Introduction

The purpose of a comprehensive plan is to assist officials and citizens of an area to build a better community and improve its surroundings. The Town of Gilbert Comprehensive Plan provides: (1) the primary direction regarding development of the public and private sectors of the Town; (2) a stable land use pattern for the Town and surrounding area and; (3) the tools with which the Town can guide or direct the orderly growth and development of their area of influence.

A comprehensive plan also provides a forum for local elected officials to discuss growth and development in the Town and the surrounding area. The plan addresses how best to deal with the subject in a positive and effective manner and offers a variety of information through statistics, demographics, and a visual assessment of the Town of Gilbert. The plan will assist in implementing a source of action and serve as a basis for land use control regulations and ordinances. In essence, the plan is a guide for Gilbert's future land uses, both public and private, and a land use guide for areas that may be annexed in the future.

This planning effort must include the provision of adequate public utilities and transportation facilities, continued improvement in the public education system, and a new emphasis on the quality of life. The Town of Gilbert Comprehensive Plan contains numerous recommendations for these areas and others. As development occurs, the Town must become aware that growth, while good for the economy, can begin to detract from those very characteristics of life in Gilbert that are highly valued. The rapid growth of a community can lessen the sense of place and community cohesiveness that make life in a small town attractive to many. The town's regulatory ordinances may serve not only to provide protection for specific land uses, but also to enhance the visual quality of growth and encourage development practices that create stronger neighborhoods and provide more opportunities for interaction.

Download the Comprehensive Plan

Dated March 2015