A comprehensive plan is a long-range planning document that serves as a guide for making land use decisions, preparing capital improvement programs, and determining the timing and location of future growth. It establishes a vision, goals, and initiatives that direct investments, development, and policies within the City of Lebanon.

Although this plan is not an ordinance, it is a key policy document that will guide decision-making related to land use, growth, public investments, economic development, and quality of life enhancements. It serves as a reminder of the community’s collective vision for the future of Lebanon. As the implementation progresses, updates and improvements to the recommendations are expected and encouraged to allow the plan to be implemented and the future of Lebanon realized.

For more information on how the plan will be used by various groups, review the User’s Guide on Page 22 of the plan.

This plan assesses Lebanon within its current city limits and examines the possibility of expansion in areas directly adjacent
to Lebanon’s city limits. The City of Lebanon has the power to make planning and zoning decisions only within its municipal boundaries. However, to ensure compatibility of future growth and land use changes, an area larger than the current City boundaries has been reviewed and addressed within this process. This is not an official extra-territorial planning jurisdiction as recognized by state law, but this area will have an effect on the City’s future tax base and utility service area should the municipal boundaries grow. By including this additional area in the comprehensive plan process, the plan can be used to provide guidance as properties may be annexed and Lebanon zoning districts applied to them.Typically, in Indiana, property annexation into city limits occurs at the request of the property owner, which expands the city limits and allows access to public utilities such as sewer and water.

The 12-month comprehensive plan update process was led by City of Lebanon staff and the consultant team, with guidance from a selected steering committee consisting of local
community leaders. The planning process combined the input and expertise provided by the planning team with the gathered feedback from community members through various community events. See page 14, Community Engagement Process & Summary for more information on the community’s involvement with the planning process, and how their feedback influenced the plan recommendations.

The planning process was accomplished in three (3) phases: (1) understanding, (2) plan development, and (3) plan documentation. Phase 1, Understanding, kicked off the project by collecting community data, evaluating existing conditions, demographics, and market trends, establishing the steering committee, and interviewing key stakeholders within Lebanon. The steering committee consisted of community leaders, business owners, community group liaisons, residents, and representatives of the local community. The committee was created to guide the planning team in the process by providing feedback, reviewing deliverables, and acting as a guiding force for the team.

Phase 2, Plan Development, focused further on the analysis and input collected throughout Phase 1 through a review of the previous comprehensive plan and previous planning efforts, developing plan revisions, and engaging with the greater Lebanon Community through multiple community events. Gathering community feedback was important in this phase, as it allowed the planning team to gather a better understanding of the communities’ wants and needs while allowing them to see the progress of the previous plan.

The last phase, Phase 3 Plan Documentation, further developed the feedback and input from the steering committee and community members into actionable items and finalizing the updated comprehensive plan document.

The City of Lebanon began the process of creating an updated comprehensive plan in early 2024. The plan, which serves as an outline of the vision and strategic framework for future development, redevelopment, and community building projects within the City, was last fully updated in 2020.

Much has changed in Lebanon since that time, and it is critical that the comprehensive plan respond to these changes, reflect current conditions, and, most importantly, be representative of the vision and goals of current residents and businesses.

Indiana state law identifies requirements that need to be incorporated into a comprehensive plan (Indiana Code 36-7-4-502). A comprehensive plan must contain at least the following elements:

• A statement of objectives for the future development of the jurisdiction.

• A statement of policy for the land use development of the jurisdiction.

• A statement of policy for the development of public ways, public places, public lands, public structures, and public utilities.

Beyond those minimum requirements, the overall purpose of the updated comprehensive plan for the City of Lebanon is to:

• Develop an implementation strategy that will inform the future of Lebanon.

• Address the needs, wants, and aspirations of the community.

• Uplift the character and values that make Lebanon distinct, by showcasing the small-town charm, family-friendly environment, and historic heart of downtown Lebanon.

• Create initiatives that support meaningful, well-thought-out growth that will create an environment for investment, development, and improvement within the city.

• Include a spectrum of residents, residents, and local leaders in shaping the vision and actions within the plan.