Planning & Zoning

The Planning and Zoning Division works on both long range planning and current zoning issues. Planning and Zoning staff assist in guiding residents, developers, and business owners through the development and zoning process. The division helps to ensure that new development is compatible with the Village’s comprehensive plan and meets the Village’s development guidelines per the Village’s Zoning Ordinance, which is also available at Village Hall

The Planning and Zoning staff provides support and works closely with the Board of Zoning, Planning and Appeals,

Copies of The Comprehensive Plan (PDF) or the 2023 Zoning Map (PDF) are available at the Community Development Department.

The Village of Cary Long-Range Plans and Studies

The Community Development Department is tasked with coordinating the Village’s long-range planning efforts. These responsibilities include the generation and administration of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and other related planning documents which are utilized to help guide future development within the community. These plans are crafted through extensive community outreach efforts to ensure they are reflective of the vision residents have for the Village's future and list tangible actions to be undertaken to achieve that vision. The Village's Comprehensive Plan provides guidance for the community as a whole, while the Downtown Strategic Plan and Algonquin-Cary Subarea Plan provide more specific guidance for defined areas in coordination with the Comprehensive Plan.

Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan

The Official Comprehensive Plan is an advisory policy document and is intended to provide guidance for future land use decisions and development within the Village of Cary and surrounding planning area. The Comprehensive Plan is reviewed and updated periodically to ensure it accurately depicts the and use vision for the community. In January 2015 the Village Board adopted the most recent Village Comprehensive Plan. Previous versions of the Plan had been adopted in 1963, 1970, 1982 and 1992.

Village of Cary Comprehensive Plan (Adopted January 20, 2015) (PDF)

Downtown Cary Strategic Plan

Downtown Cary Strategic Plan

In 2020, the Village of Cary and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) embarked on the creation of a new Downtown Strategic Plan, an important policy document that will guide future investment and development activity within the Downtown, near the Metra Station. The goal of the Downtown Cary Strategic Plan is to serve as the guiding document for the improvement and development of Downtown Cary. It is intended to be a blueprint that positions the Downtown for reinvestment while maintaining the authentic character and charm that makes Downtown Cary unique. The Downtown Cary Strategic Plan was adopted by the Village Board in June 2021.

State of the Downtown Report Dated October 23, 2020 (PDF)
Downtown Cary Strategic Plan, Adopted June 12, 2021 (PDF)

Algonquin-Cary Route 31 Subarea Plan

Algonquin-Cary Route 31 Subarea Plan

The Village’s of Algonquin and Cary have jointly developed a plan for the redevelopment of the Route 31 corridor along their shared border. After decades of sand and gravel mining several parcels of land along the Route 31 corridor will become suitable for development. To develop the plan the Villages collaborated with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to establish a long-term vision for the quarry sites and surrounding area and identify desired land use and development concepts. The Algonquin-Cary Subarea Plan was adopted by the Village Boards of both communities in 2021.

Algonquin-Cary Subarea Plan, Adopted May 4, 2021 (PDF)