the narrowest point. The project layout adjusts to make the best use of the limited available land.
Tree Planting Variance: Instead of planting trees within the 25-foot bufferyard at 20-foot intervals, the developers propose planting the required 15 Overlay Trees within the site’s interior.
Phil Swope highlighted the unique challenges posed by the site’s dimensions, stating, “The hardship, in this case, is that the site is extremely small and limited in its geometry. Our proposal still meets the purpose and intent of the code by providing open space in other areas and maintaining sufficient buffering with street trees.”
Staff Analysis and Recommendations
The Planning Commission staff conducted a thorough analysis, acknowledging the site’s constraints but also noting the ownership of adjacent properties by the developer. Staff suggested the possibility of reconfiguring property lines to better meet the overlay district’s requirements. Despite these recommendations, the staff recognized the practical challenges and proposed the commission consider the variance requests with conditions, such as planting additional shrubs along the parking front if the tree variance is granted.
Community and Economic Impact
The proposed food truck court aims to enhance the local food scene and provide a vibrant community space. Although no public comments have been received yet, the development is poised to attract local residents and visitors, contributing to the area’s economic vitality.
Next Steps
The Planning Commission will review the variance requests during their meeting on February 20, 2024. Community members are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions on the project. The outcome of this meeting will determine the future of the Meadows Development food truck court and its role in the evolving landscape of Rogers.
