Golf could be go-ahead for Price Coffee property
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
BENTONVILLE - In the months since more than 100 acres of pristine land off Price Coffee Road were deeded to the city of Bentonville by the Advertising and Promotion Commission, the land has remained undeveloped - and its future in question.
After Tuesday night, one possibility for the park's future became closer to reality.
The Bentonville City Council ap proved a resolution in support of The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas to develop and utilize the property for a public golf and park facility.
The resolution is not a binding agreement and does not set the park property's future in stone. However, the resolution does serve as a green light to The First Tee to move forward in acquiring funds to develop and utilize the property.
The First Tee wants to build a 9-hole short course, which can be set up to play as a three-hole, six-hole or nine-hole facility.
The land would also include a 300-plus-yard practice range, a 50-station main practice tee, separate teaching and practice areas, a practice putting green and a putting course.
But in addition to being used as a place for youth programs, the golf course will also be accessible to the residents of Bentonville and surrounding communities.
By combining current funding and additional funds from a capital campaign, The First Tee would pay to develop and operate the course.
After the council's meeting, Mayor Bob McCaslin noted that these plans for the property vary from those set in the city's Master Parks Plan. The Master Parks Plan, which was updated in 2007," did not list golf activities"as part of many parks and facility needs.
In addition, the plan called for the Price Coffee Property to include an amphitheater, sports fields and a botanical garden. While those plans listed a number of items noted as needs for the residents of Bentonville, developing that property was also an estimated $ 8 million, Mc-Caslin said.
"The Parks Plan is a tool," McCaslin said. "Obviously, resources dictate what you can do. "McCaslin added that the City Council has come to an agreement that the south and west part of town would be the focus of future multiuse park facilities.
"Now, we have someone stepping up at no cost to the taxpayer"to develop the Price Coffee property, Mc-Caslin said.
The council also approved the following items • A rezoning from medium-density residential to residential office for the Bryant addition • A rezoning from county to general commercial for the Paradise Dive Adventure, 334 Greenhouse Road • A lot split for the Paradise Dive Adventure, 334 Greenhouse Road • A request from Habitat for Humanity to waive the impact fees for a house at 705 N. W. 14 th St.;
• An ordinance to establish the Bentonville Municipal Multipurpose Property Owners, Improvement District No. 10: Providence Village • Approve remaining bids for the Criminal Investigation Division expansion project; and • Declare a 2001 Ford F-350 ambulance as surplus property.
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