CHAPTER 2

CITY IMAGE

City image is very important to the residents of Barling. In fact, in a survey completed by Barling residents in March of 1997, the small city atmosphere and civic pride were the two most important aspects Barling residents felt should be kept and protected. Of particular concern is the lack of identity and attractiveness that residents feel detract from the City's image. The area is rich in history, family traditions and offers quality family living. When you live in Barling, you come home to a community, not just a city.

HISTORY OF BARLING

Barling, Arkansas was founded in 1811 by settler Aaron Barling. Originally the town was known as Spring Hill, due to the many natural springs in the area. The name served the community until l887 when a U.S. Post Office was to be placed in the town. At that time it was discovered that there was another Spring Hill, Arkansas. The town was then named after it's first settler, Aaron Barling. The City of Barling was originally a farm town, however, by the early 1940's the winds of war were blowing across Europe and were to dramatically change the destiny of this small Arkansas community. The construction of Camp Chaffee, named after Major General Adna R. Chaffee, began in 1940 with the first complement of soldiers arriving the week of December 7, 1941. The mission of the post was to train U.S. soldiers for combat in Europe, America and the Pacific. The City of Barling experienced a tremendous boom in housing, businesses and people.

Fort Chaffee

Following WWII, Camp Chaffee became Fort Chaffee and continued to train U.S. Army personnel in a variety of military specialties. In the late 50's, Elvis Presley entered reception station at Fort Chaffee and received his first military hair cut. The post has served as a refugee center in the 70's for Vietnamese refugees and in the early 80's for Cuban refugees. In 1987 when the call came for the military to train a rapid deployment force, the Joint Readiness Training Center concept was developed at Fort Chaffee. After five years of operation the mission was moved in 1993 to Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Because Fort Chaffee retains it's WWII look, several motion pictures have been filmed at the post. These include "A Soldier's Story" and "Biloxi Blues" in the 1980's and the HBO TV movie, "Tuskegee Airmen" filmed in 1995.

Fort Chaffee and the City of Barling have a special relationship. That relationship continues to endure. With the realignment of the post to the Arkansas National Guard, over 5,000 acres of land and facilities, considered excess by the Army, is being turned over to the City of Barling. This will allow Barling and Eastern Sebastian County to grow while being good neighbors to the National Guard and Reserve.

Even before Fort Chaffee was established as a military base, there is evidence that it was inhabited by Native American people as early as 3,000 BC. There is also evidence that small bands of nomadic hunters and gatherers traversed 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. European hunters and trappers were in the area before the 19th century. However, Euro-American settlements did not occur on site until after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Several buildings located at Fort Chaffee are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places including the Maness Schoolhouse building, which dates back before the 1940's. Another 21 sites are potentially eligible for inclusion and another 22 sites will require further investigation. It is very important to the residents of Barling to preserve and protect the history of the city because part of its charm is it's colorful and rich history.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF BARLING

One of the most beautiful features surrounding Barling is the Fort Chaffee site which consists of over 72,000 acres. An excess of 60,000 of these acres are undeveloped, untouched land, and this has allowed for a unique and beautiful piece of land to remain in its natural state.

Vegetation

The site is comprised of upland forests, bottomland hardwood forests, tall grass prairies, old fields, maintained cool season grasslands and wetlands. Existing vegetation is a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest species. No unique ecosystems are known to exist on Fort Chaffee, although the wetlands, pond areas, and grasslands have been identified as having a high value for forage and habitat to wildlife species.

Wildlife

A variety of wetland and non-wetland mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and bird species have been observed on the site. The American Burying Beetle, which is on the Federal endangered species list, has been found on Fort Chaffee. Other listed species which have been found on Fort Chaffee include: the Northern Scarlet snake, the Ornate box turtle, the Bewick's wren, and the Eastern harvest mouse. The white-tailed deer is very common to the area as is the wild turkey. Both species allow for ample hunting during prescribed hunting seasons. Other species offered during controlled hunting seasons are the bobwhite quail and the mourning dove.

