Wildwood residents urge county action on Denny–Kanis–Stewart intersection safety; official cites right-of-way dispute with Potlatch Deltic

Residents of the Wildwood Place subdivision urged Pulaski County officials on Feb. 20 to finish a long‑promised fix at the Denny–Kanis–Stewart intersection, calling the junction hazardous for school traffic and local commuters. Daniel Clark, a Wildwood Place Property Owners Association representative, asked the court to "keep the conversation going" and to finish a roundabout project that residents say was promised under a 2020 resolution.

Clark described the intersection as a Y‑shaped junction with sharp, near‑blind turns and said traffic increases from new subdivisions such as Fletcher Ridge have made it more dangerous. "I actively have to avoid the intersection because of the safety issues," Clark said. He said the crossing is a main route for Chennault Elementary School, Wildwood Park for the Arts, several subdivisions and Pulaski Academy athletic fields and that he has observed multiple near misses and collisions.

In response, a Pulaski County official (name not specified in the transcript) said county staff have pursued the federally funded project for nearly five years and that the design and bid documents were completed and awaiting ARDOT approval. The official said the Arkansas Department of Transportation was holding the project because the county did not yet have all required right of way and that Potlatch Deltic — a private landowner/developer that earlier promised to donate right of way — declined to give the county the property without payment.

The county official said Potlatch Deltic offered to sell the needed right of way at an amount equivalent to what the county paid for nearby property (about $79,000), after earlier indicating the company would provide the right of way in exchange for the project proceeding. The official said the county offered to buy the right of way and to transfer a $1,400,000 federal grant and related design work to the City of Little Rock if the city would take responsibility for the project by March 1; otherwise the county will release the grant. "If you don't let us know that you want us to hold this for you by the March 1, we're gonna release it," the official said.

The official characterized the stalled talks with Potlatch Deltic as a breach of earlier assurances and told residents the county cannot continue to partner on the project under those terms. He urged residents to call county staff about issues and said staff are willing to pursue interim safety measures if feasible. The official also said the county would oppose annexation that would extend development westward until the intersection issue is addressed by the city and developer.

Clark urged the court to press Little Rock and Potlatch Deltic to act, saying, "We just want it built before any other development happens out west." He also noted residents are discouraging new building permits in the area until the intersection is fixed.

The court did not take any formal vote on the intersection during this meeting. The public comment period included six cards on the same topic; Clark served as the spokesperson for those speakers.