Urban Regional Planning and Sustainable Development graduate students will partner with the City of West Branch, Iowa to update the city’s long-range comprehensive plan. 

As West Branch experiences gradual population growth and development pressures, city leaders are seeking to proactively plan for the community’s future in a way that balances small-town character with sustainable growth, economic vitality, and quality of life.

Students will work closely with city officials and community stakeholders to evaluate the existing planning efforts, identify emerging trends and challenges, and develop updated goals, policies, and land use strategies. Key focus areas may include housing, transportation, economic development, land use, parks and open space, environmental sustainability, and historic preservation—particularly in connection with West Branch’s identity as the birthplace of President Herbert Hoover and home to a national historic site.

Through data collection, community engagement, spatial analysis, and policy development, students will produce a comprehensive plan update that reflects the community’s vision and values while offering actionable strategies to guide future growth and investment. Students will use GIS to develop current and future land use maps.  This project provides students with practical experience in comprehensive planning, rural development, and stakeholder collaboration, and will contribute to shaping the long-term trajectory of a unique and historic Iowa community.