New Castle County is beginning the process of updating their 2007 Comprehensive Plan. New Castle County is committed to reviewing and updating growth strategies every five years. This current update is expected to be completed by December 31, 2011.

CLICK HERE to review the DRAFT 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update Documents.

CLICK HERE to see the latest draft Comprehensive Plan Update, which includes recommended amendments of the Land Use Department and Planning Board.

What is a Comprehensive Development Plan?

A comprehensive plan is a document which addresses a community’s vision for the future with respect to specific elements, which include at a minimum:

Land Use
Housing
Community Design
Economic Development
Transportation Water & Wastewater
Conservation
Recreation & Open Space
Historic Preservation
Intergovernmental Cooperation

The 2007 Comprehensive Plan relies on four core principles of community planning that have led the County’s land use policies and practices. These principles are:

1) Supports blending and connecting of new growth to existing communities.
2) Emphasizes the need to locate new growth areas and supports redevelopment in established communities as a method of preserving valuable, limited resources while controlling infrastructure costs.
3) Requires the coordinated delivery of public and private sector services to meet the needs of residents.
4) Recognizes that an equitable sharing of the costs and benefits of growth comes by expecting that growth in infrastructure or services should pay for itself.

The 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update will continue the course that guides how the county will grow for many years to come.