Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Goody bags of 5K runners to include patriotic pins on commemorative cards

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of a sample of items that will be in the goody bags of the first 300 runners who sign up for the Nov. 7, 2009, Veterans 5K.
DSCN8752

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Veterans 5K run on November 7, 2009

Please click on image to move to Flickr page and ENLARGE view.
DSCN8751

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Northwest Arkansas Times reports on livestock-auction owners appeal of city decision on rezoning

Sale barn owners sue Fayetteville

Bartholomews suing city for denying rezoning request

By Scott F Davis

Thursday, October 22, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE — Billy Joe Bartholomew, of Prairie Grove, has never been sued or sued anybody - until now, he said Wednesday.

“We’ve just decided it’s time to take a stand,” he said. “I didn’t want to do it. It’s just the fact that we got a raw deal of it.”

The owners of the Washington County Livestock Auction property late Friday afternoon filed a notice of appeal of the Fayetteville City Council’s decision Sept. 15 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed the sale of the property.

Attorney John Everett filed the appeal in Washington County Circuit Court for Bartholomew and his father, Argil, who own the nine-acre tract in their revocable trusts.

Billy Joe Bartholomew’s grandfather, Bill, built the sale barn in 1936, and the family has operated it until it closed in June. Campus Crest LLC , a Charlotte, N.C., construction company, had contracted to purchase the property for an undisclosed price to build upscale apartments targeting University of Arkansas students.

The sale was contingent upon the rezoning of the property from Industrial to Downtown General to allow the construction.

Family frustrated

Bartholomew said he is frustrated that the council voted against the rezoning after the city’s planning staff recommended approval and the city’s Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve the request. The process dragged on for months.

Bartholomew and other family members are also dismayed because for years they’ve listened to complaints about noise and odor. They’ve heard fussing about traffic problems caused by farmers hauling cattle in and out of the city. Once they can finally sell and leave, the city blocks the deal, he said.

“They did not have any good excuse,” he said.

Developers insisted the rezoning met all of the city’s goals under its 2025 plan, including infill, revitalization and encouraging a traditional form of development.

In a 3-4 vote, the council denied the request based on concerns about traffic and the lack of compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, City Attorney Kit Williams said.

Veteran factor

Before the vote, dozens of neighbors and military veterans spoke against the request because apartments for college students were planned and the property is immediately across Government Avenue from the Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Veterans had lobbied the council because they wanted the property for future expansion of the cemetery, but lack of funding nixed this option.

Bartholomew said he’d talked to cemetery officials several times over the year about their interest in buying the property, but nothing ever happened.

“Every year or two they came by wanting to buy, but that went on for 10 years,” he said.

Williams said he advised council members that they could not base their decision on who they thought should own the property.

“I wanted it to be a fair decision,” he said.

No tiebreaker

The outcome of the council vote was not the only sticking point for the Bartholomews. They didn’t like the way the vote went down.

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan managed to avoid voting on this controversial issue. Alderman Robert Rhoads slipped out of the meeting “for a personal matter” before the vote and then returned later.

He said in an interview afterward that he’d planned to vote for the rezoning request. If that had happened, Jordan would have been forced to vote to break a 4-4 tie.

Jordan did not return a phone message or e-mail seeking comment on the appeal, referring comment to Williams.

Bartholomew said he thought Jordan should have had to vote one way or the other.

“He did not have to show his hand this way,” he said.

Difficult issue

“It was a difficult issue,” Williams said. “There were good arguments on both sides.”

The standard for review in these types of appeals is whether the council’s decision was based on substantial evidence or was arbitrary and capricious.

He said he expects the city to prevail because the council is allowed discretion in these types of decisions.

Based on the facts, he said he thinks the council could have voted either way and prevailed on appeal. He does not believe the council’s decision was arbitrary.

The city has 30 days to file an answer in the case, Williams said.

News, Pages 1 on 10/22/2009

The Morning News reports that sale-barn owner has appealed city's decision not to rezone property

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Sale Barn Owner Appeals Rezoning Rejection

By Dan Craft
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE — The owners of the Washington County Livestock Auction are taking their rezoning fight to court.

Billy Joe Bartholomew filed a notice of appeal Friday in Washington County Circuit Court. The Fayetteville City Council last month rejected Bartholomew's request to rezone the sale barn property from heavy industrial/light commercial to downtown general status.

The Bartholomew family operated the sale barn in south Fayetteville for seven decades before closing it earlier this year. A deal to sell the land to Campus Crest, a developer of apartment complexes, hinged on rezoning approval.

"I thought the rezoning was the last thing I'd have trouble with," Bartholomew said.

Veterans' organizations objected to North Carolina-based Campus Crest's plan to construct 200 student apartments on the 9-acre site, which is adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery. The groups wanted time to try to raise $4 million to buy the site to expand the cemetery.

The city planning commission approved the rezoning request, but the City Council voted 4-3 against the plan after tabling the issue several times.

