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Commission approves Aiden Gym waivers and large-scale plan after debate over facade design
Summary
The commission approved parking and building-placement waivers and, after design revisions, granted vertical-articulation, glazing and corner-architecture waivers for a proposed 17,000 sq. ft. gym at Tenth and Main; the large-scale development plan was also approved.
The Bentonville Planning Commission approved a set of waivers and the large-scale site plan for the proposed Aiden Gym, a 17,000-square-foot facility at Tenth and Main, after a lengthy discussion about materials and facade articulation.
The commission granted a parking waiver and a building-placement waiver unanimously (5-0). After debate and presentation of two design options from the applicant, the commission approved waivers for vertical articulation, additional glazing and corner architecture by a 4-1 vote with commissioners citing an applicant-provided vertical 'fins' option as a mitigating feature.
Applicant representatives told the commission the building is intended to match the existing campus materials and that the canopy and a vertical 'fin' treatment would break up the long metal facade. An applicant representative said, "The intent of the project is to unify the campus," and described two design alternatives: a vertical-fins treatment that creates shadow lines and an alternate two-tone metal-panel solution.
Several commissioners said the original submittal's flat metal wall was too monolithic and pushed the applicant to demonstrate tangible articulation. Commissioners Davis and others pressed for revisions that would create a pedestrian-friendly corner and reduce the blank wall effect; the vertical-fins option ultimately persuaded the majority.
With the design option accepted, the commission approved the remaining waivers by vote and then approved the large-scale development plan (LSB2446) 5-0.
Vote outcomes recorded in the meeting: - Parking waiver (LSB2446): approved 5-0 - Building-placement waiver (LSB2446): approved 5-0 - Vertical-articulation, glazing and corner-architecture waivers (with vertical-fins option): approved 4-1 - Large-scale development plan (LSB2446): approved 5-0
Commissioners noted the project will need to follow through with final construction drawings and that glazing was limited because the gymnasium function constrains window placement; staff and the applicant agreed to continue coordination on final materials and pedestrian amenities.
The decisions allow the Aiden Gym project to proceed to the permitting stage with the approved design approach.
