Friday, August 29, 2008

Diverse plants and wildlife call World Peace Wetland Prairie home on August 29, 2008

Please click on images to ENLARGE photos of butterflies and flowers and tall grass on August 29, 2008, on World Peace Wetland Prairie.



First and second photos above feature a monarch butterfly nectaring on native thistles on World Peace Wetland Prairie. Native thistles are NOT outlawed and are exceptionally valuable to butterflies, bees and numerous species of birds.
The following two photos (below) feature Centaurea Americana, the American basketflower, surrounded by Demaree's gaura or Gaura demareei, and Dematree's gaura is seen up close in the fifth photo.




Gaura demareei above.
A small, pale butterfly rests on tall grass in the sixth photo (below).





Florida lettuce above (Latuca floridana) above.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Blast from past: Reasons for protecting wetland not common knowledge among politicians

Posted 8/29/04 on www.aubunique.com
First posted on http"//www.aubunique.com in 2004
Coody finally keeps promise but doesn't stay long


Aubrey's Notebook:
Mayor's Request Would Have Council Ignore Task Force Report
Recommends Putting All Tree, Trail Money Into One Purchase
Mayor Dan Coody visits Town Branch watershed August 23, 2004, fullfilling a promise made in March.

It seems that Mayor Dan Coody is in a big rush to get the Fayetteville City Council to ignore the recommendation of the city's Tree and Trail Task Force and use the full remaining $100,000 from the Steele Crossing lawsuit settlement to acquire 2.44 acres of mostly steep woodland on South West Avenue from renowned architect Fay Jones.
The reason is that there is a deadline to act on the offer to Fay Jones. If that deadline were extended, then maybe there could be a bit more discussion.
I agree that Jones' property must be protected. He bought it more than 35 years ago and has kept it in nearly pristine condition ever since.
I admire and respect Fay Jones for protecting the land all these years and believe he should be paid properly for it. However, both parcels are important and environmentally sensitive and must be protected for their conservation value. There has to be a way to acquire and protect both areas. Such places are disappearing rapidly inside Fayetteville and all over Northwest Arkansas.
Many people who have known me a long time realize that I can't imagine how anyone could disturb Jones' parcel and can't really understand why this progressive city hasn't gotten further in developing ordinances that would protect steep slopes, woodland and wetland.
I believe that the city of Rogers got several steps ahead of us with its recently passed storm-water regulations, which require a bit more than ours.
The wonderful thing is that Fayetteville still has many creeks, while Rogers and Springdale have ditched and paved many of theirs. Rogers is trying to restore a portion of the Osage Creek through the city to something similar to the meandering stream it was originally, after many years as a giant, paved ditch.
The situation reminds me of the rush in the 1980s and 90s to channelize a magnificent bayou through Little Rock!
I read that some portion of that cypress-lined stream is now under public protection. I floated and waded much of it before the Gazette closed in 1991. I caught a lot of bass but ate none of them!
Springdale has a plan to UNCOVER a portion of Spring Creek downtown to become a part of its revitalized downtown. Those cities recognize their mistakes and are trying to re-create part of what was destroyed at great cost. Basically, we need to provide stronger regulation of stream riparian zones and the adjacent wetland areas.
This brings us back to the topic at hand. The Tree and Trail Task Force decided in the fall of 2003 to try to buy the 2.46 acres of wetland prairie off S. Duncan Ave. An appraisal came in lower than the developer expected, but the task force was under the impression that public money could be used only to pay the appraised price, thus the members suggested that Mayor Coody try to negotiate. Negotiation stalled because the developer needed more than the appraised price to cover his losses.
At the developer's request, I met with the mayor in his office and invited him to walk the Town Branch watershed with me. He was busy in March but said he would come out later in the spring.
Dan finally spent 45 minutes or so with me in the Town Branch watershed Aug. 23, 2004, but I wasn't able to share with him all the reasons that this prairie wetland deserves city protection.
The nice thing was that the mayor got to see a DRY wetland prairie, something that would have been impossible in spring or early this summer. Some of the wettest land had dried and cracked in the few places where the vegetation was exposed.\
There was a small spot where one of the neighbors had mowed a path into the 2-acre wetland prairie off S. Duncan between 11th and 12th streets and knocked over three or four chimneys created by Ozark burrowing crayfish. I tried to explain that these are not the stream or swamp crawdads of the south that I knew in Louisiana or Dan knew growing up in southeast Texas.
These are crawdads that live in the aquifers under the prairies and partially wooded wetland areas paralleling the streams in many places in the Ozarks. They are also known as Osage burrowing crayfish, if one searches online.
Yes, some are big enough to eat! If you toss them into the creek they will try to find their way back to the prairie!
Such prairies as the acreage around our home, including our yard, absorb water and allow it to drain into the aquifer.
When the ground dries out as it finally did in mid-August this year, that land is ready to soak up several inches of rain when it comes. That was what I was trying to explain to Dan Coody. The floods of late April and early July occurred after the wetland prairie areas in Fayetteville, especially in the watershed of the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River, were holding all the water they could because of almost daily rain.
The failure of stormwater detention ponds designed to slow runoff from newly roofed and paved areas contributed to the worst muddying of Beaver Lake since the dam was built in the 1060s. Smallmouth bass can be expected to fail to reproduce in the streams affected by the siltation. Many less well-known species will be in the same situation. Life thrives in clear water running over clean rock.
Engineering can't replace that natural storm-water protection. Protecting every vegetated acre that can be protected is the only key to keeping a bit of Northwest Arkansas as it was when I first lived here in the '60s.
There will be grant money to help restore such areas not only to protect people such as some of my neighbors whose home flooded three different nights in 2004 but also to provide habitat for birds and other wildlife and to offer wildflowers and other natural beauty.
Anyone who has studied our Web site, http://www.aubunique.com , can imagine how many hours Lauren and I spent last year documenting just a few species of native flowering plants and typical prairie grass on the 2 acres behind our home, the part of the 2.46 acres that was approved by the city planning commission for 36 apartment units in May 2003. In June 2003, the Corps of Engineers issued the developer a permit for the site.\
However, James Mathias, the developer, agreed to delay development to give our neighborhood's Town Branch Neighborhood Association time to buy the land for preservation. In May 2004, his development permit was renewed for another year and he agreed again to delay work on the project to give us more time.
With the few wooded and prairie acres to the north between 11th and 6th streets along the Town Branch west of Hill Avenue slated for development and the many acres being developed on the west arm of the Town Branch west of Razorback Road, such small parcels of prairie wetland become increasingly important in storm-water protection along the Town Branch and in preventing further siltation of Beaver Lake.
I can't possibly share a lifetime outdoors with others well enough to make them understand why I care about these things. But Stormwater II regulations spell out the federal rules. Links to those rules may be found on this Web site.
Over and over, I have been told by employees of the Corps of Engineers and national and state environmental agencies that "your city can make stronger rules."

They KNOW that the federal rules are a weak compromise.

The bulk of the Wilson Spring prairie wetland is doomed to be developed. The part that remains can help educate the public about the value of such places in the Illinois River watershed.
Our neighborhood wetland prairie offers similar value as a demonstration area for owners of parcels small and large in the White River watershed. It was never plowed by the farmers in the first half of the 20th century and it was never built upon when the land was subdivided in the 1950s. The reasons are obvious.
Aubrey James Shepherd
Fayetteville, AR © 2003, 2004, 2005

Site design by Lauren Hawkins' LDHdesign

A new proposal by the Bush/Cheney Administration would gut the law that protects polar bears, wolves and other endangered species

CREDO Action from Working Assets is proud to bring you an urgent alert from our friends at Defenders of Wildlife.

The Bush administration has announced a new proposal that would gut the Endangered Species Act — one of America's most important environmental laws. Now Defenders of Wildlife needs our help to preserve the vital checks and balances that protect our polar bears, wolves and other imperiled animals.

I urge you to read the message below from Defenders of Wildlife's president, Rodger Schlickeisen, and take action today to save our endangered species.

Michael Kieschnick
President, CREDO Mobile
Emergency Action
A new proposal by the Bush/Cheney Administration would gut the law that protects polar bears, wolves and other endangered species.
Urge your Representative and Senators to help stop the Bush/Cheney plan to gut the Endangered Species Act.
Dear Wildlife Supporter,
With less than 160 days left in power, the Bush/Cheney Administration has launched an unprecedented backdoor assault on America's endangered species!
Don't let them get away with it. Urge your Representative and Senators to do everything in their power to stop the Bush/Cheney Administration's eleventh-hour assault on America's wildlife.
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has protected wildlife at risk of extinction. Now the Bush/Cheney Administration wants to eliminate vital checks and balances that are crucial to protect our polar bears, wolves and other imperiled wildlife.
Please help protect endangered animals from the Bush/Cheney Administration's attack. Take action now.
Announced earlier this week, the Bush/Cheney proposal would severely limit scientific review by the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service of projects that could harm imperiled wildlife. And it would explicitly limit the ability of these expert agencies to consider how greenhouse gas emissions from such projects could impact polar bears, wolverines and other wildlife that may go extinct due to global warming.
Instead, agencies proposing projects such as highways, dams, mines, oil or gas drilling and virtually any other activity would be allowed to decide for themselves whether a project is likely to impact any of the nearly 1,400 species currently protected by the Endangered Species Act — without the crucial independent review now provided by scientific experts at the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Many of these agencies do not even have biologists or other qualified staff to make such a determination.
Even worse, the new regulations would impose a brief 60-day review period for agencies, making it even less likely that anyone involved in the process will have the time or expertise to fully evaluate the potential harmful effects of a given project on sensitive wildlife or the habitat it needs to survive.
Help stop the Bush/Cheney Administration's assault on protections for our endangered species. Please take action now.
There are less than 160 days left in the Bush/Cheney Administration — and even less time for your Members of Congress to act. Please take action now to help stop the Bush/Cheney Administration's last-minute attempt to eliminate effective protections for the wildlife that you and I love.
Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. Two years ago, Defenders of Wildlife led the fight that stopped Congressional legislation that would have gutted the Endangered Species Act. Now we need your help to stop the Bush Administration from trying to do the same thing. Please take action now!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Monarchs mating now produce generation that goes to Mexico in October

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutFall.html
Monarchs migrate south in fall


Please don't mow or cut your milkweed. If the leaves are being eaten away, that means that a new generation of monarch butterflies will be appearing in time to migrate to Mexico in October and return in spring to produce next year's monarchs. Their caterpillars must have some species of milkweed to survive on!


PLEASE CLICK on image to ENLARGE photo of a pair of monarch butterflies mating in the Town Branch neighborhood on August 26, 2008. The flower is a rose of sharon bush, a favorite of many pollinators and, when allowed to grow strong and at least 6 feet tall provides nesting habitat for cardinals and other species of songbirds in Northwest Arkansas. Although nonnative, it is a valuable and harmless species, especially outside a bathroom or kitchen window because bird nests in these bushes may be easy to watch from indoors without disturbing parents or baby birds This plant is on Don Hoodenpyle's property and is only 150 feet from the stream. Hoodenpyle has a south American native milkweed in the vicinity and the caterpillars resulting from the mating of these two monarchs are likely to eat the leaves of the milkweed and be ready to head southwest in October.

Monarchs mating now produce generation that goes to Mexico in October

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutFall.html
Monarchs migrate south in fall


Please don't mow or cut your milkweed. If the leaves are being eaten away, that means that a new generation of monarch butterflies will be appearing in time to migrate to Mexico in October and return in spring to produce next year's monarchs. Their caterpillars must have some species of milkweed to survive on!


PLEASE CLICK on image to ENLARGE photo of a pair of monarch butterflies mating in the Town Branch neighborhood on August 26, 2008. The flower is a rose of sharon bush, a favorite of many pollinators and, when allowed to grow strong and at least 6 feet tall provides nesting habitat for cardinals and other species of songbirds in Northwest Arkansas. Although nonnative, it is a valuable and harmless species, especially outside a bathroom or kitchen window because bird nests in these bushes may be easy to watch from indoors without disturbing parents or baby birds This plant is on Don Hoodenpyle's property and is only 150 feet from the stream. Hoodenpyle has a south American native milkweed in the vicinity and the caterpillars resulting from the mating of these two monarchs are likely to eat the leaves of the milkweed and be ready to head southwest in October.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Ward One meeting views project planning in Beaver Lake watershed

The desiginated Fayette Junction area is south of the Town Branch neighborhood starting at 15th Street. Old maps actually show Fayette Junction as including the southwest portion of the Town Branch neighborhood along the railroads that historically joined in that area.

