What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A comprehensive plan is a long-range roadmap for the future of a community which examines and makes recommendations on a variety of planning activities such as land use, transportation, utilities, infrastructure, community facilities, housing, the environment, recreation, economic development, and more. It provides information about conditions, trends and issues in a community and identifies actions needed to address such issues.

A comprehensive plan is not a regulatory document on its own. Rather, it establishes goals and priorities that guide future growth and development. It also:

• Documents a community conversation: “Where are we at? Where would we like to be?”

• Provides a basis for decision-making, problem-solving and policy development by government officials,

• Establishes priorities for government projects, staff, and services