FARMINGTON --Magnolia Coffee House in Prairie Grove will open a new dual drive-through coffee shop along U.S. Highway 62 in Farmington later this summer, according to owner Deidre Mays.
Farmington Planning Commission approved the large-scale development plan for the new coffee house at its June 25 meeting.
The Commission's meeting only lasted about 35 minutes but it was enough time to approve two large-scale development plans, two variance requests and the final plat for Wingate subdivision on Rheas Mill Road.
Commissioners approved the plans for Magnolia Coffee House at 295/297 W. Kelli Ave., along with plans for the city's new public works building on Broyles Avenue near Williams Elementary School.
John Henderson applied for a large-scale development permit for the coffee house. Mays said Henderson, who is her father, owns the land and will own the building. Deidre and Rick Mays will own the business.
She said their coffee house in Prairie Grove is doing well and they wanted to expand their business.
"Prairie Grove made it so successful, we figured we would keep going. Hopefully, we can go to another town next," Mays said.
Magnolia Coffee House in Farmington will be a 250-square-foot building with drive-through service on both sides. The shop will have limited outdoor seating but no indoor seating.
Mays said the plan is to open the coffee house in early to mid August. She said Farmington's shop will have the same menu as the Prairie Grove business. It also will have soft-serve ice cream.
Another plan, Mays said, is to cater to the schools in the area. She said, for example, they will have Tiger drinks and Cardinal drinks.
The coffee shop will be located on a triangular-shaped piece of land along the highway. Two entrances/exits will be located on West Kelli Avenue. The building will be located across the street from Domino's Pizza.
The city's new public works building will have 11,100 square feet and be located on seven acres previously owned by Farmington School District. The city purchased the land for $157,000 or $22,500 per acre.
The new public works building will have offices, bathrooms and a breakroom. The main part of the building will be a space that is 80-feet by 100-feet. It also will have an attached area for an unmanned fire department substation.
Geoffrey Bates with Bates & Associates said the building will have the same color scheme as Williams Elementary School, with a secure fence around the perimeter. Asphalt will be installed around the structure on three sides.
The city contracted with Key Architecture Inc., of Fayetteville, for about $97,000 to design the project.
In other action, the Commission voted 3-2 to approve a variance request to allow two habitable dwellings on one property, contingent on approval from Washington County Authority and Arkansas Health Department. Commissioners Judy Horne and Gerry Harris voted against the motion.
Ginger Hesse of 548 Rheas Mill Road requested the variance to build a second dwelling that would be 500-600 square feet and would be similar to a mother-in-law house. The 1.3-acre lot is in an R-1 zone, which only allows one dwelling per lot.
Horne wondered about setting a precedent for others who may come in and ask for the same variance.
Harris asked if Hesse had notified neighbors about the proposed house. City business manager Melissa McCarville said the city did not require applicants to notify adjacent neighbors for variance requests.
Commissioners also approved a variance request from the owner of Farmington Heights Phase 2 for the landscape ordinance. Ferdi Fouri with Civil Design Engineers Inc., of Springdale, asked to reduce the required land for a public park from 1.74 acres to 1.04 acres. The plan is to build a park that will be adjacent to the park in Phase 1.
McCarville said the city supported Fouri's request.
"We like this because it gives a combined, larger area that is accessible from either phase," McCarville said.
Farmington Heights, Phase 2, is on 30 acres at South 54th Street and Woolsey Farm Road. It will have 86 lots.
In addition, the Commission approved the final plat for Wingate Subdivision. The approval is subject to several conditions outlined by Chris Brackett with Olsson Associates/McGoodwin Williams & Yates. Conditions include installing sidewalks along Rheas Mill, street lights and a one-year maintenance bond paid to the city of Farmington.
General News on 07/04/2018