BENTON COUNTY : Planners refuse to extend permit for lake high-rises
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/231554/
BENTONVILLE — The future of a controversial highrise development along Beaver Lake is uncertain after the Benton County Planning Board unanimously denied a request for more time to build.
New York-based E&S Development and Properties had not completed enough work to fulfill 10 conditions included in a 2006 project approval for Grandview Heights to warrant a time extension, members said Wednesday night.
Courtney Little, a Rogers attorney representing the developers, said the nation’s “credit crunch” and lack of funding prevented the company from completing conditions, including securing a completion bond and a storm-water permit from Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
Work has been stagnant for about a year, he said, but plans for the storm-water permit and for other conditions are ready to be fulfilled once money for the project is secured.
Board members raised concerns about illegal dumping on the property as well as dangerous bluffs created by rainwashed land where the 15-story building was planned.
“If these guys had done what they said they were going to do, it wouldn’t be a problem,” said board member Scott Borman.
E&S Development originally proposed the project in 2005. It included a group of three 15-story condominium towers proposed for 177 acres off Guyll Ridge Road, east of Avoca.
E&S Development can either appeal the board’s decision, request a new permit or sell the property, Little said. He speculated the developers would not want to sell.
“They want to be here and fight the fight,” he said.
The request would have been granted had the building been less controversial, he said.
“If it wasn’t new or different, it wouldn’t have been denied,” he said. Little said the company is also negotiating two foreclosure filings against it in Benton County Circuit Court. The company is close to working out deals on both. E&S Development will likely make a decision what to do in the next couple of weeks, he said.
To contact this reporter: aotoole@arkansasonline. com