Fayette County’s Comprehensive Plan

Fayette County’s Comprehensive Plan is intended to assist officials and community members as they make future decisions regarding growth, management, and preservation of the county. Fayette County’s plan was developed under the guidance of Iowa Smart Planning Legislation SF 2389.  Topics the plan covers include housing, economic development, community facilities and infrastructure, natural resources, agricultural resources, land use, and hazards. The plan was updated from 2024 – early 2026, via a series of public and stakeholder engagement opportunities, research on current and projected conditions, identification of local issues and opportunities, and identification of community supported goals and strategies. A copy of the draft 2026 Fayette County Comprehensive Plan is shown below:

Please provide your feedback on the draft 2026 Fayette County Comprehensive Plan! Make sure to reference Fayette County, then list the specific page or section you’d like to share input on. Comments will be accepted & reviewed through the end of May. Thank you!

2024 Fayette County Comprehensive Plan Update

A brief summary of the comprehensive plan update process is shown below:

• Phase One: Organization and Community Engagement 
  • Meet with County representatives, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the Plan Steering Committee; Send Out a Community Survey, and Hold a Community Visioning Session.
• Phase Two: Community Profile / Ordinance Update
  • Create a Community Profile, Hold Focus Group Meetings
• Phase Three: Goals, Policies and Implementation
  • Public Goal Setting Open House, Draft Goals & Strategies for the Plan, Policy Recommendations for Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance
• Phase Four: Plan Finalization
  • Create Draft Plan
• Phase Five: Plan Review and Adoption
  • Public Review, Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Board Adoption Meeting
• Phase Six: Ordinance Finalization & Approval
  • Draft Updated Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances, Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Finalize Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

Comprehensive planning begins with the formation of a steering committee incorporating representatives with diverse backgrounds and experiences in social, economic, and cultural spheres. Active community members with a keen interest in the future of your community may also like to be involved. And county staff, official, and commission representation is recommended.

Steering committee members provided information to facilitate a robust planning process, give feedback on plan data and strategies, and participated in meetings in support of plan objectives. 

Focus Groups

Focus groups comprised of Steering Committee members and knowledge experts met in two-day, back-to-back sessions to review and discuss plan data. Focus groups helped draw out key issues and opportunities based on their review of the research and community input, and their specific background or interest. This provides an essential step in moving from the data gathering phase to the goal setting phase of the planning process.

2024 Comprehensive Plan Data

2024 Comprehensive Plan Community Meetings:

Opportunities for public engagement regarding the County’s comprehensive plan update include a community survey, community table events, a public visioning session, a goal setting open house, and the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the updated plan.  

2024 Comprehensive Plan Community Survey

A Community Survey was created with the help of the Plan Steering Committee and Fayette County staff. The survey was online, and the county also mailed hard copies to rural residents, and received 1,035 responses. The survey gathered general information about the community, as well preferences and opinions relevant to the planning process.  Review interactive community survey results by clicking on the link below!

Planning Contact

Michelle Barness

Senior Regional Planner

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission

mbarness@uerpc.org

(563) 419 – 6243