Truck stop for I-540 at Wagon Wheel advances
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/224979/
SPRINGDALE — Springdale developer Gary Combs got what he wanted Tuesday night — a commercial rezone on 23 acres and an auto repair permit for Diesel Downs, his colossal truck stop planned for Interstate 540 and Wagon Wheel Road.
But before the Planning Commission voted in his favor, Combs leaned into the microphone, wagged his finger and accused Planning and Community Development Director Patsy Christie of being a liar.
“You can’t be trusted as a public servant to tell the truth,” Combs shouted. “And I can get contractors from here and all over the country to come in here and say the same thing.”
Combs was angry at Christie because she wanted him to produce a traffic study showing how the truck stop, planned for up to 300 rigs, would affect the intersection.
Combs, at the behest of sev- eral commissioners, finally sat down and allowed the commission to consider his proposal. The commission voted unanimously to grant the special permit but said when Combs comes back with his final plat and large-scale design that he must have the traffic study.
How large the development is allowed to be will be based on the study.
Combs has plans for a 46-acre travel plaza that features retail and office space, a tire and repair shop for trucks, and a fuel distribution center. He also wants to use a system created by IdleAire Technologies Corp., which provides climate control, movies, Internet, phone and TV through a large hose affixed to the truck through a window adapter.
IdleAire means a trucker can turn off his rig during mandatory down time instead of idling the engine to power amenities.
Wagon Wheel Road, which runs along the south boundary of the proposed site, is being widened to five lanes. With Diesel Downs, Combs could compete with truck stop giants such as TravelCenters of America, PETRO Shopping Centers, Pilot Travel Centers and Love’s.
Though Christie remained silent while Combs scolded her, she did not back down from his tirade.
“I told you about the traffic study the first time we talked,” Christie said. “This is nothing new.”