Consultant presents draft comprehensive plan; committee sets review process

Stephanie Brown of Chastain Engineering presented a draft comprehensive plan to the Byron Administrative Committee on Feb. 18, 2026, highlighting goals for growth, infrastructure priorities and a long-term vision for the city. City Administrator Patricia Diduch said an updated comprehensive plan "is important and improves scoring when seeking infrastructure and other grants." Alderman Doug Wilken characterized the presentation as a first read and asked that the plan be revisited at the committee’s next meeting.

Brown told the committee the plan addresses visioning, growth opportunities and infrastructure and recommends a formal review every five years with a full overhaul roughly every 20 years; the minutes note Byron’s last comprehensive plan dated from 2008. Attorney Aaron Szeto asked whether planning and zoning bodies would review the document; Mayor John Rickard and Alderman Mittzi Fulrath said the city does not have a dedicated planning commission and recommended that the Zoning Board of Appeals review the plan. Alderman Ron Boyer noted the draft does not address Sunshine Park. The committee took no final action and set the item for additional local review and a future meeting discussion.