Introduction to the Smithville Comprehensive Plan

A Comprehensive Plan is a report resulting from a public process that addresses as many of the various elements needed to sustain a local population as holistically as possible. Each individual component is publicly examined, and the Plan brings them all together to look at how they interact in the big picture. The Comprehensive Plan is designed to enable a community to enhance the quality of life for all present and future members by describing near-term improvements as well as long-term development; it is a blueprint for growth, designed by community members for community members, to help the city reach its fullest potential for all.

A Comprehensive Plan must be developed through a forum that encourages public input, allowing citizens to shape the Plan and support the projects resulting from planning efforts. For the Plan to be successful, the public must support the recommended projects, help prioritize them, and approve of the limited resources allocated for them. Because staff and funds at city governments are scarce, involving residents in the planning process will empower them to participate in the actual realization of various elements of the Plan, developing committees, coalitions, and task forces that will address the needs of the community and enhance the quality of life through infrastructure and amenities deemed important. While city governments can facilitate these efforts, the public is integral to making any community thrive.

Click on the links below to download Smithville's 2007 Comprehensive Plan.

Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter1 - Introduction
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 2 - Baseline
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 3 - Land Use
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 4 - Economic Development
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 5 - Housing
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 6 - Community Development
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 7 - Downtown Development
Comprehensive Plan 2007 Chapter 8 - Implementation Guide

The major elements of a Comprehensive Plan include:
 
Housing: The Plan describes development possibilities to provide quality housing options for all income levels.
Transportation: The Plan discusses improvements to the transportation system, from the timing of traffic lights to the use and improvement of CARTS to pedestrian improvements.
Land use: The Plan describes current, potential, and future desired land use for each parcel of land (for example, residential, commercial, agricultural, mixed use, and so on).
Economic development: The Plan shows opportunities for increasing employment in the community and tax revenue for the city in order to provide and enhance services.
Community development: The Plan discusses opportunities to enhance the community’s quality of life (for example, public facilities, accessibility to environmental resources, park development, and pedestrian safety and amenities).
Downtown revitalization: The Plan outlines various strategies that would strengthen and enhance the Downtown Business District.
Historic preservation: The Plan describes the City’s historic assets and considers several opportunities to preserve and enhance them.
Environmental protection: The Plan describes the necessary steps to protect property and water quality (for example, storm water assessment).