Work on the community’s next Comprehensive Plan will kick off with a public event on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at the Grand Wayne Center. The event is open to everyone and is scheduled for 5:30 – 7 p.m. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m.
During the event, the public will hear from the consulting team at Houseal Lavigne about the importance of a comprehensive plan and how residents can get involved in the process. More details about the event will be included in the next Community Development newsletter.
Consultants from the consulting team Houseal Lavigne will lead the two year-long process to prepare the next community comprehensive plan. The consulting team will work with local leaders to develop a plan that will: create a shared vision for future growth and development, encompass meaningful and inclusive public engagement, identify stakeholders, establish clear guidance with a user-friendly document, and establish an achievable implementation plan.
The creation of comprehensive plans is governed by state law. Comprehensive plans set the vision for the future growth and development of an area; they are created under the leadership of a plan commission or several plan commissions.
The community’s last comprehensive plan, called Plan-it Allen, was adopted in 2007 and was the first time a local comprehensive plan was created jointly by the City and County. Many of the elements of that plan have either been accomplished or are now outdated. The next comprehensive plan will again be a joint effort of the City and County and will provide guidance for the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County, and the communities of Huntertown, Grabill, Monroeville and Woodburn.
Houseal Lavigne Associates is a professional consulting firm specializing in all aspects of community planning, urban design, and economic development. They have worked with more than 250 communities across the country, including a wide range of public and private sector planning, development, and design-related assignments in 22 states.