Vision sought for Bentonville

Residents invited to share ideas

BENTONVILLE — Residents can share their ideas for the city’s future at a community workshop Tuesday night.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and last about an hour and a half at the Public Library.

Houseal Lavigne Associates is creating a plan to guide city growth over the next 15 to 20 years.

Tuesday will be the public’s first opportunity to see the work and interact with the city and Houseal Lavigne teams. The goal is to create a long-term consensus and vision “of what we want our city and our community to become,” said Troy Galloway, city community and economic development director.

The plan will be used by city officials and departments, developers and others, according to a news release.

“It will establish policies related to land use and development, transportation and mobility, community

facilities, open spaces, environmental features and image and identity,” the release states.

Officials have emphasized the plan is about community involvement since Houseal Lavigne started work in May.

Workshop topics will include neighborhoods, commercial areas, roads, trails and parks.

A business workshop will

start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Community Center. Business owners and managers will discuss municipal regulations, business and economic development and local employment.

The plan is scheduled to take 18 to 24 months from

when it began a few months ago.

There are several other ways residents can participate.

One is a do- it- yourself workshop where a resident can host his or her own workshop to provide input. Those interested should contact Shelli Kerr, city planning services manager, at 479-271-6826 or skerr@bentonvillear.com to receive a workshop kit.

The project’s website also has interactive features residents can use. It includes online questionnaires, an interactive map allowing users to create their own maps of issues and aspirations as well as project updates and meeting announcements.

There also are “ballot boxes” around the city, including the library, the Downtown Activities Center, the Community Center, City Hall and Pressroom, where people can fill out a quick, three-question survey.

“As the plan progresses, they’re going to be throwing up ideas and requesting feedback,” Kerr said. “It will kind of morph over time as more information is gathered from the public and as the plan starts to develop.”

Officials will reach out to schools to get students involved in October, Kerr said.

There will be a community visioning workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Community Center. Data and comments that have been gathered will start to develop into ideas and goals at that meeting, Kerr said.

The comprehensive plan is expected to cost $448,223. The Walton Family Foundation awarded the city a $200,000 grant for the project. The city will pay the remainder.