THE SHAPE OF DEVELOPMENT

Because development on one property greatly affects neighboring properties and because the pattern of development creates the shared environment and economy, regulation of development is the primary purpose of planning. Land use regulation is the strongest tool the City has in shaping its image. Barling residents believe that City government needs to be proactively involved in land use decisions. They noted the need for good planning and regulations, development standards, code enforcement and the need to think long term.

Redevelopment of Property at Fort Chaffee

The one thing that has had the greatest effect and will continue to greatly effect the City of Barling for years to come is the annexation by the city of over 26,000 acres of Fort Chaffee. In 1995, the Department of Defense, as part of the Base Realignment of Closure (BRAC) process recommended the closure of Fort Chaffee. The recommendation was approved with the condition that minimum essential ranges, facilities and training areas are maintained as a Reserve Component Training enclave. This action resulted in the release of over 7,000 acres of land for reuse. Of that 7,000 acres, approximately 5,300 acres are in Barling's corporate limits. This is the first expansion of the City's limits since its incorporation.

In January of 1996 a Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) was established to begin redevelopment efforts for Fort Chaffee. By 1997, a Public Trust was established by the LRA and Sebastian County. The purpose of the Trust was to prepare a comprehensive redevelopment plan for Fort Chaffee and to manage the redevelopment property at Fort Chaffee. In September of 1997, the Public Trust hired RKG Associates, Inc. to prepare a reuse plan for Fort Chaffee. In June 1998, a Preferred Reuse Plan was adopted by the Public Trust. The plan was later adopted by the LRA.

Impact of the Redevelopment

The development of Fort Chaffee is expected to have an impact on the population of Barling including the number of jobs available. It is estimated that as many as 10,700 direct new jobs could be created over the next 30 years. This figure represents only the direct jobs created and not indirect jobs from spin-off development or secondary economic activity. Nor does it represent the thousands of construction-related jobs that would be created as the property is developed.

The redevelopment of Fort Chaffee is also expected to have an effect on the population of Barling. Because of the new residential development, thousands of households will move into homes and apartments built at Fort Chaffee over the next 30 years. It is estimated that as many as 7,281 people might reside at the site based on current land use assumptions.

Based on the potential impact of the redevelopment of Fort Chaffee on the City of Barling and its residents, it is imperative that land use regulation be implemented. It is very important to the residents of Barling that a balance of uses be achieved in the reuse of the Fort Chaffee properties including but not limited to: open space, parks, residential, commercial, industrial, and educational uses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2

Preferred Land Use Plan

Number of Acres by Type of Land Use

Number of Acres

Major Land

Land Use Use

Land Use Category Subcategory Category ______________________________________________________________________________

1. Commercial 564

Office/Retail 150

Business Park 414

2. Industrial 1,126

Light Industrial 694

Business Industrial 432

3. Residential 1,381

Higher Value 355

Moderate Value 700

Lesser Value 326

4. Parks/Open Space 1,551

Ben Geren Park Expansion 372

Wells Lake Park 72

Nature Center 77

Possible Wetlands Mitigation Areas 622

Slopes Greater than 15% 360

Other (Includes Vehicle Storage Area) 48

5. Government/Non-Profit 13

6. Special Uses/Schools 31

7. Landfill Expansion 438

8. Roadways 468

9. Water/Wetlands 1,818

Total 7,390

Mac Steel Expansion Land Area Outside of Study Area 7,440

 

 

 

POLICIES AND STRATEGIES

Policy: Historic resources will be utilized to enhance city image

Strategies:

1) Survey and evaluate historic structures, districts, and places on the basis of their

individual significance, their contribution to an historic setting, and the feasibility of preservation.

2) Seek state landmark status to preserve valued structures, districts and sites.

3) Consider local landmark designation to forestall development of historic sites or

demolition of historic buildings.

