Q: What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A: The Comprehensive Plan is Philomath's primary land use document and includes a series of goals and policies that guide growth and development over a 20-year period. The Comprehensive Plan is implemented through the Development Code, Land Division Code, and other city codes and ordinances. Oregon state law requires that all cities and counties adopt Comprehensive Plans that are consistent with the state's 19 Statewide Planning Goals(link is external), which were established in 1973 by Oregon Senate Bill 100.
Q: Why is Philomath updating its Comprehensive Plan?
A: The last complete update to Philomath’s Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the City Council in 2003. The current version of the Comprehensive Plan can be found here, and consists of nine chapters. In the nearly 20 years since the Comprehensive Plan was updated, Philomath has experienced a number of significant changes, including the splitting of the highway into a two-street couplet, emergence of new industries, and development of new housing options.
In the last five years, the city has adopted a new Water Master Plan, Wastewater Master Plan, Park Master Plan, and Transportation Master Plan which have become ancillary documents to Comprehensive Plan and/or incorporated in the Comprehensive Plan itself. A complete update to the Comprehensive Plan will serve to create a central document that reflects the vision for the entire Philomath community.
Q: How will the community be involved in the Comprehensive Plan Update?
A: Statewide Planning Goal 1 (Citizen Involvement) calls for cities and counties to "develop a citizen involvement program that insures the opportunity for citizens to be involved in all phases of the planning process." Early in the Comprehensive Plan Update process, the city will develop a Public Involvement Plan that details a variety of different public outreach and community engagement strategies that aim to involve the entire Philomath community. Building upon the city's efforts in recent land development approval processes, the city is committed to an inclusive and transparent process, with materials available to the public in a timely manner.
Q: How is the Comprehensive Plan Update different than the Strategic Plan city officials create?
A: The city’s Strategic Plan lays out various themes, goals, objectives and actions items for the Council and city staff to focus on over a five-year horizon. Although aspects of the updated Comprehensive Plan may find their way into the Strategic Plan as special areas of focus, the two plans are used differently. The Strategic Plan will provide policies for the community related to housing, economic development, zoning, and other land-use related subjects. The Strategic Plan is intended to create a work load of actions items for city officials to complete each year. The current Strategic Plan can be found here.
Q: What is the status of the Comprehensive Plan Update?
A: The Comprehensive Plan Update officially launched in February 2020. The City Council has now adopted the background reports. The next step is to begin review of policies. The Planning Commission will begin by reviewing Chapter 1, Citizen Involvement Program.
Q: How much is the Comprehensive Plan Update costing Philomath residents?
A: The City was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to assist with the generation of reports that provide data and analysis of the City’s current state, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to be pursued. The City Council allocated $20,000 for the project, some of which will go toward development of the Main Street Plan, which will guide the Downtown Safety and Streetscapes project.
Q: How can I stay updated on the Comprehensive Plan Update process?
A: To receive information about upcoming meetings and progress on the Comprehensive Plan Update, sign up to receive the City's weekly email news at: Weekly E-News
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