Sidewalks Among Items Being Considered in Comprehensive Plan

Among the items considered in Arnold’s new Comprehensive Plan is a call for new sidewalks in the city.

Mayor Ron Counts said the call for sidewalks is not new.

“We’ve had issues for years with people wanting sidewalks, like on Tenbrook and Starling,” Counts said. “There are several areas through the years that people have pushed hard to get sidewalks, which is good. There are some issues with safety with kids walking and people walking. Sidewalks are definitely a big issue that the city is looking at.”

Community Development Director Mary Holden said public involvement is key to developing a comprehensive plan that best reflects Arnold’s values and priorities.

As for sidewalks, Holden said, “People want walkability. They want to be able to walk. Right now, we don’t have a lot of sidewalks along our roads. In the new subdivisions we have sidewalks, but on a lot of our traveled roads we don’t have sidewalks.”

Wednesday's workshop, at 5 p.m. in the Arnold Recreation Center at 1695 Missouri State Road, is the third public session on the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which was last revised in 1996.

Many residents have been involved in development of the comprehensive plan through a recent public survey, perspective group meetings and two citywide workshops.

Holden said this third workshop is an opportunity for residents to weigh in on the preferred scenario developed in the two previous workshops, including calls for new sidewalks, bike trails and parks in the city.

Holden say residents’ input will help establish the goals and policies the city will use to guide future decisions about how much and what type of growth the city should pursue and where it should be located.

Residents can get involved in the process and weigh in on the plan by attending the workshop, visiting Arnold's website, or by emailing the planning department at mholden@arnoldmo.org.