One of the country’s leading suburban communities—Overland Park, Kansas—has asked Planning NEXT to lead their next comprehensive plan for its 193,000 residents. City leaders have demonstrated a strong commitment to planning over many years, as showcased through Forward OP, a highly successful community visioning and strategic plan completed in early 2019, which was facilitated by Planning NEXT.
Suburbs are facing many pressures to remain competitive and Overland Park is no exception. The planning process will be robust. Planning NEXT will lead a team in partnership with Clarion Associates, and with support by Kimley Horn, Tischler Bise and Ninigret Partners, for an 18-month process to assist with creating the comprehensive plan. The plan will guide future growth, redevelopment and land use. It will focus on implementation, with a strong commitment to community engagement and a focus on key social and environmental issues. Additionally, the plan will build upon existing work and preparation done by the City such as the Planning for the Plan speaker sessions, which provided interactive opportunities for residents to learn about planning topics and prepare to be involved and engaged within the upcoming process.
This is a significant undertaking and the Planning NEXT team is ready for “what is next!”