Edmond Plan IV
The Edmond Plan IV is the City's comprehensive plan, which acts as a general guide for how the City should grow and develop over the long-term. Edmond Plan IV achieves this by:
- examining current issues and trends that will likely influence the community;
- documenting a desired future vision for the community; and,
- providing goals, policies and implementation tools to see that the vision is achieved.
History
The City of Edmond has been actively planning for growth and development
throughout its history with comprehensive plans being updated at regular intervals. In 1984 the City placed new emphasis on the comprehensive plan by adopting the Edmond Plan by ordinance and requiring formal City Council approval for amendments. The planning process has placed a strong emphasis on citizen involvement, to ensure that the comprehensive plan reflects the values and desires of its residents. Edmond Plan IV builds upon previous plans, incorporating elements that remain relevant and revising others that require updating to reflect current conditions.
Why a New Comprehensive Plan?
Though comprehensive plans are typically prepared for a 20-year horizon, a plan can never account for or predict all of the changes experienced by a community. As a result, it is recommended that comprehensive plans be updated at approximately five-year intervals. Regular updates ensure that the plan:
- reflects current community needs, values and desires;
- is based on current and accurate demographic information;
- accounts for changing development trends and issues;
- identifies new opportunities and strategies for achieving the community's vision; and,
- amends elements of the previous plan that have not been as effective as originally intended.
What's New in Edmond Plan IV?
Edmond Plan IV is an update to Edmond Plan III and is not intended to completely overwrite previous planning efforts. As a result, readers of Edmond Plan IV will find a mix of "old" and "new" concepts. Major changes reflected in Edmond Plan IV are noted below along with elements that have remained the same from the previous plan.
What has Changed?
- A General Plan has been added to depict the desired general vision for physical development and growth in Edmond. The General Plan is supported by the various goals and policies found throughout Edmond Plan IV, and considers constraints (such as protection of natural areas or anticipated availability of infrastructure), trends, desired growth patterns and preferred community character.
- The site-specific land use map, previously known as Edmond Plan III, has
- been updated and the name has been changed to the "Ordinance Plan". Updates to the Ordinance Plan reflect the vision and desired character of the "General Plan", particularly in regards to east Edmond where the majority of change will occur.
- A Preface has been added to provide a quick overview of the plan and how it is intended to be used by stakeholders.
- A Community Profile section has been added (Chapter 2), which provides a current "snapshot" of Edmond examining demographic and development trends, key community features, and current development-related issues. The Community Profile provides the context for the long and short range goals and policies throughout the rest of the document.
- The Transportation chapter (Chapter 5) has been revised to reflect the Edmond Transportation Plan.
- The Utilities chapter (Chapter 7) provides an analysis of the City's sewer and water infrastructure and its capacity to handle projected growth.
- An Implementation chapter (Chapter 9) has been added to the plan to cover all remaining bases needed to move from plan to reality. Administrative goals and policies, as well as other tools to implement the plan are discussed.
- Policies have been revised to provide stronger direction for decision-making.
What Remains the Same?
- The site-specific land use map now referred to as the "Ordinance Plan" remains as the official land use plan of the City that is adopted by ordinance with amendments requiring formal City Council approval.
- The general framework of chapters remains the same, as will the format that includes an overview followed by goals and policies.
- The community vision, developed by citizens through the Tomorrow's Edmond process in 1996, continues to provide the guiding vision for Edmond Plan IV.
