The governing bodies of Arkansas City, Winfield and Cowley County will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Workforce Center at Strother Field to discuss the U.S. 77 highway corridor plan.
The County Commission has called a special meeting over the plan which focuses on the orderly growth and development along the four-lane highway between Winfield and Arkansas City. The meeting is open to the public.
“The plan has not been officially adopted,” County Administrator Leroy Alsup said. “Also, there will be some planning regulations that will need to be discussed to look at developing those planning regulations and how they will be enforced to implement the plan.”
HNTB Consultants from Kansas City developed the plan. It cost $250,000. The Kansas Department of Transportation provided $160,500 and the three local entities each kicked in $27,500.
Approximately four public meetings were held to allow input so there shouldn’t be anything new for those who live along the involved area who followed the plan’s development, Alsup said.
The orderly growth and development can provide a tremendous asset for the county with both industrial and commercial retail development over the next few years, he said.
“…you don’t want to have entrances and exits all up an down the highway because then it would impede traffic,” Alsup said.
At the same time, people need access to any community development. Service roads may provide entrances to the highway while feeder roads allow traffic between the different commercial developments, he said.
The county commission will next meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Tuesday. A tax increment financing redevelopment district being considered by the Ark City Commission is among the agenda items. Commission meetings are also open to the public and held on the first floor of the County Courthouse in Winfield.