The Tyler City Council this morning approved the final draft of the Tyler 1st comprehensive plan update.

The comprehensive plan update serves “as a guide for making decisions for the future growth and development of the city of Tyler,” according to city council communication.

Tyler 1st, formerly Tyler 21, addresses issues such as transportation; parks and recreation; historic preservation; business and economy; downtown revitalization; and housing and neighborhoods. Education also has been added to the plan.

“It defines a vision for the future linked to overall goals and policies and contains strategies and action items for achieving the goals,” Tyler Planning Director Heather Nick said.

According to the city council communication, the 20-year plan “should be periodically evaluated to ensure that the community’s vision and goals are still being met and that the strategies and action items for achieving the goals are still valid.” The city began work on conducting the five-year update in January 2013, according to the city council communication.

In January, Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee members received implementation plan updates from City Engineer Carter Delleney, Parks & Recreation Director Stephanie Rollings and Ms. Nick. They also heard updates from Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle, managing director of public safety, and Assistant City Manager/Communications Director Susan Guthrie.

Among the items in the plan update, Delleney previously said, is reviewing policies and Texas laws “to implement shared lanes for bicycles” and requiring bus bay turnouts “for major new developments in the site plan and building permit process.”

Ms. Rollings previously said items also include developing a “Green-up the Gateway” plan and developing Gladys and T.B. Stewart Park as a heritage park.

Ms. Nick previously addressed historic preservation and future land use.

She said in January that items include conducting a heritage tourism development study and developing and implementing a Black History Month Program.

Swindle previously said that as areas are developed in the north end, the idea is to add pocket parks, green space, “anywhere we can utilize trail systems.”

In discussing downtown, Ms. Guthrie said in January that items include marketing for downtown and “working to strengthen businesses and recruit new businesses to downtown.”

As far as business and the economy, she previously said items include more sports tourism, “continuing to promote oil and gas industry” and “working with key stakeholders to grow residency programs in Tyler.”

With education, she previously said there are many items, such as working with Tyler ISD on implementation of its strategic plan, “implement strategies developed by the Business Education Strategic Plan” and evaluating businesses and their internship and mentoring programs.

She said in January that other education items include determining five key outcomes the community wants to see with academic achievement and developing public service ad campaigns.

Information about the comprehensive plan is available at www.tyler1st.com