Project and Timeline
Russellville began the process of updating the comprehensive plan in 2015. This process has included public input meetings, City Ward Meetings, input from stakeholders, and input from City Staff.
Project Introduction
You may be wondering what a comprehensive plan is, or what it will accomplish for your City. A Comprehensive Plan is a guide adopted by a city to direct future growth and development. Unlike zoning, the plan is not regulatory in nature, but rather a tool and guide used by the Planning Commission and City Council as they consider future decisions regarding zoning and development. Comprehensive plans are flexible and lay out broad goals and objectives for the City.
The State of Arkansas requires that cities who regulate zoning and subdivision have an adopted Future Land Use Plan and Master Street Plan. This is most commonly achieved through adopting a Comprehensive Plan which includes these components.
The Plan may also include a number of other elements, such as the written plan document, demographics of the City, active transportation, public transportation planning, and facility plans, and other tools that help the Planning Commission and City Council make decisions for the future of development within the city. Comprehensive Plans are generally long-range, and most frequently designed to envision the next 20 years of growth within the city.
Public input is key to the development of a comprehensive plan, so that the interests of all citizens can be considered.
Project Process
Where are we in the comprehensive planning process?
The Re-Imagine Russellville is in the final stages before adoption. Over the last few years, there has been a thorough inventory and analysis of existing land uses in the city, a variety of public input, feedback from the city and other interest groups, and editing and refinement of the plan elements.
We are asking for the public to review this Draft Plan and will be finalizing changes prior to the Final Draft that will be presented for adoption by the Planning Commission and City Council.
Implementation of Re-Imagine Russellville
The Re-Imagine Russellville Plan will be used as a guide to help make decisions about many planning aspects within the City of Russellville and the Planning Area.
Examples of how this plan can be used:
- Support the update of subdivision and zoning regulations that will help the city meet goals.
- Allow the city to apply for grants and other funding contingent on long-range planning.
- Provide guidance to the City when considering future rezoning requests.
- Aid in decisions regarding capital improvement projects.
- Facilitate discussions with ARDOT for road improvements and alignments.
While Re-Imagine Russellville is a 20-year plan, the plan details short-range, mid-range and long -range elements throughout the 20-year span. The plan includes an Implementation Plan that details the expectations for completion of the plan elements and goals.
