What is Clearwater 2045?

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A comprehensive plan is a policy document that local governments adopt to guide decisions on the future growth and sustainability of the city. It details the city’s long-term vision and goals while outlining the steps needed to achieve them. An important component of a comprehensive plan is identifying current and anticipated opportunities for improvement in public infrastructure and services while implementing strategies that ensure enhancements will be made in a timely fashion to meet future demand.

Why are we updating the Comprehensive Plan?

The state requires that cities prepare, adopt, and amend comprehensive plans and implement them with appropriate land development regulations.

• Plans are typically reviewed and updated every 7-10 years to reflect changes in growth, conditions, or policy direction.
• The city adopted a state-required Comprehensive Plan in 1989 to address growth management regulations from 1986.
• The most recent major revision to the city’s Comprehensive Plan was conducted in 2008.
• Clearwater has made it a priority to update this important policy document and chart the course of the city through 2045.

How will the Comprehensive Plan be updated?

Our Comprehensive Plan update project, Clearwater 2045, is anticipated to be a 3-year planning process, concluding with adoption by City Council and transmittal to the relevant state agencies for review in Fall 2023. There are five phases to the project, which include substantial community outreach and engagement. Opportunities to attend in-person and virtual conversations and public hearings, as well as participate in surveys, polls, contests, and provide commentary on draft documents will be available during various stages of the planning process.

We invite you to explore this project website for more information and engage in various ways to help shape the future of our city. Register to receive updates.