A comprehensive plan is a policy document that guides community decision-making through various forms of community engagement. The city’s charter requires frequent updates to the plan, according to previous reporting.
The details
The planned update is driven by recent changes in state law, requirements in the city charter and a review showing that many of the plan’s original goals and strategies have either been completed or are nearing completion, according to the release.
The new update will refine and refresh the goals, priorities and actions needed to support the city’s continued growth and quality of life.
As part of the process, residents are being asked to complete a questionnaire offered in both English and Spanish. Christopher Looney, the city’s director of neighborhood and community planning, said it will help the community share their priorities and identify the places and issues they believe matter most.
“This is just the first of several opportunities for the community to participate in updating the Comprehensive Plan,” Looney said in the release.
The plan has 46 goals and eight strategies, categorized into 287 actions.
How we got here
The decision to update the plan was approved by City Council on Aug. 25, contracting MIG, Inc., a national firm specializing in planning, design, communications, management, science and technology. Envision New Braunfels was an update to the city’s 1999 Comprehensive Plan, according to agenda documents.
The plan—adopted in August 2018—was developed using two years' worth of data collection, trend analysis and multijurisdictional cooperation. Over 700 residents, property owners, business owners and other stakeholders served on plan element advisory groups, as previously reported by Community Impact.
What's next
The questionnaire is the first in a series of public input opportunities for community members and closes Dec.12. Other opportunities will include public meetings, open houses and pop-up events. A proposed update is expected to be presented to the council in November 2026, according to the city.