Please click on images to ENLARGE:

In the top photo, the Stonebridge Meadows project is shown with north to the right and west at the top. The project is near the West Fork of the White River and drains to the stream.
In the second photo, developer Hank Broyles has turned the concept drawing to put north at the top. Dead Horse Mountain Road runs north and south along the left side in this photo.
Fayetteville City Council members Adella Gray (left) and Brenda Thiel listen to presentations by the developer after hearing an explanation of the city planning division's rationale for its proposed master plan for the Fayette Junction area of south Fayetteville in the third photo. A series of meetings has been scheduled in south Fayetteville to familiarize residents with the concept and to hear public comment.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Why isn't this a rain garden instead of a raised garden?

Please click on IMAGE to ENLARGE view of a raised island flower garden with rain water standing around it. There are thousands of such expensive, wasteful "unsustainable" put-and-take flower gardens in Northwest Arkansas. City planning regulations should FORBID such abominations.

A raingarden in the same spot would be created BEFORE the lot was covered with red dirt for paving, using the natural soil found in all the former prairie areas such as along Fayetteville's Martin Luther King Boulevard. Paving would be sloped to allow water to flow into these gardens instead of into storm drains. This would allow these original-soil patches to harbor native species of grass and wildflowers that would NEVER require watering. The excess water could soak through to the natural aquifer and be cleansed by the soil and plants. In dry periods, the plants would become dormant but revive when moisture returns. Landscape architects and planners know how to do these things. Why are they not required by law?
Someone might suggest that cars would drive into the ground-level or depressed garden spots. But a simple barrier a few inches off the ground instead of a concrete curb would prevent this and would not cost any more than a curb.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Lioneld Jordan, Nancy Allen and Kyle Cook already agreed to reduce plan to three lanes

Attachments, pictures, and links in this message have been blocked for your safety. Show content
From Glen David Wilson: Please distribute the enclosed to Neighborhood Asssociation members and others: Attend Street Committee meeting: See information and schedule below‏
From: Glen David Wilson (technical@cox.net)


Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road

EMERGENCY NEWS

5 LANE Highway Threatens substantial damage to households and businesses on .75 Mile Section of North Garland and on West Mount Comfort Road

(Use Page Down for the following pages)

· Page 4: How did North Garland get into this “Widening” Problem?

Look for your house and or business on the diagrams excerpted from AHTD Preliminary Construction Plans, Attachment 2.

· Page 5: But Now in 2008, everything has Changed

· Page 6: Why is North Garland Being Widened?

· Page 7: A better method of providing fast access to the University



· Page 7: How many more lanes should North Garland have to promote fast traffic access to the University?



· Page 7: Design Your Own Version of A North Garland Profile(cross-section)



· Page 8: Other North Garland Improvements?



· Page 9: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Preliminary Construction plans for the proposed North Garland





· Page 9: The City/State Proposed Relocation of West Mount Comfort Road: Map in Attachment 1



· Page 10: An Important Decision is Where to Relocate the Intersection of West Mount Comfort Road with North Garland



· Page 11: Wild speculations about the future of the North Garland Area



· Page 11: My conclusions



· Pages 12: What can you do to stop the damage to North Garland and the dangers of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort



· Page 15: Email and call list attached!







A Call to Action

Reference: Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department (AHTD) Job Number 040489--Highway 112 Spur—North (Fayetteville)



How did North Garland get into this “widening” Problem?

Back in 2006 when the economy was better, and gasoline prices were lower, the Fayetteville City Council determined that there was a critical need for an additional source of revenue to finance wastewater facilities and Street and Trail improvements within the city.

The City Council acted out of a need for additional bond sources for completion of the Waste Water System Improvement Program and also based upon community-wide Citizen Surveys of 2004 and 2005. During an 18 month period the City Council/Street Committee discussions on major street improvement evolved into a 3 Phase program. “Phase 1 was proposed to be a 6-year $62,000,000 program, providing traffic capacity and safety improvements and economic development opportunities to those corridors with the most need. Later Phases, through additional bond elections, will address additional safety, capacity, and economic development needs. The resources required for the initial phase of the Transportation Improvement Program is $62,000,000 plus bond and debt placement and surety costs.” Paraphrasing in this paragraph and quotation are from the City Operations Director’s letter to the City Council dated June7, 2006. See Appendix 6 for a list of the Phase 1 projects and estimated costs as of June 7, 2006. Project Number five is the North Garland project.

To obtain this revenue, the City Council passed Ordinance 4891 on June 20, 2006. Ordinance 4891 authorized a special election on September 12, 2006. Four Questions were put to qualified Fayetteville voters for a decision. See Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891, Pages 4 through 6.

Bonds for each Question are secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the .25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of a renewed .75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Each Question refers to an individual Bond Name:

· Question One: “Wastewater Improvement Bonds”

· Question Two: “Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds”

· Question Three: “Street Improvement Bonds”

· Question Four: “Trail Improvement Bonds"

The Special Election result was YES for all of the above Questions. See Appendix 1 for the Special Election Ballot Questions and other information excerpted from Ordinance 4891.

North Garland was selected by the City Council/Street Committee from a list of Transportation Improvement Projects for “Widening-5 Lane Principal Arterial”. The North Garland estimated cost from the “City of Fayetteville, Transportation Improvement Plan” is $6,695,000.

The bonds issued following the Special Election were issued with an assumed annual growth rate of the City’s Sales Tax Revenue of 4% as shown at the end of Appendix 1, Finance Plan: Wastewater System and Transportation Plan, note Assumption 1. Would this be a valid assumption in a recession or an economy slowdown condition?

And that ends the explanation of how North Garland got into this “widening” problem.



But now in 2008, everything has changed. Some say the economy is in recession.

According to the City of Fayetteville Press Release of July 25, 2008 referring to Mayor Coody: “He also called attention to the declining federal funds available to assist cities and counties across the country with major infrastructure projects and the fact that current estimates to simply maintain the current condition of our public infrastructure exceed existing revenue streams at all levels of government.” Bold print emphasis provided by the author.

The City has a hiring freeze at the time of this writing. This is an indication of uncertainty about tax revenue and a declining economy. Apparently the City can finance and build street improvement projects but will the funds be there for maintaining these projects and other infrastructure?

Would it be in the city’s best interest to:

· allocate the $6,695,000 2006 budgeted funds to a more pressing City need, and defer the North Garland widening project until there is unity within the North Garland community?

· delay the North Garland widening project until the City is more certain that there will be sufficient tax revenue for bond payments and infrastructure maintenance?















Why is North Garland being Widened?

It is my understanding from an Alderman on the Street Committee that the purpose of the North Garland widening is to provide increased traffic access to the University. Can widening North Garland do this?

Three streets feed the northern entrance to the University (South Garland):

1. North Street: Traffic from the East including College Avenue and all connecting streets

2. Wedington Drive: traffic from the West, Highway 540 and all connecting streets

3. North Garland: traffic from the North, Highway 540 and all connecting streets

The intersection of these streets forms a plus sign (+) with North Street on the right side of the plus , Wedington Drive on the left side, North Garland on the Top, and South Garland at the bottom. The direction North is at the top of the plus sign.

The three feeder streets have a traffic capability of about 3 times (a 3 to 1 ratio) or more the traffic capability of South Garland (the key northern University entrance). Vehicles bound for the University/stadium in heavy traffic must wait their turn to get into the University entrance on South Garland. Thus, all three feeder streets become stacking areas for vehicles waiting to get into the University entrance: all three feeder streets become temporary parking lots.

Widening North Garland makes the 3 to 1 ratio worse: it simply adds more stacking area for vehicles waiting to get into the Northern entrance of the University (via South Garland). Widening North Garland means that those drivers on Wedington and on North Street will have to wait longer to get into the narrow northern entrance to the University.

Additional stacked traffic on the proposed 5 lane, widened North Garland will mean more traffic problems because of vehicles on each feeder street whose drivers are seeking to quickly get into the northern entrance to the University.

A widened North Garland will make the situation more adverse and more dangerous for moving traffic into the northern entrance to the University.



A Better Method of Providing Fast Access to the University:

A more efficient method of stacking traffic would be to park vehicles in a holding area West of Highway 540 and run busses to/from the University.

Per the City, there are no plans to widen the section of Garland South of North Street, that is, South Garland or the northern University entrance in the author’s terms. The South Garland section was completed about 2005 by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. South Garland section was widened to two lanes into, two lanes out of the University, with a turning lane at major intersections.



How many more lanes should North Garland have to promote fast traffic access to the University?

A resounding ZERO is the answer. We could ask the Street Committee and the City Council to leave North Garland just as it is!



Design Your Own Version of A North Garland Profile (cross-section)

There are four possibilities for a North Garland roadway profile:

1) Leave North Garland just as it is: two lanes

2) Center Turning Lane +2 regular lanes

3) Four regular lanes

4) Center Turning lane + 4 regular lanes (as shown in Attachment 2, page 2)

Each of these possibilities can be constructed with sidewalks and or bike paths and green space/BERM on one or both sides. Profiles can have barricades/green space in the turning lane or separating lanes in each direction. It is doubtful if barricades/green space can be used on North Garland because they use excessive amounts of roadway.

Typical measurements across:

· Lanes are about 11 feet

· Turning lane about 12 feet

· Sidewalks are about 5 feet to 10 feet

· Bike paths are from about 3 feet to 5 feet

· Green space/BERM from about 3 to 9 feet

· Curbing about 1 to 2 feet

The sides of your own proposed North Garland profile don’t have to be symmetrical.

For example:

· On the East side of AHTD’s proposed design the Berm is 3 feet and the sidewalk is 5 feet.

· On the West side of AHTD’s proposed design, the Bern is 6 feet and the shared path is 10 feet.

Another bit of information, bikers are reported to prefer their bike paths on the street and they want to face the oncoming traffic for safety reasons.

A turning lane could have painted designations on the roadway where left turns are allowed. Some turning lanes have barriers designating where left turns are allowed.

With the above information you can design your own proposed North Garland Avenue Profile.

Example Profile: A two lane highway with five foot sidewalks, 3 foot Berms, 5 foot bicycle paths in each direction, and 2 foot curbs would be 52 feet wide.the calculation for this profile from left to right is 5+3+2+5+11+11+5+2+3+5=52. If the bicycle paths were only 3 feet wide, the total profile width would be 48 feet.

To see the effect of a 52 foot North Garland Profile on local residences and businesses, we would need to draw our example 2 lane highway on a detailed map of North Garland. We shall ask the City to assist us with this and other candidate profiles as requested in “My Conclusions” at the end of this Call to Action.



Other North Garland Improvements?

Would we like to improve North Garland? We could have a three lane highway with specifically marked spots for turning from the center lane. Any 3 lane plan would have to be acceptable to the owners of residences and business of North Garland.

A turning lane with designated turning areas would enhance the flow of North Garland traffic because vehicles would be less likely to stop on the right-most roadway while waiting to turn left.

The already expanded 4 lane section of North Garland near the North Street/Garland intersection should not be expanded further except for sidewalks some of which already exist, and possibly on street bicycle paths depending on the street design and the nearby business land availability (if any).

If a three lane highway were implemented instead of a five lane highway, there could possibly be enough savings to extend the three lane highway north to Highway 540: this could provide benefits for the local North Garland area residents and businesses.

Adding more than 2 lanes and sidewalks/bike paths means that residents and businesses along North Garland would suffer even more losses and grief/anger at having been harmed by the City.



Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s Preliminary Construction Plans for North Garland

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s preliminary construction plans for “Hwy. 112 Spur-North” (See Attachment 2) show that the 5 lane highway will run very close to some commercial and residential buildings, eliminate any on street parking, and require a change to the present Garland Street store entrance.

The City/State proposed 5 lane highway through residential and commercial North Garland will damage both commercial and residential property. Slices of property that the City/State has proposed to take from each residence could leave some residences so close to the 5 lane highway that the houses will be persistently uncomfortable living spaces because of the highway noise.

The same is true for some of the commercial buildings on North Garland. It is possible that a 5 lane highway through North Garland would destroy the utility of some commercial buildings due to noise and other 5 lane highway deleterious effects. The owners would not necessarily be compensated if the house/commercial buildings were not legally taken or condemned.