Circuit Judge Doug Martin will hear the appeal. A date for the hearing has not been set.

"Unless the court finds that the council's action was arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable, they usually won't step into this type of situation," said Kit Williams, city attorney. "Mr. Bartholomew certainly has the right to appeal, but the courts usually grant much deference to the city council in this type of case."

Campus Crest officials have said they may still be interested in purchasing the property if the appeal is successful, Bartholomew said. He hasn't heard anything new from the veterans.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Veterans' Memorial 5K race set for November 7, 2009, drawing major sponsors

Please click on image to go to Flickr page to Enlarge logos of first two major sponsors of the Veterans' 5K race set for November 7, 2009, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
TysonLogo2
HogeyeCrest3

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

NewsPress reports: Stillwater, Oklahoma, City Council turns down same student-apartment development group that recently was turned down in Fayetteville

Council says no to Campus Crest

Monique Headley
October 13, 2009 05:12 pm

— Stillwater City Council denied the request of Campus Crest developers to build local luxury student housing in a four-to-one vote Monday.
Mayor Nathan Bates cast the only vote in favor of Campus Crest.
Councilors determined the proposed site to be incompatible with the Stillwater comprehensive plan. The planned development of multifamily commercial property was considered excessively dense for the single-family residential area.
Developers said the future may yield another construction bid elsewhere in the city.
Councilors said if certain issues were resolved or alternate location selected, a subsequent Campus Crest request could prove successful.
Campus Crest had asked to rezone property located at 717 E. Hall of Fame Ave. and 1000, 1118, 1120 and 1202 E. Virginia Ave. The company planned to build a clubhouse and eight multifamily, four-story dwellings that would be 50 feet tall.
The hearing room overflowed with about 90 people for and against the planned unit development called The Grove.
Residents said that, if approved, the development would plunge property values, not allow sufficient transition space between the structures and increase traffic and the potential for crime.
Several strongly suggested councilors heed the wishes of residents or risk election retribution.
Regardless of such veiled threats, which Vice Mayor Tom Dugger said he found offensive, “we take resident concerns seriously.”
With the dismissal of developers, resident Glenda Roe said, “I am very glad about the decision. I just really trusted councilors to represent the citizens all over town.”
Development opponent Kevin Campbell was excited about the decision.
“I feel like we followed the rules, listened and communicated. I am pleased with the council vote,” he said.
Campus Crest also brought seven to 10 residents of a Grove property in Wichita, Kan., to the meeting. According to Chief Marketing Officer Shannon King, the company gave them only a free bus ride and lunch in exchange for their presence at the meeting.
None of the imported cadre addressed councilors. Several, like Cameron Bedel and Donnie Chauncey, privately expressed support for the Grove as a great place to live.
Recently, 700 signatures in support of development were collected and provided to the council, Crest staffer Alex Eyssen said.
“I am sad and disappointed that the city did not see the benefit the development would provide to residents and university students,” King said.
Further consideration would be given to another site location in Stillwater, she said.
“I am not surprised by resident reactions. I am surprised by the City Council,” she said.
According to King, all planned unit development and city requirements were met.
Councilors did not feel likewise.
“When you look at the comprehensive plan, people do have a right to be concerned. It did not offer transition,” Councilor Chuck Hopkins said.
If alternate solutions had been presented prior to a vote, sub-issues like drainage and necessary roadwork to accommodate additional density could have been resolved.
Bates said, “I believe there is support in the community for Campus Crest. We have to try to find the right location.”
Additional areas with proximity to Oklahoma State University have been provided by council to developers, he said. Stillwater remains in favor of development and additional housing, he added..
Nearby Hampton Inn and Suites owner Joe Martin concurred.
Martin said the area should allow for future commercial development and a no vote would significantly impact neighboring businesses.
“The growth of Stillwater and OSU is important to me,” he said.
Several councilors commended Campus Crest staffers on their professionalism.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Green Groups Guild meeting Thursday

From: Green Groups Guild (ggg@listserv.uark.edu) on behalf of ggg (ggg@UARK.EDU)
Sent: Tue 10/13/09 2:31 PM
To: GGG@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU

Meeting 10/15/09 7:00 p.m.
209 Thompson Ave. Three Sisters Bldg on Dickson above Fez Hookah Lounge.
Patrick Kunnecke
GGG President
ASLA Vice President
4th Year Landscape Architecture Student
479-544-1906

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Runners and Sponsors sought for Nov. 7, 2009, 5K veterans' memorial race to benefit Fayetteville National Cemetery

Please click on image to move to Flickr site and ENLARGE for easy reading. The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation meets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday October 10 and needs to add sponsor names to the file for the race T shirts and the brochures so that printing can begin. Already, Tyson Foods has donated at the Medal of Honor level and has challenged others to join them at the top of the list, thanks to the effort of RNCIC Secretary Peggy McClain.
RNCIC 5K sponsorship levels 09

