Officials, Residents Eye Long-Term Use Plan

Officials and Goodman residents are teaming up to form a long-term plan to benefit the city.

When they create the city’s first-ever Comprehensive Land Use Plan, they will create a blueprint and guide to follow as the city builds for the future.

Considering present needs — as well as anticipating growing pains — will benefit residents as they work to retain the city’s population and serve neighbors, officials said.

Goodman residents can look for a survey that will be distributed in coming weeks. Input will be garnered from that survey to form the plan, officials said.

Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council Executive Director Jill Cornett said creating the Comprehensive Land Use Plan will help Goodman set planning and zoning regulations, look toward the future and plan long-term.

The work began when the Department of Defense tapped the HSTCC to work on a land-use plan to protect the mission of Camp Crowder near Neosho, Cornett said. From that work, other joint land-use plans are now being developed. Neosho is updating its landuse plan, and Goodman is developing its first, she said.

By establishing planning and zoning, the city can then apply for grants, Cornett added.

In April, Goodman City Council members met with Cornett and learned more about the process. The first public meeting was held last week at City Hall.

Going forward, survey and stakeholder interviews are scheduled to take place.

To entertain discussion, Cornett and several staff members provided information and statistics about Goodman. Those on hand at the first public meeting learned about demographic changes from 2010 to 2015. In those five years, the population decreased while the senior population increased. Cornett posed various questions for those at the meeting to consider. Such questions will be included in the upcoming survey. For instance, does the city need to provide more housing for seniors?

Other topics focused on retaining residents who might wish to move to a bigger town for better jobs or amenities, as well as building for growth and commerce when I-49 and the Bella Vista Bypass are complete.

When finished, those corridors will allow for more commerce and allow more people to commute.

Those on hand also brainstormed different topics, which could be part of the survey:

Children and family recreational opportunities Senior housing Enhanced park facilities Better communication Places to work Sewer and street repairs More housing and rentals

Revitalize downtown Larger sewer system Need sidewalks More retail Community center More taxes

Drop out rates Annexation Public transportation Stray animals Rehab clinics Living-wage jobs Fair zoning Increased sales and property tax

Potholes.

From these topics, Cornett will develop the survey that will be distributed to Goodman residents this summer. Cornett plans to take those survey results to the council/ committee in July.

This summer and fall, Cornett will hold a first objectives and strategy meeting in August, with a second meeting scheduled for September.

Officials anticipate writing the plan for the next several months and wrapping up that part of the project in September.

A draft plan review with the council/committee will take place in October, with a presentation to the public tentatively scheduled for November. The council is expected to vote on adopting the plan in December.

Cornett said the schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Anyone needing additional information may call Goodman City Hall at 417-364-7316.