Comprehensive Plan Update

The draft Comprehensive Plan, which the Plan & Zoning Commission recommended for approval on September 30, 2009, will be taken to City Council beginning with a public hearing on February 8, 2010. The City Council is scheduled to use six public hearings to complete its review and final adoption of the City's new Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan will take effect immediately after the City Council's adoption. Information on the update process, as well as the draft plan itself, is available on the City's website.

If you are not involved in development, you may be asking "what exactly is a comprehensive plan?" The Comprehensive Plan is a statement of the City's policies and intent toward development of the City. Once adopted, it services as a guide for decision-makers regarding future development and redevelopment. It is meant to be a flexible document in that it responds to the changing needs of the City, including changes in development patterns and adjustments necessary to maintain or improve the quality of life to which our citizens are accustomed.

It is truly a tool for long-range planning - our current plan was adopted in 1993, and because we have followed its intent but made the right changes along the way it has served us well. Updating this plan is a complicated process because we must balance the benefits of potential development with the costs and impacts on the character of the community. To us, this is a welcome challenge, and one we feel well-equipped to handle in West Des Moines.