TheReview_Jan_Feb_2022 Flipping Book

“ At least every five years

after adoption of a master plan, a planning commission shall review the master plan and determine whether to commence the procedure

WILLIAMS & WORKS, INC. Williams & Works is a multi-generational consulting firm of planners, engineers, surveyors, designers, and other professionals dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our clients. Many of our clients have been with us for decades, and have come to rely on the professional, honest, and thorough level of service we provide. We bring a team approach to our assignments and constantly strive to be more efficient and economical with our consulting and business practices. Our firm specializes in civil, structural, and hydrogeological

to amend the master plan or adopt a new master plan. ”

engineering, community planning and design, and land surveying throughout the Midwest.

Data-Based Most plans set forth a fact-based background for a community, addressing topics such as population change, housing characteristics, land use, environmental features, and a summary of community services, facilities, and infrastructure. While sometimes lengthy, this information provides an important factual basis for the plan’s recommendations, and ultimately, the community’s decisions. When performing research, planners should also consider broadening their scope of research to include public health, sustainability, universal design, social justice metrics, and similar topics. The public realm such as streets, sidewalks, and parks should be considered, too. Most people experience a community through its streets, so actions to improve the quality of the streets and other public spaces can have a big impact on quality of life.

In other words, once every five years the planning commission should review the master plan and discuss whether it needs an update. If the commission decides the master plan is still relevant and does not need to be updated, then no further action is needed, and the minutes should reflect that the planning commission fulfilled its statutory obligation. There are, however, several instances in which an update or a new plan should be considered, such as: • If conditions have changed in your community; • If tasks and recommendations of your current master plan have been accomplished and/or need to be reprioritized based on current conditions; • If background data that serves as a basis for master plan’s assumptions are outdated and are no longer accurate or relevant; and • If the implementation of the master plan was not effectively carried out. Outside of the noticing requirements of the MPEA,

communities are free to develop a master plan in whatever manner works best for them. However, several elements are often found in most master plans that offer value to the process.

22 THE REVIEW

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022