Bethany schedules public hearing on proposed comprehensive plan

BETHANY — Officials soon will consider adopting a comprehensive plan designed to guide Bethany’s development through 2030, with recommendations on achieving a stronger sales tax base, creating additional housing and attracting young and middle-age families and professionals.

Bethany’s last comprehensive plan was adopted in 1972, said Ward 1 City Councilman Randy Luinstra, who served on a 22-member steering committee that guided the latest process, launched in June.

“This has been wonderful and long overdue,” Luinstra said of the effort to provide a vision for growth over the next 15 years. Luinstra joined other city officials, steering committee members and Bethany residents at a recent public unveiling of the proposed plan.

“This gives us detailed information about who we are, where we’re heading,” Luinstra said. “We can take the information and use it in our zoning and planning. We can take the plan itself and apply zoning to opportunities for development that come before us.”

Hearing planned

The Bethany Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed plan during its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bethany City Hall, 6700 NW 36. Its recommendation will be considered by the city council May 3.

Interim City Manager Steve Harzman said the plan is a guideline that will help city leaders address Bethany’s weaknesses, such as a need for newer and middle-priced housing, and an improved sales tax base.

“There are some areas (of the city) that need modification, growth and re-creation,” Harzman said.

The plan was prepared by the consulting firm MIG Inc. of Denver. It is based on public input and came about after meetings of the steering committee, city council and planning and zoning commission; community workshops; and citizen surveys.

The plan suggests Bethany invest its own dollars to return to a growth cycle, and recommends that city leaders focus on attracting young and middleage families and young professionals.

Constantly evolving

Gilbert Carlson, planning and zoning commission member and steering committee chairman, said he expects the plan to undergo some fine-tuning before adoption.

“We’ve been limping along without a plan,” he said. “A comprehensive plan is essentially an advisory document, an advisory road map. It doesn’t carry the weight of an ordinance, but it provides a view into the future.”

The plan states that surveys and other data show that the target market looks for attractive homes and neighborhoods, an affordable mix of housing, great schools, a variety of restaurants and stores, good jobs, quality recreation and community pride.

Harzman said Bethany lacks an adequate sales tax base to maintain city services. The proposed comprehensive plan, he said, “gives us guidelines on how to get a sales tax base.”

Arlita Harris, Ward 2 council member, said a new plan is coming at a good time.

“We’re advertising for a new city manager,” she said, referring to the retirement this year of longtime City Manager John Shugart.

“This is a perfect thing to hand a new city manager. There’s no need for focus groups or surveys — it’s already been done.”

A comprehensive plan, she said, is never completed.

“It’s constantly evolving. This is the guideline. There will be changes, because things change. This gives us a guide of where we need to go.”

Limits to growth

Bethany is surrounded by Warr Acres and Oklahoma City. The comprehensive plan draft states that being landlocked is an asset as residents have access to resources and attractions in neighboring cities, but also a challenge because of limited expansion opportunity.

With a total land area of 5.2 square miles, Bethany has only about 100 developable acres.

Moreover, the plan states, Bethany is being out-competed by communities such as Yukon, Edmond, Warr Acres, The Village and Oklahoma City. Gaining a competitive advantage, it states, requires that Bethany learn from its past and change its direction.

“I think Bethany needs to make a step forward,” said Suzi Epps, a NW 39 Expressway restaurant owner and steering committee member. “We are also trying to create better neighborhoods so people want to come here. We need strong, revitalized neighborhoods.”

The draft recommends Bethany capitalize on current momentum, including the recently approved $8.1 million bond for a new library; a four-story, 40-bed expansion at The Children’s Center; bond approvals in the Bethany and Putnam City school districts; reopening of Bethany Hospital as a mental health facility; and expansions at Southern Nazarene University and Southwest Christian University.

The draft identified areas near Lake Overholser and along NW 39 Expressway, NW 36 Street, NW 23 Street, Rockwell Avenue and Council Road as potential commercial areas.

‘We have ... work to do’

Fifty-year Bethany resident and retired physician John Bumpas said the plan appears to be a “good approach” for the city.

“But what kind of realistic plans are there?” He asked. “How are you going to finance this? You only have so much bonding capacity. There’s got to be something more than talk.”

Jeff Knapp, Ward 4 councilman, said the plan is based largely on community input.

“We had surveys and focus groups,” he said. “They were absolutely necessary. We are on the verge of some good things … This will help guide us.”

Knapp predicted some pushback on parts of the plan.

“There has to be discussion on some things. Overall it’s exciting, but we have some work to do,” he said.

To learn more

For more information about Comprehensive Plan 2030, go to www.planbethany2030.org.