A Comprehensive Plan, also sometimes referred to as a “master plan” establishes a community’s long-term vision, goals, strategies, and policies for guiding future public and private development. It sets up future land use and capital budgeting. A Comprehensive Plan includes background information on the municipality’s past and an analysis of current issues and trends which will affect the future. The Plan is intended to serve as a roadmap for Town development for the foreseeable future. It will present strategies to advance the community’s future vision and goals, and present ways to fund and leverage key priorities, inclusive of pursuing grant underwriting. It will also address ways to foster involvement and collaboration among the many and varied local and regional parties that can help advance the desired vision and objectives for long-term community development.

The Town of Black Brook’s Comprehensive Plan will address factors like natural resources; housing; economic development; transportation; parks, trails, open space; public services/facilities, and emergency preparedness. Notably, this planning aims at guiding smart and sustainable growth, so there will be attention to topics like advancing climate change resiliency in this community.

Existing plans and strategies are an important part of the Comprehensive Plan body of information. They can provide insight into unique features of the community and local context. They can also be used to guide planning. Local and regional subject-specific plans will be consulted to assist with setting the vision and the attendant community and economic development strategies. In some cases, they will be incorporated into the plan if the goals are still consistent with the community’s aspirations and vision.