Our Boone County: Master Plan

A county-wide master plan sets the trajectory for land use management in a growing county facing intense exurban development pressure.

Boone County, Missouri is creating a new Master Plan to guide growth and development in the county over the next 10 to 20 years. The Master Plan serves as a guide for rezoning decisions, land development regulations, transportation improvements, budgeting, coordination of infrastructure, and more. The Master Plan is a guide that reflects the values and aspirations of Boone County, crafted with input from residents, businesses, and service providers.

Biohabitats, under the leadership of the i5 Group, is working on understanding, sharing, and planning for the natural resources of the county. To help planners decide how and where to prioritize categories of land use, the Biohabitats team researched and summarized the historic and current status of the County’s natural systems, including karst formations, waterways, and ecological communities.

A variety of formats for public involvement were an essential part of this process, including multiple in-person and online open houses, a countywide survey, and expert and stakeholder interviews. To guide decision-making by the leadership and community, Biohabitats examined the measures in place in neighboring counties and best management practices in natural resource planning. Based on this input and analysis, Biohabitats is providing recommendations for protecting ecosystem services and open space in the county in the final plan.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Climate Adaptation + Resistance
• Conservation