‘Growing Home’ Roadshow Nears Tonight’s Closing
- Growing Home NWA Project Team
- Sep 24
- 5 min read
Team engages hundreds of stakeholders across the region.
As the Growing Home roadshow moves through its final stops, the conversations have widened. Over the past two days, discussions ranged from county-scale infrastructure and growth management to how individual city visions align with a regional plan. Together, these perspectives are shaping a clearer picture of Northwest Arkansas’ future.
Stop 10: Northwest Arkansas Council’s Infrastructure Work Group
The roadshow gathered 46 members of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s long-standing Infrastructure Work Group, including mayors, utility directors and business leaders. Created in 2011, the group guides regional strategy on roads, water, wastewater and other systems that carry growth.
Participants emphasized the challenge of coordinating development across city lines. While no region in the country has true regional zoning authority, examples from Alabama and New England show how local governments can align codes and plans with outside support. Similar approaches could strengthen consistency in Northwest Arkansas as extraterritorial jurisdiction policies evolve.
Job centers emerged as a priority. Identifying and planning for employment hubs in future land use maps can guide infrastructure investments and build the tax base needed to support utilities. Leaders also noted that most major roads depend on state and federal funding, and current five-year highway plans will not meet long-term needs.
Water and wastewater concerns drew attention as well. Unregulated development around key watersheds threatens drinking water quality, and regional service models can be less costly than siloed systems.
Housing pressures remain. Vacancy rates are low, and much of the new supply is priced out of reach for many families. Where and how growth occurs, whether in centers, along corridors or in new subdivisions, directly affects the cost to build and maintain infrastructure.
Bottom line: fast‑growing regions must compress centuries of system building into a few decades. It will take new partnerships, new tools and planning together.
Stop 11: More Elected Officials
Leaders from Lowell, Springdale, Tontitown and Elm Springs, which sit along the I-49 and AR 112 corridor, took part in the discussion. The corridor connects the region’s cultural and corporate north with its university south and is home to major employers in manufacturing, logistics and poultry processing.
Conversation turned quickly to fiscal pressures. Springdale officials noted gaps in sales tax revenue compared to neighboring cities, even with the recent boost from online sales tax collections. Leaders said clearer visuals and examples of current collaborations could help cities identify overlaps and gaps, particularly around zoning reforms designed to encourage sustainable development.
Capacity was another concern. Smaller cities want to avoid repeating suburban patterns. Officials discussed model zoning codes for cities with limited staff capacity and stressed policies that make new development fiscally sustainable.
The role of the state legislature was also front of mind. Some expressed frustration at preemptive housing legislation and the difficulties it creates for local planning. Participants discussed strategies for working with state representatives ahead of the next legislative session to find common ground on housing and land use.
Other issues included fire codes that shape building design, the need for clear annexation policies, and the importance of county governments as partners in managing development. Leaders agreed that long-term solutions will require cooperation across jurisdictions and levels of government.
Takeaway: the central corridor is pivotal. Cities need tools, policy and partnership so growth strengthens, not strains, community resources.
Stop 12: Dual Quorum Court
For the first time, the quorum courts of Benton and Washington counties met in a joint session that drew a standing-room audience of nearly 100. Leaders framed the evening as a chance to move beyond reactive cooperation and start addressing growth together.
Public comment opened with strong community voices. Speakers raised concerns about immigrant communities facing hardship, waste management impacts and the broader need for empathy in local policy.
Matt Lambert of DPZ CoDesign outlined the challenges of accommodating a population near one million by 2050. He noted that dispersed growth strains infrastructure and budgets, while compact patterns support services, protect rural land and create places where communities thrive. Revenue‑per‑acre data showed which areas pay for themselves, underscoring the financial stakes of land use choices.
Questions from Justices focused on housing variety, annexation pressures, watershed management and tax base stability. Several noted that downtowns and townhomes often generate more revenue than they consume, while subdivisions and sprawl can leave counties with long‑term liabilities. Others pressed on preserving agriculture, managing septic systems and protecting green space while offering housing choices at different price points.
The theme was clear: growth crosses boundaries, and neither county can solve the challenge alone. Officials expressed interest in more joint sessions and requested updates as strategies take shape.
Stop 13: More Homebuilding Industry
Homebuilding professionals examined practical barriers that slow or complicate growth. While zoning codes often take the blame, participants pointed to fire codes and engineering standards that can make walkable, denser development more difficult to deliver.
Funding and finance were another theme. Builders said capital markets are beginning to catch up with urban forms, and recent federal moves to ease financing for accessory dwelling units will help. Locally, a 2026 vote on creating an economic development district could expand housing tools.
Predictability dominated the discussion. Participants called for more consistency across communities on stormwater, building and engineering standards. Different rules city to city raise costs and uncertainty. Several suggested regional baseline codes, especially for stormwater, as a foundation cities could build upon.
Message: the development community is ready to do its part. Standardization and collaboration across jurisdictions will lower costs, reduce delays and support a wider range of housing choices.
Stop 14: More Elected Officials
The roadshow gathered 36 local leaders from Avoca, Rogers, Bentonville, Pea Ridge, Bella Vista, Garfield, Gateway and Little Flock, representing the central corridor that anchors Northwest Arkansas’ industrial and civic midsection.
Infrastructure dominated the conversation. Smaller cities are working together on regional water and sewer solutions, while leaders stressed the need for stronger coordination between municipalities, utilities and schools. Several noted that school siting often dictates growth but occurs without city input, creating long-term costs when facilities are built far from existing infrastructure.
Transportation was another theme. Officials voiced support for stable funding for Ozark Regional Transit and discussed strengthening the Regional Mobility Authority into a broader transportation authority. Leaders pointed to national examples where coordinated planning around transit produced both public funding and private investment.
Other priorities included preserving farmland, adopting more context-sensitive design standards, and improving connectivity with smaller blocks, trails and sidewalks. Participants emphasized the value of planning with reliable data to guide strategic infrastructure investments and build public trust.
Next Steps
The Northwest Arkansas community is invited to join us for tonight’s final public meeting at The Medium, 214 S. Main St., Springdale. The roadshow will conclude with some informational displays, a presentation and public Q&A.
Follow Growing Home for project updates and share your perspective through the community survey. Your voice, and that of your neighbors throughout the region, is helping shape a more connected and opportunity-filled future.
