Highland planners present draft guiding principles after citywide resident survey

Highland City Council and the Joint Planning Commission met in a work session to review draft guiding principles for the city's updated general plan and to discuss results from a resident survey conducted in late 2024.

The consultants leading the update, Landmark Design, told the council the plan's draft guiding principles aim to preserve Highland's low-density character while allowing targeted changes such as detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), senior housing, and limited neighborhood-scale commercial where appropriate. "This is a key checkpoint," Sam Taylor, consultant with Landmark Design, said, asking the bodies to confirm the direction before staff prepares a formal draft for adoption.

Why it matters: The general plan will guide future zoning and development decisions across Highland. Councilmembers and residents told consultants they want clearer, City-specific language to avoid generic, "cookie-cutter" planning and to protect the town's character while addressing services, parks and housing needs.

Landmark summarized findings from a resident survey run in September'November 2024. According to the presentation, the most-selected preferences were for maintaining larger lots in many areas; respondents also expressed interest in limited commercial expansion along SR-92 and in exploring ADUs and flag lots as…