What are the Master Plan topics?

The master planning process involves public participation to set goals, identify a long-term shared vision, and the review current trends relative to the following topics. 

Land Use

  • Examines the pattern of land use in the community, including public and private land, and protected lands.
  • Examines the proposed standards of population density and building intensity to the capacity of land available.
  • Identifies ideal areas for development to meet future needs as determined by the other plan elements.

    Cultural & Historic Resources

    • Provides an inventory of the significant natural, cultural and historic resource areas of the municipality, and policies and strategies for the protection and management of such areas.
    • Identifies man-made aspects of the community reflect the community’s development over time, especially unique features, in order to protect them in the future.

    Economic Development

    • Determines the strengths and weaknesses of the labor force and market sectors in the local economy in planning for new business and development.
    • Looks at other businesses and industry location factors in identifying improvements to be made to stimulate desired economic development.

    Housing & Residential Development

    • Identifies the location and pattern of existing housing with forecasted needs while considering for the preservation, improvement and development of housing.
    • Assesses the local and regional area to determine how future market forces may influence the development and affordability of housing in the community.

    Natural Resources, Open Space and Recreation

    • Identifies significant natural resource areas and develops policies and strategies for the protection and management of such areas.
    • Assesses the future recreational needs of the community in planning for the maintenance and expansion of existing areas, and the construction of new facilities.
    • Recommends techniques to better protect and manage the current open space network and identifies future land acquisitions to meet active and passive recreational demand.

    Transportation

    • Identifies existing and potential roadway issues or challenges by looking at circulation and parking patterns, developing strategies for improvement.
    • Identifies available alternative transportation options and considers how their future development may help alleviate congestion.

    Community Facilities & Services

    • Identifies the availability and status of public services, including education, public safety, water and sewer, energy, and other utilities. 
    • Looks at future growth and calculates the increased need for the provision of municipal services and facilities in planning for their expansion.
    • Investigates the current delivery of municipal services and identifies best management practices and cost efficient techniques to be implemented.