The City/State Proposed Relocation and Reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort

As a part of the North Garland widening, the City/State has chosen to reconfigure and relocate West Mount Comfort: the current West Mount Comfort is the angled road which intersects North Garland just North of the Harps grocery store.

· The proposed relocated/reconfigured West Mount Comfort has been put into the very busy/congested area of North Garland which has many entrances/exits: See map in Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort.

· The proposed configuration for West Mount Comfort travels over the front yard of 1107 James Street, makes a 90 degree turn across the commercial development lot just North of the grocery store, before making an intersection with North Garland.

· The entrance of the proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort is about 150 feet wide which is about twice the entrance width of the East section of Mount Comfort (on the East side of North Garland and South about 240 feet).

The combination of this proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection and the proposed widening of North Garland will eliminate at least 22 parking spaces from the grocery store, producing traffic congestion within the remaining grocery store parking area and making it more difficult for vehicles and bicycles to enter and exit the remaining grocery store parking area. These changes will make it more difficult for the grocery store to turn a profit and continue paying taxes to the City at the same volume of business as now.

Harps grocery store, is the “anchor” property and largest business in the North Garland area: Grocery store parking is important to the shopping public, students and residents in the entire North Garland area.

When I made my “North Garland” presentation of the above and more to the Ward 2 meeting July 8, 2008, I demonstrated, using a large overlay aerial chart, how dangerous the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles. Motorcycles are included in the vehicle category herein.

I received good support from those assembled: most had already decided for themselves that the 5 lane North Garland Widening program didn't make sense. The North Garland Widening program will take the front yards (and more) of many of the local North Garland residents. It will damage businesses and reduce tax revenue to the City.

I would like to make this same presentation at the Street Committee Meeting on August 18, 2008 in City Hall room 326.



An Important Decision is Where to Relocate the Intersection of West Mount Comfort Road with North Garland.

The location proposed by the City/State routes West Mount Comfort traffic into the “most challenging” and busy section of North Garland and is dangerous to vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles.

· See the map in Attachment 1: “Proposed West Mount Comfort”.

· See Appendix Number 2: “The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation” for a discussion of these dangers.

· See Appendix 3: “A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot”.

· See Appendix 4: “Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard”.





Wild Speculations about the Future of the North Garland Area:

See Appendix 5 for Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area. In appendix 5 I am trying to understand the present proposals by the City/State by speculating about the future. If we can understand what might happen in the future, we could have a chance to make choices and changes for the better now.



My Conclusions:

1) Ask the City/State to study and diagram the following North Garland options:

· Option 1: Don’t do anything to North Garland; reallocate the budgeted funds for other City projects. Minimal cosmetic improvements might be acceptable and can be suggested/diagrammed by the City /State.

· Option 2: 2 lanes + sidewalks + bike path(s) on the street

· Option 3: Turning lane + 2 lanes + sidewalks + bike path(s)

· Option 4: Consider/diagram/cost extending any North Garland improvements North to Highway 540.

Requested Guidelines to the City/State: Minimize damage to residential and commercial property.

All options and alternatives shall subject to review, revision and approval/disapproval by the North Garland community at one or more “involvement meetings”. Provide a written rationale for your preliminary designs.

2) Totally reject the proposed West Mount Comfort location and configuration

It is dangerous to vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles and increases congestion in the already busy and congested area of area of North Garland which is within the range of about 500 feet of the Garland/North Street intersection.

Ask the City to provide three alternative locations and configurations for West Mount Comfort.

Requested Guidelines to the City/State: Minimize damage to residential and commercial property and minimize the impact of West Mount Comfort traffic in the busy and congested area of North Garland which is within the range of about 500 feet of the Garland/North Street intersection.

All options and alternatives shall subject to review, revision and approval/disapproval by the North Garland community at one or more “involvement meetings”. Provide a written rationale for your preliminary designs.

3) Delay the entire North Garland Widening project until there is unity and agreement of the North Garland community.

4) Request the City/State to establish specific personal methods including email and or regular mail for communications to each individual property owner of the North Garland community so that City’s councils and committees and or State discussions of their property will be made known to them in a timely manner. Timely manner herein means at least 10 days before the next meeting of the City council or committee within which the property discussion occurred. Group meetings shall not be a substitute for these timely notifications.



What can you do to stop the damage to North Garland and the dangers of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort?

Go to the Street Committee Meeting: Monday, August 18, 4:30 PM

in City Hall Room 326

We have a chance to save North Garland and choose a safer area for the relocation of the Proposed West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland.



……….But only if we Express our opinions………..



The Monday, August 18, 2008 Street Committee meeting in Room 326 will be your opportunity to voice your concerns about the North Garland widening and the dangerous proposed relocation of the North Garland/West Mount Comfort intersection. Your attendance and your neighbor’s attendance could make the difference!

Expect that attendees will be allowed to make comments when the Committee Chairman acknowledges your raised hand after some discussion within the Committee.

My view is: We don’t know when a final decision about North Garland will be made or if this is the last meeting where we can express our opinions: We should direct our energy toward this meeting and the attached Call/Email List! Let’s stop/revise this 5 lane Bulldozer now!

Your opinion Counts!

Let’s Make a Determined All-Out Effort to Stop the 5 Lane Highway Implementation on North Garland!

Look on accessfayetteville.com for announcements of City Council and Street Committee meetings or Call the City Clerk’s office for the date and time of these meetings. See the City Clerk’s contact information is in the Addendum after the end of the Email/Call list.



Go to the August 18, 2008 and later Street Committee Meetings.

Go to the City Council meetings.

Together we can make a difference! We must Act now!



Now: Spread the News!

1) Contact three people and enlist their support: ask them each to contact three more people and continue this expansion process …..provide each contact with a copy of “Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road” or at least the Call/Email List. Email forwarding works well for this.

2) Use the attached list for the City of Fayetteville and for the State of Arkansas : do some or all of the following:

These First:

1) Telephone all of those on the attached list

2) Email all of those on the attached list,



Time for more? Then do these next:

1) Send a letter,

2) Send a telegram

3) Send personal representatives to visit with members of the attached list, or go and visit with those officials who will determine North Garland’s future yourself.

Monday, August 18, 4:30 PM in City Hall Room 326

Let’s all be at the Street Committee Meeting and Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road!

I have done my best to let you know about the North Garland/West Mount Comfort situation as I know it. I hope to have provided a service to the North Garland community and to the city of Fayetteville.

Regards,

Glen Wilson

Email:technical@cox.net

Property Owner: West Mount Comfort/Garland

The author authorizes others to make unlimited copies of this document.





See attached Addendum for Names, telephone numbers,

and email addresses of

· Mayor/City Council/Street Committee

· Fayetteville persons who have picked-up 2008 election candidate information from the City Clerk’s office

· State of Arkansas Governor/State Senator/State Representative

· United States Senators for Arkansas

· United States House of Representatives: Congressman

· Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD)









Addendum



I appreciate the service and dedication of the Mayor, the City Council, the Planning Commission and the Street Committee. I appreciate the Street Committee’s current review of the widening of the .75 mile of North Garland.

I share the enormous pervasive concerns of the local North Garland population.





Call/Email List for Fayetteville:

From the Fayetteville City Clerk’s Office





Mayor: Dan Coody

1418 E. Rodgers Drive

Fayetteville, AR 72701

443-6758

dcoody@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2008





Alderman Positions:



WARD 1:

WARD 1:

Position 1

Position 2

Adella Gray

Brenda Thiel

1681 N Starr Drive

172 E. Willoughby Drive 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-4958 (H) 841-5266 (Cell)

442-3095

Ward1_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward1_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008





WARD 2:

WARD 2:

Position 1

Position 2

Kyle B. Cook

Nancy Gordon Allen

1335 Vanderventer

PO Box 3105

Fayetteville, AR 72703

Fayetteville, AR 72702

521-7632

442-5536

Ward2_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward2_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008









WARD 3:

WARD 3:

Position 1

Position 2

Robert K. Rhoads

Robert Ferrell

Arvest Plaza

2413 Twin Oaks Court

75 N. East Ave Suite 402

Fayetteville, AR 72703

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-3535

973-5202

Ward3_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward3_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2008

Term End Date 12/31/2010





WARD 4:

WARD 4:

Position 1

Position 2

Shirley Lucas

Lioneld Jordan

2139 Ora Drive

1600 Arrowhead

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-4612

442-5415

Ward4_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward4_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008



































Fayetteville 2008 General Election Candidates:

The filing period to run for Municipal office is August 6, 2008 through 12:00 noon on August 26, 2008.

Thus, it was not possible to include the list of those who have actually filed as candidates.

The following is a list of people who have picked-up candidate-filing information from the City Clerk’s office.

The problem with this list is that the following list contains only names of people who have picked-up the filing information and that person may not actually be the candidate.

An updated list will probably be available from the City Clerk’s office or better still request a list of those candidates who have filled as candidates after August 6, 2008.













State of Arkansas Email/Telephone List

Arkansas Governor



· Mike Beebe

State Capitol, Room 250

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

501-682-2345

GovernChief of Staff: 501-682-3607

Email Governor Beebe by completing the form on web page: http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact/index.php

Arkansas State Senator:



· Sue Madison

573 Rock Cliff Road

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72764

479-442-2997

madisons@arkleg.state.ar.us



Arkansas State Representative:



· Marilyn Edwards

2330 North Juneway Terrace

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703

479-442-8388

edwards@arkleg.state.ar.us









Unites States House of Representatives:

· John Bozeman

-member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

-Stacey Mattingly, Constituent Services, Intern Coordinator and District Office Manager

Lowell Office:
213 W. Monroe, Suite K
Lowell, AR 72745
Phone: (479) 725-0400
Fax: (479) 725-0408


Email Congressman John Boozman by filling in the form on web page
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml



United States Senate:

· Blanche Lincoln

4 South College Avenue, Suite 205
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 251-1224; FAX (479) 251-1410

Community Affairs Specialist: John Hicks

Email Senator Blanch Lincoln by using the Form on web page: http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

· Mark Pryor

Little Rock Office
The River Market
500 Clinton Ave
Suite 401
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336
Fax: (501) 324-5320

Toll Free from AR:
(877) 259-9602

Email Senator Mark Prior by completing the form on web page:

http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/



Arkansas Highway Commission

· Jonathan D Barnett

Commissioner

1980 Highway 412 West

West Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761

(479) 524-6269

(479) 524-9440



Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department

· Dan Flowers

Director

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

10324 Interstate 30

Little Rock, AR 72209

501-569-2211

· Lynn Malbrough

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

Division Head for Environmental

10324 Interstate 30

Little Rock, AR 72764

501-569-2281

Lynn.malbrough@arkansashighways.com





---------------------------------------End Email/Call List----------------------------------------------------------------

If you have questions about the Street Committee meeting or other meetings: Look on accessfayetteville.com for announcements of City Council and Street Committee meetings or Email/Call the City Clerk’s office for the date and time of these meetings.



City Clerk

City Administration Bldg
113 W Mountain St
Room 308
Fayetteville, AR 72701

Tel: (479) 575-8323
Fax: (479) 718-7695

Email: city_clerk@ci.fayetteville.ar.us





List of Appendices that follow:

· Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891, Pages 4 through 6 and the Finance Plan Slide

· Appendix Number 2: The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation

· Appendix 3: A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot

· Appendix 4: Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard (like many of the yards on North Garland)

· Appendix 5: Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area

· Appendix 6: Fayetteville Transportation Improvement Program, Phase 1



List of Attached Maps that follow: North is at the top of the Attachment 1 map

· Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort

· Attachment 2: Highway 112 Spur-North, Excerpt of the Preliminary Construction Plans from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (you may need a magnifying glass for this one)





Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891,

Pages 4 through 6

the "Sales and Use Tax"). The Sales and Use Tax shall be levied and collected only on the first $2,500 of each "single transaction" (as defined in Section 9 hereof). The levy and collection of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on and as of such date as provided in the Local Government Bond Act, and shall cease upon retirement in full of the Bonds. The levy and collection of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on the day following the date of expiration of the Prior Tax, and shall cease upon retirement in full of the Bonds. Any collections of the Prior Tax received after its expiration shall be used, if necessary or appropriate, to provide for the payment of debt service on the Bonds. Revenues resulting from the collection of the Sales and Use Tax shall be utilized solely for the payment of debt service on the Bonds.

