§ 9.1. Implementation Strategy

There are many tools a community can use to implement their comprehensive plan. Some are regulatory in nature and others are not. Typically, the more developed a community becomes the greater the need for management tools such as ordinances. Most incorporated communities (villages and cities) have a "Municipal Code of Ordinances" book from which they administer programs and ordinances. The City of Greenwood does maintain a Municipal Code of Ordinances.

There is no "one size fits all" plan implementation program. Each community's physical setting, economic climate, issues, public support, political climate and leadership will be different. Communities must weight the cost/benefit of using certain tools since most require sufficient staff and financial resources to properly administer. The following briefly describes the general tools the city evaluated when considering how their comprehensive plan will be implemented.

Establishing the Foundation

Before a community considers any type of land use administration system, a "blueprint" representative of the public's desires should be established. Establishing the "desires" of city residents is important for several reasons. First, without public support, the success of a local land use administration program is limited. The public must understand that the benefits of establishing programs or ordinances outweigh the potential risks future uses may present to the general public. Secondly, officials should rely on public policy as a basis to make future decisions. Without any type of public policy in which to base decisions, local officials run the risk of making decisions based their personal judgement or assessment. The following are two important steps communities should undertake before any comprehensive plan implementation tool is put into effect.

Develop a Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive plans establish the general policy framework for local decision-making. The Land Use element of the comprehensive plan identifies areas targeted for a variety of different uses including agriculture, forestry, residential, commercial and industrial. In addition, the comprehensive plan's implementation element defines the community's implementation strategy. The City of Greenwood adopted a Land Use Plan in January 1995. This plan was utilized to develop the City of Greenwood Comprehensive Plan.

The recently adopted state "Smart Growth" legislation defines the elements of a comprehensive plan and requires that programs and actions of local governmental units that affect land use must be "consistent with" the comprehensive plan by January 1, 2010. Therefore, any local governmental unit that wants, for example, to regulate the subdivision of land or regulate land use through zoning or any other means is required to have a comprehensive plan. Adoption of this comprehensive plan by the City of Greenwood meets the intent of the legislation.

Citizen Participation

Just as citizen involvement is an important step required throughout the planning process, it is also an essential implementation tool. Citizens and local officials must be made aware of the goals of their comprehensive plan when they consider and make decisions such as reviewing a land division requests. The more participation, the more ownership the plan or any implementation tool will likely receive. In addition, a public hearing is always required before an ordinance of any type can take effect.