4) Encourage rehabilitation of valued buildings or districts with matching grants or

loans.

5) Provide information on architectural styles, renovation techniques, and federal tax benefits for historic preservation.

6) Utilize zoning, design guidelines and site and architectural review to protect the

character of historic districts or sites.

7) Acquire historic sites as parks.

8) Increase the visibility of historic sites with signage, distinctive landscaping, and

alignment of roads or paths where possible.

9) Increase public awareness and enjoyment of public historic buildings by considering use for receptions, weddings, cafes, or galleries.

10) Encourage adaptive reuse of vintage buildings as professional offices, restaurants,

shops or lodgings in appropriate locations.

 

 

Policy: Natural features will be utilized to enhance the city image

Strategies:

1) Encourage development of the trail system and preserve the natural environment.

2) Pursue construction of a public roadway to separate scenic from developed areas.

3) Maintain continuity of creekside trees and the possibility of creekside walks with

sufficient setback of development from creek slopes. This can be accomplished by using sensitive flood control designs, and where possible maintaining existing trees or reestablishment of native trees.

4) Design bridges to indicate creek crossings and provide creek views.

5) Seek to establish vista points such as terraces on public walkways as well as turn-offs and view parks higher in the hills.

6) Define fingers of open space to define the ridges and valleys and connect open hill spaces.

7) Require hill development to respect natural contours and to blend with natural

vegetation.

 

 

Policy: The land use policies and design regulations of the City will be used to shape development in ways consistent with the desired city character.

Strategies:

1) Encourage a balance between housing and jobs in the Barling area.

2) Use the General Policies Plan to guide the extent and density of development into a cohesive pattern. Seek zoning consistency, avoiding spot zoning unless it fills a

specific public need, such as a neighborhood shop, park, or school at an appropriate location.

3) Institute zoning which supports integrated commercial and residential use in activity centers and along some portions of commercial strips.

4) Give consistent attention to the design of new developments. Develop procedures

that will not unduly delay the development process.

5) Establish review standards that require the height and bulk of buildings, roof lines, building materials, and colors to be harmonious with existing development or with specific area plans.

6) Establish site plan review standards which seek to preserve vistas, significant natural features, drainage, and solar access and which provide for continuity of bike and pedestrian ways or trails.

7) Develop landscape standards to include screening of bulky buildings, parking, and outdoor storage and buffering of heavy traffic.

8) Create a city-wide street plan which coordinates selection of species and locations of trees for major streets; and establish a tree preservation ordinance.

9) Reduce the confusing visual overlay of signs of different sizes, shapes, and types with more restrictive standards or with design standards for each area.

10) Consolidate design review standards, sign ordinances and design guidelines for

specific areas into one design manual for the city.

11) Proceed with neighborhood and district planning with input from residents and

employers.

Policy: The city image will be enhanced by community actions to improve city appearance, by recognition of outstanding individual contributions and accomplishments and by promotion of cultural events in Barling.

Strategies:

1) Establish city wide cleanup and rubbish pick up campaigns; mandatory trash pick up for service for each property.

2) Utilize weed abatement authority of the Police Department to remove rubbish, junk, and overgrowth.

3) Establish regular street cleaning, so residents can move vehicles off the street.

4) Encourage interim uses of vacant lots which will improve appearance such as

community gardens.

5) Enforce prompt removal of temporary signs such as garage sale signs and political campaign signs.

6) Give public recognition to those who preserved valuable architecture and historical resources.

7) Give public recognition to new or restored buildings which complement natural

features or architectural character of a district or which bring new architectural

distinction to the City.

8) Assist in bringing public recognition to outstanding business ventures, educational accomplishments, or public service.

9) Establish Barling diversity.

10) Establish celebrations reflecting the cultural diversity of Barling.

11) Encourage other community events which bring people together around special

interests.

12) Assist the local newspaper and cable stations in covering Barling civic and cultural events.