Comprehensive Plans typically address a wide range of issues that are important to residents and business leaders. Bethlehem’s current Comprehensive Plan provides an overall vision for our hamlets and our town as a whole, with key priorities and strategies for achieving that vision. It provides direction to the Town for investing in transportation improvements and public facilities, revising or creating new zoning regulations, protecting ecologically-sensitive areas, becoming more environmentally sustainable, and recommending issues for further study. Concept plans and other visuals within the Comprehensive Plan help demonstrate ideas and hoped-for outcomes.
Updating Comprehensive Plans allows communities to refresh the overall vision and update priorities and strategies in light of changing conditions, new challenges, and experience implementing the previous plan.