The Council Grove Comprehensive Plan
What is a comprehensive plan?
A comprehensive plan is a document that consists of a goals and policies to serve as a guide to the city's growth and development from the present into the future. It is not a rule book, rather it is meant to serve as a guide in the decision making process to take advantage of future opportunities.
How is it created?
Through collaboration with local leaders and the community, the planning team begins a multi-phase process by
1. Researching the existing conditions, demographics and economic resources
2. Identify strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for the present and future
3. Hold public participation events and meetings that outline the visions for the future
4. Identify ways to sustain the current strengths of the community and how to best achieve the visions of the future
5. Create draft plan, revise and adopt
What does it talk about?
Areas of focus include
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History, regional connections and partnerships
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Demographics - what does the current population look like and what will it look like in the future
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Current and future land use - housing, community facilities, commercial and industrial areas
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Economics - major employers and growing industries
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Infrastructure and utilities - what is the current condition of these services and can they fit future needs
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Transportation - accomodations to increase all modes of transportation including streets, bikeways, trails and pedestrian access
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Public facilities - How public facilities could be improved to best serve the future community
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Parks - do the parks provide a recreation space for everyone in the community
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Schools - How schools can provide more educational opportunities
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Civic resources - addressing ways to best serve a wider range of people
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Issues and opportunities - What will likely be issues in the future? What long term opportunities can be anticipated for now?
Who provides input for the plan?
The planning process attempts to include all persons in the community. The Flint Hills Regional Council relies on information and ideas from many different community members to understand the issues and see what the future vision looks like. Local leaders serve on the steering committee to provide local expertise. The planning team will hold several public events for the community to participate in as well as creating a survey, available online.
Steering Committe Members
How long will it take?
What will the finished plan look like?
Here are comprehensive plans from other cities that can provide an idea of what the completed document looks like:
The Flint Hills Regional Council
The Flint Hills Regional Council is a voluntary service association of local Kansas governments from Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Riley, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties and/or their respective municipalities and unincorporated areas. These local Flint Hills governments have formed the Flint Hills Regional Council to provide service of mutual benefit to the region best gained from cooperation and partnership.
Through open communications, excellent data resources and professional expertise of the highest standards, the Flint Hills Regional Council provides leadership support and technical assistance across all government and civic sectors of these counties and beyond, as requested.
Steve Shepard - Mayor
Mark Brooks - City Council
Jesse Knight - City Council
Sharon Jones - City Council
Tim Tyner - Tyner Insurance
Lindsey Boyer - Lexinet Corporation
Jim Aldrich - TCT
Taylor Adams - Adams Lumber
Jeremy Cosgrove - Cosgrove Farms
Julie - Farmers & Drovers
Danny Mathews - City Manager
Lawrence Siegrist - City Staff
Debi Schwerdtfeger
Want to talk to someone who is more involved in representing Council Grove in the planning process. Seek out one of the steering committee members to share your thoughts with them.