Community Planning Services
The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham’s Community Planning Department provides community planning services for the Member Governments within the following counties: Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker Counties.
4 Levels of Planning
RPC’s Community Planning department builds long range plans to direct growth and redevelopment over the next 5 to 15 years.
Public Outreach
Our team joins with the community to understand their
needs and desires. Public outreach activities include:
Project Websites
Surveys
Steering Committee Meetings
Pop up events
Public Meetings and Open Houses
Online interactive mapping tools
Plan Types
Planning can help manage change in your community in a way that provides better choices for how people live, work and play. It guides quality development while promoting the health, safety and welfare of citizens.
Planning documents are meant to be living documents that focus on a community’s overall vision and expectations for future growth and development. They provide a framework for guiding public and private investments that will affect new development as well as reinvestment in existing neighborhoods, major corridors and downtown areas. Plans are based on the citizen’s vision of how they want their city to grow in the future. It is a long-term vision – for the next 5 years, 10 years, or an even longer period of time.
Examples Types of Plans Developed by the RPCGB
Countywide Comprehensive Plans:
Citywide Comprehensive Plans:
Subarea Plans: Birmingham Community Framework Plans - Northeast Area Framework Plan
Downtown Plans: Downtown Homewood Master Plan
Site Plans: Potential Pell City Hospital Image
Note - the RPCGB does not develop “Strategic Plans.” The following is the difference between a Strategic Plan and a Comprehensive Plan:
Strategic Plans cover a shorter timeframe of 3 to 5 years and they are organizational tools that help elected officials and city administrative leaders identify and prioritize key issues, challenges, and opportunities facing a city. It provides a structured approach to determine where resources should be allocated. A Strategic Plan typically includes a vision statement, mission statement, strategic goals, and objectives aligned with the city's priorities. It also outlines specific strategies, action plans, and performance indicators to monitor progress.
Comprehensive Plans cover a longer timeframe of 5 to 10 years and they provide a blueprint for the physical development and land use within an entire city. A Comprehensive Plan must be developed according to Sections 11-52-8 and 11-52-9 of the Code of Alabama. It includes recommendations regarding various aspects of community development and growth, including land use patterns, zoning regulations, transportation networks, public facilities, environmental conservation, social services, and economic vitality. The development of the plan includes extensive public involvement and considers the needs and aspirations of the community as a whole.
To view a list of plans currently in-progress and completed, click the button below to visit our Community Plans & Studies Page.