Project Schedule
Phase 1: Preparing For The Plan
August - October 2025
The first phase of the planning process aims to establish a solid foundation for a successful planning process. Phase one includes a kickoff meeting with city staff and leadership, forming a steering committee, and creating a project website to keep the community informed. The team will thoroughly collect and review existing plans, zoning policies, and mapping data to understand Whitehall’s current conditions. This foundational work will pave the way for in-depth analysis, public engagement, and developing a progressive plan that aligns with the city’s vision for the future.
Phase 2: Understanding The Context
November - December 2025
In this phase, the project team will conduct a comprehensive Existing Conditions Analysis to assess Whitehall's current demographics, land use, parks and recreation, development patterns, and economic conditions. This analysis will help identify trends and key factors influencing the city's future growth.
Phase 3: Community Engagement
January - February 2026
Community participation is a vital part of the planning process. This phase focuses on gathering input from Whitehall residents, business owners, and community stakeholders. Three main engagement opportunities will be offered: stakeholder interviews, a community open house, and an online community survey.
Stakeholder interviews will provide one-on-one opportunities to hear directly from representatives of different sectors of the community, helping to capture a wide range of perspectives and ideas. The community open house will invite participants to share their aspirations for Whitehall’s future through hands-on visioning activities that identify key priorities, opportunities, challenges, and areas for potential growth and redevelopment. The online survey will mirror the open house experience, providing a convenient way for those unable to attend in person to share their input.
Together, these engagement efforts will guide the direction of the plan, ensuring it reflects the community’s values, needs, and shared vision for Whitehall’s future.
Phase 4: Developing The Plan
Spring - Summer 2026
With a strong foundation of community input and existing conditions analysis, phase four focuses on translating findings into a draft plan. The project team will work with the Steering Committee to establish clear plan goals and develop a future land use map, as well as goals and objectives for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The team will also refine districts and focus areas, ensuring a cohesive development pattern that aligns with architectural and site design principles. A draft plan framework will then be prepared, integrating all key findings, goals, and land use strategies. As part of this phase, the draft plan will be presented to elected officials, allowing city leadership to review the proposed framework and offer input before finalization. This collaborative approach ensures that the plan reflects community priorities while fostering support from city leadership.
Phase 5: Plan Finalization
Fall 2026
In the final phase, the plan will be prepared, incorporating all previous work. The Steering Committee will review the draft to ensure alignment with the project’s vision and goals. The final draft plan will then be presented to elected officials for review and discussion, providing an opportunity for feedback and final refinements. This step ensures that the plan reflects the city's priorities and fosters an open dialogue for any last considerations. Once all revisions are completed, a final digital copy of the plan will be delivered to the city.
