A comprehensive plan is a tool communities use to identify their long-range vision and goals (15-20 years into the future) and manage community change. Comprehensive plans are important in helping a community balance their development goals with the need to provide a quality living environment for existing and future residents. The Community Planning Program has a long history of working with local governments on comprehensive land use plans. DCA planners can design and facilitate a planning process that addresses the growth and development goals of each individual community.
Often a town has the need to address a select set of issues or challenges facing the community. The Community Planning Program has assisted many communities in doing so through a strategic plan that identifies specific goals and objectives related to the town’s priorities. Strategic action plans often focus on immediate needs in the community for economic development, housing and community development, public services and amenities, and neighborhood revitalization. The main component of such a plan is the action plan, which lays out projects the town will undertake within a discrete timeframe (5-10 years).
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Town of Aberdeen Comprehensive Plan: The Town of Aberdeen, with technical assistance from the DCA Southeastern Regional Office, developed a land use plan that projects the location of future population and urban growth through 2030. More than 80 citizens participated in the initial visioning process that helped shape the goals of the community. The plan incorporates Randall Arendt’s “conservation subdivision” and “growing greener” concepts in an attempt to accommodate future growth in keeping with Aberdeen’s existing town character. Conservation subdivision design is presented as an alternative to conventional subdivision design, due to the benefits of preserving natural resources and open spaces, using infrastructure more efficiently, and protecting unique site features.
Town of Franklinton Strategic Plan: In need of downtown revitalization and economic development, the Town of Franklinton embarked on a strategic planning process with the help of the Raleigh Regional Office. As a first step in the planning process, a community survey was mailed to every residence in the town. The town received an overwhelming response from the community, indicating strong support for initiatives that promote downtown revitalization, job growth and economic development, upgrades to public infrastructure, and improvement of community aesthetics. Specific recommendations were identified for each of these areas based on priorities identified from the community survey. The plan was adopted by the Town Board in the fall of 2006, and Franklinton is moving forward with implementation of the priority recommendations, namely the formation of a downtown development committee to focus on downtown improvements, marketing, and economic restructuring.
Surry County I-77 Gateway Economic Development Plan: The Piedmont Regional Office staff provided assistance in an effort to plan for future growth and development around the I-77/I-74 and Highway 89 interchange west of Mount Airy. The plan makes recommendations that maximize the tourism potential of this area, in addition to addressing design and transportation issues. The Surry County Commissioners endorsed the plan in February 2005. The design element of the plan was coordinated with the North Carolina A&T State University Landscape Architecture Program.