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Council approves contract with PGAV for citywide comprehensive plan
Summary
Following a presentation by PGAV planner Catherine Hamaker on scope, phases and engagement, the council approved a resolution to begin a 15–18 month comprehensive plan process and discussed cost and a steering committee to guide community engagement.
Maplewood — The City Council voted Tuesday to move forward with a contract with planning consultant PGAV to prepare a citywide comprehensive plan, a multi-phase process the consultant described as necessary to align land use, zoning and long-term growth strategies.
Catherine Hamaker, an associate director and urban planner with PGAV, summarized the three phases of the work: compiling existing conditions, drafting a future land-use plan and producing the plan document. She said the typical timeline is 15–18 months and recommended a steering committee of residents, business owners, commission members and staff. "A comprehensive plan is a document that you all are required by the state of Missouri to have on the books," Hamaker told the council, noting there is no statewide mandate on update frequency but that communities often refresh plans every 10–15 years.
Council members asked about cost and how the zoning code would be handled after the plan. Hamaker said a full, consultant-led zoning overhaul can run in the $75,000 range, while a staff-led rewrite with consultant support could be lower (PGAV provided Richmond Heights as a public example and cited a $35,000–$40,000 contract when staff handled code writing). She also described standard engagement tools: three public meetings, stakeholder interviews and an online survey.
The council approved the resolution accepting the proposal and authorizing work with PGAV by roll call. Members discussed phasing the work and forming a steering committee to provide ongoing guidance and community “gut checks.”
Why it matters: A comprehensive plan sets the framework for future zoning and development decisions, shaping housing, transportation and commercial growth over a decade or more. Council members framed the contract as an investment in predictable decision-making and a way to reduce ad hoc zoning changes.
Next steps: Staff and PGAV will begin the initial data-gathering phase and work with council to establish a steering committee and a public-engagement schedule. The contract and any budgeted amounts approved by the council will guide how much staff versus consultant time is used for subsequent zoning updates.
Quotes are drawn from the June 11 council meeting presentation and Q&A.
