New Comprehensive Plan to Guide Growth for Next Decade

The Wake County Board of Commissioners today approved a new comprehensive plan that will guide growth and development in the county for the next 10 years.

PLANWake, which is the result of more than two years of research, engagement and collaboration, includes high-level policies that enable the county to be inclusive and equitable, healthy and active, and sustainable and vibrant.

“Wake County is growing, and it’s growing fast,” said Commissioner Sig Hutchinson. “It’s critical that we have policies in place to make sure we are addressing and accommodating that growth responsibly. PLANWake embraces the many different community efforts and visions that will help guide our growth and development over the next decade.”

PLANWake will update the county’s current land use plan and development policies while incorporating other planning efforts such as open space, greenways, affordable housing and transit/transportation.

Through a robust engagement process, PLANWake included an unprecedented level of community participation with 9,000 completed surveys and 150,000 responses to survey questions. The process was also informed by many stakeholder meetings and focus groups, centered around a diverse 50-person community advisory committee.

Emerging from that public engagement were four guiding community preferences:

  1. Significant change is needed to plan for growth.
  2. Protect open space and natural areas.
  3. Direct growth to the towns.
  4. Create walkable environments.
     

Now that the plan has been adopted, staff will collaborate with community stakeholders to develop tools and strategies to implement the plan’s policies. The plan will be reviewed and updated as Wake County continues to grow and change.

The complete plan is available on the PLANWake page.

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