ROGERS -- Council members unanimously approved and adopted an updated growth map for the city Tuesday night that will immediately go into effect. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the map last week.
City staff began updating the 2011 map earlier this year, with the largest change focusing on mixed-use development in the retail and commercial area immediately west and east of Interstate 49.
The comprehensive growth map guides the city's development decisions, and the new map more clearly defines different areas for zoning, City Planner Hunter Ethan said in a July 11 interview.
The city developed the proposed I-49 section of the map to encourage development appealing to people who want to live near commercial areas and modeled the area after its downtown development plan. The downtown plan was created in 2015 and allows mixed uses, such as apartments above commercial space.
This area will be placed under a form-based code, which will help streamline the development process, Hunter said. A form-based code is a land development regulation that allows mixed-use projects, such as residential and commercial, in the same area.
This code is a great way for developers and city officials to minimize the developing process, said Mayor Greg Hines.
"Before this we had to sort of make up a way for mixed use, but now we have it in an official document. It's going to be great for the area," Hines said Tuesday.
It is a growing trend across the country to create city regions the with similarities of downtown areas, Hines said.
"We're making it have a downtown feel on the other side of the city," Hines said.
The council also approved a rezoning request to create a warehouse and storage facility on West Industrial Drive.
Property owner Shireley Lach received unanimous approval to turn a section of Second Street and West Industrial Drive into from a highway commercial area into an industrial district.
"We see a need for it, and it fits in with the surrounding area," said Ryan Evitts, a representative for Lach.
NW News on 07/25/2018