Commissioner Theodore Cottingham again asked Planning commissioners April 24 for clarity about what the commission ought to be doing. He read from Chapter 13 of City Code, which says the commission is to “prepare or have prepared a plan of the city.”
Cottingham said he was uncertain if this responsibility was different from the first item stated under Powers and Duties, “The Commission shall prepare a work program and make comprehensive studies of the present conditions and the probable future growth of the city of Eureka Springs and its neighboring territory.”
Being fairly new to the commission, Cottingham said it was worth discussion so he could better understand responsibilities.
Commissioner Woodie Acord responded the city has a detailed zoning map, completed within the past couple of years, defining what Planning wants to do. He said the map describes growth areas and guides decisions relative to zoning, so that’s what they follow to make sure the city expands as intended.
Cottingham asked if, according to City Code, they should be working on a Land Use Plan, a Master Facilities Plan and a Master Street Plan, if not a version of a Master Plan for the city. He insisted other cities, such as Bentonville, have tools readily available to assist them, and contended that pursuing these plans was not cost prohibitive because of what was available online.
Commissioner Tom Buford pointed out cities along the I-49 corridor have plans for dealing with expansion, extending sewer lines and other aspects of the infrastructure of growing municipalities. Eureka Springs cannot annex more land because it cannot extend its sewer.
“We’re different,” Buford said. “I don’t know what we can do that we’re not doing now.”
Cottingham was not satisfied and reread what Code stated was their responsibility regarding long-term planning.
Chair Ann Sallee said other city entities are working on their Master Plans, and Planning can in time combine these plans when they consider tackling a Master Plan. In the meantime, commissioners can continue to clear up issues in City Code as they have been doing, but Cottingham did not see that a one-page zoning map fulfilled their responsibilities.
“I don’t understand what you’re asking for us to do,” commissioner Susan Harman stated. She said they develop yearly goals, equal to a work plan, and a Master Plan would need to include the plans from other city entities as Sallee had mentioned. “There are a lot of moving parts. So is there something missing or are you looking for new tools to enable citizens to use the land use map?”
Cottingham persisted there was something beyond just the zoning map they should pursue, but commissioners were unclear what that was.
In the end, Buford pointed out that in the past three years, Planning had approved a hotel, a Planned Use Development, the ECHO development, and apartments, besides clearing up City Code. He said they use available tools, and Planning has neither prevented anyone from doing anything, nor held anyone back.
Cottingham thanked commissioners for letting him make his points.
Finding the right trail
Buford said it was mentioned at the recent city council meeting that Parks was planning to expand its in-town trail system, so it would be worthwhile for Planning to find out where new trails might be. He did not want to encroach on the plans of Parks, and suggested they get Parks Director Justin Huss to come to one of their meetings.
Economic Development Coordinator Glenna Booth commented the Master Trails Plan, which is on the new Parks website, shows the planned trails. Cottingham said this cries out for the kind of coordinated planning he has been advocating. Sallee said she would clarify what the role of Planning would be as the in-town trails are developed.