Planning Department

The Planning Department's overall mission is to develop sound urban planning techniques and policies and offer quality development-related services. The division provides the city administrator, City Council, and city-appointed committees with information and professional planning expertise to enhance and support decisions on community policies emphasizing both current and advanced planning and development related tasks.

Current Planning efforts primarily revolve around reviewing development proposals. This entails staff’s review of site plans (new or expanding commercial developments), conditional use permits (restaurants and other specific uses), residential subdivision plats, and text amendments (changes to the Zoning Ordinance) that go before the Planning & Zoning Commission and, in some cases, the City Council. The planning staff also reviews requests for variances and provide assistance to the Board of Adjustment.

Long-Range Planning efforts include assisting the commission’s efforts with implementing elements of the Comprehensive Plan, developing of sub-area and corridor plans under the direction of the Planning & Zoning Commission, providing assistance and technical support to the Economic Development Commission, administrating the development of the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan each year and pursuing federal or state funding for projects/infrastructure in an effort to advance the community’s identified goals.