Comprehensive Plan Update Price Tag Raises Questions

Farmersville officials said a full update to the city’s comprehensive plan could cost far more than the city is ready to spend right now, prompting discussion of a cheaper first step: reviewing the documents already on the books. During the joint work session, estimates mentioned for a complete rewrite ranged from about $250,000 to $350,000 or more.

One official said the last time a price was requested, the estimate was around a quarter million dollars, but another said the figure is likely higher now, with a base cost of about $350,000 or more. That price tag came up as members debated how to make the city’s goals for mixed-use development clearer without immediately launching a full overhaul.

Instead of moving straight to a new comprehensive plan, officials discussed reviewing the 2013 plan and the 2018 workbook to see what could be improved now. The workbook was described as having been intended as the start of an update process, with community input and suggested next steps, but members said very little happened with it afterward.

A city representative also said the city is monitoring a General Land Office grant program that previously could have helped with map updates and related planning work. The program closed Dec. 31, but officials said there is some indication it could reopen if funding becomes available again. If so, the city could potentially partner with a consultant to update maps and other planning materials.

By the end of the discussion, the group had not committed to the expense of a full rewrite. Instead, members said they wanted to examine what can be done with the current documents first, then revisit larger updates or outside funding options later.