City officials in Benton County discuss growth opportunities, challenges

City officials in Benton County continue to plan for economic development and work together to tackle infrastructure challenges in the region, based on comments at the Build Bentonville event held Tuesday at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman and Tyler Overstreet, city planning director, said they are eager to see Walmart’s Home Office grand opening ceremony slated for January and the completion of its A Street Promenade downtown that will span 12 blocks from Lawrence Plaza to NE Third Street.

The Promenade along A Street will facilitate more events downtown and include a walkway, green space and a pedestrian-only parkway. The Walmart Museum remodel is also slated for completion in early 2025. The Alice Walton School of Medicine will open in 2025 and Orman said it has the ability to created more medical and health-related growth to the city.

Kalene Griffith, CEO of Visit Bentonville, said her organization will continue to work with the city, schools, and businesses to ensure that Bentonville remains a destination for tourists and businesses. Griffith said last year Visit Bentonville oversaw 310 events that brought thousands of visitors to the city. She said 50% of restaurant receipts came from visitors.

“Visitors are sustaining our industry and while tourism does add to traffic, it should be an asset, not a challenge,” Griffith said. “We were able to reinvest $43 million back into the community last year from the revenue generated from visitors.”

She said Visit Bentonville is working on its destination master plan which will span the next three years.

Bella Vista Mayor John Flynn said the city is changing from a place to retire to a city for active families. He said the median age has fallen below 50, three new council members were recently elected who are in their 30s and 40s, and five council members have school-age children. The three retiring members had a total of 28 years on the council.

He said single-family home building continues with between 500 and 600 new starts annually. Flynn said the $26 million purchase of 2,700 undeveloped acres in the Bella Vista area by Blue Crane holds much potential, and the real estate development group will conduct meetings in early 2025 to get resident and business input. Flynn said Blue Crane, owned by Walmart heirs Steuart and Tom Walton, also acquired development rights to the property and that should expedite building and remodel applications.

Bella Vista is also planning to connect the Razorback Greenway trail to Riordan Road and eventually up to the Missouri state line with the help of the Walton Family Foundation. He said the city is also home to more than 500 short-term rental properties which makes up for not having hotels. He also said the city is adding more homes to the sewer system as the vast majority of homes are on septic systems, and adding more sidewalks and bike lanes along the 550 miles of city roads.

Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See said the city is experiencing 10% growth annually and the biggest challenge is two-lane roads to and from Bentonville, Rogers, and Bella Vista. He said the city is working with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to find funding to add lanes to Highway 72 that connects to Bentonville.

The city also is working to connect with the Razorback Greenway and expand trails and outdoor recreation. Pea Ridge is building an 18-hole disc golf course, a community center and a park/playground. Pea Ridge added 500 new homes last year and has 1,600 lots ready for construction.

Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards echoed the traffic concerns. He said the city is working with Bentonville to widen Greenhouse Road which will be another connector road for the city. The city also is building a new 50,000-square-foot community center on city land. Edwards said the growing city is behind in adding amenities, but pickleball courts and park restrooms are on the docket for 2025. Centerton also is working to connect to the Razorback Greenway with help from the Walton Family Foundation.