Lake Saint Louis officials are pleased to announce that the St. Louis Metro Section of the American Planning Association has recognized the City’s Comprehensive Plan as this year’s recipient of the award for Outstanding Plan Making. This award recognizes one plan each year that advances city planning and brings greater awareness of the benefits of good planning in the St. Louis region. Projects were evaluated for their originality, innovation, engagement, role of planners, implementation and results.

A Comprehensive Plan is a document that lays out a vision for the growth and development of the community over a period of 15 to 20 years. It serves as a guide for community decision making. Work began in June 2016. The City contracted with the i5 Group to assist in the document preparation. The City adopted its Comprehensive Plan in December 2017.

Public involvement was essential in developing the community vision, identifying priorities and building consensus. Meetings with residents, businesses, developers, utilities, transportation agencies and County officials were critical to the process. The resulting Plan utilized a “values-based” approach in shaping the plan recommendations with plan principles including, ‘An Outdoor Lifestyle’; ‘Neighborhood Vitality’; ‘Community Character’; ‘A Prosperous Economy’; ‘Fiscal Responsibility’; and ‘Community Cohesion’.

Since its adoption The Plan has provided guidance for new development and land use decisions, updates to the City’s land use regulations, trail planning and community identity.