Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Overlay District • Green Infrastructure • Setback

Comprehensive Plan

Term from Urban Planning industry explained for recruiters

A Comprehensive Plan is like a city's blueprint for its future growth and development, typically looking 10-20 years ahead. It's a detailed document that outlines how a community wants to grow, covering everything from where new housing should go to how parks and businesses should be developed. Urban planners create and work with these plans to guide decisions about land use, transportation, housing, and public services. You might also hear it called a "Master Plan," "General Plan," or "Land Use Plan." It's basically the big-picture strategy document that helps city officials and developers make decisions about how a community should develop.

Examples in Resumes

Led the update of the city's Comprehensive Plan through community engagement and data analysis

Implemented zoning changes based on Master Plan recommendations

Coordinated with stakeholders to develop the 2030 General Plan update

Managed multiple projects aligned with the Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives

Typical job title: "Urban Planners"

Also try searching for:

Urban Planner City Planner Community Development Planner Land Use Planner Municipal Planner Planning Specialist Community Planner

Where to Find Urban Planners

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle conflicting stakeholder interests in a Comprehensive Plan update?

Expected Answer: A senior planner should explain their approach to balancing different community needs, facilitating public engagement, and finding compromise solutions. They should mention experience with managing complex projects and difficult conversations.

Q: What strategies have you used to ensure a Comprehensive Plan gets implemented effectively?

Expected Answer: Should discuss creating actionable goals, working with different departments, securing funding sources, and establishing measurable benchmarks for success. Should mention experience with plan implementation and monitoring.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you gather and incorporate public input into a Comprehensive Plan?

Expected Answer: Should describe various public engagement methods like workshops, surveys, and online platforms, and how to synthesize feedback into meaningful plan components.

Q: What elements do you consider essential in a Comprehensive Plan?

Expected Answer: Should mention key components like land use, transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental considerations, while explaining how these elements work together.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of a Comprehensive Plan?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's a guiding document for community development, describing how it helps make decisions about growth, development, and community resources.

Q: How often should a Comprehensive Plan be updated?

Expected Answer: Should know that most communities update their plans every 5-10 years, and understand why regular updates are important for keeping the plan relevant.