Monitoring and Updating the Plan
Monitoring the Plan
How Frequently Should You Update the Plan?
According to state law, a comprehensive plan must be updated at least once every ten years. Likewise, a county farmland preservation plan must be recertified every ten years. Other plans may be updated at the discretion of local units of government. We recommend reviewing local plans on an annual basis to determine if and when updates are needed.
Wis. Stat. § 66.1001(2)(i)
Wis. Stat. § 91.16(2)(a)
Good planning is not the result of a static document. Rather, it is a continued reflection of the plan’s actual results and whether those results were satisfactory to the community. Reviewing and updating the plan also creates the following opportunities:
Review goals, objectives and policies to address new development issues. New issues often evolve that were not critical or foreseen when the plan was initially developed. For example, your community may be experiencing changing economic or demographic conditions or new land uses that were not contemplated in the original plan. Reviewing the plan in light of these issues allows you to assess the validity of the plan’s goals, objectives and policies and make new recommendations as necessary.
Review the plan for errors or outdated information. Most plans rely heavily on information contained in data, maps and projections. Reviewing the plan on a regular basis allows you to incorporate new data and projections and updated land use maps. It also allows you to identify and correct errors that were made in the original plan.
Update the plan to incorporate new plan elements. Updating the plan allows you to expand existing plan elements or address new topics that were not addressed in the original plan. Emerging topics that you might wish to address include climate change, hazard mitigation, energy efficiency, sustainability, local food systems and public health.
Revise the plan concurrent with other local planning efforts. Reviewing the plan on a concurrent basis with other plans and programs allows you to identify inconsistencies and make use of limited resources to update multiple plans or programs. For example, many communities are currently reviewing their comprehensive plans in light of new shoreland management standards, farmland preservation plans, and other planning programs.
Updating the Plan
A number of different options exist for updating local plans. Three options are presented here along with pros and cons of each. Factors to consider when deciding how to update your plan include the structure and organization of the current plan, the extent to which the plan is outdated, and the time and resources your community is willing to devote to a plan update. The update should build off of an evaluation of the original plan – what works, what does not, and what has changed. Even with a 10-year-old plan, you may find that much of the content is still relevant.
Apply Your Learning
Poor Development
Think of two examples of poor development – these could be in your community or a neighboring community. What is the problem with the development? Why was it approved? Who was harmed by the development? Who benefited?
Communities with Distinctive Character
Think of two Wisconsin communities that have a distinctive character. How would you describe that character? What factors (historic, political, environmental, etc.) helped shape each community? What role did planning play in this process?
