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13 THE ALLIANCE REVIEW
<br /> TEN STEPS TO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
<br /> BY MICHAEL CHANDLER
<br /> This article is reprinted with permission from the Summer 2000 issue of the Planning Commissioners
<br /> Journal , a national publication for citizen planners. For more information about the Journal ..
<br /> either call: 7 -888475-3328 (toll-free); fax 802-862- 7882; e-mail; pcjC1together. net; or visit their
<br /> Web site at: www. plannersweb. com,
<br /> he primary job responsibility shared by planning com- staff to prepare a flow chart featuring discrete planning activi-
<br /> missions across the nation involves the design and ties, the party (ies) responsible for each activity, and the due
<br /> development of the comprehensive plan. Whether the date.
<br /> plan is labeled comprehensive, master, or general, we are
<br /> describing the same thing. putting down on paper the hopes , Other actions associated with the second step include :
<br /> dreams , and aspirations a community holds for itself.
<br /> • Determining what role the public will play in the plan devel-
<br /> Capturing in words and pictures what a community hopes to opment process .
<br /> become is a daunting challenge. The task is made simpler, Identifying "key, stakeholders " who need to be involved.
<br /> however, when the planning commission chooses to systemat- Deciding if the plan will be developed as a " top -down
<br /> ically organize the process . staff/consultant effort, " a "bottom- up/citizen driven effort, " or
<br /> some combination .
<br /> While there is no universally accepted " one best way " to devel. Deciding whether the plan will be organized or formatted by
<br /> op a plan, this column will describe one " typical" sequence of chapters , sections , or themes,
<br /> steps that can be followed in developing a comprehensive plan. Deciding what role the governing body will play.
<br /> PLANNING ' S BUILDING BLOCKS Step Three : Gather and Analyze Data.
<br /> To be relevant, a comprehensive plan must address not only
<br /> Preparing a comprehensive plan involves a number of techni- issues and concerns of the present, but also what will likely
<br /> cal, political, legal, and managerial considerations that will face the community in the future. To accomplish this , the com-
<br /> vary from one community to the next. There are, however, mission must gather and analyze a wide array of data.
<br /> three phases common to the planning process . The first
<br /> the process , the second centers on plan Common to most planning efforts is mapping the community ' s
<br /> involves planning
<br /> preparation ; and the third focuses on plan implementation. natural features , such as soil types , topographic and geologic
<br /> Bear in mind, however, that effective comprehensive, planning formations , and surface and groundwater resources . Of equal
<br /> is actually more like a continuous loop, since feedback from importance is mapping existing land uses and development
<br /> monitoring implementation of the plan's recommendations ide. patterns ,
<br /> ally should be used to initiate needed changes to the plan itself.
<br /> A solid plan needs quantitative data as well, Data on demo-
<br /> Step One : Plan to Plan, graphic and socio-economic characteristics such as population
<br /> No, this is not a typographical error ! The first step in the com- and age distribution, levels of educational attainment, and
<br /> prehensive planning process must be a plan for planning. Key employment patterns is typically collected. Likewise, data
<br /> factors associated with this step include the allocation of time, related to transportation usage, housing and economic growth
<br /> human resources , money, and energy to the effort. This step is trends , school enrollment, and local building and development
<br /> too often overlooked or short changed. Some planning com- activity is often examined. And these are just a few examples .
<br /> missions seem to assume the preceding factors will manage Some observers have suggested that everything associated with
<br /> themselves or can be dealt with as problems arise . This logic humankind' s interaction with the land should be considered
<br /> is faulty and potentially fatal to the planning process . and studied !
<br /> Step Two : Structure and Schedule the Process. Investing the time and resources to gather and analyze data rep-
<br /> The answers uncovered during Step One will enable the corn" resents the heart of the planning process . A significant chal-
<br /> mission to structure and schedule the actual planning process . lenge, however, involves deciding how to manage the data
<br /> It is not uncommon for a planning commission or planning gathering process . Experiencd shows that having too much
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