Bentonville Adopts New Future Land Use Map to Guide City’s Growth
Bentonville is taking a major step forward in planning for its future growth with the adoption of a new Future Land Use Map (FLUM), replacing portions of the 2018 Bentonville Community Plan. The updated plan, approved by the City Council, reflects the city’s rapid expansion and aims to guide land use and development decisions in a more sustainable, community-focused direction.
Why the Change?
Originally adopted in 2018, the Bentonville Community Plan was designed to serve as a long-term guide for city growth, typically updated every 10 to 20 years. However, Bentonville’s explosive development over the past five years, combined with shifting housing needs and infrastructure demands, necessitated an earlier revision.
In 2023, the city partnered with DPZ CoDesign to conduct an extensive review and community engagement process, resulting in key updates to the FLUM and strategic growth policies.
Key Changes in the New Plan
1. Stronger Community Engagement
Bentonville residents played a critical role in shaping the updated plan. The city conducted 80 hours of public feedback sessions, collecting input from nearly 4,700 residents through surveys, open houses, developer forums, and online discussions. The American Planning Association Arkansas Chapter even recognized the project with an award for public engagement due to its extensive outreach efforts.
2. Moving From Growth Zones to Nodal Development
The new plan shifts the city’s focus from three priority growth zones to a nodal development strategy, which aims to create multiple centers of activity across Bentonville. This approach is designed to reduce traffic congestion, support public transit expansion, and encourage mixed-use development.
3. Introducing "Place Types" Instead of Traditional Land Use Categories
Rather than strictly designating land as residential, commercial, or industrial, the updated FLUM introduces "place types" that focus on the scale and character of development. The new categories include:
Centers (Regional Center, City Center, Neighborhood Center)
Neighborhoods (Urban, Walkable, Traditional, Suburban)
Corridors (Urban, Walkable, Suburban)
Recreation Areas (Outdoor Entertainment, Parks & Public Spaces)
Specialized Areas (Rural Estates, Industry & Technology, Civic & Institutional)
This modernized zoning approach provides more flexibility while ensuring that development aligns with the city's long-term vision.
4. Financial Impact and Infrastructure Planning
One of the plan’s priorities is balancing tax revenues and infrastructure costs with the realities of rapid growth. The updated FLUM considers the financial sustainability of different development types, weighing the cost of infrastructure expansion against the benefits of increased density in key areas.
Next Steps for Bentonville
The adoption of the new FLUM marks the beginning of the next phase of Bentonville’s growth strategy:
Adoption of a Zoning Alignment Policy – To ensure smooth transitions between existing zoning and the new FLUM.
Updating Zoning & Development Codes – New zoning regulations will be drafted by summer 2025 to align with the FLUM’s place types.
Annual FLUM Review – Instead of reviewing land use changes on a case-by-case basis, property owners will be able to request changes once per year.
Further Study Areas – Specific locations, such as the J Street/I-49 interchange and historic downtown preservation zones, will undergo additional analysis.
With the new Future Land Use Map in place, Bentonville is charting a course toward a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future, ensuring the city remains a desirable place to live, work, and grow.
