Final plans for arena approved by board

Friday, July 7, 2006

After Thursday's decision, it should be smooth sailing for Crossroads Arena.

The Cloverdale Plan Commission unanimously voted in favor of the company's final plans for its proposed horse arena, which will be constructed off Stardust Road, west of the Stardust Hills entrance in Cloverdale.

The commission had requested the company present the plans one more time, adding handicap parking and manure stations for horses.

During Thursday's presentation, given by company representative Steve Jackson and site designer Garth Hughes, commission member John Davis said he was concerned about a lack of spectator parking.

"This is a show arena for competition," Hughes said, adding very few spectators attend horse shows at the competitive level.

Hughes said parking for the arena was set up purposely for competitors.

Jackson echoed Hughes' sentiments, saying few spectators come to shows.

"There will be places to put vehicles," he said, "But spectators are at a bare minimum. It's not real exciting some times."

Jackson said generally, competitors on the professional circuit are the only ones who come to the arenas. However, he said there would be enough parking for those who might attend an event.

"I think there's going to be a lot of parking there," Jackson said.

Davis also asked if the arena could be used in the future for agriculture shows or flea markets. Both Jackson and Hughes said it's possible, but that was not the intention for the arena.

Committee member and Cloverdale Building Inspector Mark Cassida said he had looked at the original plans for the arena and he was satisfied. However, he requested Jackson and Hughes give a tally of manure stations that would be near the arena, to which Jackson responded 10. Jackson added the manure would be trucked out to another location.

Plans for the arena have been in the work since the beginning of the year. However, Crossroads Arena representative Jim Skinner told the BannerGraphic in May that investors were still needed for the project.

The company received the OK from the Cloverdale Town Council to rezone a portion of Cloverdale resident Eric Hayman's property from residential to business earlier this year. The plot of land is planned to be used for the proposed horse show arena.

Plans for the horse arena call for a 192,000-square foot building to be used as an exposition center and horse show arena.

Blue prints for the arena call for two indoor show arenas, two outdoor arenas, 500 horse stalls, access for recreational vehicles and horse trailers, and a restaurant. The indoor facility will also be heated in order to conduct horse shows during winter months.

Earlier this year, Skinner approached the Cloverdale Town Council and said the company planned on breaking ground for the project in April, while the arena could possibly be ready for use by 2007.

Skinner told the BannerGraphic in May that inclement weather and lack of investors caused a delay in breaking ground for the project.

In other business, the commission:

-- Tabled a motion to rezone property owned by Ina Johnson from Residential 1 to Residential 2 until the board learned conducted further research on the area.

The plan commission meets regularly on the first Thursday of each month at Town Hall. Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Aug. 3.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: