Richmond officials have drafted an updated comprehensive plan document that they say could shape community decision-making and help prioritize spending for years to come.
Jennifer Barclay, the assistant project manager for HWC Engineering, presented an overview of the document during the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission’s Sept. 24 meeting.
The city last created a comprehensive plan in 2019. HWC worked to refresh that document, removing accomplished goals, adding new targets and tweaking outdated ideas.
The draft document indicates that creating the updated version relied on input from the 13 people who attended public meetings, 23 unidentified stakeholders who were invited to give input, and a group of 11 people on a steering committee that met four times.
The city’s new vision statement noted in the plan is: “The city of Richmond is revitalizing, becoming a vibrant community where there are opportunities for education, entertainment and employment. Richmond’s growing quality of life stems from its diverse people, supportive environment, welcoming neighborhoods and cultural amenities.”
The plan identifies challenges the city faces, then offers goals that describe what the city aims to achieve during the plan’s life, providing objectives and policies to reach the targets. Those goals are divided into “grow,” “connect,” “protect” and “celebrate” categories.
“Grow” goals include coordinating diverse land uses, cultivating diverse housing types, creating a thriving economy, and enhancing the city’s parks and recreation system.
“Connect” goals include adapting to resident needs while promoting safe and healthy lifestyles, improving motorized and non-motorized transportation networks, and providing utilities that foster economic development while planning for future demand.
The “protect” goal is to conserve resources and protect the natural environment with a philosophy of sustainability.
“Celebrate” goals were generating a sense of place with civic pride and continued improvements in a variety of areas, and improving government efficiencies.
Beyond the goals, the plan includes seven critical path strategies with city departments and local partners that should help make them a reality. The critical path strategies are:
- Develop a rental registration program to ensure properties are maintained to community standards.
- Attract grocers to neighborhoods lacking grocery stores and with residents most reliant on public transportation.
- Develop youth and adult leaders.
- Review the unified development ordinance for flexible residential development standards and a streamlined, efficient permitting process.
- Elevate Richmond’s image with a coordinated marketing campaign celebrating the city’s strengths.
- Establish regular strategic alignment meetings involving city leadership, advisory boards, commissions and community stakeholders.
- Strengthen the transportation network to connect residents with essential services.
The overview introduced the plan commission to the overall plan. Members will have time to digest the entire plan and provide feedback prior to the final draft’s official presentation to the plan commission and public hearing. After a plan commission vote, the plan will be taken before Richmond Common Council.
The entire plan is available online at https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26179814-20250924-richmond-comprehensive-plan-update-public-draft.
A version of this article appeared in the October 1 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.