Section 2. That under the authority of Amendment 62 and the Local Government Bond Act and subject to approval by the electors of the City as provided in Section 3 below, there is hereby authorized (1) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition, (2) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of directly financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition, or, alternatively, for the purpose of refunding water and wastewater revenue bonds originally issued to finance said improvements, (3) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition, and (4) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition. If the issuance of any of the aforementioned capital improvement bonds (collectively, the "Bonds") is approved by the electors of the City, such Bonds may thereafter be issued in one or more series from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the respective principal amount(s) approved by the City's electors. If approved by the electors of the City and issued, the Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and a lien upon all of the receipts of the Sales and Use Tax, as authorized by the Local Government Bond Act.

Section 3. That there be, and there is hereby called, a special election to be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at which election there shall be submitted to the electors of the City the questions of the issuance of the Bonds.

Section 4. That the questions shall be placed on the ballot for the special election in substantially the following forms:

The bonds described below that are approved may be combined into a single issue or may be issued in series from time to time. If the bonds for one or more of the purposes described below are approved, there will be levied (i) a one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) sales and use tax (the "0.25% Sales and Use Tax") and (ii) a three-quarter of one percent (0.75%) sales and use tax (the "0.75% Sales and Use Tax"), the net collections of which remaining after the State of Arkansas deducts its administrative charges will be used solely to retire the bonds and obligations of the City with respect thereto. The levy and collection of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax will commence on January 1, 2007. The aforementioned 0.75% Sales and Use Tax will replace an existing three-quarters of one percent sales and use tax (the "Prior Tax"). The Prior Tax is pledged to the payment of certain existing indebtedness of the City and will continue to be levied and collected until such existing indebtedness is paid in full. The levy and collection of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on the day following the date of expiration of the Prior Tax.

Question One:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 (the "Wastewater Improvement Bonds") pursuant to Title 14, Chapter 164, Subchapter 3 of the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated (the "Local Government Bond Act") for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities. If the issuance of the Wastewater Improvement Bonds is approved, the Wastewater Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Wastewater Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition

AGAINST the issuance of Wastewater Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition ❑





Question Two:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 (the "Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of directly financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities (the "Project") or, alternatively, for the purpose of refunding the City's water and wastewater revenue bonds originally issued to finance all or a portion of the Project. If the issuance of the Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds is approved, the Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition ❑

AGAINST the issuance of Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of the improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of- way acquisition ❑

Question Three:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 (the "Street Improvement Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction and equipping of certain street improvements. If the issuance of the Street Improvement Bonds is approved, the Street Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against.

FOR the issuance of Street Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition .

AGAINST the issuance of Street Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition

Question Four:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 (the "Trail Improvement Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction and equipping of certain City trail system improvements. If the issuance of the Trail Improvement Bonds is approved, the Trail Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Trail Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition. ❑

AGAINST the issuance of Trail Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition.



Section 5. That the election shall be held and conducted and the vote canvassed and the results declared under the law and in the manner now provided for Arkansas municipal elections unless otherwise provided in the Local Government Bond Act, and only qualified voters of the City shall have the right to vote at the election. The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice of the special election by one advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, the publication to be not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the election.











Appendix Number 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of

The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation

The proposed West Mound Comfort relocation has few advantages and many disadvantages and is dangerous for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles:

The Proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration/relocation to the commercial development lot is bordered by grocery store on the South side, by James Street on the North side and by the current West Mount Comfort/Garland on the East side. See Attachment 1 for an overlay drawing on an aerial photograph of the area local to the commercial development lot.

Advantages:

As far as I can tell there is only one advantage to the proposed relocation/reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and even so this advantage has built-in dangers.

The advantage: enables a right turn for vehicles traveling South on North Garland bound for West Mount Comfort traffic permitting.

The built-in dangers of this advantage: Vehicles making the above referenced right turn onto West Mount Comfort must navigate a sharp curve to the right around a radius estimated to be in excess of 150 degrees while other vehicles could be entering from James Street on the left and from the nearby businesses on the right. After the vehicle has driven around this challenging curve it is on a reversed trajectory almost parallel to North Garland from which it started.

West Mount Comfort bound vehicles traveling North on North Garland and which speed-up to cross the south flowing traffic and move onto the above proposed challenging sharp right curve will be even more accident prone.

Disadvantages/Illustrations/comments:

The current proposed design extends West Mount Comfort over more than approximately 50% of the eastern half of this commercial development lot in a curve achieving a 90 degree turn into North Garland. This design has several serious flaws:

1) West Mount Comfort traffic will be directed into an intensely busy and congested area of North Garland bordered by many entrances and exits.

The City/State will have missed the opportunity to move West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland to the North: more removed from the intense traffic in the busy section of North Garland.

2) The West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland does not align with an opposing street entrance. To illustrate: A cautious East bound driver in a vehicle on West Mount Comfort headed East will likely turn right onto North Garland, proceed South on North Garland to the traffic light where North Street intersects North Garland , then turn left, and continue East on North Street. Vehicles traveling this route add congestion to the busy section of North Garland.

Had there been an opposing street entrance directly across from the West Mount Comfort exit onto North Garland along with a stoplight properly timed with the North Street/Wedington intersection with North Garland, the same vehicle could have simply driven across North Garland and proceeded East. The advantages of this West Mount Comfort opposing street configuration are: a) vehicles don’t travel into the busy North Garland area thus reducing North Garland traffic congestion, and

b) Safety: vehicles do not have to make two turns and a lane change in intense traffic on North Garland, to head East.

3) There is no real benefit of the proposed West Mount Comfort configuration for South bound vehicles turning right onto North Garland from West Mount Comfort : compared to the current West Mount comfort configuration at its intersection with North Garland.

· Please see Attachment 1 and note the over-lay drawing of the proposed intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

· The proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is about 150 feet wide.

· Drivers tend to drive along the right side of the road to avoid driving off the road.

· Note that West Mount Comfort sweeps to the right along the curved roadway of the proposed design at the intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

Now consider South bound drivers who drive along the right side of the curved West Mount Comfort roadway and stop on West Mount Comfort at the intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

In the Attachment 1, note the position of the current West Mount comfort roadbed at the intersection: drivers will find themselves in the about the same physical location on the proposed West Mount comfort intersection with North Garland as they do now with the current West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland!



Comparing the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland with the current intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland , each of these drivers will still have to twist their torso and crane their neck to the left to see the oncoming South bound traffic on North Garland. In this important example there is no redeeming payoff for a) the expense of the proposed reconfiguring of West Mount Comfort and b) damage of the two properties overrun, three if the increased damage to the grocery store’s parking lot is included.

Should the drivers referenced above decide to abandon the right side of the West Mount Comfort and drive to the approximate center of the very wide proposed intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland, each driver will have to compete for driving space on North Garland with vehicles departing the liquor store and the gas station (both across from the West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland): These vehicles will be arbitrarily turning North or South on North Garland. Avoiding these vehicles will be a continual danger for the above drivers, and in turn for those vehicles stacked along the proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration.

When turning to the South onto North Garland these West Mount Comfort drivers who stopped at the center of West Mount Comfort will also have to avoid other drivers that had decided to stay to the right on West Mount Comfort instead of moving to the center of the West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland. These drivers will at the same time have to concentrate on avoiding vehicles leaving the nearby North-most exit from grocery store parking lot.

In the above discussion, the driver has to be concerned that vehicles will randomly compete with him/her for driving space at/near the West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection.

These competing vehicles can approach the above vehicle from almost any direction: the result of a proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration that endangers drivers in the same ways and in new ways as compared to the current Mount Comfort configuration.

4) The proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration reduces the number of vehicles that can be on James Street waiting to get onto West Mount Comfort. Because of the large number of vehicles in the College Park apartment area with exit/entrance on James Street and those anticipated to be in a another proposed 350 unit development on James Street, this reduction in vehicle stacking distance is an important issue: it is likely that some of the residents on James Street will be unable to exit their driveways because of stacked vehicles on James Street waiting to get onto the proposed West Mount Comfort Road.

5) Crossing the Street from the commercial development lot is dangerous with the proposed West Mount Comfort configuration: With the proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration, bicycle and foot traffic will have a very difficult time crossing from the South West (commercial development lot) side of the West Mount Comfort intersection with Garland Avenue, to the gas station area and liquor store area of Oak Plaza. This traffic to Oak Plaza will have to cross vehicle traffic on West Mount Comfort , five lanes of traffic on the proposed North Garland including vehicles departing the liquor store, the grocery store North Exit, and the gas station: very dangerous!

6) Crossing the Street from the North side of the grocery store parking lot is dangerous with the proposed West Mount configuration: If pedestrian and bicycle traffic chooses to go further South before crossing North Garland, it will have to climb stairs from the commercial development lot level up about 8 feet to the level of the grocery store parking lot: difficult for bicycles and those with disabilities. After moving up to the grocery store parking level: to get to Oak Plaza, foot and bicycle traffic will still have to cross vehicle traffic from the proposed West Mount Comfort , five lanes of traffic on the proposed North Garland including vehicles departing the liquor store, grocery store North Exit, and the gas station: very dangerous!

7) The University bus loads/unloads passengers in this same proposed intersection area: on North Garland at the south side of the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland: another danger to foot and bicycle traffic crossing North Garland from this area.

8) High density proposed intersection use from nearby high density apartments: The heavy influx of foot and bicycle traffic from the proposed 350 condominium units at the west end of James , nearby College Park apartments plus the grocery store foot traffic and vehicle traffic on the proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort and North Garland: means that all of the above will result in a confusing competition for space within the proposed West Mount Comfort /North Garland intersection area: navigating this intersection will be extremely complicated and dangerous.

9) Stoplight for the Proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland Intersection Could Cause Gridlock

From my discussion with the City and the Arkansas Highway Traffic Division: North Garland is “an uncontrolled access locality”. As explained to me: this means that there is no regulation that specifies minimum distances between stoplights although there may be some guidelines. At the time I enquired on about 7-14-08, the stoplight placement on North Garland hadn’t been specified by the Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department.

The distance from the proposed West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland to the North Street/North Garland intersection is only about 500 feet. A stoplight this close to the North Street/North Garland intersection’s stoplight could gridlock the traffic on North Garland and make the traffic on North Garland and at the North Street/North Garland intersection worse than it is now. This is because of the following:

· red/green timing of the stoplight s at the North Street/North Garland intersection,

· the timing of the stoplight at the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection,

· the short distance (small number of vehicles ) that can be accommodated between the two stoplights,

· the entry and exits of vehicles from the businesses between the stoplights,

· the entry and exits of vehicles from the businesses near West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection stoplight (liquor store and the gas station, and what used to be the barbecue restaurant), and

· traffic intensity

Those listed above are only a few of the variables.

To illustrate gridlock: if the North Street/North Garland stoplight turns red for North Garland and there are a stacked line of cars, say about 50 or more vehicles, stretching from the North Street/North Garland intersection back North through the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection and the stoplight at the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection turns green when viewed from proposed West Mount Comfort, there will be cars on North Garland blocking the proposed West Mount Comfort entrance to North Garland: gridlock.

Use the “Fayetteville Involvement Meeting “ aerial map only for a general idea of the proposed North Garland widening: I believe that the aerial photo map distributed at the 19 June 2008 Fayetteville Public Involvement Meeting and the yellow overlay drawing were intended only to convey a general idea of the proposed widening of North Garland. This distributed map does not show how the neighborhood yards will be overrun, and how the usefulness of some buildings will be significantly impaired. Even if a building itself is not condemned, the noise level from a close five lane highway will make some buildings very uncomfortable places to be. The map distributed at the Fayetteville Involvement Meeting shows that the proposed West Mount Comfort has all the advantages of a 90 degree intersection with North Garland: a more detailed map (see Attachment 1) indicates that the proposed West Mount Comfort Road has few of these advantages. The Fayetteville Involvement Meeting’s aerial photo overlay map shows that the current West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is not part of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland:

In more detailed drawings (see Attachment 1) almost all of the current intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland is contained inside the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland.

Note on the more detailed /accurate aerial overlay map of Attachment 1, that a South bound vehicle on North Garland turning West to enter the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection and moving West on the proposed West Mount Comfort will have to turn to the right for an estimated 150+ degrees (almost a full reversal of direction) in the very short time it would take the vehicle to pass James Street. My understanding is that the City of Fayetteville does not approve turns that exceed 135 degrees.

