No more questioning whether you need to make a strategic plan or a comprehensive plan.

A local government comprehensive plan is a long-term planning document outlining the vision, goals, and strategies for the physical, economic, and social development of your community. It’s a guide for decision-making and policy development, encouraging the growth and development in your area to be aligned with its values and priorities. More than a zoning map, more than a downtown plan, more than a housing plan, these plans encompass everything.

On the other hand, you have local a strategic plan; a shorter-term planning document that outlines specific actions and resources needed for you to hit the goals and objectives outlined in the broader, overarching plan. It focuses on the implementation of specific programs and projects, while typically being reviewed and updated on a more regular basis (5 years) to remain relevant and effective.

This post is aimed to answer the remaining questions you might have when deciding which type of plan to get started on. The components of the two can vary significantly, as each plan has a different – short and long-term – focus. Let’s figure out which mindset you’ll need to consider more!

The things we’ll be breaking down in this article, and some key takeaways are:

• A brief background of the planning process
• The basic components of each type of plan
• When to utilize each type of plan
• And one more thing

Local Government Strategic Plan

A strategic plan enables your community is able to implement the goals and objectives outlined in its broader master plan in a timely and effective manner. It provides a roadmap for achieving these goals, and it helps different departments, agencies, and stakeholders in and around the area to coordinate their efforts.

This type of plan helps monitor and track the progress toward achieving the goals your municipality has outlined. It provides metrics and benchmarks that you’ll use to measure progress, and it helps identify any challenges or roadblocks that may be preventing goals to be achieved.

Building one of these helps allocate resources effectively. By outlining the specific actions and resources needed to achieve the community’s goals, a strategic plan makes sure the resources are being used in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

Another benefit of having a plan with a shorter lens is that it helps adapt to changes and challenges that may arise over time. By regularly reviewing and updating the plan, your community remains relevant and responsive to changing circumstances and needs.

In short, while a comprehensive plan provides a long-term vision and framework for decision-making, a strategic plan helps your municipality gather and facilitate resources to achieve its goals in a timely and effective manner. Both are important tools for local governments, working hand-in-hand to help everyone achieve their overall vision and goals.

Local Government Comprehensive Plan

A comprehensive plan guides your community’s growth and development with a clear vision and set of goals. It regulates resources that are used in a way that’s consistent with its values and priorities, rather than being driven by short-term interests or pressures.

The longer lens plan helps coordinate the efforts of different departments, agencies, and stakeholders within the area. It provides a common framework for decision-making and aligns all parties with the same goals and objectives.

Third, this type of plan can help attract investment and support to the locality. By outlining a clear vision and set of goals, a comprehensive plan helps build support and buy-in from both public and private sector partners, which can in turn lead to increased resources and support for the area.

Leaders can help address and resolve conflicts and challenges. By providing a framework for decision-making and a process for engaging stakeholders, an overarching plan helps build consensus and mitigate tensions that arise as the community grows and changes.

In short, a comprehensive plan is a critical tool for local governments, making sure your municipality is well-planned, well-managed, and able to achieve its goals and objectives. It provides a long-term vision and framework for decision-making, and it helps to coordinate the efforts of different stakeholders within the community.

Making the case for both

Both plans are important tools for local governments, as they enable you to be well-planned, well-managed, and achieve goals and objectives. The comprehensive plan provides a long-term vision and framework for decision-making, while the strategic plan helps to ensure that the community has the resources and plans in place to achieve its goals in a timely and effective manner.

Another important aspect of planning is data collection and analysis. Local governments can use a variety of data sources, such as census data, land use data, and economic data, to inform the development of their plans. This allows your plan to be based on sound data and analysis, rather than assumptions or guesses.

There are a number of different methods that can be used to create your plans. One common approach is to engage the community in the planning process through public meetings, workshops, and surveys. Doing this makes sure the plan reflects the values and priorities of the residents, and it can also help to build support and buy-in for the plan.

A short video produced by Laredo, Texas

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• Interview – James Weaver, (Former) Senior City Planner – Cincinnati, Ohio
• Bowman and Kearney textbooks
• What Is Economic Development?
• The American Planning Association website