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Jonesboro council hears plan for new 15–20 year comprehensive growth plan; consultants outline public charrette and 18‑month timeline
Summary
Consultants from DPZ, Crafton Tull and Urban3 presented a process for a new comprehensive plan for Jonesboro that will combine technical analysis and an extended community engagement program, including a weeklong on‑the‑ground charrette and an implementation toolbox.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver introduced a presentation July 15 on a proposed citywide comprehensive plan that consultants said would provide a 15–20 year roadmap for growth and infrastructure.
The mayor said the city’s last comprehensive plan was adopted about 30 years ago and called the new effort “a worthwhile investment” that should combine professional research, broad public input and staff participation.
Dave Roberts of Crafton Tull, Julie Kelso of Crafton Tull and Matt Lambert of DPZ explained the four‑phase work plan: continuous community engagement, inventory and diagnostic analysis, a weeklong charrette (an on‑the‑ground design workshop), and plan drafting with implementation and adoption steps. Consultants described a likely 18‑month schedule but said the timeline could vary depending on community review.
“Community engagement happens throughout,” Julie Kelso said, describing a mix of in‑person pop‑ups, stakeholder interviews, online mapping and surveys. The team said it will provide public dashboards to display results and a series of meetings with a steering committee and city staff.
Matt Lambert of DPZ emphasized the charrette: a weeklong studio in Jonesboro where design professionals will develop and test ideas with residents and stakeholders, culminating in a large public presentation of preliminary concepts. Consultants said the process will produce prioritized projects, phasing and an implementation table that names responsible parties and time frames.
The presenters also described Urban3’s parcel‑level fiscal analysis, which compares different growth scenarios to estimate long‑term infrastructure liabilities and fiscal returns. Consultants said the analysis helps determine which land‑use patterns are most likely to produce property and sales tax revenue sufficient to pay for city services, and noted that downtown investment often improves overall fiscal balance.
The team said the comprehensive plan will coordinate existing plans—parks, master street plan, connectivity work—and that an updated master street plan will be done alongside land‑use work to ensure transportation and land‑use strategies align.
Mayor Copenhaver closed the presentation by saying the plan will come before council committees and undergo the normal public hearings and adoption process. The council asked no questions at the public presentation and the consultants left themselves open for follow‑up coordination with city staff.
