Is there a basic template or
model comprehensive plan meeting the statutory requirements of the smart
growth law that municipalities can modify and use for their purposes?
The answer is no. We asked several planning experts and scholars this
question and all said that no comprehensive planning template exists for
municipalities. Indeed, many said that even if there was a “model”
plan, merely copying such a plan would undermine the very purpose of the
planning process. A comprehensive plan needs to reflect the unique
characteristics, vision and goals of a community.
However, the
Wisconsin Department of Administration has posted a library of
comprehensive plans adopted by Wisconsin municipalities on its Website.
Municipalities are welcome to use the site to view a variety of
comprehensive plans passed by similarly sized communities. A
municipality can view information, analysis, language or goals from
plans already posted on DOA’s Website
http://www.doa.state.wi.us/category.asp?linkcatid=746&linkid=128&locid=9.
DOA has also posted a “comprehensive plan checklist” on its Website that can be found here: http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6867.
Municipalities that have not yet
completed the comprehensive planning process would do well to work with
experts or agencies that know the community and might already have
useful data, such as a regional planning commission, the county planning
office, or a private planner who has worked with neighboring
communities.