Group Begins Economic Development Study On City

University of Dallas students began work on an economic development study for the city of Wills Point on Tuesday night.

As part of phase one of the study, 25 students in professor Cliff Bowden’s urban management class paired up in vehicles to catalogue present land usage for every parcel in the city. The results will be compared with current zoning maps to determine non-compliance of land usage.

"This is about a two month process," said Bowden, who compared the process to taking inventory of land in Wills Point to seeing how it’s being used.

Stage two of the study will analyze economic trends in Wills Pont, the surrounding areas and in Texas. Stage three will develop a master plan for future land use.

"The question for this area is not whether or not it’s going to grow," said Bowden. "The city is going to grow. The question is what kind of growth. A city can control and promote the growth it wants if it plans."

Bowden estimated the study and master plan will take two years to complete, and would likely include surveys to determine what the citizens of Wills Point want.

"The plan will look 20 years into the future and should reflect the tastes and preferences of the community," Bowden explained. "Citizen input, along with statistical data, is a very important part of understanding what a community lacks or wants. That information allows city leaders to plan towards those businesses or industries."

The students working on the survey are junior, senior and graduate level students in the University’s School of Political and Policy Science. A number of the students are currently employed in administrative offices of municipalities, and working toward furthering their degrees.

The Wills Point EDC approved stage one of the study at a cost of $3,000. Bowden will report to the EDC at the conclusion of each stage before receiving approval to continue.

City manager Jim Stephens estimated the cost of hiring a firm to perform this study at more than $50,000.