The Land Use Element provides a guide to the general public, the Council and Planning Commission, to appointed committees and boards and to the Town Manager, Planning Director and staff as to the ultimate pattern of development for the Town in the future.
The Land Use Element has the broadest scope of all of the General Plan elements. It plays a central role in presenting land use issues, and the policies that will influence those issues. The goals, objectives, policies and programs found in this element relate directly to all other elements. In the daily business of the Town, this element is usually the most visible and most often used. While all of the general plan elements are equal in importance, the Land Use Element is usually referred to as being most representative of the Town’s General Plan. Central to this element are the General Plan Map and the Zoning Map, both of which have a significant role in the daily decisions of the Town. The programs contained in this element influence the short- and long-term actions for the Town, including the yearly budget.