The Planning Process

Process & Timeline

The planning process of a city-wide or area-specific comprehensive plan occurs in phases held over several months. Each phase helps build the foundation of the final plan, ensuring the end product is thoroughly researched and constructed with extensive community input and direction.

  • The consultant team will collect and analyze a variety of data, trends, and valuable information to form an understanding of the existing conditions and future potential of the community. This includes review of existing plans, policies, and programs, analyzing demographic and market data, and assessing the relationship between current land use and zoning.

    Sparta Existing Conditions Report

  • Through engagement with Sparta residents, staff, elected officials, key stakeholders, and the broader community, the consultant team will identify areas that may need additional planning and form a future land use plan for the entire city.

  • The objectives (the “what”) and key results (the “how”) serve as the framework for planning documents, detailing how broad goals comprising the community’s vision of the future can be achieved over the next 10-20 years. Actionable implementation steps, tools, and strategies are provided to assist with reaching these goals.

    At the end of the planning process, the resulting plan document will go through the official adoption process.

Who participates in
the planning process?

The planning process takes a coordinated effort between multiples groups of stakeholders in the community. Each phase of engagements will incorporate the expertise of city staff and officials, industry leaders, residents, property and business owners, local developers, and other community leaders in Sparta.

Diagram showing stakeholder engagement with central yellow circle labeled 'Stakeholder Engagement' and surrounding circles labeled 'Community Members', 'City Departments', 'Steering Committee', 'Planning Commission', and 'City Council'.

Community
Members

  • Residents

  • Business Owners & Local Employers

  • Property Owners

  • Community Leaders

  • Community Groups

  • Civic Institutions

  • Local Government & Quasi-Governmental Organizations

Steering
Committee

Chosen for their individual expertise and local knowledge, this small group works alongside the consultant team throughout the planning process to provide feedback and guidance.

City
Departments

City staff and elected officials provide feedback, assistance, and vital information throughout the planning process and utilize the plans to guide future decisions.

City
Council

The City Council will review and adopt the plans and utilize them to inform future decision-making for the community.

Planning
Commission

The Planning Commission will review and recommend adoption of plans to the City Council. The Commission will also utilize the plans to inform future decision-making for the community.