Bentonville Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2026

The Bentonville Planning Commission convened for a Tech Review session at 4:30 PM and a Regular Meeting at 5:00 PM on January 20, 2026, at Bentonville City Hall. The Commission reviewed and approved several routine land use items, deliberated a contested sidewalk waiver request, and held a public hearing on a temporary use permit. An informational update was provided on the Plan Bentonville code update.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the January 6th meeting were approved unanimously.
• The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda with a 7-0 vote:
  • Lincoln and Rice Addition, Block 1, Property Line Adjustment (PLA25-0037).
  • Danielle's Place Lot Split (LS25-0037).
  • Aadhira Subdivision Preliminary Plat (PP25-0007).
  • Crockett Commercial Large Scale Development (LSD25-0048).
  • 8th Street Gateway Park Phasing Large Scale Development Amendment (LSD23-0047).
  • Townhomes at OZ Preliminary Plat (PP25-0010). Note: The final three items were moved from New Business to the Consent Agenda via a motion by Commissioner Kerr, which passed without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hancock Residential Temporary Parking and Material Staging (CU25-0037): The applicant, Ray, provided testimony regarding the request for a conditional use permit to use a neighboring property for temporary parking and material staging. He stated the project is mostly complete, with the primary need moving forward being parking. The agreement with the property owner is in effect until December 31, 2026. Ray expressed a commitment to being a good steward of the Austin Baggett Park neighborhood, noting that his team canvassed the area and erected a 10-foot fence to mitigate dust and visual impacts during construction.

Discussion Items

• Brown Sidewalk Waiver (WAV25-0020): The Commission discussed a request from applicant Joshua Brown to waive the requirement to construct a sidewalk at 403 West Central Avenue. The applicant requested a fee-in-lieu of construction rather than a full waiver. They argued that constructing the sidewalk now would require removing significant trees and result in a dead-end path at a wall on a neighboring property. Staff noted the trees are in the right-of-way and the alignment presents physical constraints. A discussion ensued about sidewalk connectivity, project prioritization, and the mechanics of a fee-in-lieu system. Commissioners expressed support for a fee-in-lieu, with the amount to be determined by the Transportation and Planning Directors, allowing for flexibility as the city develops a broader sidewalk plan for the area.
• Aadhira Subdivision Preliminary Plat (Consent Item): During Tech Review, the applicant clarified the project's phasing is flexible. The required public improvements will be installed with whichever project constructs first—either the townhomes (the previously approved first phase) or the current preliminary plat. The townhomes phase has not yet started.
• Plan Bentonville Update: Tyler provided an informational update on the draft code for the Plan Bentonville update. The internal team aims to have a finalized draft by the end of the week, after which it will be submitted for legal review and publication. The update also noted that scheduling for pre-construction and final inspections has been transitioned from Engineering to Planning to streamline the process.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of Minutes: The January 6th meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda: The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously (7-0).
• Brown Sidewalk Waiver (WAV25-0020): Approved with a motion by Commissioner Wright. The approval includes a stipulation that the applicant pay a fee-in-lieu of construction, with the specific amount to be mutually agreed upon between the applicant and the directors of Transportation and Planning. The motion carried unanimously.
• Hancock Temporary Use Permit (CU25-0037): Approved unanimously (7-0). The permit allows temporary parking and material staging on a neighboring property until the project is completed.
• Meeting Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following the Plan Bentonville update.