Comprehensive Plan Resources

Purpose & Outline 2

About this document Outline

This document is an inventory of comprehensive plans we’ve researched from other communities. This is not the end of our research but a list we’ve compiled to share with you.

Each sheet references a plan, key community statistics, and what we noticed.

We encourage you to use this as a starting point for your own research. Let us know what inspired you, what changed your thinking, and what to consider in Durham’s new Comprehensive Plan.

Purpose and Outline…………………………………2

North Carolina ExamplesAsheville, NC…………………………………….…….…3Raleigh, NC…………………………………….……….…5Wilmington, NC…………………..............…..….…7Winston-Salem, NC……………………………………9

National ExamplesMadison, WI…………………………..…………………11Memphis, TN………………………….…………………13Minneapolis, MN…………………….………………..15Oklahoma City, OK………………….…………………17

Invitation to Collaborate………..………………….19

Asheville Durham City Durham County

Population Total 92,452 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 45.25 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 2,109.4 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $47,803 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 83% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 11.7% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.3% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 1.8% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0.3% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 2.3% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 6.0% 14.1% 13.7%

Asheville, NC 3

Living Asheville (2018)

Plan Horizon Year: 2036https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/planning-urban-design/plans/comprehensive-plans/

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, NC 4

Living Asheville (2018)We chose Living Asheville to review because it was written recently and the municipality is in the same state legislative environment as Durham. While Durham has environmental constraints around water supplies and conservation areas, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a defining feature and constraint for development in Asheville.

Plan Horizon Year: 2036https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/planning-urban-design/plans/comprehensive-plans/

What we noticed

• The plan is organized into themes, based on community aspirations, that cover topics from Land Use to Sustainable Industries

• The plan includes clear outcomes, performance metrics, and strategies for each policy

• The plan uses a scenario planning process for future growth that answers questions about available land area and population growth. It recommends new strategies for timing and phasing of new development

• Future Land Use Map focuses on corridors and centers rather than prescribing types of land uses

• The intentional organization and layout of the document uses plain language for making technical concepts and jargon more accessible

Raleigh Durham City Durham County

Population Total 469,298 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 144.8 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 3,241 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $63,891 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 58.5% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 29% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.4% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 4.5% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0.1% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 3% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 11% 14.1% 13.7%

Raleigh, NC 5

2030 Comprehensive Plan Update (2016)Raleigh, North Carolina

Plan Horizon Year: 2030https://raleighnc.gov/services/zoning-planning-and-development/2030-comprehensive-plan

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Raleigh, NC 6

2030 Comprehensive Plan Update (2019)

Plan Horizon Year: 2030https://raleighnc.gov/services/zoning-planning-and-development/2030-comprehensive-plan

What we noticed

• This document is different from the others in the inventory because it is an update to an existing Comprehensive Plan and provides mostly updated data and engagement, rather than a completely new plan

• The plan provides guidance on annexation processes including guidance for confirming infrastructure capacity for serving new areas

• The plan document weaves in connections to the Wake County Transit Plan in one-page cut-sheets, as that has major impacts to how new development and new streets are designed to support transit investment

• Establishes policies for updating the comprehensive plan periodically

Like Durham, Raleigh's population and development is growing at a fast pace so we share many of the same challenges. Raleigh is part of the larger Triangle Region and is a neighbor to Durham. This proximity means that Durham and Raleigh together impact how residents move from jobs to homes, what kinds of jobs are attracted to the region, what the housing availability and pricing is like, and water supplies we share, etc.

Wilmington Durham City Durham County

Population Total 122,607 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 41.5 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 2,954.4 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $45,450 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 76.4% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 18.6% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.3% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 1.4% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0.2% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 2.1% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 6.1% 14.1% 13.7%

Wilmington, NC 7

Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan (2016)Wilmington, North Carolina

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/planning-development-and-transportation/comprehensive-plan

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Wilmington, NC 8

Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan (2016)

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/planning-development-and-transportation/comprehensive-plan

Comprehensive plans tend to include narrative and storytelling that are important for context and history. However, lengthy documents can make it difficult for frequent users to find important guidance quickly. We were inspired by Create Wilmington because the organization maintains the important storytelling aspects in the Growth Factors Report while also focusing users on distinct reports and maps for implementation.

