Planning & Zoning
The Planning & Zoning Division provides information on land use and zoning of property and provides guidance to those wishing to develop property.
Staff reviews proposed development applications to ensure consistency with long-range plans adopted by the City and to ensure compliance with all City and State development regulations.
Staff also provides support to the City Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and City Council on all development related matters.
PLANNING RESOURCES
LONG RANGE PLANS & REPORTS
ENDEAVOR 2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (2024)
The Endeavor 2045 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Bartlesville was adopted by the City Council in November 2024. The comprehensive plan update was identified as a need in the City’s organizational strategic plan, Bartlesville NEXT, which was adopted by the council in 2022. The updated comprehensive plan provides an overview of community context, including Bartlesville’s history, people, community services, economy, housing, parks, quality of life, land, mobility and natural resources. The comprehensive plan update is the blueprint for guiding and facilitating the future growth and development of the community over the next 20 years. It covers topics including land use, transportation, infrastructure, housing, parks, economic development, and more. In addition to zoning guidance and design considerations for particular areas in the city, the plan identifies more than 129 action steps for the City and its partners. Those action steps are based around four guiding principles:
- Future Bartlesville: 43 actions identified to facilitate growth and development, provide safe and reliable access, and promote community pride.
- Prosperous Bartlesville: 29 actions identified to enable residents and businesses to thrive.
- Livable Bartlesville: 31 actions identified to sustain a vibrant community where residents enjoy a high quality of life.
- Natural Bartlesville: 26 actions identified to foster a sustainable and resilient community for future generations.
For more information, see the Endeavor 2045 project website. (Appendices for the Endeavor 2045 plan are also available on the project website)
BARTLESVILLE HOUSING STUDY (2024)
The Bartlesville Housing Study was adopted by the City Council in March 2024. A housing study is an in-depth analysis of a community’s housing market, essential for informed decision-making. It evaluates the availability, quality, and affordability of housing, and provides data to guide policy and development. It integrates data from various authoritative sources, including the U.S. Census, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Tulsa Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Federal Reserve Bank, and local rental market survey data. The 2024 Housing Study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the city’s current housing environment, unearthing trends, spotlighting gaps, and projecting future needs. The study was adopted by City Council in March of 2024.
PARKS MASTER PLAN UPDATE (2024)
The 2024 Parks Master Plan Update integrates new community feedback to ensure it reflects the evolving needs and aspirations of Bartlesville residents. The updated Plan reviews the 2009 Parks and Recreation Development Plan and its predecessor, the 2004 Park, Recreation, and Open Space Needs Assessment, incorporating key findings to establish a forward-looking 10-year roadmap for the City’s parks and recreation facilities, programming, and land use.
CITY OF BARTLESVILLE STRATEGIC PLAN (2022)
The City Strategic Plan, adopted in July 2022, focuses on financial excellence, economic growth, infrastructure and community partnership, outlines the City’s vision, mission and values and identifies strategic priorities and key objectives that will guide City operations over the next three to five years.
U.S. HIGHWAY 75 CORRIDOR STUDY & MASTER PLAN (2003)
The 2003 U.S. Highway 75 Corridor Study and Master Plan looks specifically at the needs and development possibilities along the U.S. Highway 75 corridor.
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN: A COMMUNITY VISION (2004)
Completed in 2004, the Downtown Master Plan: A Community Vision served as a community guide to help Bartlesville maintain a vibrant and health downtown area. This plan covers downtown buildings and streets, business and residential use, as well as parking and landscaping.
BARTLESVILLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN (2008)
In 2008 the City Council formed the Affordable Housing Task Force and directed it to initiate a self-evaluation of its ordinances, codes, regulations, policies and procedures and report back with possible modifications that might assist in increasing the supply of affordable housing in the community. The Bartlesville Affordable Housing Plan is the result of that effort.
WEST BARTLESVILLE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN (2011)
A comprehensive vision applying specifically to the western portions of Bartlesville, the 2011 West Bartlesville Redevelopment Plan provides a framework for improvements for west Bartlesville neighborhoods and identifies potential catalyst project for change.
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (2009)
The 2009 Downtown Redevelopment District Implementation Plan offered an in-depth look at downtown Bartlesville and potential strategies and improvements.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
The Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan covers the following jurisdictions: Bartlesville, Copan, Dewey, Ochelata, Ramona and Vera, as well as the public schools of Bartlesville, Copan, Dewey and Caney Valley. FEMA requires plans to be updated every 5 years in order for communities to continue to be eligible for hazard mitigation grants. The update process is coordinated by the Washington County Emergency Management Agency, and plan documents may be viewed on their website.
PREVIOUS LONG-RANGE PLANS & REPORTS
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN FOR THE BARTLESVILLE METROPOLITAN AREA (1998)
The 1998 five-part Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Bartlesville Metropolitan Area, now replaced by Endeavor 2045, looked at the planning process, early history and significant physical characteristics of Bartlesville, projections and forecasts for the metropolitan area, and standards and physical development of the community.
PARKS & RECREATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2009)
The 2009 Parks & Recreation Development Plan served as a 10-year road map for the Parks and Recreation Department. The plan provides direction and strategies for parks, land, recreation programming and recreation facilities.
BARTLESVILLE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE ANGELOU ECONOMICS (2013)
Commissioned by the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bartlesville in 2012, the Angelou Strategic Plan evaluated the conditions of Bartlesville’s quality of life and retail market and offered potential strategies for improvement. The plan is broken into five phases: Economic and Demographic, Quality of Life Assessment, Strategic Recommendations and Community Scorecard.