Street Plans On Lincoln’s Agenda

LINCOLN — The city of Lincoln will spend the next six to seven months working on a Future Land Use Plan and a Master 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 is confident growth will come to Lincoln.

“The Coop and Harps have shown there is a reason for businesses to invest in Lincoln,” he added.

Lincoln City Council has approved a contract with Brooks Landscape Architecture and Planning of Fayetteville to help with the new 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 that relate to the safety and general welfare of its citizens.

Richey, who served as Washington County’s director of planning

for almost 12 years, said a future 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 future 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 future land use 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 existing uses to be retained without change. A plan can show areas proposed for new development and areas that need to be redeveloped or rehabilitated.

A future use plan allows a city to plan for what it wants so it doesn’t have to react to issues as they arise, Richey said. It also allows for public input and can develop unity and trust between a government and its citizens.

A master 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 that Lincoln had a master street plan and future 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 Lincoln 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 citizens.

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.

“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.”

Juliet Richey Brooks Landscape Architecture and Planning