At the same time as the above vehicle driver is turning to the right around the above described difficult curve, the driver will have to be aware of vehicles exiting to the North and South from James, and a large amount of foot traffic and bicycle traffic to James from Oak Plaza and vice versa. In addition, the businesses within the curve, on the right hand of the curve described above (if they survive the North Garland widening process) will have vehicles entering and leaving their premises within the same James Street/proposed West Mount Comfort intersection area and also West bound vehicles from the North and South turning into James Street from the proposed West Mount Comfort, perhaps all occurring at the same time. Again other vehicles, foot traffic and bicycles can intersect the above vehicle from almost any direction!



Even in the best of conditions where all of the vehicle drivers, foot traffic and bicyclers are competent, the dangerous situations described above may be more challenging than some drivers can accommodate.







Appendix 3: A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot

The vision is a research facility linking the University of Arkansas with other research facilities in the State, nation and world with a mission to improve the quality of life for Arkansans and others while contributing to the economic development of the City.

Such a facility would provide local jobs and be a tax revenue source for Fayetteville. Such a facility would also support the new work model: workers living at close proximity to their work locations.

This research facility makes a lot more sense than destroying the commercial development lot property for a badly designed road which funnels traffic into an already intensely traveled North Garland area where vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclers are each in danger.

Should this proposed road over the commercial development lot become a reality, it is anticipated that future or concurrent City/State mandated easements and right-of-way would destroy the usefulness of the remainder of this commercial development lot. Thus, the local neighborhood could be encumbered with a lot full of unattractive utility facilities, access covers and panels, antennas, etc.



Appendix 4: Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard:

1107 James Street is at the corner of James Street and the current West Mount Comfort. This house is located North across James Street from the commercial development lot (which is itself the lot North of the grocery store).

Land taken from the front yard of 1107 James is being used in the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and thus enables its dangerous intersections with North Garland and James: See Attachment 1 to view how 1107 James is being used for the proposed reconfiguration.

It is bad enough to have property condemned and taken away for a just and noble reason: for some reason that truly helps people. It is humiliating and disgraceful to be forced to provide property for a purpose that will harm local individuals, disabled individuals, foot traffic, bicyclers and drivers attempting to travel on and or across the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and its proposed intersection with North Garland, and its intersection with James Street.

Detail about 1107 James Street……

At the Fayetteville Public Involvement Hearing on June 19, 2008, I voiced concern that the proposed West Mount Comfort would be elevated above what would remain of the front yard at 1107 James Street. The concern was about flooding because the proposed West Mount Comfort will block the normal drainage of 1107 James Street house and yard. During heavy rain, water could back up in the yard and damage the house.

One of the state’s engineers said that was the reason that a storm drain would be placed in the front yard. Of course someone will have to maintain and clear this storm drain. Leaves and yard waste could be a problem if the trees are not cut down both on this property and on the neighbor’s property: leaves in a combination with other yard waste will clog most grated drains. Miscellaneous debris is on many occasions discarded in this area and could easily clog a drain.

Keeping this drain functional will be a continuing expense, and if the drain clogs, 1107 James and perhaps other local houses may suffer damage.

It is possible that many front yards along North Garland could face these same kinds of drainage problems if the proposed 5 lane highway is constructed.



Appendix Number 5: Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area

Trying to understand the present by looking ahead to what might be the eventual goals/objectives of the proposed changes to North Garland and West Mount Comfort:

Why is North Garland Avenue proposed for widening: West Mount Comfort proposed for reconfiguration? We have to ask ourselves why the proposed plan severely damages businesses and households along North Garland Avenue. Is it simply that the University needs more stacking space for vehicles? Are there other compelling reasons for the proposed widening of North Garland?

Is this proposed plan only the beginning?

Consider the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort Road. My understanding of city street engineering and good practice from those with professional experience indicates that streets should line up with each other: that is, West Mount Comfort if reconfigured should line up with another street like for example the nearby Holly Street. The City of Fayetteville has some pride in developing an effective grid structure within the city.

The proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort does not line up with another street: Why not?

Well, perhaps the proposed West Mount Comfort lines-up with a street which is yet to be built. We could imagine where such a new street might be constructed by sighting East from the entrance of the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland. Doing so, we could imagine that a new street could be extended East to line-up with the current section of the proposed West Holly that runs between Oakland and Leverett.

Such carving-up of the local area might damage it so much that it could be bought cheaply and used for another purpose: University parking, convention center, Wal-Mart, hotel, you name it…

Why carve up Garland Avenue household property at the same time? A possible reason is that the entire .75 mile section of North Garland is targeted for reconfiguration and commercialization: after people have moved away or given-up hope.

As noted earlier, the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland Avenue is about 150 feet wide. Planners know that intersections are expensive to build. In this speculation, if the planners have made the proposed intersection 150 feet wide, it signals that the current West Mount Comfort is eventually to be planned as a four lane road. This future West Mount Comfort four lane road could be another conduit form the West to whatever is planned for the local North Garland area: University parking facilities, convention center, Wal-Mart, you name it….

If this future West Mount Comfort four lane road were to cross from the North Garland area to Leverett that would fuel a speculation that Leverett would become a four lane highway sometime in the future.

Is this speculation believable? What gives this speculation credence is:

1) The first evidence of credibility: the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort does not line-up with an opposing street.

2) A second evidence of credibility for this speculation is that the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort is dangerous to the traveling public and to bicycles and pedestrians. If public safety were the objective in the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort, the intersection of West Mount Comfort would have been moved further North and lined-up with an opposing street such as Holly, or even further North on North Garland. If public safety is not the key objective for the proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration, then there could be a hidden agenda.

3) The third evidence of credibility: The approximate three to one mismatch of the traffic carrying capacity of the entrance to the University (South Garland) with the three roads feeding it (North Garland, North Street, Wedington) means that widening North Garland would not be very helpful for getting traffic into the to the University quickly.

Thus it is reasonable to suspect that there is another reason for the proposed widening of West Garland Avenue: a widened North Garland Avenue would be useful for feeding traffic to the North Garland area for whatever is to be constructed there in the future. A residential North Garland which has been damaged/destroyed by a 5 lane highway across it would be ripe for commercial development.





































Fayetteville Transportation Improvement Program

Reference Operations Director’s letter to the City Council dated June 7, 2006

See next image


















































































































Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort

See next image










































































































Attachment 2: Highway 112 Spur-North, Excerpt of the Preliminary Construction Plans from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

See next image



Wislon©2008 Unlimited number of copies authorized for distribution.








































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From Glen David Wilson: Please distribute the enclosed to Neighborhood Asssociation members and others: Attend Street Committee meeting: See information and schedule below‏
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--Wards protecting Wards to preserve Fayetteville--

Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road

EMERGENCY NEWS

5 LANE Highway Threatens substantial damage to households and businesses on .75 Mile Section of North Garland and on West Mount Comfort Road

(Use Page Down for the following pages)

· Page 4: How did North Garland get into this “Widening” Problem?

Look for your house and or business on the diagrams excerpted from AHTD Preliminary Construction Plans, Attachment 2.

· Page 5: But Now in 2008, everything has Changed

· Page 6: Why is North Garland Being Widened?

· Page 7: A better method of providing fast access to the University



· Page 7: How many more lanes should North Garland have to promote fast traffic access to the University?



· Page 7: Design Your Own Version of A North Garland Profile(cross-section)



· Page 8: Other North Garland Improvements?



· Page 9: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Preliminary Construction plans for the proposed North Garland





· Page 9: The City/State Proposed Relocation of West Mount Comfort Road: Map in Attachment 1



· Page 10: An Important Decision is Where to Relocate the Intersection of West Mount Comfort Road with North Garland



· Page 11: Wild speculations about the future of the North Garland Area



· Page 11: My conclusions



· Pages 12: What can you do to stop the damage to North Garland and the dangers of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort



· Page 15: Email and call list attached!







A Call to Action

Reference: Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department (AHTD) Job Number 040489--Highway 112 Spur—North (Fayetteville)



How did North Garland get into this “widening” Problem?

Back in 2006 when the economy was better, and gasoline prices were lower, the Fayetteville City Council determined that there was a critical need for an additional source of revenue to finance wastewater facilities and Street and Trail improvements within the city.

The City Council acted out of a need for additional bond sources for completion of the Waste Water System Improvement Program and also based upon community-wide Citizen Surveys of 2004 and 2005. During an 18 month period the City Council/Street Committee discussions on major street improvement evolved into a 3 Phase program. “Phase 1 was proposed to be a 6-year $62,000,000 program, providing traffic capacity and safety improvements and economic development opportunities to those corridors with the most need. Later Phases, through additional bond elections, will address additional safety, capacity, and economic development needs. The resources required for the initial phase of the Transportation Improvement Program is $62,000,000 plus bond and debt placement and surety costs.” Paraphrasing in this paragraph and quotation are from the City Operations Director’s letter to the City Council dated June7, 2006. See Appendix 6 for a list of the Phase 1 projects and estimated costs as of June 7, 2006. Project Number five is the North Garland project.

To obtain this revenue, the City Council passed Ordinance 4891 on June 20, 2006. Ordinance 4891 authorized a special election on September 12, 2006. Four Questions were put to qualified Fayetteville voters for a decision. See Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891, Pages 4 through 6.

Bonds for each Question are secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the .25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of a renewed .75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Each Question refers to an individual Bond Name:

· Question One: “Wastewater Improvement Bonds”

· Question Two: “Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds”

· Question Three: “Street Improvement Bonds”

· Question Four: “Trail Improvement Bonds"

The Special Election result was YES for all of the above Questions. See Appendix 1 for the Special Election Ballot Questions and other information excerpted from Ordinance 4891.

North Garland was selected by the City Council/Street Committee from a list of Transportation Improvement Projects for “Widening-5 Lane Principal Arterial”. The North Garland estimated cost from the “City of Fayetteville, Transportation Improvement Plan” is $6,695,000.

The bonds issued following the Special Election were issued with an assumed annual growth rate of the City’s Sales Tax Revenue of 4% as shown at the end of Appendix 1, Finance Plan: Wastewater System and Transportation Plan, note Assumption 1. Would this be a valid assumption in a recession or an economy slowdown condition?

And that ends the explanation of how North Garland got into this “widening” problem.



But now in 2008, everything has changed. Some say the economy is in recession.

According to the City of Fayetteville Press Release of July 25, 2008 referring to Mayor Coody: “He also called attention to the declining federal funds available to assist cities and counties across the country with major infrastructure projects and the fact that current estimates to simply maintain the current condition of our public infrastructure exceed existing revenue streams at all levels of government.” Bold print emphasis provided by the author.

The City has a hiring freeze at the time of this writing. This is an indication of uncertainty about tax revenue and a declining economy. Apparently the City can finance and build street improvement projects but will the funds be there for maintaining these projects and other infrastructure?

Would it be in the city’s best interest to:

· allocate the $6,695,000 2006 budgeted funds to a more pressing City need, and defer the North Garland widening project until there is unity within the North Garland community?

· delay the North Garland widening project until the City is more certain that there will be sufficient tax revenue for bond payments and infrastructure maintenance?















Why is North Garland being Widened?

It is my understanding from an Alderman on the Street Committee that the purpose of the North Garland widening is to provide increased traffic access to the University. Can widening North Garland do this?

Three streets feed the northern entrance to the University (South Garland):

1. North Street: Traffic from the East including College Avenue and all connecting streets

2. Wedington Drive: traffic from the West, Highway 540 and all connecting streets

3. North Garland: traffic from the North, Highway 540 and all connecting streets

The intersection of these streets forms a plus sign (+) with North Street on the right side of the plus , Wedington Drive on the left side, North Garland on the Top, and South Garland at the bottom. The direction North is at the top of the plus sign.

The three feeder streets have a traffic capability of about 3 times (a 3 to 1 ratio) or more the traffic capability of South Garland (the key northern University entrance). Vehicles bound for the University/stadium in heavy traffic must wait their turn to get into the University entrance on South Garland. Thus, all three feeder streets become stacking areas for vehicles waiting to get into the University entrance: all three feeder streets become temporary parking lots.

Widening North Garland makes the 3 to 1 ratio worse: it simply adds more stacking area for vehicles waiting to get into the Northern entrance of the University (via South Garland). Widening North Garland means that those drivers on Wedington and on North Street will have to wait longer to get into the narrow northern entrance to the University.

