In most cities, “developer engagement” looks the same: members of city staff prepare a slide deck, line up chairs in neat rows, and spend an hour explaining rules and procedures. Developers listen, maybe ask a question or two, and everyone leaves. The result is predictable. Developers feel unheard. Staff don’t get the feedback they need. Nothing really changes.
Bentonville, Arkansas, decided to try something different.
Instead of another lecture-style meeting, the planning department set up the room with large round tables. At each table, staff placed a topic sheet with development-related issues such as stormwater, utilities, cottage courts, or code updates. After a brief introduction of the staff members present, the development department sat down with the developers around the tables. Staff kicked off the discussion with an icebreaker that enticed everyone to swap stories and compare notes about their latest struggles and successes. Staff moved from table to table, listening more than talking and writing down what they heard.
That small change transformed the entire conversation. Developers learned from one another. Staff uncovered the real barriers that don’t show up on applications, such as confusing platting requirements and the scattered project information on the city’s website. They also learned about the small but costly rules that make incremental projects harder than they should be. The atmosphere was collaborative, not adversarial. As one staff member put it, these roundtables became the best part of the job.
These roundtable discussions also provide the opportunity for the people investing in Bentonville to meet and gather. Each story shared brought these developers together.
Today, Bentonville hosts these "developer forums" twice a year. They’ve turned what was once a one-way announcement into a two-way dialogue that improves processes, builds trust, and helps small-scale developers succeed. They did it without writing new code or hiring new staff. They simply rearranged the room.
This is the kind of practical reform every city can adopt. No matter your size or resources, you can bring people to the table — literally — and start listening. You don’t need a new ordinance or a major overhaul to change the culture of engagement. You just need the courage to stop talking at people and start inviting them into a real conversation.
Bentonville shows us that better communication isn’t complicated. It’s a table, a sheet of paper, and a willingness to listen. If your city wants more incremental development, start there.