What we noticed

• The document layout keeps concepts clear and concise by hyperlinking to related policies and maps for more information

• The Policies report weaves in related community input in call-out boxes for added context and support

• Growth management strategies are included in a map series, adding geographic context and text annotations that describe policy purpose and intent

• The Growth Strategies Report include corridor-types and street frontage design that guides how road infrastructure impacts adjacent land and urban design

• The Foundations Report documents community priorities and engagement methods with cross references to other parts of the plan to connect what people said with the recommended strategy

Winston-Salem

Forsyth County

Durham City

Durham County

Population Total 246,328 379,099 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 133.7 mi2 413 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 1,842.4 917.9 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $44,311 $50,128 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 56.3% 66.7% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 34.8% 27.5% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.2% 0.9% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 2.4% 2.6% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0.1% 0.1% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 2.8% 2.3% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 14.6% 13% 14.1% 13.7%

Winston-Salem, NC 9

Legacy 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2012)Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, North Carolina

Plan Horizon Year: 2030https://www.cityofws.org/295/Legacy-2030-Comprehensive-Plan

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Winston-Salem, NC 10

Legacy 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2012)

Plan Horizon Year: 2030https://www.cityofws.org/295/Legacy-2030-Comprehensive-Plan

What we noticed

• Legacy 2030's Growth Management Plan is like Durham's existing Development Tier System, where denser urban development is located in the downtown core and rural areas span the outer edges of the county

• The growth management strategy in this document is clear and at the forefront

• Chapters include both policy language guidance and specific action items to further the goals of the plan

• The land use section describes design and physical characteristics for new buildings and tie it to development regulations

• The plan is focused on implementation measures and all policies are followed by action agendas and next steps

The Legacy 2030 Plan is an older plan in our inventory but has interesting similarities to Durham. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County face the same State legislature regulations and have joint city-county planning departments. These similarities are noteworthy, because both Winston-Salem and Durham's planning departments work in areas with development patterns ranging from rural and agricultural to downtown and urban.

Madison Durham City Durham County

Population Total 258,054 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 76.79 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 3,360.5 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $62,906 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 78.4% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 6.8% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.4% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 9.0% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 3.6% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 6.9% 14.1% 13.7%

Madison, WI 11

City of Madison Comprehensive Plan (2018)Madison, Wisconsin

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://plan.imaginemadisonwi.com/

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Madison, WI 12

City of Madison Comprehensive Plan (2018)

Plan Horizon Year: 2040plan.imaginemadisonwi.com

We were inspired by the City of Madison's Comprehensive plan primarily because of its public listening campaign, Imagine Madison, as the process to ensure public participation and feedback from across the city. The website, engagement summaries, and reports are visually engaging and interactive.

What we noticed

• The plan starts with a growth management framework for planning mixed use developments around bus rapid transit lines

• A growth analysis model was used to understand potential scenarios for percentage of new development occurring on the edge of the city or as redevelopment

• A recent trend we noticed in new comprehensive plans is the imperative for government to be open, transparent, and accessible. The "Effective Government" chapter calls for the city to provide a wide range of opportunities for public involvement

• The public engagement phase summaries connect community conversations at workshops with potential strategies in the plan

Memphis Durham City Durham County

Population Total 650,618 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 323.8 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 2,009.3 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $39,108 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 29.1% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 64.2% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 0.2% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 1.6% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 1.6% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 7.2% 14.1% 13.7%

Memphis, TN 13

Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan (2019)

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://www.memphis3point0.com/

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, TN 14

Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan (2019)

Plan Horizon Year: 2040memphis3point0.com

Memphis 3.0 envisions Memphis' "third century" as one that ties connectivity and transportation closely with land use for greater access to opportunity for Memphis residents. Like Durham, Memphis' development patterns in past decades have meant physical expansion of suburban neighborhoods and low-density development. However, Memphis has vastly more land area and has not experienced the same rate of population growth as Durham.

