Contents of a Local Comprehensive Plan: A Checklist 


Prepared by Brian W. Ohm
Department of Urban & Regional Planning
University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension
12/1/99 

Wisconsin's new "Smart Growth" law (1999 Wisconsin Act 9 signed by Governor Thompson in October 1999) includes a definition of a comprehensive plan. Before this law, Wisconsin law did not define what is meant by the term "comprehensive plan." The definition provides cities, villages, towns, counties, and regional planning commissions with some guidance for local land use planning efforts. When the next version of the Wisconsin Statutes is published, the contents of a comprehensive plan can be found at section 66.0295(2). According to the new law, a comprehensive plan shall contain at least all of the following elements: 


(a) Issues and opportunities element 

The issues and opportunities element is defined as the background information on the local government unit and the overall objectives, policies, goals and programs of the local government unit to guide the future development and redevelopment of the local government unit over a 20 year planning period. 

Specifically, the background information shall include: 

  • population, household and employment forecasts that the local government unit uses in developing its comprehensive plan; and 
  • demographic trends, age distribution, educational levels, income levels and employment characteristics that exist within the local governmental unit. 


(b) Housing element 

The housing element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs of the local governmental unit to provide an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the local governmental unit. 

Specifically, the element must: 

  • assess the age, structural, value and occupancy characteristics of the local governmental unit's housing stock; 
  • identify policies and programs: 

    1. that promote the development of housing for residents of the local governmental unit and provide a range of housing choices that meet the needs of persons of all income levels and of all age groups and persons with special needs; 
    2. that promote the availability of land for the development or redevelopment of low-income and moderate-income housing; and 
    3. to maintain or rehabilitate the local governmental unit's existing housing stock. 


(c) Transportation element 

The transportation element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development of the various modes of transportation, including highways, transit, transportation systems for persons with disabilities, bicycles, walking, railroads, air transportation, trucking and water transportation. 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • compare the local governmental unit's objectives, policies, goals and programs to state and regional transportation plans; 
  • identify highways within the local governmental unit by function; and 
  • incorporate state, regional, and other applicable transportation plans, including transportation corridor plans, county highway functional and jurisdictional studies, urban and rural area transportation plans, airport master plans, and rail plans that apply in the local governmental unit. 


(d) Utilities and community facilities element 

The utilities and community facilities element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development of utilities and community facilities in the local governmental unit (such as sanitary sewer service, storm water management, water supply, solid waste disposal, on-site wastewater treatment technologies, recycling facilities, parks, telecommunications facilities, power-generating plants and transmission lines, cemeteries, health care facilities, child care facilities and other public facilities, such as police, fire, and rescue facilities, libraries, schools and other governmental facilities). 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • describe the location, use and capacity of existing public utilities and community facilities that serve the local governmental unit;
  • include an approximate timetable that forecasts the need in the local governmental unit to expand or rehabilitate existing utilities and facilities or to create new utilities and facilities; and 
  • assess future needs for governmental services in the local governmental unit that are related to such utilities and facilities. 


(e) Agricultural, natural and cultural resources element 

The agricultural, natural and cultural resources element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs for the conservation, and promotion of the effective management, of natural resources (such as groundwater, forests, productive agricultural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, threatened and endangered species, stream corridors, surface waters, floodplains, wetlands, wildlife habitat, metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources, parks, open spaces, historical and cultural resources, community design, recreational resources and other natural resources). 


(f) Economic development element 

The economic development element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to promote the stabilization, retention, or expansion, of the economic base and quality employment opportunities in the local governmental unit. 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • include an analysis of the labor force and economic base of the local governmental unit; 
  • assess categories or particular types of new businesses and industries that are desired by the local governmental unit; 
  • assess the local governmental unit's strengths and weaknesses with respect to attracting and retaining businesses and industries; 
  • designate an adequate number of sites for such businesses and industries; 
  • evaluate and promote the use of environmentally contaminated sites for commercial or industrial uses; 
  • identify county, regional and state economic development programs that apply to the local governmental unit. 


(g) Intergovernmental cooperation element 

The intergovernmental cooperation element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs for joint planning and decision making with other jurisdictions, including school districts and adjacent local governmental units, for siting and building public facilities and sharing public services. 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • analyze the relationship of the local governmental unit to school districts and adjacent local governmental units, and to the region, the state, and other governmental entities; 
  • incorporate any plans or agreements to which the local governmental unit is a party under s. 66.023, s. 66.30, or s. 66.945; 
  • identify existing or potential conflicts between the local governmental unit and other governmental units that are specified in this paragraph; and 
  • describe processes to resolve such conflicts. 


(h) Land use element 

The land use element is defined as a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development and redevelopment of public and private property. 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • list the amount, type, intensity and net density of existing uses of land in the local governmental unit (such as agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, and other public and private uses); 
  • analyze trends in the supply, demand, and price of land, opportunities for redevelopment and existing and potential land-use conflicts; 
  • contain projections, based on the background information specified in par. (a), for 20 years with detailed maps, in 5 year increments, of future residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial land uses including the assumptions of net densities or other spatial assumptions upon which the projections are based; 
  • include a series of maps that show: 
    • current land uses and future land uses that indicate productive agricultural soils, natural limitations for building site development, floodplains, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive lands; 
    • the boundaries of areas to which services of public utilities and community facilities, as those terms are used in par. (d), will be provided in the future, consistent with the timetable described in par. (d); and 
    • the general location of future land uses by net density or other classifications. 


(i) Implementation element 

The implementation element is defined as a compilation of programs and specific actions to be completed in stated sequence, including proposed changes to any applicable zoning ordinances, official maps, sign regulations, erosion and storm water control ordinances, historic preservation ordinances, site plan regulations, design review ordinances, building codes, mechanical codes, housing codes, sanitary codes or subdivision ordinances, to implement the objectives, policies, plans and programs contained in pars. (a) to (h). 

Specifically, the element shall: 

  • describe how each of the elements of the comprehensive plan will be integrated and made consistent with the other elements of the comprehensive plan; 
  • include a mechanism to measure the local governmental unit's progress toward achieving all aspects of the comprehensive plan; 
  • include a process for updating the comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan under this subsection shall be updated no less than once every 10 years.