
Templates are becoming more widely used, and creating more efficient workflows in the process.
Comprehensive plan templates can save you time by providing a starting point for new projects. They help provide consistency in formatting, layout, and content. Using templates improves your efficiency by allowing you to reuse them for similar projects or tasks, rather than having to recreate the same work over and over again.
Local governments benefit from using templates in a number of ways. Templates can save time by providing a starting point for new projects or documents, which are especially useful for governments with limited resources. They also help improve the professional appearance and effectiveness of local government materials. We’ve provided a basic outline for creating or updating your community’s plan.
Here is a simple comprehensive plan template:
Title
[Insert the title of your comprehensive plan]
Executive Summary
[Insert a brief overview of the comprehensive plan, including its main goals and objectives]
Introduction
[Insert the background information about the comprehensive plan, including why it’s being developed and the stakeholders who were involved in its creation]
Community Profile
[Insert detailed information about the locality, including its size, demographics, geography, economy, and key industries]
Current Conditions
[Insert a detailed summary of the current conditions in the local community, including any challenges or issues that need to be addressed]
Future Goals and Objectives
[Insert a list of the future goals and objectives, including specific targets or targets for each goal]
Implementation Strategies
[Insert a list of the strategies that will be used to implement your local government comprehensive plan, including any key partnerships or initiatives]
Monitoring and Evaluation
[Insert details about how the comprehensive plan will be monitored and evaluated to ensure its effectiveness, including any specific metrics or indicators that will be used]
Conclusion
[Insert a summary of the key points of the local government’s comprehensive plan and any final thoughts or recommendations]
Appendix
[Insert any additional supporting materials, such as maps, charts, or data sources]
Survey Questions to include in your comprehensive plan templates
Surveys help gather a wide range of perspectives and opinions. They can be used to gather feedback from the diverse group of people that live in the area, including residents, business owners, community organizations, and other stakeholders. This helps ensure the comprehensive plan reflects the needs and priorities of the entire area.
Surveys help identify trends and patterns. By analyzing the responses to survey questions, local governments notice trends and patterns that can inform their decision-making process when developing or updating a comprehensive plan. This helps make sure the plan is grounded in data and evidence, rather than just relying on assumptions or anecdotal information.
To view 100 questions to implement when creating or updating the plan, click here.
Optimizing your comprehensive plan
Optimizing a comprehensive plan enables its full effectiveness. By continually reviewing and adjusting the comprehensive plan, local governments can ensure it’s meeting the intended goals and objectives. If it’s meeting goals, you can conclude the plan is making a positive impact on the community while addressing key issues and challenges.
Optimizing a comprehensive plan helps build resident and business support. Involving all stakeholders in the optimization process increases the chances of its successful implementation. By providing opportunities for community members to give feedback and input, local governments will create a sense of ownership and engagement with the plan.
Learn more about optimizing your comprehensive plan here.