5 Components Your Comprehensive Plan Needs to be Successful

Laurie Miller, SEH

Comprehensive planning is essential to shaping a future that reflects a shared vision. Yet, transitioning from theoretical aspirations to actionable results remains a challenge for many municipalities.

Effective plans must consider the financial, social, and logistical realities of implementation, especially in today's uncertain economic climate. Traditionally, focused on land use development potential, modern plans now emphasize financial feasibility

This article explores five essential components for creating and implementing a successful comprehensive plan that achieves real, measurable success.

1. Uncover the Anticipated Expense (Cost of Community Services)

A cost of community services study (COCS) determines whether various forms of land use contribute to or detract from local government budgets. COCSs provide a for informed land use and policy decisions.

COCS analyses should precede comprehensive planning to understand the land use relationships and achieve near-tax neutrality. Committees can use COCS results to consider the cost (or tax levy impact) of public services for each land use, leading to potential long-term tax savings and smoother plan implementation.

To conduct a thorough COCS study, municipalities should analyze the fiscal contributions and service demands of:

• Residential: Single-family, two-family, and multi-family housing types, each with varying demands on public services.
• Business Commercial, industrial, and private utility developments, which often generate significant tax revenue but may require substantial public investment.
• Agricultural: Farmland and open space, which may have lower service costs but contribute less in direct tax revenue.

Understanding these land use relationships allows municipalities to make informed decisions about zoning, development, and infrastructure investments, aligning plans with fiscal sustainability.

2. Consider the Role of Economic Development, Financial Incentives

Community development and economic development are interdependent processes. Community development enhances the quality of life, while economic development generates wealth. Both are essential for economic viability.

Economic development uncovers revenue sources and assesses tax rates and levy implications. Performing a COCS analysis and economic activities, helps municipalities understand funding sources and costs of implementing a comprehensive plan.

To incorporate economic development into comprehensive planning, municipalities should consider key financial tools and strategies, such as:

• Financial incentives: Evaluate grants or subsidies for attracting investment.
• Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) or tax abatement: Stimulate growth with careful planning.
• Hybrid or creative financial incentives: Develop innovative funding mechanisms can for strategic growth.
• Budgeting or issuing debt: Understand financial risks and rewards.
• Impact fees: Ensure new development contributes to infrastructure and public services.

By addressing these questions, municipalities can align economic development strategies with their comprehensive plan, ensuring feasible, equitable, and impactful financial incentives. This integration fosters community and economic growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

3. Prepare to Update Your Plan Every 10 Years

Traditional 20-year plans can become outdated quickly. Many plans become irrelevant after 10 -years due to evolving regulations, technology, and demographics. To keep plans actionable and aligned with a community’s needs, municipalities should:

• Establish a structured update schedule. For example, a rolling review system can ensure different plan components (e.g., land use, transportation, or housing) are reviewed annually, keeping the entire plan updated within 10 - years. Regular updates maintain relevance, adaptability, and alignment with long-term goals.
• Identify funding strategies. Consider funding sources for infrastructure, public utilities, and open spaces and strategies that position the community for eligibility and successful proposals.
• Implement monitoring metrics. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess and adjust goals.

Comprehensive plans should be closely aligned with the zoning code and other city ordinances. Regular updates to the plan ensure that it supports these ordinances, fostering cohesive and effective governance.

4. Partner with adjacent communities upfront

Comprehensive planning requires considering growth with neighboring municipalities. Competing for annexation can lead to delays and conflicts.

To foster collaboration, municipalities:

• Establish clear growth boundaries. Define and agree upon boundaries to avoid conflicts.
• Negotiate shared resources. Collaborate on public utilities, infrastructure, and open spaces.
• Draft intergovernmental agreements. Formalize partnerships for long-term cooperation.

By working together, municipalities can reduce inefficiencies, unlock cost-saving measures, and build stronger relationships that support regional growth through joint projects and shared initiatives.

5. Incorporate Sustainability and Resilience

Sustainability and resilience are essential for thriving communities. Sustainability balances environmental, social, and economic priorities, while resilience emphasizes recovery and adaptation.

Municipalities should embed these principles by addressing:

• Environmental sustainability: Integrate green infrastructure, renewable energy initiatives, and sustainable building practices.
• Economic resilience: Diversify the economy, invest in workforce development, and support small businesses.
• Social equity: Ensure equitable access to housing, transportation, and essential services for all community members, including underserved populations.
• Risk preparedness: Conduct risk assessments and develop emergency response plans.

For example, adopt renewable energy goals, implement mixed-use zoning policies, or create a disaster recovery fund. Prioritizing sustainability and resilience builds a stronger foundation for long-term growth and prosperity.

Tying it all together

Comprehensive planning is a dynamic strategy that evolves with the community. By incorporating these five components, municipalities can create plans that are visionary and practical, addressing growth complexities while fostering collaboration and resilience. Approach the process holistically – balancing bold ideas with practical execution.

Laurie Miller is a community development specialist with extensive municipal planning experience in various domains. She has a passion for redevelopment and recreational planning, enjoying great success in seeking funding and developing a collective vision for projects that create vibrant and inclusive spaces for communities to live and come together.