Additional stacked traffic on the proposed 5 lane, widened North Garland will mean more traffic problems because of vehicles on each feeder street whose drivers are seeking to quickly get into the northern entrance to the University.

A widened North Garland will make the situation more adverse and more dangerous for moving traffic into the northern entrance to the University.



A Better Method of Providing Fast Access to the University:

A more efficient method of stacking traffic would be to park vehicles in a holding area West of Highway 540 and run busses to/from the University.

Per the City, there are no plans to widen the section of Garland South of North Street, that is, South Garland or the northern University entrance in the author’s terms. The South Garland section was completed about 2005 by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. South Garland section was widened to two lanes into, two lanes out of the University, with a turning lane at major intersections.



How many more lanes should North Garland have to promote fast traffic access to the University?

A resounding ZERO is the answer. We could ask the Street Committee and the City Council to leave North Garland just as it is!



Design Your Own Version of A North Garland Profile (cross-section)

There are four possibilities for a North Garland roadway profile:

1) Leave North Garland just as it is: two lanes

2) Center Turning Lane +2 regular lanes

3) Four regular lanes

4) Center Turning lane + 4 regular lanes (as shown in Attachment 2, page 2)

Each of these possibilities can be constructed with sidewalks and or bike paths and green space/BERM on one or both sides. Profiles can have barricades/green space in the turning lane or separating lanes in each direction. It is doubtful if barricades/green space can be used on North Garland because they use excessive amounts of roadway.

Typical measurements across:

· Lanes are about 11 feet

· Turning lane about 12 feet

· Sidewalks are about 5 feet to 10 feet

· Bike paths are from about 3 feet to 5 feet

· Green space/BERM from about 3 to 9 feet

· Curbing about 1 to 2 feet

The sides of your own proposed North Garland profile don’t have to be symmetrical.

For example:

· On the East side of AHTD’s proposed design the Berm is 3 feet and the sidewalk is 5 feet.

· On the West side of AHTD’s proposed design, the Bern is 6 feet and the shared path is 10 feet.

Another bit of information, bikers are reported to prefer their bike paths on the street and they want to face the oncoming traffic for safety reasons.

A turning lane could have painted designations on the roadway where left turns are allowed. Some turning lanes have barriers designating where left turns are allowed.

With the above information you can design your own proposed North Garland Avenue Profile.

Example Profile: A two lane highway with five foot sidewalks, 3 foot Berms, 5 foot bicycle paths in each direction, and 2 foot curbs would be 52 feet wide.the calculation for this profile from left to right is 5+3+2+5+11+11+5+2+3+5=52. If the bicycle paths were only 3 feet wide, the total profile width would be 48 feet.

To see the effect of a 52 foot North Garland Profile on local residences and businesses, we would need to draw our example 2 lane highway on a detailed map of North Garland. We shall ask the City to assist us with this and other candidate profiles as requested in “My Conclusions” at the end of this Call to Action.



Other North Garland Improvements?

Would we like to improve North Garland? We could have a three lane highway with specifically marked spots for turning from the center lane. Any 3 lane plan would have to be acceptable to the owners of residences and business of North Garland.

A turning lane with designated turning areas would enhance the flow of North Garland traffic because vehicles would be less likely to stop on the right-most roadway while waiting to turn left.

The already expanded 4 lane section of North Garland near the North Street/Garland intersection should not be expanded further except for sidewalks some of which already exist, and possibly on street bicycle paths depending on the street design and the nearby business land availability (if any).

If a three lane highway were implemented instead of a five lane highway, there could possibly be enough savings to extend the three lane highway north to Highway 540: this could provide benefits for the local North Garland area residents and businesses.

Adding more than 2 lanes and sidewalks/bike paths means that residents and businesses along North Garland would suffer even more losses and grief/anger at having been harmed by the City.



Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s Preliminary Construction Plans for North Garland

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s preliminary construction plans for “Hwy. 112 Spur-North” (See Attachment 2) show that the 5 lane highway will run very close to some commercial and residential buildings, eliminate any on street parking, and require a change to the present Garland Street store entrance.

The City/State proposed 5 lane highway through residential and commercial North Garland will damage both commercial and residential property. Slices of property that the City/State has proposed to take from each residence could leave some residences so close to the 5 lane highway that the houses will be persistently uncomfortable living spaces because of the highway noise.

The same is true for some of the commercial buildings on North Garland. It is possible that a 5 lane highway through North Garland would destroy the utility of some commercial buildings due to noise and other 5 lane highway deleterious effects. The owners would not necessarily be compensated if the house/commercial buildings were not legally taken or condemned.



The City/State Proposed Relocation and Reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort

As a part of the North Garland widening, the City/State has chosen to reconfigure and relocate West Mount Comfort: the current West Mount Comfort is the angled road which intersects North Garland just North of the Harps grocery store.

· The proposed relocated/reconfigured West Mount Comfort has been put into the very busy/congested area of North Garland which has many entrances/exits: See map in Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort.

· The proposed configuration for West Mount Comfort travels over the front yard of 1107 James Street, makes a 90 degree turn across the commercial development lot just North of the grocery store, before making an intersection with North Garland.

· The entrance of the proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort is about 150 feet wide which is about twice the entrance width of the East section of Mount Comfort (on the East side of North Garland and South about 240 feet).

The combination of this proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection and the proposed widening of North Garland will eliminate at least 22 parking spaces from the grocery store, producing traffic congestion within the remaining grocery store parking area and making it more difficult for vehicles and bicycles to enter and exit the remaining grocery store parking area. These changes will make it more difficult for the grocery store to turn a profit and continue paying taxes to the City at the same volume of business as now.

Harps grocery store, is the “anchor” property and largest business in the North Garland area: Grocery store parking is important to the shopping public, students and residents in the entire North Garland area.

When I made my “North Garland” presentation of the above and more to the Ward 2 meeting July 8, 2008, I demonstrated, using a large overlay aerial chart, how dangerous the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles. Motorcycles are included in the vehicle category herein.

I received good support from those assembled: most had already decided for themselves that the 5 lane North Garland Widening program didn't make sense. The North Garland Widening program will take the front yards (and more) of many of the local North Garland residents. It will damage businesses and reduce tax revenue to the City.

I would like to make this same presentation at the Street Committee Meeting on August 18, 2008 in City Hall room 326.



An Important Decision is Where to Relocate the Intersection of West Mount Comfort Road with North Garland.

The location proposed by the City/State routes West Mount Comfort traffic into the “most challenging” and busy section of North Garland and is dangerous to vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles.

· See the map in Attachment 1: “Proposed West Mount Comfort”.

· See Appendix Number 2: “The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation” for a discussion of these dangers.

· See Appendix 3: “A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot”.

· See Appendix 4: “Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard”.





Wild Speculations about the Future of the North Garland Area:

See Appendix 5 for Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area. In appendix 5 I am trying to understand the present proposals by the City/State by speculating about the future. If we can understand what might happen in the future, we could have a chance to make choices and changes for the better now.



My Conclusions:

1) Ask the City/State to study and diagram the following North Garland options:

· Option 1: Don’t do anything to North Garland; reallocate the budgeted funds for other City projects. Minimal cosmetic improvements might be acceptable and can be suggested/diagrammed by the City /State.

· Option 2: 2 lanes + sidewalks + bike path(s) on the street

· Option 3: Turning lane + 2 lanes + sidewalks + bike path(s)

· Option 4: Consider/diagram/cost extending any North Garland improvements North to Highway 540.

Requested Guidelines to the City/State: Minimize damage to residential and commercial property.

All options and alternatives shall subject to review, revision and approval/disapproval by the North Garland community at one or more “involvement meetings”. Provide a written rationale for your preliminary designs.

2) Totally reject the proposed West Mount Comfort location and configuration

It is dangerous to vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles and increases congestion in the already busy and congested area of area of North Garland which is within the range of about 500 feet of the Garland/North Street intersection.

Ask the City to provide three alternative locations and configurations for West Mount Comfort.

Requested Guidelines to the City/State: Minimize damage to residential and commercial property and minimize the impact of West Mount Comfort traffic in the busy and congested area of North Garland which is within the range of about 500 feet of the Garland/North Street intersection.

All options and alternatives shall subject to review, revision and approval/disapproval by the North Garland community at one or more “involvement meetings”. Provide a written rationale for your preliminary designs.

3) Delay the entire North Garland Widening project until there is unity and agreement of the North Garland community.

4) Request the City/State to establish specific personal methods including email and or regular mail for communications to each individual property owner of the North Garland community so that City’s councils and committees and or State discussions of their property will be made known to them in a timely manner. Timely manner herein means at least 10 days before the next meeting of the City council or committee within which the property discussion occurred. Group meetings shall not be a substitute for these timely notifications.



What can you do to stop the damage to North Garland and the dangers of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort?

Go to the Street Committee Meeting: Monday, August 18, 4:30 PM

in City Hall Room 326

We have a chance to save North Garland and choose a safer area for the relocation of the Proposed West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland.



……….But only if we Express our opinions………..



The Monday, August 18, 2008 Street Committee meeting in Room 326 will be your opportunity to voice your concerns about the North Garland widening and the dangerous proposed relocation of the North Garland/West Mount Comfort intersection. Your attendance and your neighbor’s attendance could make the difference!

Expect that attendees will be allowed to make comments when the Committee Chairman acknowledges your raised hand after some discussion within the Committee.

My view is: We don’t know when a final decision about North Garland will be made or if this is the last meeting where we can express our opinions: We should direct our energy toward this meeting and the attached Call/Email List! Let’s stop/revise this 5 lane Bulldozer now!

Your opinion Counts!

Let’s Make a Determined All-Out Effort to Stop the 5 Lane Highway Implementation on North Garland!

Look on accessfayetteville.com for announcements of City Council and Street Committee meetings or Call the City Clerk’s office for the date and time of these meetings. See the City Clerk’s contact information is in the Addendum after the end of the Email/Call list.



Go to the August 18, 2008 and later Street Committee Meetings.

Go to the City Council meetings.

Together we can make a difference! We must Act now!



Now: Spread the News!

1) Contact three people and enlist their support: ask them each to contact three more people and continue this expansion process …..provide each contact with a copy of “Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road” or at least the Call/Email List. Email forwarding works well for this.

2) Use the attached list for the City of Fayetteville and for the State of Arkansas : do some or all of the following:

These First:

1) Telephone all of those on the attached list

2) Email all of those on the attached list,



Time for more? Then do these next:

1) Send a letter,

2) Send a telegram

3) Send personal representatives to visit with members of the attached list, or go and visit with those officials who will determine North Garland’s future yourself.

Monday, August 18, 4:30 PM in City Hall Room 326

Let’s all be at the Street Committee Meeting and Save North Garland Avenue and West Mount Comfort Road!

I have done my best to let you know about the North Garland/West Mount Comfort situation as I know it. I hope to have provided a service to the North Garland community and to the city of Fayetteville.

Regards,

Glen Wilson

Email:technical@cox.net

Property Owner: West Mount Comfort/Garland

The author authorizes others to make unlimited copies of this document.





See attached Addendum for Names, telephone numbers,

and email addresses of

· Mayor/City Council/Street Committee

· Fayetteville persons who have picked-up 2008 election candidate information from the City Clerk’s office

· State of Arkansas Governor/State Senator/State Representative

· United States Senators for Arkansas

· United States House of Representatives: Congressman

· Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD)









Addendum



I appreciate the service and dedication of the Mayor, the City Council, the Planning Commission and the Street Committee. I appreciate the Street Committee’s current review of the widening of the .75 mile of North Garland.

I share the enormous pervasive concerns of the local North Garland population.





