Comprehensive planning studies a variety of aspects of a community to understand its strengths, opportunities, and collective vision for the future. A Comprehensive Plan is a roadmap that outlines goals for the future and establishes the foundation for growth and development over the following 10-20 years.

Comprehensive planning can include an entire municipality or county, or they can be more area-specific, such as a Downtown or Neighborhood Master Plan. These types of plans are used by staff and elected officials to guide decision-making over the next 10-20 years, outlining the goals, priorities, and desires of the community.

Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-12-5(1)) gives the city or village plan commission the authority to prepare and recommend a Comprehensive Plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the incorporated area of a municipality; and can extend to land up to 1.5 miles beyond the corporate limits of the municipality, as long as that land is not incorporated by another municipality.

Developing city-wide or area-specific plans typically takes 8 to 12 months but may require more or less time depending on the size of the focus area and amount of detail in the plan. The planning process includes:

• Existing Conditions Analysis

• Public Engagement

• Goals & Objectives

• Future Land Use Plan

• Implementation Tools & Strategies

Yes! There will be a number of way the public can contribute to the planning process, from providing direct feedback, taking surveys, and attending public engagement events. As the planning process moves forward, a series of open houses and pop-up events will be announced. Community engagement is vital to the planning process!