BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s planning regulations are still being tweaked as officials look to simplify the development process.
Justice of the Peace Kurt Moore said some of the more heated discussion centers around the level of regulation small-business owners will be subject to. He said current planning and development rules are burdensome.
“Considering what they have to do now, I think what people are confusing as regulation is having a greater detail on what you have to do before you go into the process,” Moore said. “I think people are confusing these with additional regulations when all they really are is additional information.”
The Quorum Court’s Legislative Committee is reviewing changes proposed by the Planning Board and Planning Department staff. The justices of the peace have discussed ways of soliciting more public involvement in the process, including a series of public meetings on the regulations across the county. Justice of the Peace Susan Anglin said the county has an obligation to seek public comment.
“I think on an issue like this we really need to try and get public input” Anglin said. “I think we have to do a good job of marketing to get the word out to the public. It’s part of our due diligence. Even though I represent these people and I can vote ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ I think we need to hear from people.”
Anglin said the proposed regulations on agricultural commercial operations are something that could affect a growing number of individuals and businesses in Benton County. The proposed regulations define the size and scope of such operations into minor and major businesses and facilities based on the scale of the operation in relation to the farm and the nature of items offered for sale.
Chris Ryan, director of planning and environmental services, said one goal of the section is to encourage the promotion of locally-produced items.
“If you’re selling apples grown locally at a roadside stand, you’re probably fine,” Ryan told the committee at a recent meeting. “If you’re selling apples brought in from Washington state, you’re a grocery store.”
Anglin said she sees agri-tourism as a growing business in the county and she wants to be sure the development rules don’t hinder those activities. She said the planning and development rules should protect agricultural operations, not hinder them.
“I think it will grow,” Anglin said of agricultural-commercial operations. “I have no idea how many of these businesses there already are in Benton County but I know of a handful myself. Looking at the trends in Arkansas, and across the county, we will see an increase.”
Meeting Information
Legislative Committee
The Benton County Quorum Court’s Legislative Committee is reviewing planning and development regulations. The committee’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday in the Quorum Courtroom at the County Administration Building in Bentonville.
Another area of the regulations being reviewed deals with in-home occupations.
The proposed rules again separate businesses based on their size and potential impact on neighbors, with the relative population density of an area being an issue raised by the justices of the peace.
“I think it has a lot to do with density,” Moore said of the regulations. “If you’ve got a mechanic’s shop in your garage in an area where there’s fewer than 10 houses per square mile you shouldn’t have to do the same paperwork as somebody with houses right next door.”
Moore said the rules are still in a state of flux, pointing to a staff recommendation to limit signs to no larger than one square foot in size.
“I thought the signage limit was a bit strict,” he said. “Nobody wants a big, billboard, flashing sign in a neighborhood, but something the size of a real-estate listing sign should be acceptable.”
Moore said he’s most pleased with the work done consolidating the rules and regulations and weeding out problems that have been found in the “Bluebook” as the rules are called.
“It isn’t contradicting itself, like the current Bluebook does so many times,” Moore said.
He said he hopes the county can further limit the amount of study property owners and developers have to do. Giving clear rules on what scale of business activity requires county approval is essential, he said.
“You don’t really need three pages on why you don’t need to come in to the planning office,” Moore said.