Chart Carbondale Comprehensive Plan Update

The goal of "Chart Carbondale" is to update the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. This update will re-establish the Town’s goals for the future and provide direction for decisions affecting the use of land, preservation of open space, transportation systems, economic growth, and public facilities and services.

The Comprehensive Plan Update will contain detailed long-range planning recommendations focused on the following topics:

• Downtown Character
  • Zoning/land use, infill opportunities, placemaking/public art, existing business mix, public spaces, wayfinding
• Downtown North
  • Zoning/land use, opportunities for mixed-use development
• Climate Action Plan
  • Community resiliency, water supply, natural resources, stewardship
• Aging in Community
  • Housing services for seniors, mobility for all ages
• Multi-modal Mobility
  • Bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, transit, traffic, trails, connectivity
• Residential Character
  • Small-town character/feel, design guidelines, land use compatibility, architectural massing + scale, housing types

How is the Plan Developed and Approved?

The Comprehensive Plan Update will be developed through formal research, data collection, and the collection of community input through online surveys, community-wide events, and stakeholder meetings. The Planning and Zoning Commission serves as the Project Steering Committee, and the Carbondale Board of Trustees will review and adopt the final plan.

Public involvement is critical in the Comprehensive Plan Update process. Public participation helps ensure that the final plan reflects the community’s vision, goals, and priorities for the future. The Comp Plan team will provide numerous opportunities for public engagement throughout the project and announce them on this website through social media and press releases.

Why do we Plan?

The purpose of planning is to ensure that Carbondale's high quality of life will continue. Through the planning process, residents, business owners, and community organizations help shape the Town's land use and open space pattern. A well-planned community provides compatible land uses and transportation networks, infrastructure, and economic vitality. A well-planned community protects its environmental and cultural resources. Planning helps to ensure that the Carbondale community continues to be attractive, safe, and prosperous.

What is a Comprehensive Plan, and where can see the Town's current plan?

Comprehensive Plans are required by state law to be used as a guide to decision-making about the natural and built environment. The Comprehensive Plan includes general town-wide policy on land use, transportation, housing, natural resources, economic development, and public facilities, including public parks, recreation, and trails. The Plan recommends how land should be used, but not when development will occur. This effort is an update to the existing 2013 Comprehensive Plan, not a complete re-write. Some goals and strategies from the 2013 Plan still apply, while others simply need to be updated. Click here to see the Town's 2013 Comp Plan >>