2030 Comprehensive Plan

The Cookeville Planning Commission has completed a comprehensive plan for the future development of the City of Cookeville and its Urban Growth Boundary (PDF). The Cookeville 2030 Plan (PDF) was approved by the Planning Commission on October 25, 2010 and adopted by the City Council on December 16, 2010. The 2030 Plan replaces the Cookeville Comprehensive Future Land Use Plan, 1999 to 2020 (PDF).

Primary Functions

The Cookeville 2030 Plan is intended to perform at least three primary functions.

Future Growth Plan

First, it serves as a vision for the municipality’s future growth and development. This vision is spelled out with goals and objectives and with strategies for achieving these objectives.

Decision Making Guide

Next, it serves as a guide for decision making. The most common way the plan will be used in this manner is the zoning process. Rezoning decisions should be based on compliance with the plan. The plan will also be used in making decisions for capital improvements. For example it can be used as a guide for determining priorities for street improvements and for the construction of sidewalks.

Legal Requirements

Thirdly, the plan is intended to meet certain legal requirements. Tennessee Code Section 13 4, 201 states that “it is the function and duty of the commission to make and adopt an official general plan for the physical development of the municipality.”

Plan Preparation Process

The preparation of the comprehensive plan required a great deal of fieldwork and research. The process can be broken down into three steps.

Data Collection

First, every parcel of land in Cookeville and the Urban Growth Area was physically checked to determine how each was used and every street and sidewalk was inspected to determine existing condition. Pertinent data on what makes a community work must be collected, such as: 

  • Environmental
  • Existing land use
  • Historical data
  • Natural factors
  • Population and employment
  • Transportation facilities

Data Analysis

Second, this data must be examined to identify trends and determine affects on future growth and development. Data was placed in the city’s Geographic Information System. Once this digitization was finalized, analyses of the data collected were completed. The analyses included determination of acreage by:

  • Housing types
  • Land use classification
  • Physical restraints to development
  • Street mileage by classification and condition
  • And more

Also the digitization of this data was used to produce the illustrations that are necessary to visually present the findings and recommendations required in a comprehensive plan.

Result Interpretation & Implementation

Lastly, the results of these analyses are used to formulate a long-term development program for the municipality.

Public Participation

Public participation and input was a vital part in the development of the 2030 Plan (PDF). In preparing the plan the Planning Commission and staff meet with numerous agencies, groups and individuals to gather data and information. A random survey of 400 residents of Cookeville was completed to gather opinions on important issues affecting the future growth and development of the city. The findings from the survey were incorporated into the Development Plan element of the 2030 Plan. In addition to the random survey, the Planning Commission held several public hearings to solicit citizen opinions regarding the plan.