PEA RIDGE — City leaders are considering the vision for Pea Ridge.

As the town has grown, needs have changed. Constantly faced with questions for funding and meeting the needs of the residents, city officials are looking at the big picture.

At their regular City Council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 17, councilmen listened to a one-hour presentation by Chad Gallagher with Legacy Consulting, about his report from a one-day site visit to town.

No action was taken, but many questions were asked.

Gallagher told city officials that a formal needs assessment and community blueprint are essential when seeking grants.

Gallagher visited town earlier this year and provided city officials with a report.

The summary of an 11-page report states: “Pea Ridge is an exciting city. It is in a beautiful setting, boasts of an excellent school district, has attractive housing and sits next door to a national park.

How can you top that ?!”

Gallagher said many services are provided to the city at no cost because of membership in the Arkansas Municipal League. Other services cost.

“Your needs assessment will give you the tools to do it yourself, but we can help you,” Gallagher said. “At the end of the ball game, what we want to happen is that you have a really good feel and assessment of what the community’s needs and assessments are. “

It becomes a real nice tool in applying for grants,” Gallagher said, adding the assessment allows the city leaders to demonstrate to a funding agency that they’ve identified in a formal method what their needs are.

“It’s beneficial for long-term development.”

Also discussed was connecting the city and Pea Ridge NationalMilitary Park as a source of drawing people to the community.

“My wife’s grandfather fought in the battle,” Jack Kelley, council member, said. “I grew up here but never felt like they (the city and PRNMP) were connected.”

“We’re closer than we used to be,” Mayor Jackie Crabtree said.

City seeks to revert PUDsFROM STAFF REPORTS

More than 100 acres, in two separate parcels, are on the agenda for public hearings to considering rezoning from Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning to Agricultural 1 zones. The PUD on 40 acres at Dove and Blue Jay roads and the 54 acres at Ross Salvage Road and Arkansas Highway 72 are both on the agenda to return to A-1 zoning.

Also on the agenda for a public hearing is a conditional use for a concession trailer at 624 Slack Street and a zoning ordinance allowing the City Council to revert a PUD zone with a majority vote.

Each of those four items are to be considered by the Planning Commission under new business as is a final plat for Lee Town Estates by Matt Marrs.

The Pea Ridge Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Pea Ridge City Hall.

News, Pages 1 on 11/25/2009