During a recent city council meeting, planners provided an update on the Arnold Mills Small Area Plan, a priority project aimed at preserving the rural character of the Arnold Mill area while addressing community concerns about traffic congestion and development. Principal planner Shuba Changam and TSW planners Nick Johnson and Caleb Rass presented the progress made since the project’s initiation in February, highlighting the importance of community feedback in shaping the draft plan.

The Arnold Mill area, characterized by its unique rural landscape and historical landmarks, spans approximately 520 acres along a three-mile stretch of Arnold Mill Road. The planners emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to manage growth pressures from surrounding regions while maintaining the area's pastoral charm. A significant focus of the plan is to alleviate traffic congestion, which has been identified as a primary concern by residents.

The planning team conducted three public meetings and a community survey, gathering over 260 responses that reinforced the community's desire to keep Arnold Mill rural. The feedback indicated support for small-scale, downtown-style development, particularly in designated activity nodes, while preserving open spaces and historic resources.

Key recommendations from the draft plan include widening Arnold Mill Road to improve traffic flow while maintaining its rural character, establishing new roadway connections, and creating multimodal trails to enhance accessibility. The planners proposed two activity nodes: one at Cox Road, featuring a mix of residential and commercial spaces, and another at Chadwick Road, focusing on bridal tourism with amenities such as a country inn and community garden.

The draft plan is currently under review, with plans for public posting in the coming days. The city council is expected to consider the community's feedback before finalizing the recommendations, which aim to provide a roadmap for sustainable development in the Arnold Mill area while respecting its unique character.