PLANNING | Opportunities
Bringing Housing to Your Community Starts with Planning
Embarking on the Comprehensive Planning Process
A comprehensive plan—sometimes called a general or master plan—is a community’s official roadmap, vision, and aspirations for future growth, preservation, and change. It guides public and private decision-making over a 5- 10-year horizon, covering topics like land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and more.
The planning process helps communities think holistically, align zoning and investments with long-term goals, and engage residents in shaping the future. A strong plan offers clarity to developers, supports consistent decisions by local officials, and provides the foundation for applying for grants and managing growth.
The guide that follows, Embarking on the Comprehensive Planning Process, provides a clear, step-by-step approach to help small communities and local leaders successfully create and implement a comprehensive plan. It reflects national best practices and emphasizes community engagement, accountability, and practicality.
A comprehensive plan—sometimes called a general or master plan—is a community’s official roadmap, vision, and aspirations for future growth, preservation, and change. It guides public and private decision-making over a 5- 10-year horizon, covering topics like land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and more.
The planning process helps communities think holistically, align zoning and investments with long-term goals, and engage residents in shaping the future. A strong plan offers clarity to developers, supports consistent decisions by local officials, and provides the foundation for applying for grants and managing growth.
The guide that follows, Embarking on the Comprehensive Planning Process, provides a clear, step-by-step approach to help small communities and local leaders successfully create and implement a comprehensive plan. It reflects national best practices and emphasizes community engagement, accountability, and practicality.
Planning Steps
Build Your Planning Foundation
Get organized internally before launching a formal planning process
Gather and Analyze Existing Conditions
Know where your community stands before deciding where it's going.
Engage the Community
Make sure the plan reflects community values and lived experiences.
Define a Shared Vision and Goals
Set the foundation for policies and action.
Develop Policy Strategies and Implementation Tools
Set the foundation for policies and action.
Develop Policy Strategies and Implementation Tools
Identify how to achieve the vision and goals.
Draft and Review the Comprehensive Plan
Put all the work into a formal document and prepare for adoption.
Adopt and Use the Plan
Turn the plan into official policy and guide decision-making.
Mayors' Partnership for Progress Comprehensive Planning Process
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TOOLS AND EXAMPLES MODEL PLANS
STEVEN BURSTEIN, AICP
Comprehensive Plan Template
The Comprehensive Plan Template by Steven Burstein, AICP, is a practical guide designed to help municipalities structure and draft a comprehensive plan. It outlines key elements such as land use, housing, transportation, and economic development, and includes steps for public engagement, data analysis, and implementation.
Though developed for New Mexico, its flexible format and best practices are broadly applicable to small communities nationwide.
Though developed for New Mexico, its flexible format and best practices are broadly applicable to small communities nationwide.
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
Village of Newtown Comprehensive Plan (2021)
Village of Newtown Comprehensive Plan (2021)
Located in Hamilton County, Newtown is a small village that developed its comprehensive plan to guide future growth while preserving its rural character. The plan addresses land use, transportation, housing, and environmental sustainability, providing a framework for decision-making that reflects community values.
ROSS COUNTY, OHIO
City of Chillicothe Comprehensive Plan (2023)
City of Chillicothe Comprehensive Plan (2023)
The Choose Chillicothe Comprehensive Plan is a community-driven blueprint designed to guide the city's development over the next 10 to 15 years. Developed through extensive public engagement, the plan outlines 73 actionable strategies focusing on areas such as land use, transportation, housing, economic development, and infrastructure.
ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO
Village of Lafayette Comprehensive Plan (2012)
Village of Lafayette Comprehensive Plan (2012)
The Village of Lafayette's 2040 Comprehensive Plan provides a strategic framework for future development, focusing on land use, transportation, housing, and community facilities. The plan emphasizes preserving the village's rural character while accommodating growth and enhancing quality of life.
DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
City of Delaware Comprehensive Plan (2021)
The Delaware Together Comprehensive Plan was developed through a process that integrated input from community members and key stakeholders with the assistance of a consulting firm specializing in Comprehensive Plans. Participants offered thousands of ideas and suggestions that helped to shape the plan’s recommended actions. This process began in early 2018 and culminated with City Council approval in Spring 2021.
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