The planning areas need to reflect common interests, geographic features and shared services. The key to an effective size for a planning area is that it is large enough to present opportunities for new ideas while still allowing for the participating groups to work together effectively. Planning areas may be larger than a single neighborhood organization. Significantly larger areas have issues which cannot be effectively addressed through a neighborhood process. However, Austin needs planning areas that include a wide range of community needs and opportunities such as places for people to live, work, shop, relax and come together at public places.
Some neighborhoods are large and offer a good opportunity to work on a neighborhood plan.
Other neighborhoods are small and may decide that they want to collaborate with others and work on a plan. However, all of the neighborhoods that voluntarily come together to work on a plan will vote on all of the recommendations included in the plan. Plans will be adopted by City Council and will help provide direction for all City programs and projects that affect the neighborhood. The City departments that provide services to your neighborhood will work alongside the neighborhood and professional staff planners. The neighborhood will have a clear vision of its priorities and needs as well as agreement on things that need to be done.