Sunday, October 4, 2009

RNCIC to meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday October 10, 2009, American Legion Post north of 15th Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Officers present were Ron Butler, Harold Crivello and Beverly Swaim
Absent were Roger and Peggy McClain
Others present were Wesley Stites, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd and Jake Lamkins.
Lamkins took notes for the minutes in the absence of the secretary.
Total of 7 present
Minutes of August meeting approved unanimously; motion by Lamkins, second by Swain.
Financial statement showing balance of $8393 was approved unanimously; motion by Lamkins, second by Swain.
CD for $5,000 tabled on a motion by Crivello, second by Butler and carried unanimously.
Bartholomew property was discussed, particularly the article in today’s Morning News. Lamkins will post article at the RNCIC website. Butler will send Lamkins a copy of the RNCIC statement for posting on the RNCIC website.
Lot 15 is available for sale and awaiting an assessment by the owner. This piece will tie lots 14 and 16 together for transfer to the VA.
5K Run on Nov. 7th was discussed at length and details spoken to by Wes Stites. Wes will email finalized materials to Lamkins for posting at the RNCIC website. Butler asked Stites to furnish a deadline list for the event.
Booth at the B B & BBQ event approved if we can get a table for no charge. Will need volunteers to staff it.
Motion to adjourn by Crivello, second by Swain and carried unanimously at 11:25 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Jake
NEXT MEETING 10 October 2009 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27
Thanks to Jake Lamkins for filling in during my absence.
Peggy McClain

Veterans' Memorial 5K race set for November 7, 2009: Sponsorship information below

The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (RNCIC) is organizing a Veteran’s Memorial 5K race on Saturday, November 7th at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville. The purpose of this 5K race is to raise funds for purchase and clearing of land to expand the Cemetery and, even more importantly, to raise the awareness of the Cemetery and the ongoing threat of closure.
We write to ask that you consider sponsoring the event.
The sole mission of the non-profit RNCIC is to secure and clear land adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery to ensure the cemetery can continue to receive veterans for burial. Established immediately after the Civil War, the Fayetteville National Cemetery is an important part of the history of this region and the country. Veterans living in Northwest Arkansas, as well as many veterans from here but now living outside our region, have planned their final resting place here. But that may not be possible in the near future.
The Veteran’s Administration maintains the Cemetery, but the purchase of new land to expand
existing National Cemeteries has not occurred in decades.
When the RNCIC was organized only seven unfilled grave sites remained at Fayetteville National
Cemetery and the Cemetery was soon to be permanently closed to new interments. We have kept the Cemetery open and increased its size by over 120 percent in the ensuing 25 years, but with the passing of the World War II generation of veterans, the Cemetery will be full in a few years and closed to new burials.
Unless, of course, we act now to prevent that.
The recent controversy over the possible rezoning and development of the adjoining property has regularly been on the front page of local newspapers this summer. The massive turnout of veterans and non-veterans alike to public hearings demonstrates the deep emotional currents that surround the National Cemetery. We are grateful for past commitments to support veterans made by this community. We plan to make the race an annual event and, in this inaugural year, we are happy to give you the opportunity to associate yourself with keeping an important part of this region’s and nation’s heritage alive and to honor those who guarded us. We hope that you will see your way clear to sponsor this event. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Respectfully submitted,
Wesley Stites, Race Organizer
wstites@uark.edu
Tel: 479-871-7478
5K RACE
VETERANS MEMORIAL
Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702
http://regncic.tripod.com


2009 Veteran’s Memorial 5K Race Sponsorship Levels
We thank you for considering sponsorship of this fundraising event. As you may know, all
proceeds of the race go to purchase and clear land for the expansion of Fayetteville National
Cemetery. The Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation is a registered nonprofit
with a 25-year history. Through the efforts of this group and, even more importantly, the
generosity of past donors, land has been purchased, cleared, and donated to the Veterans Administration increasing the size of the National Cemetery by 120% and keeping it open for
burial of veterans. However, without additional purchases of land, the cemetery will be closed in 14 years or less.

MEDAL OF HONOR - $1000
Business name and logo prominently on front and back of race shirt
Business name and logo on all race materials and race website
Sponsorship noted in all press releases
Business name and logo on finish line banner
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
10 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE - $500
Business name and logo prominently on back of race shirt
Business name and logo on race website
Business name and logo on finish line banner
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
5 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

SILVER STAR - $250
Business name and logo on back of race shirt
Business name and logo on race website
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of marketing materials and/or product samples in race goodie bags
3 complimentary entries and/or race shirts

BRONZE STAR - $100
Business name and logo on back of race shirt if room allows
Business name and logo on race website
Business recognized at award ceremony
Distribution of product samples in race goodie bags
1 complimentary entry and/or race shirt

Contact Information:
Wesley Stites 479-871-7478
All checks should be payable to Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation or to R.N.C.I.C.

Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation
P.O. Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702