While the city adopted Ordinance No. 781 in 1936 authorizing a City Planning Commission to improve the city, World War II interceded and the commission was resurrected near the end of the 1940s.
The current Planning Commission was created September 12, 1949.
In an editorial on Nov. 4 of that year, the local newspaper quoted the New York journalist and advocate of historic preservation, George McEnany, who defined city planning thus: “City planning simply means getting ready for the future in city growth. It is the guidance into proper channels of a community’s impulse towards a larger and broader life. On the face it has to do with things physical — the laying out of streets and parks, etc. But its real significance is far deeper; a good city plan has a powerful influence for good upon the mental and moral development of the people. It is the firm base for the building of a healthy and happy community.”
Fayetteville’s Planning Commission was created in that spirit and tasked with making recommendations to the City Council regarding zoning changes, all annexations, and conditional uses.
The commission also makes recommendations concerning amendments or changes to the Master Street Plan, General Land Use Plan, or other comprehensive planning elements.
It also has jurisdiction over subdivision plans and large-scale development plans as well as conditional-use permit applications.
The commission comprises nine appointed residents of Fayetteville. The first Zoning Plan adopted by the new Planning Commission came in 1951.
Establishment Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. 356 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS: That there is hereby created a City
Planning Commission as Provided by
Section 19-2711, Arkansas Statutes
(1947) which shall consist of nine members, who shall serve without compensation and at least two-thirds of whom shall not hold any other municipal office or appointment, which commission shall have such powers as are now or may hereafter
be granted to it by statute.
Section 2. All ordinances or parts of
ordinances in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed and particularly Ordinance No. 781 of the City of
Fayetteville, Arkansas, which made the Mayor, the City Engineer and one Alderman ex-officia members of the City Planning Commission.
Section 3: This Ordinance being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace and safety and the orderly growth of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect and after its passage and
approval.
Passed and approved this 12 day of September, 1949.
ATTEST:
J.W. McGehee, City Clerk
Powel M. Rhea, Mayor