KEY FINDINGS. Community Engagement + Research

PROJECT OVERVIEW

KEY FINDINGS Community Engagement + Research Community Engagement Community Issues Workshop Steering Committee Workshop City Council/Planning Workshop City Staff Workshop Key Person Interviews Stakeholder Groups Website Research Demographics Land Use Transportation System Utilities and Infrastructure Community Character Survey Existing Plans and Reports

KEY FINDINGS Community Engagement Big Issues Economy Economic Stability/Development/Talent Retention Targeting Different Job Markets (Tech Ind.)/Job Growth Quality of Life/Community Image Trail/Bike Lanes Blighted Neighborhoods Poor Gateways (Arkansas Ave. and Main St.) Infrastructure/Financial Health Drainage Problems Aging Infrastructure Tax Revenue Stability Revenue for Infrastructure Changing Development Patterns El Paso Corridor (Town and Gown) Downtown Resurgence Antiquated Development Codes

VISION 2040 Russellville will be a vibrant, prosperous, and attractive community that provides a high quality of life for all its residents. The community will be home to a diverse and adaptive economy. The city will continue to invest in public infrastructure in a way that fosters quality of life and provides a foundation for economic growth. New development will be guided through a fair regulatory process that creates a strong sense of place and creates long-term community assets. Targeted public and private investment will be directed towards the Historic Downtown and the El Paso corridor creating walkable activity centers that have a regional draw. The city will maintain fiscal health and budgeting policy that provides for the needs of residents.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 1) Preserve Open Space and Environmentally Sensitive Areas. 2) Take Advantage of Existing Community Assets. 3) Foster Walkable Neighborhoods which Offer a High Quality of Life. 4) Create a Range of Housing Opportunities and Affordable Choices. 5) Mix Land Uses for Pedestrian-Friendly Places. 6) Promote Attractive Development with a Strong Sense of Place. 7) Provide Recreational and Cultural Amenities 8) Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices and High-Quality Transportation Corridors. 9) Expand Economic Development Opportunities. 10) Provide Policies and Processes that are Predictable, Cost Effective, and Fair to Residents and Developers.

ECONOMIC RESILIENCE NOW Regional Jobs Magnet - (17K Commuters into Town) Diverse Economy - (Mirrors State) Conagra + Tyson - (20% of Economy) Automation? Nuclear One - (Will it still be here?) Increasing Poverty Declining Incomes ATU, Nuclear One, St. Mary s, Russellville Schools (Educated Workforce) 2040 Vision Maintain a Diverse Economy Create atmosphere of entrepreneurship Build and maintain highly skilled workforce Foster a positive business environment

ECONOMIC RESILIENCE 2040 Vision Maintain a Diverse Economy Brace for change automation, technology, culture Recruit growing Economic Sectors/Automation Proof Make ATU a key EcoDevo partner Focus on Intermodal Facility Atmosphere of Entrepreneurship ATU Research Promote Small Business Culture of Innovation Highly Skilled Laborforce ATU and RHS internships Quality of Life Career Education Positive Business Environment Support EcoDevo Good Infrastructure Fairness and Transparency in Regulation of Business Efficient and Fair Development Approvals

COMMUNITY CHANGE AND SMART DEVELOPMENT NOW Slow Growth Projected - (38,000 by 2040 @ 1% annual) ATU Continued Growth (Historically 5-6% annual) Increasing Diversity (1/2 Growth in last 15yrs, Hispanic) Downtown Resurgence El Paso Corridor Weir Road Interchange West Main Corridor 2040 Vision Guide Growth Smartly and Responsibly Better Land Use Regs Encourage Development in and around Downtown Meeting the Needs of a Changing Population (Minority and Elderly) Use the Comprehensive Plan

COMMUNITY CHANGE AND SMART DEVELOPMENT 2040 Vision Guide Growth Smartly and Responsibly Grow where utilities are Create places and districts not just subdivisions (Mixed Use) Promote high tax yield/low infra. cost development Encourage enviro sensitive development Better Land Use Regs Landscaping Regs Better downtown zoning, stronger design standards Protect key corridors More housing choice Fair and efficient development process Encourage Development in and around Downtown Promote infill Promote downtown and El Paso Protect downtown neighborhoods Meeting the Needs of a Changing Population (Hispanic and Elderly) Listen to minority populations Ensure public spending reflects community diversity

QUALITY OF LIFE AND IMAGE NOW Recreation Investments Partial Bike/Ped Network (Here to there?) Arkansas and Main (Poor Representation) Neighborhood Blight and Reinvestment Community Identity? 2040 Vision Improve City Corridors and Gateways Enhance community and recreational amenities Quality of Life as a Growth and EcoDevo Tool

QUALITY OF LIFE AND IMAGE 2040 Vision Improve City Corridors and Gateways Focus on Arkansas, Main St, and West Main St Parkway? Downtown Design Zoning More community beautification Invest in Gateway Beautification Signage, Lighting, Landscaping Enhance community and recreational amenities Continued investment in Bike/Ped Prairie Creek Greenway Lake Dardanelle (Bass Fishing+) High Quality Public Spaces Work with non-profits and churches Quality of Life as a Growth and EcoDevo Tool

QUALITY OF LIFE AND IMAGE

INFRASTRUCTURE AND FISCAL HEALTH NOW Aging Infrastructure Drainage, Drainage, Drainage Maintaining On-going Liabilities New Roads 2040 Vision Coordinate Growth with Utilities Multi-Modal Transportation Healthy Tax Base Address Drainage Problems

INFRASTRUCTURE AND FISCAL HEALTH 2040 Vision Coordinate Growth with Utilities Create LOS standards Consider development impact statements Require Annexation for utilities Use utilities to help implement plan Direct development where infrastructure exists Direct intense development to where it can be accommodated Multi-Modal Transportation Complete streets Access management Eastern arterial More Bike/Ped Infrastructure Healthy Tax Base Maintenance First Policy Encourage High Tax Yield Development Budget for Infrastructure Life-Cycle Costs Address Drainage Problems Support Prairie Creek Project Green Infrastructure (work with nature) and Stronger Drainage Standards Stormwater Utility?

POTENTIAL PLACE TYPES Natural Rural Suburban Urban Special The plan will focus on place types that considers land use as well as form, intensity, and character of development.