Stamford’s Master Plan is a key document in directing how the city will develop: the foundation for land use planning, zoning, and the capital budget. It also provides direction for numerous other city policies, such as affordable housing, urban design, transportation, and economic development.

Stamford’s last master plan was completed in 1977 and updated in 1984. It was based on the following premises: Residential development should keep pace with employment growth, to keep housing costs and traffic from becoming problems. Downtown and neighborhood centers should be compact and walkable. The natural and built qualities of the city’s neighborhoods should be conserved.

It’s time to update that plan. Stamford faces affordable housing and traffic congestion problems beyond what had been expected. New issues about open space, environmental quality, and development pressure in neighborhoods have emerged. And after a quarter century, new residents, businesses, and community leaders need an opportunity to debate and shape Stamford’s future.

The goals of this Master Plan are to review and extend the principles set forth twenty-five years ago; to update the understanding of growth in Stamford to help make better decisions about development and planning; and to make certain city plans and policies respond to the priorities of current resident, civic, and business communities.

This Master Plan has been more than two years in the making. It was initiated with public workshops - one for the city as a whole and five held in various neighborhoods - with special invitations to members of civic associations. All along, the Plan was reviewed by a Citizen Advisory Committee that included representatives of neighborhood, civic, and business groups, as well as representatives of planning, zoning, and other boards.