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Planning commissioners urge outreach, funding planning as they consider updating 2000 comprehensive plan
Summary
Goodland's planning commission opened a multi-month discussion about updating its comprehensive plan (last finalized in October 2000), emphasizing wider community engagement, potential grant-funded programs and the need to budget for professional support; staff was asked to pursue resources and coordinate stakeholder partners.
Commissioners reviewed the city's comprehensive plan (final approval dated October 2000) and agreed it is out of date, raising housing supply, grocery access and changing demographics as reasons to update the long-range plan.
Members discussed using a "community heart and soul" style program led by a local foundation (which may include grant funding) as a catalyst for public engagement, and emphasized the need to reach a wide cross-section of residents, including immigrants, students at the technical college and other underrepresented groups. Commissioners suggested short-, medium- and long-term goals so the community can see incremental progress and urged partnering with local organizations to avoid duplicative outreach efforts.
The commission discussed cost and staffing: one member recalled a small-community comprehensive-plan process that cost about $25,000 two decades ago and suggested current prices may be roughly double; another speaker offered a broad $50,000-to-$100,000 range as an illustrative estimate. Commissioners emphasized the need to involve professional planners and to develop an internal plan for coordination with other local entities so work is not repeated by separate groups.
Staff reported it will look for sample request-for-proposals and training resources and was asked to identify potential partners (including the foundation, city and county commissions and the school board) and draft a proposed approach for review. Commissioners stressed the importance of keeping the update on the active agenda rather than letting it lapse into a back-burner project.
Separately, staff said a joint presentation with county officials and the school board is being scheduled to present a proposed housing development north of Topside Manor (two lots that could be replatted into up to eight homes, with possible expansion onto adjacent city land). Staff also reported the former Roadway hotel (now owned by Dell's Corp) is roughly a month from reopening. Commissioners then approved the April 14, 2026 meeting minutes (moved by Grady Bonsel and seconded by Dennis Nean).
