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Jasper begins land use regulation study

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Jasper government officials met Wednesday, March 31, with experts in the area of community economic development planning from the University of Arkansas Little Rock/Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) to begin the process of updating existing city zoning regulations in order to meet goals the city has set out in its Future Strategic Community Plan (FSCP).
AEDI worked with the city to develop the plan over a year-long process that included community meetings, surveys and studies. The FSCP was published in July 2020 and has become the basis of choosing projects that benefit business, government or the community and to improve the area's overall quality of life.
Attending the meeting were Mayor Jan Larson, City Administrator Janet Clark, city council member and Planning and Land Use Committee chair Lindsey Graham, public works director and water operator Jacob Collins and the city's attorney R. Dawn Allen from Berryville. From Little Rock were, AEDI director Jim Youngquist, emergency management specialist Miles McDonnell, community economic development planners A. Lamar Hoy, Amber Berg and Logan Benson.
As the FSCP notes, the population of Jasper and Newton County has been on the decline. The city wants to enhance the community and quality of life to attract new businesses and residents.
The plan recommends development should occur in areas where infrastructure and public services already exist, updating city zoning regulations, and reusing and redeveloping existing parcels and structures versus development of vacant parcels.
Larson said in recent months, the city has been faced with several requests for rezoning property within the city for a change of use. She said she doesn't know how to answer these queries when people bring them to her at city hall. Some examples she gave:
• The popularity of turning private residences into commercial use such as bed and breakfasts and nightly rentals.
• Placing tiny houses that are more in line with being mobile homes or trailers on zoned residential lots.
• Developers wanting water and sewer lines relocated to suit their needs.
As the city attorney, Allen said she tries to research ordinances from other cities the size of Jasper to see if they can be adjusted to meet Jasper's needs. She said she often references ordinance templates from the Arkansas Municipal League. The AEDI can be of help, said Younquist, introducing the group of community planners that have recently been added to the staff.
They appeared anxious and asked a lot of questions about Jasper.
It was pointed out that tourism is the community's economic engine. The city has few if any filing or permit fees. The city has a surplus of water that it purchases under an agreement with the Ozark Mountain Regional Water Authority. The city is currently updating its waste water treatment capacity and is in the process of correcting drainage issues. Expanding broadband into more rural areas is needed, the planners were told.
Collins noted that the topography of the town creates problems for the laying of water and sewer lines. Pumps have to be utilized to push water up hill or pipes are left exposed crossing ravines. "I'd hang pipes off of telephone poles if I could," he said.
The city needs to update its maps of water lines and sewer lines. Youngquist said the AEDI geographic information system mapping specialists could be of assistance. A conference call is being scheduled for later this month with Collins.
The city officials said the businesses they want to attract are in the area of small retail as there isn't room for large industry. Also, homes will be needed for workers.
The problem is there isn't enough housing available either in Jasper or the county. Especially needed is housing that lower earning families can afford. It was noted many people who work in the city such as the school have to commute from other neighboring towns or communities.
Retaining and attracting families would increase enrollment at area schools. New business opportunities would give young adults a reason to stay in Jasper or move back.
Health and transportation services are needed by the more senior population which is currently on the rise.
In the area of density population, Hoy asked if the city had a goal as to the population number it would like to see on its city limits sign. The city's population was reported to be just under 500, but results of the last census haven't been released.
That's a good question, said Collins, as he looked at the other city officials. Lindsey said residents don'tt want Jasper's small town atmosphere to radically change.
Berg focused her questions on entertainment opportunities noting the availability of government grants for parks. Larson acknowledged that the city has utilized the Fun Parks grant and that the city park is about full. There isn't enough space left for a soccer field.
The subject of annexation was brought up and planners said they could provide the city with different models.
McDonnell said the city should plan for expanding its emergency services particularly fire protection. Delivery of water to fight fires is an important part of the city receiving an improved ISO rating on which insurance premiums are based. It was also noted that the county recently had approved a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan and that the Jasper School District recently was approved a FEMA grant to build a safe room on the Jasper campus.
Benson reviewed a long list of recommendations prepared for the city to encourage and prepare for future development. These include zoning and design guidelines, prioritizing infrastructure improvements, new developments and emergency access and other areas of economic development such as infrastructure agreements, tax investment financing, tax abatement,establishing special assessment districts and special service districts.
In closing the meeting the planners said they would come up with an outline of some ordinances and regulations regarding mixed use of property, residential zones and commercial zones, sidewalks, signage and even parking. The city council can review them and see which should be prioritized and help in meeting target goals.



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