A master plan is the most significant document a community has in determining how property will be developed in the future. It determines whether land should remain farmland or whether it should allow for subdivision. It determine the amount and location of future residential, commercial, office, industrial and public land. It determines whether 1,000 or 50,000 new residents should be accommodated and more importantly, how they should be accommodated. A master plan is far more than just a guide.
Local leaders are futurists.
They make land use decisions that will dramatically impact the quality and character of our communities for hundreds of years. We can no longer afford to house most new residents on 1 and 2 acre lots. We can do a much better job in accommodating growth in a more fiscally, environmentally and socially sound manner.