Planning Process Overview

Like most other cities, Hampton uses plans to guide how it will move forward into the future. These plans help define what our priorities are, as a city. They establish goals, action plans, and benchmarks for success.

• Historically, Hampton has updated its strategic plan every five years and its comprehensive plan every ten years.

• The 1998 Strategic Plan includes a number of vital components that are critical to the city, its residents, and its employees. These include strategies for: neighborhoods, schools, business climate, region, race relations, families, and customer delight (strong city service to citizens).

• The 2010 Comprehensive Plan establishes guidelines and policies for land use, economic development, transportation, housing, urban design, environmental protection, and community facilities.

• The community plays an important role in the preparation of the plan. Citizen focus groups have been organized around the critical issues identified in the 1998 Strategic Plan. Focus Groups identify goals and benchmarks for success and actions for implementation. Community checkpoint meetings are organized to receive broader community input prior to the plan being considered for adoption by local boards, commissions and City Council.

• The Community Plan is developed in two phases. The first phase concludes with the endorsement of critical issues, outcomes (goals and objectives), and measures of success. The second phase concludes with the adoption of strategies and plans for achieving the critical outcomes.