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Arkansas City approves MOU with Lang Real Estate for 100‑acre residential master plan
Summary
The Arkansas City Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with Lang Real Estate to produce a master plan for a multi‑phase residential development on about 100 acres inside the city. The master plan is expected within 90 to 120 days and will be paid for by the developer, the commission was told.
The Arkansas City Commission on a unanimous vote approved a memorandum of understanding with Lang Real Estate to plan and implement a multi‑phase residential development on roughly 100 acres within city limits.
City staff said Lang will prepare a comprehensive master plan that will refine earlier city work into final proposals for housing mix, infrastructure layout, phasing and financing. A staff presenter said Lang will develop the master plan at the company’s expense and that the city will retain ownership of the property until individual development phases move forward with separate development agreements.
The MOU covers a planning partnership rather than immediate construction. "They’ll look at housing mixes, infrastructure layout, and put together phasing and activities," a city staff member said during the discussion. The presenter said the firm routinely coordinates financing, builders and related commercial partners and intends to involve local builders and realtors as the project advances.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the site is a greenfield that will require coordinated utility and stormwater planning. City staff noted an existing sewer main crosses the site and can be connected, but added that stormwater, other utilities and phasing must be planned to avoid future problems during heavy rains.
A commissioner observed the fully built project could accommodate more than 300 houses, a scale that would require phased infrastructure installation and close coordination on stormwater and utilities. The presenter reiterated the plan will be phased and said the city will not pay for the master‑planning work under the MOU; future public investments, such as infrastructure or tax abatement decisions, would be addressed later if and when specific phases are proposed.
The commission moved to approve the MOU; the motion was made and carried without recorded opposition. A staff timeline provided at the meeting indicated Lang expects to complete the master plan in 90 to 120 days and to appear at the next work session to introduce the company and the proposed plan in more detail.
Next steps: Lang will produce the master plan within the 90–120‑day window, return to a future work session to present its approach, and any phase that advances will require separate development agreements and any necessary city approvals or infrastructure commitments.
