The City Planning Department oversees the city's land use, zoning, and long-term development strategies. Services include developing and implementing comprehensive plans, reviewing development proposals, managing zoning regulations, and coordinating with other departments on infrastructure and public services planning. The goal is to ensure sustainable growth, balance community needs, and maintain the city's character. City Planners assist community members in defining and implementing a vision for the future of La Crosse. Most significantly, the City develops a comprehensive plan that establishes the direction the City should go over a twenty-year period and is updated every five to ten years. This plan is supplemented by more finely textured neighborhood and small area plans, as well as focus areas like transportation and sustainability.