Your Questions, Answered.

The plan will look 20 years into the future. There will be strategies within the plan that can be implemented immediately after adoption while others will be longer term. Although the plan looks 20 years into the future, it should not stay static for that long. Updates should occur periodically as conditions change, development occurs, or local preferences shift.

The comprehensive plan will cover topics such as land use, economic development, transportation and utility infrastructure, agriculture, natural resources, quality of life, and housing.

Planning is essential in order for a community to define their collective vision for the future. Planning reviews and evaluates existing conditions, describes a collective vision, and establishes clear goals and objectives for achieving that vision.

The comprehensive plan will apply to unincorporated areas of Pulaski County as well as the towns of Medaryville and Monterey, because they are members of the County’s Plan Commission.

Yes, it is governed by Indiana Code 36-7-4-500 series. The plan must contain a statement of objectives on future development, a statement of policy for land use development, and a statement of policy for the development of public ways, public places, public lands, public structure, and public utilities. Indiana Code also dictates the process for how to adopt and update the comprehensive plan.

Yes, the comprehensive plan is a policy document, adopted as a resolution, that serves as a guide for development and community investment. It should be considered by the County Commissioners, boards and commissions, and staff when making decisions, but it is not legally binding. The zoning ordinance is a primary mechanism to implement the recommendations of the comprehensive plan through legally binding regulations related to permitted uses, lot size and setback requirements, and other development standards such as building materials, landscaping, parking, access, and signage.

No. The Comprehensive Plan and included future land use map establish policy direction. Any future zoning changes require separate public hearings and approval processes.

No. Even if a community is not growing, it still needs to manage the changes that happen over time. Without a clear plan, change is managed with piecemeal decisions that do not always consider long-term impacts.

Yes. We welcome input from residents, business owners, employees, property owners, visitors, and others with an interest in Pulaski County.

Community input is one of the most important components of the planning process. Survey responses, workshop discussions, stakeholder interviews, and public comments will all help shape the recommendations included in the final plan.