2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

C HAPTER I MPLEMENTATION The Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan is to be used as a guide by both public and private sectors in land use decision-making processes. The private sector, including developers, investors, industry, and businesses will use this document to become informed of the general positions of the city regarding land use objectives and policies. This land use plan along with the existing and future land use maps will provide the public with an outline and guide to make individual land investments, purchases, or development decisions. The public will become more informed as to the city’s policies regarding land uses that are permitted, encouraged, prohibited, or protected. With this knowledge in advance, the public will be able to make informed and knowledgeable decisions complimentary to the city’s comprehensive plan. The public or government sectors, including primarily the City of Spencer, but possibly with considerations from Clay County and/or the State of Iowa, will utilize this comprehensive plan as a guide in making future land use decisions and interpretations of proposed projects. While this working document is the result of the efforts of the Spencer Planning and Zoning Commission, it is prepared representing the interests of all community residents. Activities affecting land uses by the city, Clay County, State of Iowa, or the United States government should follow the intent and spirit 16 . P LAN

established by the policies and guidelines set forth in this plan. This document is intended to be flexible and should be reviewed for policy changes from time to time. The city will need to review this plan periodically to determine if clarifications, changes, or land use policies should be changed, amended, or deleted.

FLEXIBILITY THIS PLAN SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE AND PERIODICALLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THE PLAN CAN BE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED.

The Spencer Comprehensive Plan may be amended as deemed necessary by the planning and zoning commission, with amendments recommended to the city council for approval. While actual or literal enforcement of the land use policy statements included in this plan may be difficult, the city should consider the policies established within this document as enforceable through the city’s zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. The intent, spirit and policies established in this comprehensive planning document are often cited, referenced, and utilized in the city’s other enforcement regulations. All governmental bodies, businesses, individuals, and AMENDABLE

corporations are strongly encouraged to comply with the spirit and intent set forth in the goals and land use policies outlined in this comprehensive plan.

THIS PLAN SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY’S ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCES.

The preceding chapters in this document form the core of the Spencer Comprehensive Plan with narratives, maps, charts, tables, and statistics concerning desirable future development patterns. This chapter addresses a means of implementing those objectives and policy recommendations identified in Chapter 14. Because the scope of the Spencer Comprehensive Plan is long term in nature its policy

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