What Will the Comprehensive Plan Update Address?
Denton Plan 2040 is an update of the existing Denton Plan 2030 with a focus on four key areas: Downtown Denton, New Growth Areas, Infrastructure & Services, and Economic Development. Taken together with information gathered from data assessments, interviews, surveys and other sources updates will be made throughout the following plan elements.
Land Use
Land use planning is a fundamental aspect of long-range comprehensive planning. Land use planning defines the densities, intensities, and characteristics of future land uses and incorporates small area planning. The many land use types that make up the city will be reviewed to ensure that the land use types, distribution, and locations reflect the values and goals of the community as Denton grows into the future.
Infrastructure and Utilities
The infrastructure and utilities element ensures that adequate basic facilities and capital equipment are planned in a way that meets the needs of Denton’s future growth. Policies guiding water, sewer, electric, solid waste, and drainage systems promote a sustainable baseline of services and the implementation of best practices, which reflect the values of the community.
Mobility
How people move around is as important as where people live. Mobility sets the community up to adequately maintain transportation systems to efficiently move goods and services through the City. The mobility element includes planning for pedestrians, bicycling, roads, highways, transit, rail, and aviation.
Community Character and Urban Design
The community character and urban design element establishes goals and policies that reinforce the unique character, values, and culture of Denton. This aspect of the CPU helps to refine how neighborhoods, districts, infrastructure, and public facilities integrate. This element also provides guidance for community arts and historic preservation.
Housing and Neighborhoods
The housing and neighborhoods element defines the goals and policies that promote a diverse housing stock, which serves all parts of the housing market from affordable and workforce housing to executive housing. Additionally, this topic area provides guidance for grants and social services to meet the needs of distressed neighborhoods and vulnerable populations.
Parks, Conservation, and Environment
The parks, conservation, and environment elements work with the infrastructure and land use elements to promote policies that ensure park, recreation and trail facilities are accessible and adequate to serve the population. This element also has policies which emphasize sustainable practices, guide conservation of natural environments and support rural preservation.
Community Health, Safety, and Services
The community health, safety, and services element works together with all other elements. The values and character of Denton are carried into the goals and policies, which are aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, food sustainability, and other sustainable practices and effective social services. This element also contains strategies to ensure effective fire and public safety as the City grows.
Fiscal and Economic Vitality
The fiscal and economic vitality element recognizes the importance of sound and financially resilient city government and a diverse, strong, and growing local economy. Policies related to this element promote capitalizing on the unique local economic resources and the workforce of Denton, as well as well-directed capital improvement programs, which support the local economy and maintain the City’s fiscal well-being.
