Zoning map completed; public comments dominate meeting

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Nicky Boyette – After three years of tedious work by City Economic Development Officer Glenna Booth, Eureka Springs now has an updated and adaptable zoning map. She presented copies of it at Monday evening’s city council meeting, it was greeted with genuine approbation by aldermen.

Booth said the map will be posted on the city website and available on CDs and as a downloadable PDF file. She also mentioned since it is digital, it will be easy to update.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Mayor Butch Berry commented.

Council voted to approve the map.

The second order of business was alderman James DeVito clarifying that the moratorium on issuing new B&B licenses for six months does not affect existing B&Bs, such as those up for sale.

East Mountain is a racetrack

Seven citizens alerted city council to the dangers they face living along East Mountain from speeding traffic.

Leon Bert told council the road has no sidewalks and through traffic do not abide by speed limits. He said he had been recovering from a health situation and walking was recommended, but his therapist refused to walk with him on East Mountain because it was too dangerous. He claimed the new development at Lookout Point would only increase the amount of traffic. He called it “a problem waiting to happen.”

Ray Bottomley said the road has been a racetrack forever, and the downhill grade encourages speeders. He remarked it is barely wide for two vehicles to pass in different directions. He lives about in the middle of its length, so he has “a bleacher seat to all of it.” He told council pedestrians, cyclists, elderly residents, deer and small animals use the road, and now there are large trucks going to the construction site. Motorcyclists have discovered it as “a fun little sashay.” His mailbox has been destroyed more than once.

Bob Murray asked, “Isn’t there something we can do?” He contended some drivers exceed 50 miles per hour on parts of the road. He is in favor of speed bumps, and suggested a community meeting to come up with a solution. “I don’t have an answer, but I would like to talk to someone who does… maybe somebody is smarter than me.” He said backing out of his driveway is cause for concern.

Harry Meyer said he walks his dog on East Mountain, “and it is scary.” He said there are places where a pedestrian cannot get off the road because of fences and hedges. He also speculated speed tables would slow drivers down a bit.

Craig Milam wanted to increase safety for those who walk, run or cycle on East Mountain. He said he is raising two grandkids there, and gets nervous when they ride their bicycles on the road.

Pamela Jones read a letter she had written to Berry. In it, she stated she was looking for support for the effort to find relief from speeders. Like the other speakers, she said walking on the road is dangerous in part because there are no sidewalks. None of the measures implemented so far – flashing lights, speed limit signs – has helped, and now there is new construction bringing in larger trucks that don’t abide by the speed limit. She wanted a permanent solution, but in the meantime speed tables would help.

Ivan Thompson said he has a great view on East Mountain that allows him to see speeders and large trucks. He has even witnessed road rage incidents that spilled over from US 62 onto East Mountain leading to very reckless situations.

Other public comments

Peg Adamson advocated for allowing food trucks in town. She said the research has already been done, and the food truck vendors are ready to go. She declared food trucks are wonderful and people love them.

Ken Foggo responded to remarks by Berry in a newspaper article in which Berry stated when city council approved the water treatment plant, maybe not enough thought went into maintenance down the line. Foggo asked why not. He also challenged Berry’s comment that the city had not passed on the increase cost of water to customers, and contended passing the expense on makes good business sense and would encourage water-saving practices. He also took figures from comments made by city hall in the newspaper article to demonstrate the budget numbers published do not support claims the city needs a sales tax.

Next meeting will be Monday, July 25, at 6 p.m. There will be a budget workshop at 5:30 p.m.