Tell City of Alexander officials what you want in the new Master Development Plan

The Alexander Planning Commission has set June 11 as the date for a public meeting to receive input from residents, business and property owners concerning the future growth of the city. The meeting will be held at the pavilion in the city park from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; weather permitting.

“It will not be a typical meeting, but more similar to an open house.” according to Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck. “Visitors will be able to participate in the meeting anytime between 11:00 and 2:00.”

Before taking part in various activities designed to elicit responses from participants, they will be shown the results of a public survey taken in 2021. Attendees will then move from table to table participating in the discussion topic for that location. Categories include Vision, Transportation, Housing, Recreation, Employment, and Making it Happen.

Huck explained the public meeting is part of the process to write a new Master Development Plan for the city. The Master Development Plan will be used by current and future city leaders to act as a guide concerning residential and commercial growth in the City of Alexander. The current master development plan was approved in 1982.

One of the exercises involves having attendees design, “Alexander from scratch,” Huck said.

Visitors will be able to place zoning labels on a large map, to mark-off residential and business areas, as if Alexander is a blank canvas.

The opinions gathered at this public meeting will be combined with the 2021 survey results. Metroplan staff will then write a preliminary Master Development Plan.

A proposed final version will be presented at a future, more official, public hearing. Comments from the public hearing will be considered when writing the final version of the Master Development Plan. The plan will then go to the planning commission and then the city council for final approval.

Metroplan is a non-profit organization that helps cities and counties in Central Arkansas design and apply for grants involving transportation and other development projects. Writing a Master Development Plan is one step in that process.