A Plan is a community's road map to the future, outlining what steps should be taken to make the community a better place to live. The process of developing a Plan provides an opportunity for citizens to define a future vision for their community. That vision is important - it is the foundation for a variety of community policies and programs, including zoning and subdivision bylaws.

A plan must be flexible and adaptive to changes in a community over a 10 to 15 year time frame. This Plan is not a static document, and pursuant to the Planning Act, will be reviewed at intervals of not more than five years to ensure that the polices are relevant and appropriate in light of changing conditions.

The main purpose of the Plan is to provide a degree of certainty to the public and Council regarding the form and character of Borden-Carleton. The plan can encourage Council to take action but it cannot force action. It does not commit Council to specific expenditures, but all bylaws adopted and works undertaken in the community must be consistent with the Plan.

The Planning Act provides that in the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the Plan and the bylaws made to implement the Plan, the Plan prevails.