County to Debate Land-Use Regulations
Director Asks to Start Work on General Plan
Last updated Wednesday, July 25, 2007 5:58 PM CDT in News
By Scarlet Sims
THE MORNING NEWS
BENTONVILLE -- Benton County intends to begin work on a General Plan to implement land-use regulations during a workshop next month, said Ashley Pope, county planning director.
The General Plan will help county officials create regulations for what can be built within certain zones in the county, Pope said. The idea is to have organized growth and protect property owners.
The Benton County Planning Board will look at creating a "scope of work" leading to a General Plan during a workshop session from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22. Planning board members will discuss the plan but won't take public comment during the workshop, Pope said.
Justices of the peace are invited to participate.
Talk about a plan started under former Planning Director Michelle Crain, said Justice of the Peace Bobby Hubbard, R-northwestern Benton County.
In January, the board briefly discussed land use and zoning but took no action.
Pope said the process of developing a General Plan is similar to developing a map showing how to get to a treasure. She proposed the county have three committees that would include representatives from advocacy organizations such as the Association of Beaver Lake Environment and the Northwest Arkansas Property Rights Association.
The committees would make recommendations for the plan that the Quorum Court will consider. Her goal is to have land-use regulations in place by November 2008, she said.
The Quorum Court must pass ordinances supporting the General Plan for the planning office to implement the regulations, Pope said.
The regulations are needed because Benton County is growing rapidly, Pope said.
State law allows counties and cities to control growth through land-use regulations and permit fees, said Eddie Jones, executive director of the Arkansas Association of Counties.
"A government in a fast-growing area many times has to do those things," Jones said.
Hubbard said land-use regulations will mean growth is organized. Having a specific zone for agriculture or for subdivisions will prevent unwanted commercial or industrial development from infringing on those areas, he said.
"Zoning will protect property rights instead of hurting them," Hubbard said.
The county is currently regulating without a General Plan, which means the county is regulating growth without goals, Hubbard said. Regulations should be dictated by zones, Hubbard said. The planning office is for planning, not just enforcing rules, he said.
Justice of the Peace Tim Summers, R-Bentonville, was cautious about supporting a General Plan.
"My concern is how would it affect the agriculture community," Summers said.
The county should be sure land-use regulations are necessary and good for rural areas, he said.
Jones said most Arkansas counties are rural and aren't growing as quickly as Benton County. Most counties also aren't pursuing land-use regulations or building permit fees, he said.
Land-use regulations don't have any real drawbacks, but some residents move to the county for fewer restrictions and may not like the zoning, Jones said.
Hubbard said the county will need public input while it's designing a General Plan. He and Summers said they plan to attend the workshop next month.
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