Comprehensive Plan
(PDF, 26MB)Comprehensive Planning is an integral part of the municipal planning process. A Comprehensive Plan is used as a guide for future development and a framework for the decisions that the City's Boards, Commissions, and Council make. The first step of any land development project is to consider the proposal as it relates to the Comprehensive Plan to determine its feasibility for the Delaware Community.
The Delaware Together Comprehensive Plan was developed through a process that integrated input from community members and key stakeholders with the assistance of a consulting firm specializing in Comprehensive Plans. Participants offered thousands of ideas and suggestions that helped to shape the plan's recommended actions. This process began in early 2018 and culminated with City Council approval in Spring 2021. Now, City Staff has the task of implementing the goals and actions outlined in the Plan to guide Delaware's growth and the growth of the region as a whole.
Click on the picture to view the full plan with appendix. For the plan in other forms, see the following:
South Side Neighborhood Plan
The City's Planning and Community Development Department is currently working with a stakeholder steering committee to put together a neighborhood plan for the South Side.
A Neighborhood Plan is a long-range planning document that establishes a shared vision for the future of a neighborhood. It identifies community priorities and provides recommendations to guide future land use, transportation, parks and open space, housing, economic development, infrastructure, and public investment. Once completed, the Neighborhood Plan will be considered for adoption by the Planning Commission and City Council and will serve as a policy guide for future public and private decisions affecting the Planning Area.
A Neighborhood Plan does not:
- Create or change zoning for individual properties.
- Approve or deny specific development proposals.
- Commit the City to immediate construction projects or funding.
- Guarantee that every recommendation will be implemented.
- Replace input from the broader public or other stakeholders.
Rather, the Plan establishes a long-term vision and recommendations that will help guide future decisions and investments.
As part of the initial research for this plan, staff put together an At-A-Glance overview of the area. View the At-A-Glance Report(PDF, 3MB).
To get involved in the process, consider attending the public open house on November 19, 2026 from 4-7 at the Unity Community Center, 50A Ross Street. If you are unable to attend in person, please consider filling out our online survey.
Focus Areas
Delaware Together identified six Focus Areas requiring more in-depth planning. These areas are locations where significant change can reasonably be expected to occur within the next ten years. One of the recommendations of Delaware Together is for the completion of Area Plans for the Southwest and Southeast Focus Areas. The Southwest Focus Area Plan was approved by City Council in June of 2024 and the Southeast was approved in March of 2025 and both can be accessed next.