What we noticed

• Memphis 3.0 established neighborhood districts both for engagement and planning boundaries

• The planning process included a growth scenario planning exercise that led to envisioning growth around neighborhood centers, downtown core, and transit corridors

• The plan creates new concepts for development including categories of place-types, street-types, and anchor-types

• The plan recommends strategies for equitable access and opportunity across a range of topics from parks to economic development

Minneapolis Durham City Durham County

Population Total 425,403 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 57.49 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 7,399.6 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $58,993 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 63.8% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 19.4% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 1.4% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 6.1% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 4.6% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 9.6% 14.1% 13.7%

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Minneapolis, MN 15

Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan (2019)Minneapolis, Minnesota

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://minneapolis2040.com/

Minneapolis, MN 16

Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan (2019)While demographically and geographically different from Durham in many ways, we were compelled by Minneapolis' process and plan policies. Minneapolis 2040 is a Comprehensive Plan written recently that stretches the possibility for how a land use plan can grapple with eliminating disparities in wealth, opportunity, housing, safety, and health.

Plan Horizon Year: 2040https://minneapolis2040.com/

What we noticed

• Minneapolis 2040 is organized around community goals that connect directly to recommended policies and strategies

• The Plan shares data interwoven under each goal, topic, and policy

• Policies are interconnected in the web platform, pointing the user to related policies that correspond with topics

• The Land Use and Built Form maps are different from traditional land use categories that separate land activities in distinct and separate categories. These maps recommend a mix of compatible uses and activities in key commercial, transit, and downtown corridors

• The web platform for the plan also serves as an archive of the process to create and adopt the Comprehensive Plan, including a record of public comments and project documents.

Oklahoma City Durham City Durham County

Population Total 649,021 274,291 316,739

Land Area (square miles) 621 mi2 110.5 mi2 298 mi2

Population Density (population/mi2) 1,045.1 2,482.3 1,062.9

Median Household Income $54,034 $55,851 $58,190

Race & Ethnicity

White 67.5% 48.4% 53.7%

Black/African American 14.6% 39.3% 37.3%

American Indian & Alaska Native 2.8% 0.3% 0.9%

Asian 4.6% 5.3% 5.5%

Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific 0.1% 0% .1%

Two or More Races 6.4% 2.9% 2.5%

Hispanic/Latino 19.2% 14.1% 13.7%

Oklahoma City, OK 17

planokc (2015)Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Plan Horizon Year: 2030http://planokc.org/

Source: US Census Quick Facts 2018

Oklahoma City, OK 18

planokc (2015)

Plan Horizon Year: 2050http://planokc.org/

What we noticed

• The land use policies are shown in an interactive map with layers for street typology, land use typology, and sewer, water, and fire service availability

• The Plan establishes a guidance structure for processes to amend the plan and when the City should consider annexations

• Under the public service chapter, serveokc, this plan presents the fiscal story of serving new development and estimates costs of critical services like fire, police, and utilities

• The user can sort the plan based on elements, topics, or key issues

• The web platform for the plan serves as an archive of the process to create and adopt the Comprehensive Plan, including a record of public engagement strategies

We chose to review planokc because it ties together local government departments and services with future development. Durham and Oklahoma City share a common issue: the ability to fund maintenance of public infrastructure and how new development impacts demands for city services. This plan grapples with this issue in the forefront and ties land use and fiscal implications in the future land use plan.

Invitation to Collaborate 19

Other Noteworthy Resources Invitation to Collaborate

We’re following ongoing Comprehensive Plan projects too!

Did you read something helpful? Or did it remind you of a resource that can inspire us during this process?

Let us know and stay engaged in the development of Durham’s new Comprehensive Plan at www.engagedurham.com

Charlotte Future 2040, Charlotte, NChttps://charlottenc.gov/charlottefuture/2040Plan/Pages/default.aspx

Richmond 300, Richmond, VA http://www.richmond300.com/

Interested in plan and process evaluation?

Equitable Community Engagement Blueprinthttps://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/equitable_engagement

American Planning Association Best Practices for Comprehensive Planshttps://www.planning.org/publications/report/9026901/