Maumelle planning commission recommends realignment of Milwood Circle to improve town‑center access

The Maumelle Planning Commission voted Jan. 22 to recommend City Council approve a master street plan amendment that would realign Milwood Circle to connect with ODM Boulevard at Lake Valley Drive and convert the north leg into a T‑intersection.

Planning staff told the commission the change, prompted by a forthcoming Sienna Ridge development, would create a more direct route between the Lake Valley residential area and the town center, align the roadway with a creek corridor for a possible future bike and pedestrian path, and reduce the number of curb cuts along the corridor. Rachel, a planning staff member, said the applicant’s traffic analysis—submitted after the packet—indicates a two‑lane collector will be sufficient for projected traffic and recommended a “do pass” to City Council.

“[T]his route would actually help the Lake Valley folks to have more direct [access] without as many curb cuts,” Rachel said, adding the alignment could support bike and pedestrian connections.

The change is tied to a proposed development the staff called Sienna Ridge and is limited to master street plan road alignments; any future rezoning and detailed civil design will be considered later. Staff noted the developer will construct the new streets as part of the development. The commission also heard that Milwood Station’s food‑truck park is scheduled to open March 13, an element staff said the realignment would help serve by improving access to the town center.

The commission’s discussion focused on traffic and design details. Commissioners asked whether the city had taken traffic counts at nearby intersections; staff said counts at the specific locations had not been taken but pointed to an existing nearby four‑lane roadway that can carry additional traffic and stressed that the precise intersection geometry and any traffic circle or priority road would be determined during plat and preliminary‑plan review.

Residents who spoke during public comment praised the commission’s scrutiny and urged the city to adopt corridor standards for ML Boulevard to avoid parcel‑by‑parcel disputes. Steve Mosley, a longtime resident, thanked commissioners for their technical questions; Joel Cordy urged a corridor study and clearer setback standards for Mel Boulevard so future development can proceed with consistent expectations.

A commissioner moved a recommendation that City Council adopt the master street plan amendment, subject to further staff and engineering review; the motion carried. The recommendation now proceeds to City Council for its consideration, and staff said the developer will next present proposed rezoning and plat details to the commission at a later meeting.

—