Prairie Grove council approves final flats for housing estates

PRAIRIE GROVE — Since February, Prairie Grove City Council has approved final flats for three subdivisions, paving the way for 370 single-family homes.
Most recently, on April 18, the board approved final courses for Phases 2 through 4 of the Snyder Grove Subdivision and the Mountain View Subdivision.
In February, council approved the final flat for the Prairie View subdivision, which will include 98 lots on 23 acres located adjacent to Heritage Parkway.
The final flat of Phases 2-4 of the Snyder Grove subdivision, located off Mock Street, shows 96 single-family lots. At one time, this subdivision included lots for multi-family housing, but these were changed to single-family lots, according to administrative assistant Larry Oelrich.
Snyder Grove, which has been sold by the original owner, includes new homes built along Mock Street, as well as phases behind those homes. In total, this development will consist of eight phases.
Council also approved the final flat for the Mountain View Subdivision, a 53-acre development located between Parks and Butler streets. The subdivision has 176 single-family lots.
Oelrich said developers will post performance bonds for any work not yet completed, such as sidewalks or some paving.
Compared to the past five years, building permits for residential units are down so far for 2022. As an example, only one permit was issued in March for a single-family residence. Through March, the city has issued only six single-family home permits for 2022.
The city issued 184 single-family permits in 2017, 190 permits in 2018, 146 permits in 2019, and 110 permits in 2019. For 2021, the city issued 56 permits for single-family homes.
Oelrich expects permits to resume now that final courses have been approved for all three subdivisions.
“It will pick up, and it will pick up quickly,” Oelrich said recently.
In other actions, the board approved:
• Two resolutions to amend the city’s contracts with Olsson Inc., a Fayetteville engineering firm, on two separate projects.
Olsson will provide contract oversight and administration for the wastewater treatment plant expansion project for an amount not to exceed $491,000.
For the second resolution, council approved an amendment to its contract with Olsson to provide engineering services for the berm and culvert design for the Viney Grove Road Extension for an amount not to exceed $20,000.
• An ordinance amending the municipal code for the storage of propane. The city allows the storage of Class 1A liquids up to 250 gallons. The amendment increases the cap to 1,000 gallons on properties of 2 acres or more in zoned agricultural areas, with a 50-foot setback from buildings and boundary lines.
• A resolution to approve changes to the police department’s policy manual to provide a pay differential for night shifts. Police Chief Chris Workman said he hopes the extra pay will help retain officers and recruit candidates. Agents who work the night schedule will receive additional pay of $2 per hour and will only receive the differential when the agent is physically working.