SCRPC develops and adopts future land use and transportation plans for Stark County. The Stark County Comprehensive Plan 2040 is the most recent long range plan, which was adopted in July 2017. The plan encourages the best use of land resources, while balancing economic, transportation, and housing needs with environmental concerns. The 2040 Plan also includes an overview of transportation projects slated for the county. For a more detailed list, please see the most current SCATS Transportation Plan.
Comprehensive planning can be defined as creating policies along with goals and objectives, based on statistical data, maps and other information to guide the economic, physical, and social development, while also encouraging participation in programs which provide for the physical, social, and economic needs of the county's present and future residents. A major component of comprehensive planning is planning for sustainable development. According to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and the campaign for Sensible Growth, "By definition, development is sustainable if it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development in action aims to satisfy three guiding principles: economic prosperity, ecological integrity, and community livabillity. Truly sustainable actions are those that satisfy all three of these principles and enhance rather than deplete the long-term quality of life in our communities."
Within the community there is a tremendous need to balance the preservation of natural resources and open space while also promoting growth in jobs and the economy. The principles of sustainability and Smart Growth are designed to reduce the share of growth that occurs on existing agricultural lands and in environmentally sensitive areas. It refocuses a larger share of regional growth within central cities, urbanized areas, inner suburbs, and areas that are already served by infrastructure. Smart growth requires true cooperation between multiple political subdivisions, between developers and conservationists, and between residents and businesses. The Stark County Comprehensive Plan 2040 demonstrates that with careful planning, Stark County can grow in a method that not only protects our natural environment, but also allows for adequate growth and development within the county.