Lincoln’s 2018 agenda includes land use, streets

LINCOLN — The city will spend the next six to seven months working on a land use plan and street plan.

“We’re trying to set ourselves up for growth so that we have everything in place when growth finally starts,” said Mayor Rob Hulse.

Looking at how business has increased at the new Harps store and Farmers Coop True Value, Hulse said he’s confident growth will come to Lincoln.

The City Council has approved a contract with Brooks Landscape Architecture and Planning of Fayetteville to help with the plans. The city will pay around $12,000 to Brooks for its assistance.

Juliet Richey, planner and project manager with Brooks, recently gave a presentation to the City Council about the importance of planning so a city will be prepared for present and future needs relating to the safety and general welfare of its residents.

Richey, who served as Washington County’s director of planning for almost 12 years, said a land use plan helps give a rational basis for zoning decisions.

“When someone requests a rezoning on a piece of property, the future land use plan gives general guidelines on what a city wants to be. To me, that’s the important thing it does,” Richey said.

A land use plan also helps those who are looking to develop land, she said. It gives a developer guidelines on whether a development would fit into an area, based on a city’s plan.

In her presentation, Richey pointed out a land use plan can include reservation of open spaces, preservation of natural and historical sites and features, existing uses proposed for change and uses to be retained without change. A plan can show areas proposed for development and areas needing to be redeveloped.

A street plan considers major street changes, updates or additions that are to happen in coming years, looks at traffic demand and traffic counts and should include specific goals and objectives for transportation over the next several decades, according to Richey’s presentation.

Rhonda Hulse, city business manager and grants coordinator, said city officials think Lincoln had a street plan and land use plan at some point in the past but no one can find the documents.

A land use plan is important, Hulse said, “in regards to what direction you want your city to go.”

A subcommittee will work with Richey on the plans. All City Council members and members of Planning Commission will be invited to participate on the subcommittee, as well as some people from the community. The meetings will be open to the public.

The process will include public hearings to get input from residents.

Steps show subcommittee members would be asked to complete a survey and would use input from the survey and the public to determine the most important goals and objectives for the city.

Richey said she plans to give monthly updates on the progress of the subcommittee’s work at council and Planning Commission meetings.