5 Municipal Development Plan Examples

A municipal development plan (sometimes referred to as a community sustainability plan) is a framework used by municipalities to address long-term community development, land use, and growth in a responsible way.

For example, have you considered how your municipality could manage a change in housing demand in the years to come? Or, how your city will respond to future mass transit needs? These are problems that can be addressed appropriately in a municipal development plan.

Priorities differ from one municipality to the next, depending on things like natural resource dependency, rate of population increase, tourism, natural disaster prevalence, and more. And because municipal development plans take a long-term approach (considering developmental changes over at least the next 20 years), they are powerful decision-making tools that address both current needs and future implementations.

To get started, we’ve outlined five Canadian development plan examples, followed by a number of things to consider in order to be certain your development plan aligns with your strategy. Viewing these examples (and strategy alignment tips) will help you see different approaches to creating your municipal development plan.

5 Municipal Development Plan Examples

Watch:

1. Calgary: This video explains why Calgary city officials decided to create a municipal development plan, how they developed it, and the outcome of their efforts.
2. Wood Buffalo: The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo created this video, which features a fun, animated conversation between a father and his daughter. It describes the municipality’s changing population growth and industry, and how those changes spurred on the municipal development plan.

Read:

3. Stony Plain: This development plan touches on five areas: community development, supportive infrastructure, economic opportunity, environmental responsibility, and governance and partners. For each aspect, it lists a description and bulleted, high-level “directions” outlining the way forward.
4. Calgary: “Cowtown,” located in Alberta, has an in-depth development plan that includes seven goals: a prosperous economy, a compact city, great communities, good urban design, connecting the city, greening the city, and managing growth and change. The document outlines the role and scope of the development plan, the policies put in place to meet those goals, a framework for future change, and more.
5. Leduc: Closer to Edmonton is Leduc, whose development plan lays out five sustainability principles: environment and infrastructure, economy and tourism, building the city, social wellness and safety, recreation and culture, and governance. For each vision area, the development plan outlines specific strategies for managing change in these areas over the years.

Have you taken your municipal strategy into consideration?

While municipal development plans and municipal strategic plans aren’t synonyms, there is a great deal of overlap between the two. For example, while they are similar in terms of goals, a development plan looks at these goals “from a land use and development perspective” (according to the city of Canmore, Alberta). Additionally, a development plan is meant to “shape the city’s urban form and direct the development and implementation of more detailed plans” (according to the city of Edmonton, Alberta). A strategic plan, on the other hand, takes all areas of a city into consideration, including citizen services, operational efficiency, employee development, revenue and expense management, and public safety.

If your municipality has (or is planning to create) a municipal development plan, be sure to consider the following:

• Your budget. A city strategic plan takes into account a city’s main goals (objectives) for a three- to five-year period. Those goals can then be used to allocate your budget. Because municipal development plans typically look at a much longer time period (20+ years), it may be difficult to determine your budget with a development plan alone.
• Your community’s feedback. Your municipal development plan should incorporate the needs and desires of the public. If you fail to take their feedback into consideration, you’ll likely end up creating a plan that doesn’t align with the needs of residents. For example, if you know your citizens love their green space, make land preservation a future priority. Or if your city relies heavily on clean water to run a large number of breweries—like Fort Collins, Colorado, for example—you want to be sure your plan for sustainability has an emphasis on preserving clean water and rivers. Many municipalities like to gather public feedback through surveys, workshops, or focus groups before they get started planning. If you choose to do this, be sure to ask questions like:

1. Where do you live within the city/municipality?
2. How do you get around?
3. What do you do for a living?
4. What do you value most about [your municipality]?

• Your short-term strategic themes. Municipal development plans typically focus on long-term development and sustainability—but you may not be taking into account the primary high-level goals your organization might be focused in the short term. For example, if your city has the goal of becoming “the most business-friendly city in the state,” have you considered which projects and measures will help you achieve this goal?

Before you move forward with your development plan, it’s important that your strategy—including your vision, objectives, and leadership—are all structured correctly. Once you have a better handle on your city’s strategy, your long-term development plan will be that much more impactful!

FAQ:

What are development plan examples?

Development plan examples include:

- Urban Development Plans: Focus on infrastructure, housing, transportation, and public services in urban areas.
- Rural Development Plans: Address agricultural development, rural infrastructure, and community services.
- Environmental Management Plans: Outline strategies for sustainable environmental conservation and resource management.
- Economic Development Plans: Aim to boost local economies through business incentives, workforce development, and investment in technology.
- Community Development Plans: Focus on improving quality of life through social services, education, and healthcare facilities.

How do you write a development plan?

To write a development plan:

- Define Objectives: Clearly outline the goals and desired outcomes of the plan.
- Conduct a Needs Assessment: Gather data and input from stakeholders to identify current needs and opportunities.
- Develop Strategies: Create specific, actionable strategies to achieve the objectives.
- Allocate Resources: Determine the resources required, including budget, personnel, and materials.
- Set Timelines: Establish a timeline with milestones for each phase of the plan.
- Create an Action Plan: Outline the steps necessary to implement each strategy.
- Review and Approve: Have the plan reviewed and approved by relevant stakeholders or governing bodies.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Establish metrics for tracking progress and evaluating the success of the plan.

How do you create a development plan?

To create a development plan:

- Engage Stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders in the planning process to ensure their needs and perspectives are considered.
- Define the Vision and Goals: Articulate a clear vision and set achievable goals for the development project.
- Conduct Research: Perform a thorough analysis of current conditions, opportunities, and challenges.
- Identify Strategies: Develop strategic initiatives to address identified needs and achieve the goals.
- Develop Action Steps: Break down strategies into detailed action steps with assigned responsibilities.
- Allocate Resources: Plan the allocation of financial, human, and material resources needed for implementation.
- Set Timelines: Establish a realistic timeline for each phase of the plan.
- Implement and Monitor: Execute the plan and regularly monitor progress, making adjustments as needed.

Why create a development plan?

Creating a development plan is important because it provides a structured approach to achieving long-term goals and addressing community needs. It helps coordinate resources, align stakeholders, and set clear priorities. Development plans ensure that initiatives are well-organized, feasible, and sustainable, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for the community.

When should you create a development plan?

You should create a development plan when:

- Facing Significant Changes: When there are major changes anticipated in the community or organization, such as population growth or economic shifts.
- Setting Long-Term Goals: When long-term goals and objectives need to be clearly defined and achieved.
- Addressing Complex Issues: When addressing complex issues that require coordinated efforts and resources.
- Seeking Funding or Support: When applying for grants or seeking support from stakeholders and investors.
- Periodic Review: Regularly, to update and refine strategies in response to new challenges and opportunities.