A Development Plan is a framework that contains goals, objectives and policies for development. Council uses this framework to manage land use, subdivision, municipal services, and public utilities.

The purposes of a Development Plan as per The Planning and Development Act, 1983 are (Section 51):

• a) to serve as a framework whereby the municipality may be guided in making development decisions;
  
• b) to identify the factors relevant to the use and development of land;
  
• c) to identify the critical problems and opportunities concerning the development of land and the social , environmental and economic effects of that development;
  
• d) to set out the desired timing, patterns and characteristics of the future physical, social and economic development of the municipality and to determine the probable consequences of that development;
  
• e) to establish and specify the programs and actions necessary for the implementation of the development plan; and to outline the methods whereby the best use and development of land and other resources in adjacent municipalities, or affected areas immediately abutting thereto, may be co-ordinated.

Without a Development Plan a municipality has little control over development, related servicing demands and is unable to enforce the separation of incompatible land uses (e.g. residences and industrial operations). [2] In addition to supplying technical information for administration, Planning and Engineering Services would like this Plan to be a community document that will provide information to the general public as well. See the Government Relations Web site of The Government of Saskatchewan for information on Policy Plans.