What are the primary goals of a Comprehensive Plan?

The primary goals of a Comprehensive Plan focus on outlining a strategic framework for a community's development over an extended period, typically 10 to 20 years. This plan serves as a blueprint for future growth and improvement, encompassing various elements such as land use, transportation, housing, economic development, public services, and environmental stewardship. By detailing these aspects, a Comprehensive Plan aims to guide decisions made by local governments and stakeholders, ensuring that growth is coordinated, sustainable, and aligned with the community's vision and values.

This long-term perspective enables communities to anticipate and address challenges, manage resources effectively, and enhance the quality of life for residents. The planning process often involves community engagement, encouraging local input into development priorities, which helps to ensure that the plan reflects the needs and desires of the community.

Other options, while they involve aspects of community planning or economic development, do not capture the broader strategic intent and time horizon characteristic of a Comprehensive Plan. For example, increasing taxation rates or creating immediate job opportunities focuses on short-term or specific outcomes rather than a comprehensive vision for development. Similarly, establishing a real estate market is more about market dynamics than the holistic approach to planning that a Comprehensive Plan represents.