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Planners require right‑in/right‑out and construction exit for Freddy’s on SW 14th
Summary
The planning commission approved a large‑scale development for a Freddy’s drive‑through with conditions: an ArDOT‑approved right‑in/right‑out (pork chop) on Highway 102 and a paved construction exit to prevent gravel tracking.
The Planning Commission conditionally approved a large‑scale development for Freddy’s Frozen Custard at 3308 Southwest 14th Street but required primary access be right‑in/right‑out onto Highway 102 (Elmtree corridor) and a paved construction exit during building to limit gravel and mud reaching the highway.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the site is close to the Elmtree intersection and that left‑turn movements onto Highway 102 are hazardous. The city wants the developer to design a “pork chop” or similar median treatment — sized so drivers cannot make left turns — subject to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) approval.
What was discussed: Tom and transportation staff described the problem: the site lies near a busy intersection where unprotected lefts would increase risk. Dan Wiese, the city’s director of transportation, explained that large pork‑chop treatments are more effective than small rounded islands that drivers can evade. Staff also requested that the contractor provide a paved construction exit (20–25 feet) adjacent to the highway during construction to stop gravel/mud from being dragged onto 14th Street.
Applicant response: Landon Brack of Plaza Street Partners, the applicant’s representative, agreed to work with ArDOT and to provide the necessary traffic control design and the construction exit details. The commission’s conditional approval requires evidence of ArDOT review and concurrence and the city engineer’s acceptance of the construction exit and pork‑chop design.
Outcome: The large‑scale development was approved by roll call with the commission’s outlined conditions (7–0). The approval is conditional on documentation of ArDOT approval for the right‑in/right‑out access and an approved construction‑exit detail to the city’s standards.
Ending: The applicant must return with the ArDOT‑approved access plan and final engineered construction‑exit details for city review before building permits are issued.
