FAQ

What is a Comprehensive Plan?  What is its purpose?

A Comprehensive Plan is a means of defining a community’s long term goals and setting objectives to reach those goals.  It serves as a guide to development decisions and helps determine the course of public policy within the community.  Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 100 (KRS 100) requires every Comprehensive Plan to contain specific elements:

• Statement of Goals and Objectives These serve as a guide for decision making regarding the physical and economic development of the community as well as the social well-being of its residents.
• Land Use Element  A plan for the use and development of land, public and private
• Transportation Element  A plan for transportation within the community and with its neighboring communities and counties, including roadways, pedestrian and bike paths, railroads, mass transit
• Community Facilities Element  A plan for public buildings, land and facilities which may include schools, parks, libraries, hospitals, and fire and police protection
• Military Installation Element  A plan for interaction with any military installation in or near the community, to include expansion plans, environmental impacts, safety and security and issues related to airspace usage

Communities are also encouraged to consider additional elements which reflect specific concerns in their area, such as historic preservation or environmental conservation.

Comprehensive Plans are generally developed on a 20-year basis.  Since communities naturally experience ongoing change, periodic review and update of the Plan – usually every five years -- is necessary in order to maintain its relevance and effectiveness over time.

What is an Area Development District (ADD)?

Kentucky's 120 counties are grouped into 15 regions known as Area Development Districts (ADD). Although they are public bodies under Kentucky law, ADDs are not state agencies or another level of government; instead, an ADD can be thought of as a partnership of local units of government.  Locally-elected officials and citizen members comprise the ADD Board of Directors, while staffs include professionals with a wide range of backgrounds in economic development, human services, management and planning.  By sharing the expertise of ADD staff members, local governments gain access to professional advisors that they may not require on a full-time basis.

In addition to its regional planning role, an ADD also provides technical and management assistance to local communities in a variety of areas including:

• assistance to local economic development agencies and planning commissions
• preparation of funding applications for public projects
• assistance in meeting the administrative requirements of various federal and state programs
• public management assistance to local governments seeking to upgrade their levels of service to their communities

Tell me about BGADD.

Consisting of 17 counties, the BGADD is the largest ADD in the state.  The BGADD planning staff provides support to local city, county and joint planning commissions and zoning departments, with services that include:

• comprehensive plan updates
• zoning ordinance and subdivision regulation revisions
• technical assistance to planning commissions, including staff reports regarding zoning amendments and analysis of proposed major subdivisions
• preparation of annexation studies, water/sewer utilities financial analyses and fire protection studies
• production of accurate and detailed digital maps of cities and counties for official use
• assistance with downtown development, historic preservation, community development and other specialized plans

BGADD also heads the Bluegrass Regional Planning Council (BRPC), established in 1990 to act in an advisory capacity on planning matters throughout the ADD.  To ensure compatible development throughout the district, the Council reviews comprehensive plans for regional impact and develops transportation, infrastructure and land use plans at a regional level.  The Council also makes recommendations regarding the regional impact of proposed comprehensive plans, as well as amendments to local regulations and ordinances, of planning units within the District. 

Visit the BGADD website at www.bgadd.org for more information.

How can I participate in the planning process?