Comprehensive Plan
Client: City of Vandalia, IL Category: Community Planning, Economic Development
The City of Vandalia retained PGAV to create a new Comprehensive Plan for the City. The effort included public engagement, long-term land use planning, and recommendations for future economic development strategies.
Vandalia is a small, rural community, east of the St. Louis metropolitan area, that has experienced economic stagnation like many of its peer cities. PGAV engaged the public about what they would like to see in their community in the future, and based on that feedback, formed a vision to present to City officials.
PGAV suggested that the City limit their investment in new road and utility infrastructure beyond the corporate limits and strategically zone commercial and industrial land uses around existing infrastructure. The Plan also set aside land for bike trails and open space. An important piece of the implementation strategy was to assign specific roles to the City’s new economic development and tourism staff members. The message to the new staff was clear: it is the job of city staff to facilitate conversations that foster a spirit of cooperation in Vandalia and in the surrounding region.
Ultimately, PGAV provided the City with a document based on community desires that can be used to guide land use and development decisions for years to come.
