Appendix 1. MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of this Comprehensive Plan is 'To guide and enhance the growth and operation of the City of Decatur while improving the economic well-being and quality of life for all its citizens. It is vital that these efforts maintain the unique character and heritage of the city in order to insure that a sense of community pride and belonging will be shared by this and all future generations.'

The primary objectives of this Comprehensive Plan are to:

•  Influence and manage the development of the community;

•  Minimize conflict between land uses;

•  Predict infrastructure and service needs in advance of demand;

•  Increase both the benefits and cost effectiveness of public investment;

•  Ensure that community facilities are located to best serve the community; and

•  Coordinate public and private investment.

The Comprehensive Plan policies are intended to provide guidance in the evaluation of future decisions on land use, infrastructure improvements, transportation, and other issues. Ordinances that are proposed and considered after the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan policies should be consistent with the relevant goals and policies contained in the Plan. If an ordinance instituting or modifying rules or regulations is being considered which is contrary to the goals and policies of the plan, either the plan should be reviewed and amended prior to the adoption of the ordinance, or it should be clearly stated what circumstances necessitate that it be in conflict with the plan.

The Comprehensive Plan provides the basis for rational decision-making and serves as a guide to the governing body, the City Council. This Comprehensive Plan does not replace the decision-making process, nor does it take the place of the city's development ordinances or other ordinances in establishing regulations. Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan is at the sole discretion of the city's governing body. The enactment of the Comprehensive Plan policies does not constitute a substantive change in existing ordinances of the City of Decatur, nor does it supersede or replace the development ordinances or any regulatory ordinances adopted prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. In the event of apparent conflict between the Comprehensive Plan and current ordinances of the city, the current ordinances will control. In applying such ordinances, consideration should be given to the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan in an attempt to reconcile the two provisions.

Planning is a continuous and dynamic process that helps the community achieve goals that are important to its citizens and to the community at large. Over time, these goals will likely change. Then, the community must again review where they have been, how they got there, what has changed since their last planning effort, and where they want to go next. This is a normal planning process, and it happens in all communities.