Call/Email List for Fayetteville:

From the Fayetteville City Clerk’s Office





Mayor: Dan Coody

1418 E. Rodgers Drive

Fayetteville, AR 72701

443-6758

dcoody@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2008





Alderman Positions:



WARD 1:

WARD 1:

Position 1

Position 2

Adella Gray

Brenda Thiel

1681 N Starr Drive

172 E. Willoughby Drive 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-4958 (H) 841-5266 (Cell)

442-3095

Ward1_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward1_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008





WARD 2:

WARD 2:

Position 1

Position 2

Kyle B. Cook

Nancy Gordon Allen

1335 Vanderventer

PO Box 3105

Fayetteville, AR 72703

Fayetteville, AR 72702

521-7632

442-5536

Ward2_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward2_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008









WARD 3:

WARD 3:

Position 1

Position 2

Robert K. Rhoads

Robert Ferrell

Arvest Plaza

2413 Twin Oaks Court

75 N. East Ave Suite 402

Fayetteville, AR 72703

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-3535

973-5202

Ward3_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward3_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2008

Term End Date 12/31/2010





WARD 4:

WARD 4:

Position 1

Position 2

Shirley Lucas

Lioneld Jordan

2139 Ora Drive

1600 Arrowhead

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Fayetteville, AR 72701

442-4612

442-5415

Ward4_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Ward4_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Term End Date 12/31/2010

Term End Date 12/31/2008



































Fayetteville 2008 General Election Candidates:

The filing period to run for Municipal office is August 6, 2008 through 12:00 noon on August 26, 2008.

Thus, it was not possible to include the list of those who have actually filed as candidates.

The following is a list of people who have picked-up candidate-filing information from the City Clerk’s office.

The problem with this list is that the following list contains only names of people who have picked-up the filing information and that person may not actually be the candidate.

An updated list will probably be available from the City Clerk’s office or better still request a list of those candidates who have filled as candidates after August 6, 2008.













State of Arkansas Email/Telephone List

Arkansas Governor



· Mike Beebe

State Capitol, Room 250

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

501-682-2345

GovernChief of Staff: 501-682-3607

Email Governor Beebe by completing the form on web page: http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact/index.php

Arkansas State Senator:



· Sue Madison

573 Rock Cliff Road

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72764

479-442-2997

madisons@arkleg.state.ar.us



Arkansas State Representative:



· Marilyn Edwards

2330 North Juneway Terrace

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703

479-442-8388

edwards@arkleg.state.ar.us









Unites States House of Representatives:

· John Bozeman

-member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

-Stacey Mattingly, Constituent Services, Intern Coordinator and District Office Manager

Lowell Office:
213 W. Monroe, Suite K
Lowell, AR 72745
Phone: (479) 725-0400
Fax: (479) 725-0408


Email Congressman John Boozman by filling in the form on web page
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml



United States Senate:

· Blanche Lincoln

4 South College Avenue, Suite 205
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 251-1224; FAX (479) 251-1410

Community Affairs Specialist: John Hicks

Email Senator Blanch Lincoln by using the Form on web page: http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

· Mark Pryor

Little Rock Office
The River Market
500 Clinton Ave
Suite 401
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336
Fax: (501) 324-5320

Toll Free from AR:
(877) 259-9602

Email Senator Mark Prior by completing the form on web page:

http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/



Arkansas Highway Commission

· Jonathan D Barnett

Commissioner

1980 Highway 412 West

West Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761

(479) 524-6269

(479) 524-9440



Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department

· Dan Flowers

Director

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

10324 Interstate 30

Little Rock, AR 72209

501-569-2211

· Lynn Malbrough

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

Division Head for Environmental

10324 Interstate 30

Little Rock, AR 72764

501-569-2281

Lynn.malbrough@arkansashighways.com





---------------------------------------End Email/Call List----------------------------------------------------------------

If you have questions about the Street Committee meeting or other meetings: Look on accessfayetteville.com for announcements of City Council and Street Committee meetings or Email/Call the City Clerk’s office for the date and time of these meetings.



City Clerk

City Administration Bldg
113 W Mountain St
Room 308
Fayetteville, AR 72701

Tel: (479) 575-8323
Fax: (479) 718-7695

Email: city_clerk@ci.fayetteville.ar.us





List of Appendices that follow:

· Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891, Pages 4 through 6 and the Finance Plan Slide

· Appendix Number 2: The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation

· Appendix 3: A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot

· Appendix 4: Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard (like many of the yards on North Garland)

· Appendix 5: Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area

· Appendix 6: Fayetteville Transportation Improvement Program, Phase 1



List of Attached Maps that follow: North is at the top of the Attachment 1 map

· Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort

· Attachment 2: Highway 112 Spur-North, Excerpt of the Preliminary Construction Plans from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (you may need a magnifying glass for this one)





Appendix 1: Excerpt from Fayetteville’s Ordinance 4891,

Pages 4 through 6

the "Sales and Use Tax"). The Sales and Use Tax shall be levied and collected only on the first $2,500 of each "single transaction" (as defined in Section 9 hereof). The levy and collection of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on and as of such date as provided in the Local Government Bond Act, and shall cease upon retirement in full of the Bonds. The levy and collection of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on the day following the date of expiration of the Prior Tax, and shall cease upon retirement in full of the Bonds. Any collections of the Prior Tax received after its expiration shall be used, if necessary or appropriate, to provide for the payment of debt service on the Bonds. Revenues resulting from the collection of the Sales and Use Tax shall be utilized solely for the payment of debt service on the Bonds.

Section 2. That under the authority of Amendment 62 and the Local Government Bond Act and subject to approval by the electors of the City as provided in Section 3 below, there is hereby authorized (1) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition, (2) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of directly financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition, or, alternatively, for the purpose of refunding water and wastewater revenue bonds originally issued to finance said improvements, (3) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition, and (4) the issuance of the City's capital improvement bonds in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition. If the issuance of any of the aforementioned capital improvement bonds (collectively, the "Bonds") is approved by the electors of the City, such Bonds may thereafter be issued in one or more series from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the respective principal amount(s) approved by the City's electors. If approved by the electors of the City and issued, the Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and a lien upon all of the receipts of the Sales and Use Tax, as authorized by the Local Government Bond Act.

Section 3. That there be, and there is hereby called, a special election to be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at which election there shall be submitted to the electors of the City the questions of the issuance of the Bonds.

Section 4. That the questions shall be placed on the ballot for the special election in substantially the following forms:

The bonds described below that are approved may be combined into a single issue or may be issued in series from time to time. If the bonds for one or more of the purposes described below are approved, there will be levied (i) a one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) sales and use tax (the "0.25% Sales and Use Tax") and (ii) a three-quarter of one percent (0.75%) sales and use tax (the "0.75% Sales and Use Tax"), the net collections of which remaining after the State of Arkansas deducts its administrative charges will be used solely to retire the bonds and obligations of the City with respect thereto. The levy and collection of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax will commence on January 1, 2007. The aforementioned 0.75% Sales and Use Tax will replace an existing three-quarters of one percent sales and use tax (the "Prior Tax"). The Prior Tax is pledged to the payment of certain existing indebtedness of the City and will continue to be levied and collected until such existing indebtedness is paid in full. The levy and collection of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax shall commence on the day following the date of expiration of the Prior Tax.

Question One:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 (the "Wastewater Improvement Bonds") pursuant to Title 14, Chapter 164, Subchapter 3 of the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated (the "Local Government Bond Act") for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities. If the issuance of the Wastewater Improvement Bonds is approved, the Wastewater Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Wastewater Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition

AGAINST the issuance of Wastewater Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition ❑





Question Two:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 (the "Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of directly financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities (the "Project") or, alternatively, for the purpose of refunding the City's water and wastewater revenue bonds originally issued to finance all or a portion of the Project. If the issuance of the Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds is approved, the Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of certain improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of-way acquisition ❑

AGAINST the issuance of Wastewater Improvement/Refunding Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension and equipping of the improvements to the City's wastewater treatment plants, sewerage and related facilities, including right-of- way acquisition ❑

Question Three:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 (the "Street Improvement Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction and equipping of certain street improvements. If the issuance of the Street Improvement Bonds is approved, the Street Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against.

FOR the issuance of Street Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition .

AGAINST the issuance of Street Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $65,900,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, straightening and widening of certain City streets, which may include related sidewalk, traffic signal and control, curbing, guttering and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition

Question Four:

There is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the question of the issuance of capital improvement bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 (the "Trail Improvement Bonds") pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, construction and equipping of certain City trail system improvements. If the issuance of the Trail Improvement Bonds is approved, the Trail Improvement Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and lien upon (i) all of the receipts of the 0.25% Sales and Use Tax and (ii) all of the receipts of the 0.75% Sales and Use Tax, each levied pursuant to the Local Government Bond Act.

Vote on the question by placing an "X" in one of the squares following the question, either for or against:

FOR the issuance of Trail Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition. ❑

AGAINST the issuance of Trail Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $2,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition and construction of certain City trail system improvements, which may include related pedestrian signal and drainage improvements and right-of-way acquisition.



Section 5. That the election shall be held and conducted and the vote canvassed and the results declared under the law and in the manner now provided for Arkansas municipal elections unless otherwise provided in the Local Government Bond Act, and only qualified voters of the City shall have the right to vote at the election. The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice of the special election by one advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, the publication to be not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the election.











Appendix Number 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of

The proposed West Mount Comfort Relocation

The proposed West Mound Comfort relocation has few advantages and many disadvantages and is dangerous for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles:

The Proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration/relocation to the commercial development lot is bordered by grocery store on the South side, by James Street on the North side and by the current West Mount Comfort/Garland on the East side. See Attachment 1 for an overlay drawing on an aerial photograph of the area local to the commercial development lot.

Advantages:

As far as I can tell there is only one advantage to the proposed relocation/reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and even so this advantage has built-in dangers.

The advantage: enables a right turn for vehicles traveling South on North Garland bound for West Mount Comfort traffic permitting.

The built-in dangers of this advantage: Vehicles making the above referenced right turn onto West Mount Comfort must navigate a sharp curve to the right around a radius estimated to be in excess of 150 degrees while other vehicles could be entering from James Street on the left and from the nearby businesses on the right. After the vehicle has driven around this challenging curve it is on a reversed trajectory almost parallel to North Garland from which it started.

West Mount Comfort bound vehicles traveling North on North Garland and which speed-up to cross the south flowing traffic and move onto the above proposed challenging sharp right curve will be even more accident prone.

Disadvantages/Illustrations/comments:

The current proposed design extends West Mount Comfort over more than approximately 50% of the eastern half of this commercial development lot in a curve achieving a 90 degree turn into North Garland. This design has several serious flaws:

1) West Mount Comfort traffic will be directed into an intensely busy and congested area of North Garland bordered by many entrances and exits.

The City/State will have missed the opportunity to move West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland to the North: more removed from the intense traffic in the busy section of North Garland.

2) The West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland does not align with an opposing street entrance. To illustrate: A cautious East bound driver in a vehicle on West Mount Comfort headed East will likely turn right onto North Garland, proceed South on North Garland to the traffic light where North Street intersects North Garland , then turn left, and continue East on North Street. Vehicles traveling this route add congestion to the busy section of North Garland.

Had there been an opposing street entrance directly across from the West Mount Comfort exit onto North Garland along with a stoplight properly timed with the North Street/Wedington intersection with North Garland, the same vehicle could have simply driven across North Garland and proceeded East. The advantages of this West Mount Comfort opposing street configuration are: a) vehicles don’t travel into the busy North Garland area thus reducing North Garland traffic congestion, and

b) Safety: vehicles do not have to make two turns and a lane change in intense traffic on North Garland, to head East.

3) There is no real benefit of the proposed West Mount Comfort configuration for South bound vehicles turning right onto North Garland from West Mount Comfort : compared to the current West Mount comfort configuration at its intersection with North Garland.

· Please see Attachment 1 and note the over-lay drawing of the proposed intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

· The proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is about 150 feet wide.

· Drivers tend to drive along the right side of the road to avoid driving off the road.

· Note that West Mount Comfort sweeps to the right along the curved roadway of the proposed design at the intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

Now consider South bound drivers who drive along the right side of the curved West Mount Comfort roadway and stop on West Mount Comfort at the intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland.

In the Attachment 1, note the position of the current West Mount comfort roadbed at the intersection: drivers will find themselves in the about the same physical location on the proposed West Mount comfort intersection with North Garland as they do now with the current West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland!



Comparing the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland with the current intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland , each of these drivers will still have to twist their torso and crane their neck to the left to see the oncoming South bound traffic on North Garland. In this important example there is no redeeming payoff for a) the expense of the proposed reconfiguring of West Mount Comfort and b) damage of the two properties overrun, three if the increased damage to the grocery store’s parking lot is included.

Should the drivers referenced above decide to abandon the right side of the West Mount Comfort and drive to the approximate center of the very wide proposed intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland, each driver will have to compete for driving space on North Garland with vehicles departing the liquor store and the gas station (both across from the West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland): These vehicles will be arbitrarily turning North or South on North Garland. Avoiding these vehicles will be a continual danger for the above drivers, and in turn for those vehicles stacked along the proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration.

