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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-0919 (30) CityClerk From:Leslie Copeland <leslie@lesliecopelandlaw.com> Sent:Thursday, October 27, 2022 2:36 PM To:CityClerk Subject:Fwd: A message from the Walton Arts Center Council CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. I'm a downtown Fayetteville resident and I support the hotel and other development WITHOUT the need for more parking! There will be plenty of parking or people can walk, bike, rideshare, etc. We don't need more parking! Thank you! To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Leslie Copeland Leslie Copeland Law & Mediation 479-595-8710 www.lesliecopelandlaw.com leslie@lesliecopelandlaw.com 217 E. Dickson St. #106, Fayetteville AR 72701 Please call our office to schedule a consultation or click here to request a mediation date. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Walton Arts Center <info@waltonartscenter.org> Date: Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 1:01 PM Subject: A message from the Walton Arts Center Council To: <leslie@lesliecopelandlaw.com> Forward | View in browser To help prot ect your priva cy, … Dear Leslie, Downtown Fayetteville is undergoing remarkable transformation. The new library addition and the opening of the Lower Ramble are shining examples of what careful planning, citizen input and community support can create. The next big project underway is development of the Civic Plaza in the current West Avenue parking lot. Once complete this will become the heart of the Dickson Street Entertainment District. 1 The citizens of Fayetteville wisely voted in 2019 to support the creation of this community area, and we enthusiastically agree. However, a decision will soon be made about what will occupy this precious space, and we believe the current planning insufficiently addresses future parking needs. Over the coming weeks, the City Council will consider a Letter of Intent for a proposal to develop a 130-room hotel on the South end of the Civic Plaza. This LOI includes a commitment to provide only 32 parking spaces for the 130 hotel rooms, and a vague proposal for offsite valet parking for the remaining parking needs. Development of a large hotel without careful identification of adequate parking for that business does not make sense. We are grateful the City decided in 2019 to ensure replacement parking was in place before development of the Civic Plaza started. This sensible approach recognized that development of this area—with new offices, retail and another hotel just north of the Civic Plaza—creates parking demands that must be addressed with a clear plan. The City and downtown businesses worked together to craft a workable approach to parking. In sharp contrast is the lack of planning for parking to serve the South-end hotel, and it will penalize established businesses and their customers as well as future development success. For example, at Walton Arts Center we serve patrons of all ages, and we know that many require proximate parking when attending events. If the parking deck that downtown businesses worked with the City to secure for replacement parking is occupied by customers of the South-end hotel, the City’s lack of planning for this additional parking need becomes a hindrance to patrons of Walton Arts Center and to customers of all other existing businesses. We believe by thoughtfully working together, we can do better. Walton Arts Center has partnered with surrounding business owners to invest in a comprehensive, parking study of the district’s current and future needs. That study will be completed in December. We believe additional development decisions should be put on hold until the results are available. To do otherwise puts at risk all the careful planning that has occurred to this point. If we build it without adequate parking, the people cannot come. This is a good time for the City of Fayetteville to hear from you, especially those who come to the downtown area for our restaurants, arts, festivals, parades and other events. Attend the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 1 and reach out to the Mayor and City Council to express your thoughts on the current proposal. You can email the City Council at cityclerk@fayetteville-ar.gov. Thank you! 2 Anne O’Leary-Kelly, Chair – Walton Arts Center Council Mike Johnson, Former Chair – Walton Arts Center Council Greg Lee, Former Chair – Walton Arts Center Council To help To help To help To help To help protect protect protect protect protect your your your your your privacy, privacy, privacy, privacy, privacy, MicrosoMicrosoMicrosoMicrosoMicroso ft ft ft ft ft Office Office Office Office Office Unsubscribe | Forward | View in browser Walton Arts Center 495 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 479.443.5600 waltonartscenter.org Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP Box Offices Fayetteville location: Open Monday-Friday / 10am-5pm by phone; 10am-2pm in person One hour prior to performances 495 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 479.443.5600 Rogers location: Open Monday-Friday / 10am-5pm 5079 W. Northgate Rd, Rogers, AR 72758 479.443.5600 TO VIEW TICKETING AND VENUE POLICIES, PLEASE CLICK HERE. 3