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MASTER PLAN OVERVIEW |
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Origin of Plan This plan was identified as an important guide for developing land uses in northeast Douglas County due to the increasing pressure for development in the region as a result of its proximity to the City of Lawrence and several important transportation routes. There was concern that the rural character of the area could be compromised if there wasn’t an appropriate guiding document for development in the area.
Initial information gathering public meetings were held in September and October of 2009. Drafts of the plan were reviewed in public meetings between April of 2010 and September of 2011. City and County Commissions provided guidance to the Planning Commission at meetings held between May and August of 2011. Planning Commission took public comment and held discussions of the plan between December of 2011 and March of 2012. The plan was approved that same year by the Planning Commission, County Commission, and City Commission in May, June, and September, respectively. The plan is intended to function for several decades, and calls for it to be “reviewed on a regular basis.”
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Expected outcomes from the plan The primary purpose of the plan is to ensure that development occurs in a way that is compatible with the existing nature of the area. Agricultural uses are prioritized, as well as low density/intensity commercial and residential uses. Industrial uses are addressed as needing to be located appropriately to be compatible with the rural nature of the area. The plan largely focuses on the preservation of the existing character of the region (agricultural uses, very low density). The expectations are that growth and development will occur in an ordered manner that is appropriate for this context.
There are no explicit evaluation criteria built into the plan per se. There are guidelines and objectives that are stated, but they are written as policy statements that are intended to be ongoing efforts. The plan states that it should be revisited regularly, but there is no pre-determined specific review point.
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Funding Not applicable.
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Status Update The implementation items that would not be classified as ongoing policy statements are complete or are in progress. These are: Amending Horizon 2020 to include the plan guidance as it relates to land use areas, updating the Urban Growth Area, producing a Bikeway Map update that includes open space connections and trail network guidance. Some of these are being implemented in the Plan 2040 review process. The area has developed according to the goals, objectives, and policies outlines in the plan.
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Future The next steps for this plan are to continue to constantly reassess the plan to ensure it remains relevant and to update it as necessary. Implementation is expected to continue as part of the Plan 2040 process.
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