Long Term Planning 

Long-term planning involves creating a comprehensive vision for the future development and sustainability of the community. Municipalities often develop long-term plans to address growth, infrastructure, services, and the well-being of residents over the next 10, 20, or even 50 years. These plans are not legal documents, but instead help guide decisions related to land use, transportation, public services, environmental protection, and economic development.  Plans are not static, subject to updates overtime.

Key Components of Long-Term Planning:

Community Vision and Goals

  • Vision Statement: A long-term vision that reflects the aspirations of the community, such as creating a vibrant, sustainable city.
  • Goals: Broad objectives related to housing, transportation, public services, and economic development.

Land Use Planning

  • Zoning and Development: Plans for how land within the community will be used, such as residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas.
  • Urban Growth Management: Strategies to encourage efficient land use, and preserve green spaces or agricultural areas.
  • Infrastructure Needs: Identifying future needs for water, sewage, waste management, and energy infrastructure.

Transportation and Mobility

  • Road Network Expansion and Maintenance: Plans for expanding or maintaining roads and highways to accommodate future growth.
  • Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure: Ensuring the community is walkable and bike-friendly to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion.
  • Natural Resource Protection: Plans to protect water bodies, forests, parks, and biodiversity.

Economic Development

  • Business and Industry Growth: Strategies to attract new businesses, support local entrepreneurship, and retain existing businesses to boost the local economy.
  • Workforce Development: Plans for developing the skills and employment opportunities of the community's workforce in line with future economic needs.
  • Tourism and Cultural Initiatives: Identifying opportunities for tourism, arts, and culture to contribute to economic vitality.

Public Services and Infrastructure

  • Health, Education, and Safety: Ensuring long-term access to quality healthcare, education, emergency services, and public safety.
  • Recreation and Community Facilities: Planning for the development or enhancement of parks, libraries, community centers, and sports facilities.
  • Affordable Housing: Strategies to increase the availability of affordable housing to support a diverse population.

Financial Planning and Budgeting

  • Capital Improvement Plans: Long-term budgeting for large infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, schools, and public utilities.
  • Fiscal Sustainability: Ensuring that the municipality’s long-term financial health is stable, with plans for revenue generation, debt management, and funding for future projects.

Citizen Engagement

  • Public Consultation: Engaging citizens in the planning process to understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations.
  • Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring that the planning process is transparent, with regular updates to the public and accountability for progress.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Progress Reports: Tracking and evaluating progress toward long-term goals and adjusting plans as needed based on changing circumstances or new challenges.
  • Adaptability: Being able to modify plans to address new issues like technological advances, population shifts, or environmental challenges.

 Example Plans in Long-Term Planning:

  • Comprehensive Master Plan: A broad document that addresses the overall aspect of the community's development.
  • Special Plans: Specific plans focus on specific needs or areas, such as transportation, parks, corridors, or districts.

Route to the Future (El Reno's Comprehensive Plan)

Route to the Future is El Reno’s comprehensive plan.  A comprehensive plan aggregates the viewpoints, concerns, and ideas of the people of El Reno into a stated vision.  The goal of Route to the Future is to envision the best El Reno in 2040, and to define the actions necessary to achieve that vision. Route to the Future will equip decision-makers, from city staff to elected officials, with information to guide development towards El Reno’s stated vision through ordinances and capital improvement plans.  The plan was adopted by the City Council on July 14, 2020.

Please see the full document here.


Sunset Drive Corridor Study

In 2021, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) initiated the Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) to offer municipalities the opportunity to develop plans that model strategic investment, sustainable economic recovery, and long-term resiliency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ACOG partnered with the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) and Oklahoma Main Street Center to collaborate in shaping the program and providing services to communities selected to participate in CERI. Through a competitive application process, three cities, including El Reno, were selected.

Under the supervision of the College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, students and professors in the Regional & City Planning and the Landscape Architecture programs developed this plan with a focus on celebrating Sunset Drive's setting on historic US Route 66. This study was presented to the City Council on November 8, 2022. While this study has not been implemented as a funded plan/project, many aspects of it are being utilized and considered in other projects throughout the city.

Please see the full document here.