February’s input on community growth fuels refined recommendations for the future.
Last February, during a week-long series of online surveys, open houses, and pop-ups, the Plan Bentonville project team rolled out a series of future growth ideas and proposals for community review and input. That feedback has since been, quite literally, taken back to the drawing board, resulting in a far more refined collection of proposals, visually displayed in a series of accessible, user-friendly graphics and illustrations.
Now, over the next few weeks, it’s time for you to grade our work.
What to Expect
The proposals you’ll see are rooted in two key ideas:
Place Types: The conventional approach that currently governs Bentonville land development separates different aspects of our lives by use — where we live, or shop, or work, or recreate. This creates a sense of predictability about what uses will go where, but beyond that it’s not a very precise tool for achieving broader community goals — like financial sustainability or choices in how we’re able to get around or creating neighborhoods where diverse community can flourish. The Plan Bentonville process — a lengthy community effort to plan for future growth and then modify our zoning code to align with those goals — has instead been looking at what we call place types. Think of it as growth planning that looks not just at the where but also the what. What type of environments — from the country to the suburbs to downtown — will result from the inevitable development we’ll experience in the coming decades, and how can we govern that development for maximum community benefit, choice and opportunity?
Performance: A big part of our discussions thus far surround the idea that different models of development perform differently. Some are tax-positive financially, meaning they result in greater revenue for the city than what they take out in terms of infrastructure, city services, etc. Others are tax-negative, in the sense that their costs exceed their revenue, though they may still deliver community value in other ways. What’s important is that the community ultimately includes a balance of both, ensuring a net-positive balance sheet overall. This is true for other factors as well. Some types result in places where walking or biking become more viable options for getting around. Or where job opportunities across the employment spectrum are easily accessible. Or where a greater range of housing types allow for more people of different circumstances to find a home that fits their needs.
How to Participate
During our upcoming review opportunities, you’ll be introduced to each of these proposed place types as well as a draft map of where they’re proposed across the community. You’ll have opportunity — both online and in-person — to review and comment on each.
On Thursday, July 18, we’ll launch an online portal that shares each of the place types in great detail and then presents a fully interactive draft Future Land Use Map where you can zoom in and review at the level of individual parcels to see their proposed future role in creating endearing and enduring places.
That same afternoon we’ll have our first Open House at Thaden Fieldhouse, 2205 SW I Street, from 4-6, to be followed by two full weeks of further review and input opportunities.
Here’s a rundown of our different activity types:
Open Houses
Open Houses are drop-by opportunities for the community to review and provide feedback on these proposed future land use plans. Each Open House will feature a series of displays, with each station focusing on specific topics:
Explanation of the project's purpose, rationale, and methodology;
Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and infographics regarding the types of places included in the proposed plan; and
Presentation of the proposed Future Land Use Plan itself, along with opportunities for community comments and feedback.
Our staff will be on hand to guide you through the stations and address any inquiries you may have.
Pop-Ups
To reach people where they gather, we will "Pop-Up" at various locations around town over the next two weeks. Stop by to learn more about the plan, share your feedback, and speak with our staff.
Office Hours
We recognize that not everyone prefers attending public meetings. Therefore, we are providing opportunities on Mondays and Fridays over the next few weeks for one-on-one discussions with city staff regarding the proposed plan. No appointment necessary—simply drop in during the specified dates and hours.
Displays
Informational displays explaining how to learn about the project, review the plan, and give feedback will be placed at several city facilities throughout the two-week feedback period.
Please Join Us
Participation in Plan Bentonville thus far has been extensive. So many members of the Bentonville community have taken some time — maybe a little, maybe a lot — to learn what’s happening and contribute their views.
Please help us maintain that momentum through this upcoming phase of community engagement. Check the schedule and drop on by. Our process is always made stronger by the perspectives and enthusiasms of our residents.