Future Forward: Meet a Centerton Planner

Get to know Lorene Burns

• Where are you from?

  I grew up on a 160-acre farm in Erie, Kansas, a rural town of approximately 1500. I have also lived in Texas, Missouri, and Germany before moving to Arkansas in 2001.

• Where did you go to school?

  I attended Pittsburg State University, Kansas University, and graduated from Wichita State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting Major

• How long have you been working in planning?

  18+ years

• How did you get into city planning?

  I started working for the City of Centerton in FEB 2002 as the bookkeeper/office manager. The city reminded me of my hometown being rural but close to larger cities and how the community worked together to get things done. Centerton had a population of 2,146 in 2000 and functioned with a small group of employees. Everyone pitched in where they were needed so I assisted with preparing packets for the Council and Planning Commission and coordinating between the engineers, developers, builders, and city departments. I loved working with the developers and seeing a project start and go through completion. In 2007, I became the Planning Manager and was also the only employee in the Planning Department until mid-DEC 2016. I absorbed all I could learn from NWARPC, APA, APAC, and other city planners while also reading zoning articles and deciphering the city municipal code and state laws. Using resources from other cities was and continues to be invaluable. Centerton’s population grew substantially to an estimated 25,745 in Jul 2024 and the Planning Department has grown to five employees.

• What is one project you are proud of?

  In 2020, Centerton adopted the 2040 Comprehensive Plan which was a huge undertaking for the city. The comprehensive plan encouraged the city to really think about what we wanted Centerton to look like and laid out a plan for the city to follow. Included were goals and objectives; new maps for Land Use, Street Plan, and Trails Plan; and a matrix of implementation items to assist the City in achieving the plan.

• In your own words, what does being a planner mean?

  A planner is a visionary for the city with skills to consider all possible impacts of an initial decision. A planner functions as a liaison for the city and the developer, engineer, and citizen. I personally take the approach that we work for the citizens, so we look at what is not only viable for the city, but livable for the citizens to make Centerton a happy place to live, work, and play. We want citizens to be proud of their city.

• Is there a project, city or design that you draw inspiration from?

  I prefer the eclectic approach and take ideas from multiple areas that I think will fit with the uniqueness of Centerton to keep the charm of the rural town while providing options for recreation, entertainment, shopping and dining.

• What is the biggest challenge you face at your job?

  Time to do code changes is always my biggest challenge and it is so important for the job as a Planner to have clear, concise codes.

• What are some things your department is working on that we should be aware of?

  In May of 2025, Centerton adopted new subdivision and development regulations which had been needed for many years. Centerton is very excited about a recreation center for the community and working on getting Phase 1 from the preliminary to the construction phase. In 2024, Centerton was selected to participate in ULI’s Small Cities Initiative to develop a master plan for the “Old Downtown” and a “New Downtown”. We have just selected Garver + ISG as the consultants for this project and are finishing up the contract so it will kick off soon. The city is also working with UCA + Thrive for new branding for the city with a new logo that is more representative of today’s Centerton while also keeping the history of Centerton.

• What is one thing you would like to see happen in NWA in the next 20 years?

  Centerton is between the major arterial highways, so it is difficult to get places without taking a lot of time. I would like to see advances in arterial routes going east to the I-49 and south to the new I-612. Without planning for those future major roadways now, the continued development of this area will make it more difficult to get those crucial routes to happen at all.

• What is one thing you would like everyone to know about city planning?

  Centerton has a hard-working staff that puts their hearts into their work. They are passionate about making Centerton the best city it can be for the people who live here.