Riley County planning staff restart comprehensive plan process, schedule public workshops for spring

Riley County planning staff told commissioners on Jan. 27 that the county’s comprehensive plan update has resumed after a brief hiatus and that public outreach is scheduled to resume this spring.

Amanda, identified in the meeting as the Riley County planning director, said consultants have completed initial background research and are now in a learning phase that includes reviewing local and regional long-range plans, demographic data and existing conditions. Amanda said the contract schedule runs through September with a modest buffer to finish by October so the county will have a new plan to replace Vision 2025.

The county will reconvene its comprehensive plan committee on Feb. 5. Amanda said six subcommittees — housing, health, parks and recreation, infrastructure, economic development, and land use/agriculture — will restart work and may meet more frequently as the process intensifies.

Amanda said the county collected public input in earlier community workshops and a public survey and that those results remain posted on the project website. She said staff will hold additional in-person workshops beginning in April and continue online engagement; residents can also email the planning office with input.

Why it matters: A comprehensive plan guides future land-use, infrastructure and service decisions. The update will provide the county a multi-year vision and policy framework, and public engagement is part of the required process.

What’s next: Staff and consultants will continue data collection, reconvene the plan committee Feb. 5, restart subcommittee meetings, and schedule public workshops beginning in April.