Volume I of the Sanford Comprehensive Plan serves as the community’s roadmap for future growth, development, and quality of life. It brings together the City’s goals, objectives, and policies in a manner that reflects both state planning requirements and the community’s evolving vision for Sanford’s future.

Instead of organizing the Plan into traditional planning elements, the document is arranged around a series of connected themes. This format makes the Plan easier to understand, reduces overlap between topics, and highlights the relationships among the issues that shape the community.

Within each section, chapters address specific planning topics and explain why they are important to Sanford. Each chapter includes Goals, Objectives, and Policies (GOPs) that guide public decision-making, inform future regulations, and support implementation through the City’s Land Development Regulations and related programs.

These policies are more than statements of intent; they represent a shared commitment by elected officials, appointed boards, and City staff to carry out the Plan’s vision and priorities. Together, they provide the foundation for achieving the community vision.