County Planning Commission Recommends Amendment to Allow Bike Shop Use in Agricultural Zoning District

Downriver Canoe Company, located at 884 Indian Hollow Road in Bentonville, has recently been acquired by Mark Harris who has a vision for expanding the scope of the business to include a bicycle shop. The name of the business under which Harris applied for the necessary conditional use permit is called Downriver Adventure Company, LLC. Attached to that CUP is an amendment to code allowing for this use in the agricultural zoning district to which 884 Indian Hollow Road belongs. This innovation would improve on the concept of a recreational facility that has been in business ever since the seventies. The two married items, amendment and CUP request, came before the Warren County Planning Commission on the evening of Wednesday, February 12, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue. After a discussion that led to one major adjustment, the commission forwarded both the amendment and the CUP request to the Board of Supervisors with recommendations for approval.

The Warren County Planning Commission convenes on the evening of Wednesday, February 12. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

A portion of the summary of the CUP request reads as follows: “The proposed text amendment to Warren County Code §180-8C defines Bicycle Shop as, ‘A retail or services establishment where bicycles and related bicycling equipment are sold, rented, or repaired.’” While maintaining the existing shop and parking infrastructure that makes the canoe outfitter business possible, Harris desires to fully embrace bicycle sales, rentals, and repairs as a feature of the Downriver Adventure Company.

Mark Harris of Downriver Adventure Company, LLC, addresses the commission regarding amendments to code allowing for bike shop as a use in the agricultural zoning district and a conditional use permit to open such a bike shop.

The addition of the bike shop definition to what is allowed by code under the agricultural district comes with certain supplementary regulations. For instance, there is a minimum acreage requirement of two acres. Also included with other requirements was an enforced closing time of 7 p.m. As the commission zeroed in on this requirement, it became clear to them that with seasonal changes and the extension of daylight hours, it is important to embrace a more flexible framework that allows the business to maximize the daylight and stay open later when seasonally that is appropriate.

Planner Kelly Wahl and Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz are prepared to present several items to the commission.

As one commissioner pointed out, this bike shop use, if approved by the board, would come as an addition to an expanding model of what may be allowed in an agricultural zone. Farmers could, therefore, supplement their businesses with venues that are not typically considered agricultural. The amendment and the CUP request were two of six public hearings on Wednesday evening. All the other hearings were based on CUP requests, and the single item of old business that followed was also a CUP request. After passing the consent agenda and thereby giving authorization to advertise three items that will compose a brief meeting in March, commission matters were addressed, and then the meeting was adjourned.

County Attorney Jordan Bowman is ready to inform the commission as they transact their business.

Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of February 12, 2025.