What Happens Over the Next Two Years

This is a big process! We have two years to lay out a vision for what we want Austin to be in the future and choose what path we take to get there. To make it manageable, we've broken it down into three phases.

Focus on Sustainability

Sustainability and climate change are overarching issues to be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan.

Sustainability is the ability to maintain a process or state at a certain level. In recent years, sustainability has been understood as the need to create a world where the environment, economy, and our social world are all healthy and in balance.

Economy

This aspect of sustainability focuses on finding ways for the economy to benefit all members of society, without degrading our environment. From this perspective, the economy should:

• Raise our standard of living
• Help to improve our environment
• Provide meaningful work.

Environment

This aspect of sustainability focuses on the impact people have on the natural environment and the habitats around us, as well as what those impacts mean for our daily lives and economy.

Equity

This aspect of sustainability means:

• The fair, just and equitable management of all institutions serving the public
• The equitable distribution of public services and implementation of public policy
• The commitment to promote fairness, justice, and equity in the formulation of public policy.

Towards this end, the planning process will define what sustainability means specifically for Austin and the aspirations of its citizens for a sustainable future environment, economy, and community. As one starting point, participants at the Kick-off Open House were asked what sustainability means to them. (See the other results of the Open House.)

Back to the Overview of the Process >>