Master plans are living documents that reflect an ideal vision of what a community could become.

They can define residential, commercial and recreational areas, and address functional relationships, landscaping and environmental issues, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns.

Master plans can also reflect a community's architectural character and suggest possibilities for refinements and redevelopment.

In short, a master plan is a roadmap for the development or revitalization of a particular area.

A master plan also suggests how and where a city should spend tax dollars to improve a community.

Along the way, master plans can dictate zoning changes.

Yet as important as understanding what a master plan is, it's equally important to know what a master plan is not.  Click here to learn more.