Implementation and Concurrency

A plan is only useful if it is enforced. Therefore, the Community Planning Act requires that the Comprehensive Plan be implemented through the adoption of specific land use control ordinances (zoning laws) and Capital Improvement Programs. A Capital Improvement Program is a budget plan that schedules the construction of new public facilities to match the growth. This ties back to the requirement of concurrency. Concurrency ensures that a new development is approved only after the local government verifies that the minimum level of service for public infrastructure—specifically water, sewer, and waste—is in place or will be in place around the development site. Beyond the basics, communities can also choose to add optional elements to their plan to reflect local values, such as chapters on historic preservation, scenic beauty, or economic development.