What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A comprehensive plan is a land use document that provides the framework and policy direction to manage where and how growth needs are met. It integrates citizen’s ideas, concerns and preferences into statements of how the County should be developed, what development regulations should accomplish, what facilities and services levels are needed, and how publicly funded improvements should support these objectives.
The Comprehensive Plan is required by state law (Code of Virginia Title 15.2, Article 3). It can be said that the Comprehensive Plan is a “road map” of where the County wants to go and how to get there, and is the County’s most important document regarding growth and development. It establishes government policy used by public and private decision makers as a guide to land use and resource utilization. The Plan serves as the community’s handbook for future development and its vision for what the County should look like in the future. The Comprehensive Plan is the basis for land development regulation and decisions (i.e. rezoning, and special use permits). The Comprehensive Plan provides input for capital improvements (i.e. public buildings, parks, community centers, water, sanitary sewer), transportation facilities, and environmental and historical resource protection. The Comprehensive Plan provides documentation for grants. The general public, Board of Supervisors, Planning Commissio
The Caroline County 2000-2004 Comprehensive Plan is a set of documents that describes the County’s vision of future development in the County. The Comprehensive Plan has several sub-area plans: Ladysmith, Carmel Church, Port Royal, Cedon, Dawn, Childsburg, Skinkers Neck and Bowling Green-Milford. Each component was specifically reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors following public meetings and public hearings. The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that serves as a general guide for the Board of Supervisors. Unlike an ordinance, strict adherence to the Plan is not required. • What is a subdivision ordinance? Based on the Code of Virginia (15.2-2240) a subdivision ordinance {is a document which} assures the orderly subdivision of land and its development. • What is a zoning ordinance? Based on the Code of Virginia (15.2-2280) a localitys zoning ordinance classifies the territory under its jurisdiction or any portion thereof into districts of such number, size and shape
First, it is a long range plan and is comprehensive in nature. The plan generally projects 15 to 20 years out, but often need to be updated within ten years because of rapid growth, etc. The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document adopted by the City Council that serves as a guide for decisions about our physical development. The Local Government Code, which gives cities their police powers, requires that land use decisions be in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, so it is very important to keep it up to date. The purpose of the plan is to anticipate growth and to guide that growth in a manner that provides College Station with a balance of land uses that promote economic development while retaining quality of life.
The Comprehensive Plan is Deerfield’s road map for the future. It is an official public document that provides a long-range guide for land use, transportation, public facilities and natural resources. It serves as a guide for elected and appointed Village officials by providing a framework that can be used to evaluate development proposals and the document will direct the Village’s growth in the context of a 20 to 25 year planning horizon. The Comprehensive Plan allows residents and local decision-makers to identify and respond to changing community needs and desires in a proactive way rather than a reactive way. The current Comprehensive Plan was revised over an 18 month period and was approved in October 2004 by the Board of Trustees. The Comprehensive Plan is available by clicking here.
