Area General Plans

The Area General Plan allows a developer or resident to get an idea of whether the Champaign City Council would approve a potential subdivision without the expense associated with the full design of infrastructure plans.  If the City Council supports an Area General Plan, this would allow a developer a level of comfort to move forward with the full design of a subdivision knowing that there is general support of the plan from City Council.

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Purpose of the Area General Plan

The purpose of the Area General Plan is to illustrate a basic layout of a proposed subdivision prior to the preparation of a Preliminary Plat.

A single tract may be conveyed from a parent parcel of 30 acres or more without approval of a preliminary or final plat, provided that an area general plan is approved by the City Council and that the lots created are not developed or further subdivided. The Area General Plan should incorporate existing conditions of the site into the design of the subdivision, including any adjacent roads, trails, bike paths, or land uses, which may impact the site.

An Area General Plan (AGP) is otherwise not required unless it is part of an Annexation Agreement, waiver request, or other proposed action. The AGP is a simple, low-cost document that can assist both the developer and the City in identifying issues prior to preliminary plat submittal.

An AGP, when not required, will be received and commented on by City staff. The comments will be forwarded to the subdivider.

Contents of the Area General Plan & Application

The Planning and Development Department has an application form which the applicant needs to complete that is included in this application package. It is often helpful to meet with City staff prior to the submission of the application, or to schedule an appointment to review your application when it is formally submitted. City staff cannot supply applicants with legal advice.  Applicants are welcome to bring their own attorney, architect, builder, or anyone else you believe will be helpful to any meetings.

The application asks for a variety of information, including name and address of the applicant and subdivider, existing zoning classification, current and proposed land use, a legal description of the subject property, an Area General Plan, and other relevant characteristics about the subject property.

The Area General Plan should be drawn in a size and scale that will clearly show contiguous and adjacent parcels owned wholly or in part by the owner or subdivider or for which the owner or subdivider has an option to purchase, or any other interest, as well as property within 200 feet of the subject property; the existing and proposed zoning districts and land uses; natural features and floodplain boundary; existing streets and alleys, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and water lines; proposed street layout, including functional classification and connection to existing street patterns; and a conceptual outline of a stormwater management plan.