When turning to the South onto North Garland these West Mount Comfort drivers who stopped at the center of West Mount Comfort will also have to avoid other drivers that had decided to stay to the right on West Mount Comfort instead of moving to the center of the West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland. These drivers will at the same time have to concentrate on avoiding vehicles leaving the nearby North-most exit from grocery store parking lot.

In the above discussion, the driver has to be concerned that vehicles will randomly compete with him/her for driving space at/near the West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection.

These competing vehicles can approach the above vehicle from almost any direction: the result of a proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration that endangers drivers in the same ways and in new ways as compared to the current Mount Comfort configuration.

4) The proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration reduces the number of vehicles that can be on James Street waiting to get onto West Mount Comfort. Because of the large number of vehicles in the College Park apartment area with exit/entrance on James Street and those anticipated to be in a another proposed 350 unit development on James Street, this reduction in vehicle stacking distance is an important issue: it is likely that some of the residents on James Street will be unable to exit their driveways because of stacked vehicles on James Street waiting to get onto the proposed West Mount Comfort Road.

5) Crossing the Street from the commercial development lot is dangerous with the proposed West Mount Comfort configuration: With the proposed West Mount Comfort design configuration, bicycle and foot traffic will have a very difficult time crossing from the South West (commercial development lot) side of the West Mount Comfort intersection with Garland Avenue, to the gas station area and liquor store area of Oak Plaza. This traffic to Oak Plaza will have to cross vehicle traffic on West Mount Comfort , five lanes of traffic on the proposed North Garland including vehicles departing the liquor store, the grocery store North Exit, and the gas station: very dangerous!

6) Crossing the Street from the North side of the grocery store parking lot is dangerous with the proposed West Mount configuration: If pedestrian and bicycle traffic chooses to go further South before crossing North Garland, it will have to climb stairs from the commercial development lot level up about 8 feet to the level of the grocery store parking lot: difficult for bicycles and those with disabilities. After moving up to the grocery store parking level: to get to Oak Plaza, foot and bicycle traffic will still have to cross vehicle traffic from the proposed West Mount Comfort , five lanes of traffic on the proposed North Garland including vehicles departing the liquor store, grocery store North Exit, and the gas station: very dangerous!

7) The University bus loads/unloads passengers in this same proposed intersection area: on North Garland at the south side of the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland: another danger to foot and bicycle traffic crossing North Garland from this area.

8) High density proposed intersection use from nearby high density apartments: The heavy influx of foot and bicycle traffic from the proposed 350 condominium units at the west end of James , nearby College Park apartments plus the grocery store foot traffic and vehicle traffic on the proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort and North Garland: means that all of the above will result in a confusing competition for space within the proposed West Mount Comfort /North Garland intersection area: navigating this intersection will be extremely complicated and dangerous.

9) Stoplight for the Proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland Intersection Could Cause Gridlock

From my discussion with the City and the Arkansas Highway Traffic Division: North Garland is “an uncontrolled access locality”. As explained to me: this means that there is no regulation that specifies minimum distances between stoplights although there may be some guidelines. At the time I enquired on about 7-14-08, the stoplight placement on North Garland hadn’t been specified by the Arkansas Highway and Traffic Department.

The distance from the proposed West Mount Comfort’s intersection with North Garland to the North Street/North Garland intersection is only about 500 feet. A stoplight this close to the North Street/North Garland intersection’s stoplight could gridlock the traffic on North Garland and make the traffic on North Garland and at the North Street/North Garland intersection worse than it is now. This is because of the following:

· red/green timing of the stoplight s at the North Street/North Garland intersection,

· the timing of the stoplight at the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection,

· the short distance (small number of vehicles ) that can be accommodated between the two stoplights,

· the entry and exits of vehicles from the businesses between the stoplights,

· the entry and exits of vehicles from the businesses near West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection stoplight (liquor store and the gas station, and what used to be the barbecue restaurant), and

· traffic intensity

Those listed above are only a few of the variables.

To illustrate gridlock: if the North Street/North Garland stoplight turns red for North Garland and there are a stacked line of cars, say about 50 or more vehicles, stretching from the North Street/North Garland intersection back North through the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection and the stoplight at the proposed West Mount Comfort/North Garland intersection turns green when viewed from proposed West Mount Comfort, there will be cars on North Garland blocking the proposed West Mount Comfort entrance to North Garland: gridlock.

Use the “Fayetteville Involvement Meeting “ aerial map only for a general idea of the proposed North Garland widening: I believe that the aerial photo map distributed at the 19 June 2008 Fayetteville Public Involvement Meeting and the yellow overlay drawing were intended only to convey a general idea of the proposed widening of North Garland. This distributed map does not show how the neighborhood yards will be overrun, and how the usefulness of some buildings will be significantly impaired. Even if a building itself is not condemned, the noise level from a close five lane highway will make some buildings very uncomfortable places to be. The map distributed at the Fayetteville Involvement Meeting shows that the proposed West Mount Comfort has all the advantages of a 90 degree intersection with North Garland: a more detailed map (see Attachment 1) indicates that the proposed West Mount Comfort Road has few of these advantages. The Fayetteville Involvement Meeting’s aerial photo overlay map shows that the current West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland is not part of the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland:

In more detailed drawings (see Attachment 1) almost all of the current intersection of West Mount Comfort with North Garland is contained inside the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland.

Note on the more detailed /accurate aerial overlay map of Attachment 1, that a South bound vehicle on North Garland turning West to enter the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection and moving West on the proposed West Mount Comfort will have to turn to the right for an estimated 150+ degrees (almost a full reversal of direction) in the very short time it would take the vehicle to pass James Street. My understanding is that the City of Fayetteville does not approve turns that exceed 135 degrees.

At the same time as the above vehicle driver is turning to the right around the above described difficult curve, the driver will have to be aware of vehicles exiting to the North and South from James, and a large amount of foot traffic and bicycle traffic to James from Oak Plaza and vice versa. In addition, the businesses within the curve, on the right hand of the curve described above (if they survive the North Garland widening process) will have vehicles entering and leaving their premises within the same James Street/proposed West Mount Comfort intersection area and also West bound vehicles from the North and South turning into James Street from the proposed West Mount Comfort, perhaps all occurring at the same time. Again other vehicles, foot traffic and bicycles can intersect the above vehicle from almost any direction!



Even in the best of conditions where all of the vehicle drivers, foot traffic and bicyclers are competent, the dangerous situations described above may be more challenging than some drivers can accommodate.







Appendix 3: A Vision for the Commercial Development Lot

The vision is a research facility linking the University of Arkansas with other research facilities in the State, nation and world with a mission to improve the quality of life for Arkansans and others while contributing to the economic development of the City.

Such a facility would provide local jobs and be a tax revenue source for Fayetteville. Such a facility would also support the new work model: workers living at close proximity to their work locations.

This research facility makes a lot more sense than destroying the commercial development lot property for a badly designed road which funnels traffic into an already intensely traveled North Garland area where vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclers are each in danger.

Should this proposed road over the commercial development lot become a reality, it is anticipated that future or concurrent City/State mandated easements and right-of-way would destroy the usefulness of the remainder of this commercial development lot. Thus, the local neighborhood could be encumbered with a lot full of unattractive utility facilities, access covers and panels, antennas, etc.



Appendix 4: Proposed West Mount Comfort to Overrun 1107 James Street Front Yard:

1107 James Street is at the corner of James Street and the current West Mount Comfort. This house is located North across James Street from the commercial development lot (which is itself the lot North of the grocery store).

Land taken from the front yard of 1107 James is being used in the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and thus enables its dangerous intersections with North Garland and James: See Attachment 1 to view how 1107 James is being used for the proposed reconfiguration.

It is bad enough to have property condemned and taken away for a just and noble reason: for some reason that truly helps people. It is humiliating and disgraceful to be forced to provide property for a purpose that will harm local individuals, disabled individuals, foot traffic, bicyclers and drivers attempting to travel on and or across the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort and its proposed intersection with North Garland, and its intersection with James Street.

Detail about 1107 James Street……

At the Fayetteville Public Involvement Hearing on June 19, 2008, I voiced concern that the proposed West Mount Comfort would be elevated above what would remain of the front yard at 1107 James Street. The concern was about flooding because the proposed West Mount Comfort will block the normal drainage of 1107 James Street house and yard. During heavy rain, water could back up in the yard and damage the house.

One of the state’s engineers said that was the reason that a storm drain would be placed in the front yard. Of course someone will have to maintain and clear this storm drain. Leaves and yard waste could be a problem if the trees are not cut down both on this property and on the neighbor’s property: leaves in a combination with other yard waste will clog most grated drains. Miscellaneous debris is on many occasions discarded in this area and could easily clog a drain.

Keeping this drain functional will be a continuing expense, and if the drain clogs, 1107 James and perhaps other local houses may suffer damage.

It is possible that many front yards along North Garland could face these same kinds of drainage problems if the proposed 5 lane highway is constructed.



Appendix Number 5: Wild Speculations about the future of the North Garland Area

Trying to understand the present by looking ahead to what might be the eventual goals/objectives of the proposed changes to North Garland and West Mount Comfort:

Why is North Garland Avenue proposed for widening: West Mount Comfort proposed for reconfiguration? We have to ask ourselves why the proposed plan severely damages businesses and households along North Garland Avenue. Is it simply that the University needs more stacking space for vehicles? Are there other compelling reasons for the proposed widening of North Garland?

Is this proposed plan only the beginning?

Consider the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort Road. My understanding of city street engineering and good practice from those with professional experience indicates that streets should line up with each other: that is, West Mount Comfort if reconfigured should line up with another street like for example the nearby Holly Street. The City of Fayetteville has some pride in developing an effective grid structure within the city.

The proposed reconfigured West Mount Comfort does not line up with another street: Why not?

Well, perhaps the proposed West Mount Comfort lines-up with a street which is yet to be built. We could imagine where such a new street might be constructed by sighting East from the entrance of the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland. Doing so, we could imagine that a new street could be extended East to line-up with the current section of the proposed West Holly that runs between Oakland and Leverett.

Such carving-up of the local area might damage it so much that it could be bought cheaply and used for another purpose: University parking, convention center, Wal-Mart, hotel, you name it…

Why carve up Garland Avenue household property at the same time? A possible reason is that the entire .75 mile section of North Garland is targeted for reconfiguration and commercialization: after people have moved away or given-up hope.

As noted earlier, the proposed West Mount Comfort intersection with North Garland Avenue is about 150 feet wide. Planners know that intersections are expensive to build. In this speculation, if the planners have made the proposed intersection 150 feet wide, it signals that the current West Mount Comfort is eventually to be planned as a four lane road. This future West Mount Comfort four lane road could be another conduit form the West to whatever is planned for the local North Garland area: University parking facilities, convention center, Wal-Mart, you name it….

If this future West Mount Comfort four lane road were to cross from the North Garland area to Leverett that would fuel a speculation that Leverett would become a four lane highway sometime in the future.

Is this speculation believable? What gives this speculation credence is:

1) The first evidence of credibility: the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort does not line-up with an opposing street.

2) A second evidence of credibility for this speculation is that the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort is dangerous to the traveling public and to bicycles and pedestrians. If public safety were the objective in the proposed reconfiguration of West Mount Comfort, the intersection of West Mount Comfort would have been moved further North and lined-up with an opposing street such as Holly, or even further North on North Garland. If public safety is not the key objective for the proposed West Mount Comfort reconfiguration, then there could be a hidden agenda.

3) The third evidence of credibility: The approximate three to one mismatch of the traffic carrying capacity of the entrance to the University (South Garland) with the three roads feeding it (North Garland, North Street, Wedington) means that widening North Garland would not be very helpful for getting traffic into the to the University quickly.

Thus it is reasonable to suspect that there is another reason for the proposed widening of West Garland Avenue: a widened North Garland Avenue would be useful for feeding traffic to the North Garland area for whatever is to be constructed there in the future. A residential North Garland which has been damaged/destroyed by a 5 lane highway across it would be ripe for commercial development.





































Fayetteville Transportation Improvement Program

Reference Operations Director’s letter to the City Council dated June 7, 2006

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Attachment 1: Proposed West Mount Comfort

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Attachment 2: Highway 112 Spur-North, Excerpt of the Preliminary Construction Plans from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department

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