ABSTRACT
Planners believe that the best way to achieve that consensus is through a local community planning process, beginning with a comprehensive plan. Working within the legal requirements of individual states, comprehensive plans should be tailored to fit the unique needs of each city or county. The comprehensive plan should create a positive image of the city, town, or county. Comprehensive plans should be a regular part of the planning board and elected-official development review process. A good rule of thumb for the preparation of a comprehensive plan is to allow between 12 and 18 months to develop the plan. Some cities and counties establish several organizational tiers to the comprehensive plan process. Many cities and counties incorporate an analysis of community character into their plans. In every community there are myriad environmental, economic, fiscal, social, demographic, and infrastructure forces at work, and it is important for the participants in the planning process to understand them.
